Harbor Freight $162 Generator - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rkohut · #1 06-06-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cphilip

Loudness don't matter after a while when your out of power. Any generator is a welcome sight. You simply locate it as far away from the central living space as you can and run a HD cord in from it. I agree that the Honda Generators are worth it though.

The thing with generators is they are so seldom used that maintenance becomes an issue. And they won't be there next time when you need them if you don't take some care of them. Be sure to put some Stabilizer in the Gas, and Keep the tank full of stabilized gas as well as this tends to keep water out and tendency to separate to a minimum. Then, once a year, dump the old gas out, put fresh in with more stabilizer in it and run it about 10 minutes under a slight electrical load (a lamp or something like that). Twice a year is better of course.

Thanks, I agree completely, you must have read my mind.

cphilip · #2 06-06-2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkohut

Thanks, I agree completely, you must have read my mind.

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

rkohut · #3 06-06-2008, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cphilip

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

Great improvisation

......

Jeremy5848 · #4 06-06-2008, 04:02 PM

Some really good comments in this thread.

I would be leery of trying to run anything with a surge load (like a refrigerator) on an inverter -- but I admit I've never played with a really big inverter, just the little ones of a couple hundred watts.

The Cheapie-Joe generators are OK for occasional use. Yes, they probably are loud and may not be happy to run at close to rated load for days on end, but for a few hours at a time in a power-failure situation they'll be fine. A Honda-brand generator will be quieter, more efficient, and more reliable over the long term. It will also cost a lot more money. That's a decision you have to make.

Consider keeping a minimum of fuel in the tank, maybe even drain it after each use, and have an extra can of gasoline that you rotate through your car or lawnmower so that you always have fresh fuel on hand.

Since I knew (in our rural location) that power failures were frequent, I went out and found a surplus military genset, a 7.5 KW Onan (2 cylinders, air cooled, gas-gaso). It had been used at a US Army base (Hunter Liggett in Monterey County) to run the pop-up targets on a tank gunnery range. I had it converted to run on propane and it sits on a pad next to my propane tank. Total investment (genset, major service/conversion, installation) was about $2000. A new one would be several times that much.

On propane, the oil stays remarkably clean and the fuel is always fresh, since we run the house on the same tank and get regular deliveries. The generator is enough to run the entire house. I have a big transfer switch and test the system monthly by running the genset for an hour and switching over the house to load it down. That way, I know that I'll always be able to access MercedesShop!

Jeremy

pawoSD · #5 06-06-2008, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

Some really good comments in this thread.

I would be leery of trying to run anything with a surge load (like a refrigerator) on an inverter -- but I admit I've never played with a really big inverter, just the little ones of a couple hundred watts.

The Cheapie-Joe generators are OK for occasional use. Yes, they probably are loud and may not be happy to run at close to rated load for days on end, but for a few hours at a time in a power-failure situation they'll be fine. A Honda-brand generator will be quieter, more efficient, and more reliable over the long term. It will also cost a lot more money. That's a decision you have to make.

Consider keeping a minimum of fuel in the tank, maybe even drain it after each use, and have an extra can of gasoline that you rotate through your car or lawnmower so that you always have fresh fuel on hand.

Since I knew (in our rural location) that power failures were frequent, I went out and found a surplus military genset, a 7.5 KW Onan (2 cylinders, air cooled, gas-gaso). It had been used at a US Army base (Hunter Liggett in Monterey County) to run the pop-up targets on a tank gunnery range. I had it converted to run on propane and it sits on a pad next to my propane tank. Total investment (genset, major service/conversion, installation) was about $2000. A new one would be several times that much.

On propane, the oil stays remarkably clean and the fuel is always fresh, since we run the house on the same tank and get regular deliveries. The generator is enough to run the entire house. I have a big transfer switch and test the system monthly by running the genset for an hour and switching over the house to load it down. That way, I know that I'll always be able to access MercedesShop!

Jeremy

Someday I plan on having a similar setup.

I'm fine with either a diesel or Propane System.....but not gas.

rkohut · #6 06-06-2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

Some really good comments in this thread.
..........On propane, the oil stays remarkably clean and the fuel is always fresh, since we run the house on the same tank and get regular deliveries. The generator is enough to run the entire house. I have a big transfer switch and test the system monthly by running the genset for an hour and switching over the house to load it down. That way, I know that I'll always be able to access MercedesShop!

Jeremy

Great stuff Jeremy.

I noticed your biodiesel fleet. I just ran a tank of B20 through the daily driver for the first time in its 328k mile life. Much smoother and quieter, emphasis on quieter. It purrs at all speeds, relatively speaking. Not much difference in performance, if any.

What really surprised me after running it for 311 miles, all of it around town, was that mpg was 25, only about 1 or 2 less than normal. I did another refill on B20 yesterday to get a better mpg computation.

You do run B100, not the waste veggie oil stuff right?
I need to locate a B100 filling station, if only for curiousity.

vstech · #7 06-06-2008, 06:59 PM

odd, I have not had any issues with running my fridge off mine...

DieselClack · #8 06-06-2008, 08:25 PM

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.

There are no replacement parts for this.

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!!

rkohut · #9 06-06-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselClack

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.

There are no replacement parts for this.

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!!

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

babymog · #10 06-06-2008, 08:55 PM

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.

babymog · #11 06-06-2008, 10:04 PM

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

babymog · #12 06-06-2008, 10:06 PM

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

vstech · #13 06-06-2008, 10:07 PM

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

babymog · #14 06-06-2008, 10:09 PM

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

Hatterasguy · #15 06-07-2008, 12:27 AM

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.