Hurricane Fiona

no expert here but do deal with generators some at work - diesel package units & portable gas units.
A cpl things to consider;

• dual gensets - you get more run time out of gas vs propane. And wattage is greater when using the gas vs propane.
• portable units - Firman, Westinghouse, Onan (Cummins) for most part are good dual fuel brands. They all have a 3 yr warranty. Need to follow the manual's maintenance program for the warranty to be valid (keep receipts, take pics).
• those never flat tires are a nice to have if you have to move them around.
• Generlink has a list of compatible gensets on their website.
• unless something has changed in last year or two - Generlink connection is good for max 200A panel.

Quick question for you, Gary. Most are using the 30 amp plugs on their portable generator, however, if your generator has a 50 amp plug, I would think there would be some benefit to using it instead. You would want to pair it to a 50 amp panel of course. Is this correct? Do you know how much you would gain in usable power by using the 50 amp versus the 30 amp on a 11,500 Watt starting and 9000 Watt running generator?

I've been looking into generators again since my water pump and heat pump are both 240V and my generator is only 120V. The 30A connector is usually 120V, even if it's a 4-connector. The 50A is often 240V. I'm looking at doing a cheaper setup like my dad did. He has his pump and furnace (both 120V but the same concept) on plugs and outlets rather than hard-wired. He has a 30A through-wall connection with 6 120V outlets on the inside. When the power goes out he hooks his generator to the outside and moves his furnace, pump, freezer, etc. from the wall outlet to the generator outlet. No fancy breakers, auto-switches or backfeeding risks.
I think this is the same setup he has: https://www.homedepot.ca/product/king-canada-generator-home-connection-kit/1001552464
That's a much more economical solution.

Statik said:

I've been looking into generators again since my water pump and heat pump are both 240V and my generator is only 120V. The 30A connector is usually 120V, even if it's a 4-connector. The 50A is often 240V. I'm looking at doing a cheaper setup like my dad did. He has his pump and furnace (both 120V but the same concept) on plugs and outlets rather than hard-wired. He has a 30A through-wall connection with 6 120V outlets on the inside. When the power goes out he hooks his generator to the outside and moves his furnace, pump, freezer, etc. from the wall outlet to the generator outlet. No fancy breakers, auto-switches or backfeeding risks.
I think this is the same setup he has: https://www.homedepot.ca/product/king-canada-generator-home-connection-kit/1001552464
That's a much more economical solution.

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All depends on what you buy
Mine is
(1) 20A 125V GFCI Duplex
(2), 30A 125V Locking Plug,
(1) 30A 240V Locking Plug

50 amp is useless unless you are putting out 12,000 watts and most with 9000 operating can do 37.5 amp max
9000/240 is 37.5 amp

Cheers

30 Amp is equal to 7500 Watts as I understand. Wouldn't 37.5 Amps exceed the 30 Amp panel?

TrueGrit said:

30 Amp is equal to 7500 Watts as I understand. Wouldn't 37.5 Amps exceed the 30 Amp panel?

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No But have to remember also that 37.5 is based on 100% efficiency which most generators are NOT. and these panels are built for surge watts of a generator
If talking my panel I have on order my generator is under 7500 ( but rated at 37.5) and 6 circuit for a 30 amp install which is all I need. The 50 amp of this brand I have seen are the same except 10 circuits and a 50 amp breaker is used vs a 30 amp in the main panel
In fact the specs on mine say it will give 37.5 but as a combined total

Max. Rated AC Amperage @ 120 V / 240 V37.5 / 18.8 (58.3 / 29.2 for 10 sec. iAVR)

Common Duplex Receptacle Specifications37.5 amps/120 VAC continuous is available as combined total from these twin duplex AC receptacles. Maximum of 18.8 amps available from each GFCI duplex receptacle.

I got a new Champion dual fuel last year. Got it from CT on sale..Saved 300 bucks on it. 6000W .
Seems great ! Used it on propane for a 6 hr break in...full tank of propane...still more than half tank left ! Only thing I don't like is it's not a key start..its pull cord. But it starts easily.
Ran it from 1045 pm till 830 am on gas. Still 1/3 tank left in it when we filled it. I'd give it a 9/10

I'm looking at a 10k+ generator so I can run the essentials of the house.

TrueGrit said:

Quick question for you, Gary. Most are using the 30 amp plugs on their portable generator, however, if your generator has a 50 amp plug, I would think there would be some benefit to using it instead. You would want to pair it to a 50 amp panel of course. Is this correct? Do you know how much you would gain in usable power by using the 50 amp versus the 30 amp on a 11,500 Watt starting and 9000 Watt running generator?

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yes, go 50 amp if you need the extra.
best advice - have a conversation with a certified electrician to determine what loads (amp draw, watts, etc) you want/need.
there's lots of options - auto transfer switch, generlink, direct plugs (like Statik talks about), portable gensets, permanent gensets, auto start, manual start, remote start, etc, etc.

Statik said:

I'm looking at a 10k+ generator so I can run the essentials of the house.

