Generators just have to be one of the best inventions ever. Power when and where you need it.
I’m not any kind of generator expert; I’m just a user and a big fan of what these machines have allowed us to do over the years. In the past I’ve owned several types and sizes of generators in my commercial construction company. We were able to work way up in the mountains or anywhere else that power wasn’t available. We’ve built everything from buildings to bridges with nothing more than a generator to power our tools.
Right now, living off grid, I own two generators. One is a 3500 watt portable and inexpensive generator. The other is a more expensive 12 KW home standby generator.
I use the small one for all kinds of things. If I have to install a new entry gate, I just load my tools, materials, and the generator up in a vehicle, drive it to the work spot and get to work. When we camped on our property I used it to pump water into a holding tank. I also used it to charge my trailer batteries. Sometimes I may have to load it up along with the air compressor and drive to a remote spot on the property and air up a flat tire. There is almost no limit to the usefulness of a small portable generator.
The only thing I would recommend in a small one is that you go for one that has a 220v option. I still use mine to pump water on occasion. I also use it sometimes to charge my solar batteries and that is done on 220v because of the way my system is wired. You may never use the 220v option but it sure is nice to have when you do need it.
Most of us who live off grid and use an alternative power source such as solar, wind, or hydro, also have a battery backup power storage system. That is where my power comes from at night or anytime the sun isn’t shining and the solar panels aren’t producing power.
I can go about 3-4 days living off my batteries until they need to be charged again. If the sun still isn’t shining then I use one of my two generators. When the batteries are very low, I use my Kohler 12kw (12,000 watt) propane generator. It produces about 125 amps at 90% capacity and in my case that brings the batteries up about 10% per hour. So if the batteries are at 60% capacity I can run my big generator for one hour and they will be charged to 70% capacity, an increase of 10%.
Mathematically that would mean if you started charging when the batteries were at 60% capacity then you would have to charge for four hours to get them to 100% but unfortunately that isn’t quite how it works. All of our systems are different but for mine, as you get close to 85% – 90% capacity, the (ever so smart) inverter will slow the charging down. It’s not good to throw that much charging power at your batteries as they get closer to full charge.
The inverter will slow the charging capacity down from 125 charging amps to 60 and then 30 and so on, so that by the time you get to 100% the charge will be very small.
My small generator will charge the system as high as 60 amps although that is pushing its capacity.
Bottom line, when the batteries are way low, I use the big generator up to about 90% capacity and after that I may switch over to the smaller generator. Why run the big one when the inverter won’t let it charge at its total capacity? I think it’s more efficient to use the small generator to charge that last 10% or so.
I like the Kohler but be forewarned that if you are using it like I am for off grid purposes, Kohler will not honor the warranty. They claim the generator just isn’t built for long term use. It has an aluminum block, is not water cooled, etc. It was created to come on a couple of times a year when the power goes out in an urban residence. That’s why it is called a “Standby Generator”. They say it is not intended for the type of regular use it would get in an off grid situation. I run mine about 100 hours per year.
It is my understanding that Generac now has a 6,000 watt generator that IS made for off grid use and that size would be adequate for us. I’m not promoting products, just trying to make you aware of some of the pitfalls of backup generators in the off grid world and what options you might have to overcome that. Backwoods Solar used to sell a propane fueled, water cooled, name brand generator but it was very expensive and not UL listed so in this state you couldn’t use it anyway.
Like I said, I’m not an expert. Like anything else involving off grid living, do your home work and you will be okay. Just be aware that warranties can be an issue and you always want to be careful you get the right size generator. Too small and you will wear it out before its time. Too large and excess power may be wasted.
Ed and Laurie Essex live off grid in the Okanogan Highlands of Washington State where they operate their website goodideasforlife.com and offgridworks.com.
Hi
Thank you for sharing you advice in ME. I am an electronic technician by occupation and amateur alternative energy provider/installer. Ma y I suggest Lister Petter. Over the years I’ve ended up coming back to them because they are the best engine or genset I’ve used. Most everything else is junk by comparison. Properly configured with a Stamford its hard to beat. I run mine off of biodiesel made from used cooking oil or soybean oil.
