Generator

Bought a generator in 2019 as power outages become more common for us.

Picked a portable generator for low cost

Decide to get a dual fuel so can run on propane, but now wish I went for tri fuel so could run on natural gas too.

Didn't get an Inverter style, which I regretted at first Found out that there could be a problem trying to power electronics like laptops and phones from generator power, and I didn't want to take a chance on damaging these.

I bought a BP300 because it was on sale at Frys to supply clean power. I'm using this to power my router and cable modem in the garage. Overkill for this, but it works. I bought this to power all my electronics, but its ac adapter is only 50 watts, so if you draw more than 50 watts it drains the battery, so I didn't want to count on it to charge laptops.

So I made a 300 W Inverter for about $100. Now I 'll have plenty of clean power for electronics.

Load

Need to figure out how large a generator was required

We wanted to run the fridge and freezer in the garage. Also router/modem in the garage and electronics.

Measured with a clone kill a watt after I bought the generator. Found actual power used was much less than the power from the manuals

Fridge model et1mhkxmq00 full amp load 6.5A spec
115V X 6.5A = 750 watts per manual
Measured with kill a watt clone
Measured about 120 watts when running. I'd round up to 200 watts for sizing generator
For 100 hrs, 5.1 kwatt hours so fridge is drawing 50 watts average power since it turns on and off

Freezer FFFU14F2QWR 5.0A spec = 600 watts per manual
Measured 67-71 watts running. Round up to 100 watts for sizing generator
Measured for a day, 67w = 70va = 0.6a, 0.95pf @ 116.6V, 59.6 hz

Router/modem draw = 15 watts

Laptop PCs draw 50 watts when charging. For 4 PC's, 200 watts

Misc lights and stuff, 185 watts

So total of 700 watts power used from generator

Generator bought provides 3850w - 10% on propane = 3465 watts

They also talk about start up power because motors in fridge and freezer draw more power when they start up. Start up power for my gen is 4850-10% (propane factor).
And if you plug your motors in one at a time, with a couple mins between, you won't get all the start surge at the same time. As the motors cycle on and off, its unlikely they will start at the same time.


Generator

Duramax XP4850EH

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Duromax-4-850-3-850-Watt-Dual-Fuel-Powered-Electric-Start-Portable-Generator-XP4850EH/205299872

Was $400 in July 2019 from HD when I bought. They are more expensive now, not as good a deal.


Running Time

Estimate 20 lb propane tank for about 10 hours on a 50% load.

Estimate 80 hrs at ½ load, four gallons of gas

I ran the fridge and freezer and router/modem and charged some stuff for 8 hours, used around 1/3 of a 30 gal tank. So the larger 30 gal tank will run for around 24 hours. Costco has it too, and in store has good prices on 20 gal tanks. I found a local place the charges just for how much you need to fill the tanks.

I bought a couple 30 gal tanks (also use for backyard heater) and a couple 20 gal tanks, so have plenty of run time.


Adjusting

When I measured it, frequency was a little high, around 63 Hz at idle

There is a screw to adjust the engine speed by the carburetor which adjusts the frequency of the voltage. For me, counter clockwise slowed the engine down, lowers the frequency.

So I lowered the speed to get about 61.5 Hz at no load, so its about 60.5 Hz when loaded with 450 W or so. Should stay between 60 and 61 Hz when loaded.

I would do this after breaking in the generator.


CO (carbon monoxide)

You need to run outside, and make sure exhaust is not pointed at the house. Newer gens monitor CO, but mine doesn't.

So I bought. a CO monitor to place in the garage between the house and generator to be safe.


Maintenance

https://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/stories/1205-How-to-Maintain-a-Portable-Generator-in-5-Easy-Steps.html

it's always best to start your generator every 30 days and allow it to run for 30 minutes to charge battery and circulate oil


Breakin

https://generatorgrid.com/blog/break-in/

I put in oil, ran my generator for a an hour with no load, then changed the oil. At this point, I took out the spark plug and put some Mystery Oil in the piston.

Then ran for a couple hours and changed the oil again before using it for real.


Oil

30w or 10w30

Change every 20 hours

Worn out or dirty oil does not cool the generator properly and can lead to catastrophic engine damage.In addition to regular oil changes, it is necessary to drain the oil from the crankcase if it has become contaminated with water or dirt.

Remove drain plug and drain oil, then refill

Using a 10 mm hex wrench, unscrew the oil drain plug, which is located on the crankcase underneath the oil filler/dipstick cap. Allow all the oil to drain from the generator.


plugs/air filter

Change your spark plug and air filter every 200 hours of use, or at least once at the start of each season.

Having a new spark plug paired with a clean air filter will assure proper fuel-air mixture, helping the engine to run more efficiently and extending the lifespan of your generator.

the spark plug needs to be a ngk BPR5ES close gap to 22 and leave choke opened and it will start better on propane and also i put a new regulator on this unit make sure all hoses are tight and it will not have that little sputter running on propane the generator run well under load install hour meter for oil changes check pipe on air breather around seam to make sure no leaks.

1. Open filter cover

Unhinge the clasps at the top and bottom of the air cleaner cover.

2. Remove filter element Remove the sponge-like elements from the casing.

3. Wipe out filter casing

Wipe the dirt from inside the empty air cleaner casing.

4. Wash filter element

Wash the sponge-like elements in household dish detergent and warm water.

5. Dry filter element Allow the elements to dry completely.

6. Add engine oil to elements

Soak the dry elements in a small amount of engine oil. Ring out any excess oil.

7. Replace elements in casing

Replace the sponge-like elements in the air cleaner casing and replace the cover.




Rain Shelter

We have a folding table for outside, from Costco the Lifetime 6 ft long x 30 in wide table

Since it folds, seam in middle, so have a tarp on top to partially cover sides and ends, but making sure the allow plenty of ventilation around the generator for cooling and for exhaust.

I put the generator on old bricks to get it off the ground, and then use bricks and gallon water bottles to hold down the tarp.