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That will do it pending what you have to run
This time I did three freezers, oil furnace, set of plug and lights, fridge ( all wired in at once ) and stove burners ONE ( not the oven) but shut down the freezers when using it and the generator handled it just fine but it is a commercial honda version also. Only time I could hear it work real hard was when the girls used their hairdryer and curling iron. YES I know but not worth the fight believe me
That 13hp HONDA F'n loves gas big time as I found out just shy of 300 bucks in 7 days and I was shutting it off some days for a few hours
Never tried the heat pump but assume I would have to run that almost alone but have not checked what it draws so have no idea
Cheers

I used my 20 hp/10 000 watt mobile welder it loves gas but ran everything the tag says it gives full wattage to output if no no welding is required or at least thats how i understand it in 7 days i ran about a 200 bucks plus i ran the neibours fridge and freezers.I ran for 3 or four hours on 4 hours off till 11pm then off till 7eveything stayed froze and cold plus hot showers.

682bubba said:

I used my 20 hp/10 000 watt mobile welder it loves gas but ran everything the tag says it gives full wattage to output if no no welding is required or at least thats how i understand it in 7 days i ran about a 200 bucks plus i ran the neibours fridge and freezers.I ran for 3 or four hours on 4 hours off till 11pm then off till 7eveything stayed froze and cold plus hot showers.

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Seen a few of those different welders running around town. They work great

3macs1 said:

Anyone running one of those generators that will take propane and gasoline
Looking at buying just a middle of the road one. Thinking westinghouse may be 5000 amp
Getting gas this time was a nightmare and I had like 5 full tanks of propane here that would have bought me a couple of days
Also looks like I can get a kit for like 250 to add the option to my honda but still would like to have a second back up generator
Thanks for the feedback

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Thanks guys for your feedback Kevin's post with the time he got running propane nailed it for me and I ordered a mid sized westinghouse yesterday but he said looking at the end of the year for delivery

PA has all the generator kits on sale in the new flyer. OCT 11 thru 23rd. Thru wall w/ 6 outlets (same as mine) for 99.99...and all the bigger ones... 30A or 50A 6 circuit or 10 circuit boxes and hardware...449.99 to 599.99...lots of different plugs connectors and receptacles.

KEVIN said:

PA has all the generator kits on sale in the new flyer. OCT 11 thru 23rd. Thru wall w/ 6 outlets (same as mine) for 99.99...and all the bigger ones... 30A or 50A 6 circuit or 10 circuit boxes and hardware...449.99 to 599.99...lots of different plugs connectors and receptacles.

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I seen those yesterday when ordering some of the military style ( but much cheaper) jerry cans from them. Yellow on sale red not
Yep learned 15 gallons of gas is not enough for next time so ordered 5 more 20l cans
No idea what that transfer switch brand is like but my bud told me to get generac plus I have it on back order for months
I would say they are fine also however

probably all coming out of the same plant in china...different door for different companies...same as the generators.

KEVIN said:

probably all coming out of the same plant in china...different door for different companies...same as the generators.

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Yep agree. I could have got that westinghouse generator from another place in stock but same machine 400 more. I can wait since it is just a backup machine and I am trying to stay away from for a 3 year old honda in halifax for sale for an excellent price IMO but I want propane back up and will be no father ahead to buy that
have to run tomato picking time
Not bad today only 65 pounds ordered so far and seeing the end of the greens but a ton of reds coming hopefully enough to cover the new generator
Christ garlic planting time is quickly coming also so have to till this weekend I guess. Losing that week with the storm and adding an extra week oif work from it puts one way behind

Thanks to everyone who weighed in. I already have a generator that I bought on sale at Home Hardware. Pretty hard to beat that price, and a 5 year warranty to boot! I definitely will have no problem with a PA panel. I just figured if you have a generator wit a 50 amp plug, why not use it? I do like the idea of being able to use the stove top burners, well pump, some lights, furnace fan, fridge, freezer (a couple hours periodically), maybe the microwave, and hot water would be awesome. Mind you with the propane turkey cooker, fish fry burner, and barbeque for cooking and heating hot water (to wash your arse) we could get by. We have before!

TrueGrit said:

Thanks to everyone who weighed in. I already have a generator that I bought on sale at Home Hardware. Pretty hard to beat that price, and a 5 year warranty to boot! I definitely will have no problem with a PA panel. I just figured if you have a generator wit a 50 amp plug, why not use it? I do like the idea of being able to use the stove top burners, well pump, some lights, furnace fan, fridge, freezer (a couple hours periodically), maybe the microwave, and hot water would be awesome. Mind you with the propane turkey cooker, fish fry burner, and barbeque for cooking and heating hot water (to wash your arse) we could get by. We have before!

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I have to do some research with micro waves and generators. Mine is in the back of my truck fried and not from a power surge
Comes on for a minute and shuts off after I hooked it to the generator so bought a new one monday. I think I didnot have enough watts left when I plugged it in and damaged it since I pulled nothing out

3macs1 said:

I have to do some research with micro waves and generators. Mine is in the back of my truck fried and not from a power surge
Comes on for a minute and shuts off after I hooked it to the generator so bought a new one monday. I think I didnot have enough watts left when I plugged it in and damaged it since I pulled nothing out

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Probably the brownout damaged it. I'm no expert but have been told that sensitive electronics like computers for example are easily damaged by brownout.