I think the responsible thing to do is to help people cut the chase. I’m no longer willing to offer quanity over quality. Times are tough for most Americans and they need sound advice. It took me several yrs and throwing away $$ to find the good stuff. Although a bit more costly, it’s worth it. Many folks just venturing in this don’t know where to start and don’t have months to properly research this.
Just my experience!
Best regards,
Bill
Where can I get one of this, and what do you mean used cooking oil? I’m interested in finding more about this, as we prepare ourselves this yr to go off the grid; little trials at first to see what we are missing, fixed failures, but I don’t like being so dependant on others; although a hoax, this past Apocalipse scare, got me thinking, what if for X or Y we didn’t have electricity? the water will go, because I presume the water company uses electric pumps, and no water or electricity, we’ll be pretty crippled…so time to plan for the worst, besides it can save money, and the most important thing is the sense of self-fulfillment.
Doc,
I’m not sure what you are referring to? what do you want to know – “where to get one of these?”
Ed
Question. My neighbor has a generator. I do not. There are a couple of times a year when the electric goes off due to storms and it is a problem if more than one day as I have a well and cannot use it w/o power. I have resisted a generator because I don’t need one more thing that will not start(because it is used so little) and I don’t like messing with gas/propane tank storage in my garage or barn. I would be very interested in the solar battery system. Is this type of system super expensive? And can the batteries store the energy for long time periods w/o being used regularly. Since I receive little sun light for days at a time in the winter I would like the system to be able to store the power.
Also, if I would decide to get a generator for my well(and refrigerator) in case of power outage, could I go with a small one or not?
Thank you.
k
Just read your article about the solar system you installed. $15,000 +/- is not an option for sporatic usage for my well/Ref. when power is off for more than a day a couple of times a year. However, if the system is only used to operate a well/ref. once in a while could a smaller system be used-or is solar not an option if not used on daily basis? I think I need to do some additional investigating on generators. Would be interested in how small a generator I could get by with buying for infrequent usage.
I hope I am not the only person in the world that contacts you that does not really ‘live off the grid’ but is trying to conserve/be green as much as possible.
Thank you.
k
Hi Karen,
Thanks for asking.
For you, I would recommend the same thing I put in my mothers house. She has a 3500 watt generator. I had an electrician come over and put an approved hookup for the generator at her panel. We then chose several circuits from her electrical panel to be run by the generator when the power goes out. She chose the refrigerator circuit, bathroom, a few lights etc.
You could hook your pump up to yours. If it is a 100 volt pump any generator will do. If it is a 200 volt pump you will have to get a generator with that option. I have a 110/220 generator as a backup as well that I can use to pump water with if necessary.
The reason I suggest an electrician is that your generator plugin needs to be properly installed so that when you turn your generator on it will not send power backwards through your panel to the utility system and fry a linesman who is out repairing the lines to restore power.
I’ve had my generator for six years and have used it a lot. It still starts on the first or second pull. That is typical with most generators. I got my mother one with battery start so she just pushes a button.
I paid $600.00 for her electrical hookup (generator to panel) and you can get a 3500 watt generator for about $350.00. I know it is a lot but it sure is nice to have when the power goes out.
Solar would cost a lot more because you need enough power to run your water pump and refrigerator. They both consume a lot of energy. Yes the batteries store power when the sun isn’t shining. I figure that you would have to spend several thousand dollars for a system large enough to do what you want to do.
I can go about four days on my battery system which cost about $22,000. Of course that is a complete household and business, but it would still cost you a lot more for solar/battery backup than a generator.
Ed
Im new to all this, going solar, is there a way you can go exclusively on solar power? I mean when there isn’t sun (which in sunny central California is quite rare) you have back up, or do u have to go back to the electric company? so is it a supplemental system (to lower cost) or could it be a complete alternative? what other power options are? I’m interested in very basic powering, w couple of lights will b great (like kitchen), 1 freezer and 1 refrigerator, (can’t still figure out how to preserve raw meat yet), and I guess kitchen type of electrodomestics; we can do without electricity everywhere else…I think. is there an option for setting this up? what other power options exist (that are cost efficient). Thanks and keep on being an inspiration.
Hi Doc,
Yes, solar can be a stand alone power system. Ours is. You can read all about it in our Solar Talk section. Wind and hydro are two other stand alone types of power systems that are available.
Each type has its pluses and minuses. Not all are cost efficient. There is a lot of information out there. You can look online or go to your local library.
Ed