On 11/4/2011 6:33 AM, Bill Horne wrote:

4. It's no good to buy a small generator and think that it
prepares you for the winter. Without a proper setup and
regular tests, you wind up with a marginally useful device
that needs too much attention and provides
sub-standard capabilities.


I agree... To make sure a generator will run when you need it to run you
need to run it at least once a month under 1/2 load for at least 30
minutes, You need a good supply of STABLIZED gas and small engines often
do not like alcohol in the gas so just siphoning the car.. not a good idea.

Plus.. To do it right you should have a proper GENERATOR TRANSFER
panel/switch(es) put in the house.

How I did it:

Onan Emerald Gold 5.5KW generator (120 volt only) in the motorhome.

Holds 70 gallons, burns just over 1 an hour at FULL load.

30 amp Twist lock in the MH basement (along with a pair of TT-30
Pigtails) fed by dedicated 30 amp breakers in the distribution box

Transfer switches in basement (not all the lights, more on that in a
bit) and an "inlet" on the back of the house.

Plug in the cord, crank her up (install Gen-Turi first) and start
flipping switches.

Now, that not all lights.

I left a couple of lights that I do not often use on the main box and
did not route the circuit through the transfer switches. That way when
power fails I turn those lights ON.

When they actually come on... I know it's time to shut down Mr. onan.


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