Generator

[Puddleduck]

Yes, I know a contentious issue!!!

Following the storm we are without mains power in the house. We are okay and the power company are aware. I am classed as "highly vulnerable" and there was talk of moving me to a hotel but that is not possible (ambulance transfer / medical equipment / special diet).

Anyway we are running essential stuff on our generator which we calculate to be about 23 years old and starting to show it's age. So although Jenny has served us faithfully for many years we probably need to replace her. The recoil starter has been replaced a couple of times and is on it's way out again. Difficult to fix in the dark

Anyone any recommendations? 3kw output ideally. Pure sine wave would be nice along with electric start and budget is around £1000 max.

 

[Bill-H]

There's Honda 3600 on special offer here:-

https://www.tnsgroup.co.uk/product/honda-eg3600-3-6kw-generator/?gQT=1

Honda reliability doesn't come cheap

 

[Carpmart]

I used a Kippor Generator for seven season of motor racing. It got bashed around the paddock, ran on 2stroke mix and generally abused. Highly recommend them! It even started perfectly after being stored for a year… sold it for 40% of what I paid for it nearly 10 years after buying it too.

 

[Revolvor]

I've got one of these. Recoil and electric start, and can be easily wheeled around. The only problem I have found is that the battery can go flat if left for a long time, and then it won't start, even manually. I overcome that by periodically connecting a maintenance battery charger.

Hyundai 3200W / 3.2 kW Petrol Inverter Generator, Remote Keyfob & Electric Start, Wheel Kit & Closed Case Design | HY3200SEi

The HY3200SEi is a compact yet powerful portable inverter generator from Hyundai providing a convenient and cost-effective source of power. Ideal for camping, caravans, campers, motorhomes, or backup power. Available here.

hyundaipowerequipment.co.uk

 

[LostInSpace]

The only problem I have found is that the battery can go flat if left for a long time, and then it won't start, even manually. I overcome that by periodically connecting a maintenance battery charger.

I like that idea. I would add a small inverter with a light so you see what what you are doing.

A permanent float charger would be better than periodic charging which can be forgotten.

Up to this point the system is within budget. but then leaves itself open to the addition of a bigger battery/inverter for immediate standby power.

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[Dave and Jen]

I've got one of these. Recoil and electric start, and can be easily wheeled around. The only problem I have found is that the battery can go flat if left for a long time, and then it won't start, even manually. I overcome that by periodically connecting a maintenance battery charger.

Hyundai 3200W / 3.2 kW Petrol Inverter Generator, Remote Keyfob & Electric Start, Wheel Kit & Closed Case Design | HY3200SEi

The HY3200SEi is a compact yet powerful portable inverter generator from Hyundai providing a convenient and cost-effective source of power. Ideal for camping, caravans, campers, motorhomes, or backup power. Available here.

hyundaipowerequipment.co.uk

Puddleduck looks like a no brainer to me.
Cheers, Dave

 

[tacr2man]

Friend of mine didnt want the expense of a Honda so bought a Hyundai , as UK warranty and parts back up , and was very pleased with it , so one of these might be worth considering as it seems to meet your specs

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Landy Andy]

I’d keep the old one.

Newer isn’t always better. A GOOD service and a proper look over by someone who knows what they are doing will keep that going forever. If you want a backup, get a power pack like an Ecoflow.

 

[Puddleduck]

I’d keep the old one.

Newer isn’t always better. A GOOD service and a proper look over by someone who knows what they are doing will keep that going forever. If you want a backup, get a power pack like an Ecoflow.

The old one is well past it, very worn and parts no longer available

After over 20 years sterling service (and was a "factory second" when purchased) it owes us nothing. Might put it in the local auction as spares or repairs.

 

[Broadway]

I have a green gear lpg generator. Works very well.

LPG Generator 5kW Eco-Friendly Reliable & Powerful. 40% Fuel Savings

5kW LPG propane generator with free service kit. Reliable gas generator for various uses. Clean power, easy electric start, multi-voltage display, low maintenance, no fuel odors, extended engine life, cost-effective, free delivery. Outside and Mobile catering

mobcater.com

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[Puddleduck]

The new Genny will need to be petrol / diesel. It goes behind the garage so too much effort to get an LPG supply to it.

 

[Broadway]

I just stand a 6kg calor cylinder next to mine. The delivery guy even swaps it when empty.

 

[Puddleduck]

I just stand a 6kg calor cylinder next to mine. The delivery guy even swaps it when empty.

We would have to go and get a cylinder. No delivery service out here except for filling of the bulk tanks a couple of neighbours use for heating.

