A few thoughts

Add up the electrical requirements (amps) of what you want to run, the add 50-100% and pick one. For example, if something is rated at 15amps, it may require much more at startup. Thing you may want to run. Fridge, freezer, fans on heating system, water pumps, electric blankets, microwave, lights. You have to list your priorities and go from there. Usually what you "have" to have powered vs what you can afford to power (ie size of genset) are wildly different. No two families are the same. 3000W may be great for a single guy, but won't touch the needs of a family of six.


Gasoline and NG are common and cheaper, but these gensets have a shorter life expectancy; a diesel genset is expensive but lasts.

You can either run extention cords to what you need, or have the gen wired into your house, yet isolated so it doesn't send juice back to the wires and electrocute the guy trying to restore your service.

You need to run it periodically.

Having power when your neighbors don't, you need to be discreet. They will come like moths to a light. Maybe good, maybe bad.

Go to the survival section of AR15.com and ask around. There are some good threads there that answer your question in detail.