I bought a coleman 5000W generator (7.5K peak) about 10 years ago after we lost power for 5 days following an ice storm. It was only $500 or so from home depot. Since then we haven't had an extended outage but used it about once a year during short blackouts. I can run my entire house off it including heat in the winter and A/C in the summer. We are on a well so having no power means having no water too.

I simply "backfeed" our house in through a 240V outlet I installed in my garage. I just pull the main feed fuses which drop me off the grid and run the generator in through the outlet using a 20 foot cord with the generator on my driveway. The outlet is circuit breaker protected with dual 20A breakers and it feeds both "legs" of the 240V service. The only downside is not knowing exactly when the power comes back on since we are off the grid but I just watch the neighbors houses for signs of power and I know it is back.

Technically backfeeding is illegal but if you do it right it is safe and since I only do it in an emergency I'm really careful about not backfeeding into the grid...of course if I did my breakers would blow immediately anyway. I'm not advocating this just explaining an easy way to supply emergency power to a house.

NO! This chinese junk isn't worth it! You think your going to save money and only use it maybe 3 or 4 times, but it's not how often you use it but how hard that counts.:rolleyes: There are no replacement parts for this.:eek: You will be told that they are available, but good luck with that!:(

Trust me on this....... Go to Home Depot and get a Generac for a little more, it will be worth it. I got my Coleman with a Briggs and Stratton engine rated for 5250 Watts continuous and 6250 surge for $389! Well worth it and serviceable!!:D

I knew something like this would be posted. I'm surprised it took so long.

Anybody wants to go crazy, talk me out of my 42KVA Westerbeke, I need the space and money more than the genset.

On my motorhomes, I would run one roof A/C from the inverter while on the road, worked great and saved APU hours, just charged from the alternator (300a continuous rating) and drew around 140amps@ 12vdc. I don't think I want to try that from the car alternator, ...

How I dreamed of being off-the-grid, ... before $5/gallon diesel.

I will admit I did... and by the way... that fantasy you have about Paula Abdul is really troubling to me... :D

Great improvisation :devilish:......:D

That sounds alot like what I did after having to fix my POS lawnmower again and again. I bought a Honda lawnmower with the first Bush economic stimulation. I haven't had any problems with it since. I wish Mercedes made a lawn mower, then the next couple generations would be set.

diesel power
 

http://nh.craigslist.org/for/707420832.html

well, at least this brings it back to being on topic somewhat.

I've considered upgrading my Coleman to one of these!

Hmm I wonder what the model #'s they would come up with...
frame would have to be MW100 etc...
engines OM002 and up... for diesel, and m002 for gassers...
imagine a OM002 20CC 7HP diesel push mower, and a nice OM006 60CC 25HP Rider... say a 60mwD riding mower with 8 forward hydrostatic tranny.......or a20E fuel injected push mower...

I've found that many of the cheap diesel gensets, are air-cooled. Noisy and cheap.

Don't forget about the OM000.8 diesel string trimmer.

of course the string trimmer would have to use titanium cord.... MB's gotta be indestructible.

Yes, the nonobtanium cord, and be sure you only use M-B string-lube.

For a couple of times that generator would be fine, but its going to be loud. If you really need a generator spring for a Honda, they are really expensive but worth it.

If Mecedes made a Generator, we would all be trying to buy 25 year old ones and be here talking about all the crap it takes to keep them running.... no thanks!!!!! :D