Hurricane Fiona

TonyM said:

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.

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Yep agree Was not 100% sure that can happen with a generator but after some reading know now it can
Mrs set it for 7 minutes and it was running fine for 5 minutes 20 sec then beep and a restart run one minute and that was it
I had it on the same plug as one freezer
Think the freezer just happened to kick in and as you say brownout
Lesson for Joe next time micro wave all alone on circuit when using
take care

I can hear the rpms change in my generator when the electric kettle goes on...microwave starts or fridge cuts in.

KEVIN said:

I can hear the rpms change in my generator when the electric kettle goes on...microwave starts or fridge cuts in.

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X2

Although running the Diesel Engine as Generator you never get change in RPM as its going to the Inverter to charge battery pack that gets drawn on when the solar panels cannot keep up . One of the good benefits of Off Grid hook ups

That is what I was hoping to avoid by going with a 50 amp vs 30 amp. Didn't know if it would help or not but I figured more power, less problems. May have to do with dirty power vs clean power that comes from an inverter. Probably the same thing as brownout.

TrueGrit said:

That is what I was hoping to avoid by going with a 50 amp vs 30 amp. Didn't know if it would help or not but I figured more power, less problems. May have to do with dirty power vs clean power that comes from an inverter. Probably the same thing as brownout.

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Those with boilers and newer furnaces might want to be wary of the dirty power issue. I was told the dirty power might have an effect on the electronics. Just something to be aware of. I don't run my boiler with my generator because I was told this, I really need to look into this more.

my experience is with generators installed at commercial buildings - most of our gensets have auto transfer switches and voltage regulators. For some applications re electronics we sometimes add a UPS device and/or surge protectors.

links from a cpl reputable brands - its good basic info on gensets and theres specific sections on home standby gensets;

Buckmark said:

My stepson and FIL both have dual fuel Firmans. I wanted to buy one, but they were all sold out around here when I was looking. Firman is a good brand. I ended up buying a dual fuel Benchmark 11,500 watt. Neither of us has used the propane side of it yet … but it’s nice to have that option.

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I ordered the westinghouse which the guy says he has no idea when I will see it maybe months but just got in a firman dual fuel
Have no experience with them but if you guys are having no issues I think I and going to change my order and take the ferman which he says I can
Thanks for the feedback. Ferman it is and a back up to the honda beast I have

My stepson is not an impulse buyer. He read numerous reviews, and researched the hell out of it. Firman is supposed to be a good brand of generator. To be honest … I have never heard of the name until they bought them. I guess I just wasn’t looking for a generator, but when I was … Firmans were all sold out. I wanted to stay away from King, so I “settled” for a Benchmark. If I was you Joe … I would go with the Firman.

Buckmark said:

My stepson is not an impulse buyer. He read numerous reviews, and researched the hell out of it. Firman is supposed to be a good brand of generator. To be honest … I have never heard of the name until they bought them. I guess I just wasn’t looking for a generator, but when I was … Firmans were all sold out. I wanted to stay away from King, so I “settled” for a Benchmark. If I was you Joe … I would go with the Firman.

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It is a DONE deal he said it will be here around the 15th
I figured any guy that can drive a bike for years with no helmet on and not dead cannot be as dumb and I first thought
Like you never heard of them before but again it will be a second unit here so doesn't have to work all the time but sure it will be just fine
thanks again

Buckmark said:

My stepson is not an impulse buyer. He read numerous reviews, and researched the hell out of it. Firman is supposed to be a good brand of generator. To be honest … I have never heard of the name until they bought them. I guess I just wasn’t looking for a generator, but when I was … Firmans were all sold out. I wanted to stay away from King, so I “settled” for a Benchmark. If I was you Joe … I would go with the Firman.

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Just some feedback
Talking to a bud today that works on all makes of generators and I mentioned I ordered a firman as a back up what are they like
His comments
joe they are not your commercial honda and you cannot run them 24 hours with just stopping to refill the tank . I have seen quite a few screw the valves from heat/oiling issues if you do
I would run it for like 6 and shut it off for 2 or 3 and it will be fine he said and run syn oil after the break in which I know that is all you use in everything anyway
Other than that I have seen no other issues so far
I checked with Firman and they came back with this which I found interesting

We recommend running it for no longer than 14 hours with a 2-3 hour break in between.
Cheers

If your running them in your garage make sure the door is up and make sure they have good airflow around them to dissipate the heat since the majority are air cooled.And when you shut them down un plug them and let them idle for a few mins before shutting them down do not shut them off at full throttle.It can cause compression or piston lock which is along the lines of seizing the motor.Check your oil everyday

682bubba said:

If your running them in your garage make sure the door is up and make sure they have good airflow around them to dissipate the heat since the majority are air cooled.And when you shut them down un plug them and let them idle for a few mins before shutting them down do not shut them off at full throttle.It can cause compression or piston lock which is along the lines of seizing the motor.Check your oil everyday

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Good advice.

First time on Nsh since Fiona hit.
Just got internet back yesterday.
Pictou County got hit pretty hard.

I wuz wunderin where in the heck you were. Glad you're ok

KEVIN said:

I wuz wunderin where in the heck you were. Glad you're ok

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Same here. Still some with no power here They told my bud sunday for him and there was only like 40 to go yesterday

Thanks, I appreciate that!
We were ok, lost a few shingles but gave the power saws quite a work out for a week or so with all the downed trees.

682bubba said:

If your running them in your garage make sure the door is up and make sure they have good airflow around them to dissipate the heat since the majority are air cooled.And when you shut them down un plug them and let them idle for a few mins before shutting them down do not shut them off at full throttle.It can cause compression or piston lock which is along the lines of seizing the motor.Check your oil everyday

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I have been treating my champion generator like a power slut. She needs an oil change big time, but has a low oil shut off so I generally wasn't worried about low oil. But it's probably dirty, I will likely change it out when I change out the snowblower oil here soon.

You wouldn't be leave the people who arn't mechanical they don't realize when the oil is low some machinces won't start cause of the low oil switch so they think the machines are kaput.When all they had to do is add oil some machines have a light alot don't they just have the switch that won't let it start.

I shut mine off once and it was close to shutting itself off with the low oil shut off switch.
When I tried to start it it would fire and then quit, I did that a couple time and realized it was low on oil.
I can see how that would mess with people that don't know or would not think of this.

place I was going to hang a tree stand is devasted. Unreal - whole hilltops mowed down, nothing but uprooted trees. Had 4 cams out, only retrieved 3. Crawled under/over fallen trees for about an hour and couldnt find it - so many trees down its hard to tell the exact location, lol. Likely go back in Spring and take another look.