I no longer drive and am not sure if the bus driver would let me take a cylinder on the bus!!

 

[Stoosal]

I’ve got a diesel KIPOR with auto start ie starts automatically if you want it to on mains supply/power going off. We are subject to a lot of power cuts and currently into day two with estimate of midnight tomorrow before reconnection following high winds. We went big (kde 6700) so it deals with heating, kettle, lights, oven etc at same time if we need it to. It’s relatively noisy so it’s in garage and exhaust to outside but worth considering neighbours etc! We can just hear it inside but not intrusive. Runs easily for about 8hrs before needing refuelled.

 

[3cabbages]

I used a Kippor Generator for seven season of motor racing. It got bashed around the paddock, ran on 2stroke mix and generally abused. Highly recommend them! It even started perfectly after being stored for a year… sold it for 40% of what I paid for it nearly 10 years after buying it too.

I knew you had some Scottish blood!

LOL ,Leo (3cabbages)

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[jockaneezer]

I've heard mixed results of the Hyundai gennys/motors, badge engineering at its best as most have never been within 200 miles of a Hyundai plant ?
The other ones to avoid are those "3 phase generators" with 3x 240v sockets on them. They're made of purest chineseum and their rated output wouldn't go amiss as part of a Grimm's fairy tale !
I've just lent my little 3kva genny out today to a neighbour's friend to keep their freezer going, I can't remember the brand, or whether it's "pure sine wave" or not, but it runs my stuff (mostly tools/inverter welder) and is British made (the generator part at least, the motor is a Lombardini) but maybe this type is a bit too industrial/noisy for you compared to say a Honda GU ?

 

[old-mo]

I have a 3.5 klw petrol suitcase generator... bought it last year for the up and coming "Power Cut`s"... we were told were coming.. Did not have one.. cos I am on 22/7 oxygen machine and a small 1ltre was not man enough... so flogged it and bought the 3.5klw one..

Told because of this Eogen storm we would definitely have cut`s this time.... couple of hours of strong wind and a few downpours and that was it...

After Judy went and got petrol filled it up and both of us tried pulling the cord and both gave up, ended up asking a friend across the road to have a go....... 3 pulls and it burst into life.... SUITCASE size YES,,, Weight wise about 50kilo....

Cannot go asking other people to come and start it really...... So getting rid of,,, just over a year old and been run for approx 10 minutes. Cost me I think about £6-700........... For sale Collected £300.. Bargain comes with original box, manual, tools, and other stuff to run 12 volt...

It would cost I imagine a fair few quid to get it collected and delivered, but the offer is there... if it helps...

 

[Minxy]

Funsters courier service could surely get it up North ... especially if 'smoked kippers' were on offer as a reward!

 

[Kelsae2]

Helen
Pearsons of Duns deliver Flo Gas cylinders if that is any help.

 

[Puddleduck]

Power cut now estimated to go on until midnight tomorrow. (23.59 26 Jan). That is the 4th restoration time we have been given.

Just hoping Jenny lasts that long.

SPEN and Social Services involved as not sure I can keep going that long if Jenny packs up

A hotel is not going to work as I need a wheelchair accessible room plus hospital style bed and I need a specialist diet of course.

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[Puddleduck]

The Jenny we have now is a Briggs and Stratton (or is that Stratton and Briggs).

When bought it was almost top of the range and was worth every penny. Bought to power tools when we built this house so has been very well used.

 

[AdrianChen]

We have a honda jobby which is very quiet (we live in a small village so it needs to be), but I noticed that Loncin have a copy that is almost the same!

The 3.5 version is here:

Loncin LC3500i Inverter Generator

Silent Running 230V 3000 Rated Watts 3.3 KVA 7 hr running time Electric & recoil start Stable output ideal for sensitive electronics Ideal for camping, caravan and general leisure use

www.justgenerators.co.uk

Dont have experience of their generators, but several lawnmower makers and our Mountfield use the Loncin motors that are a simplified copy of the Honda's. Have to say the motor on that has been very good for the last 5 years.

Our Hyundai generator lasted two years less then 50hrs, it was an air cooled diesel, and embarrassingly noisy. It lost compression somehow, giving me the excuse to change it......

 

[tacr2man]

Power cut now estimated to go on until midnight tomorrow. (23.59 26 Jan). That is the 4th restoration time we have been given.

Just hoping Jenny lasts that long.

SPEN and Social Services involved as not sure I can keep going that long if Jenny packs up

A hotel is not going to work as I need a wheelchair accessible room plus hospital style bed and I need a specialist diet of course.

if needed in a hurry screwfix sell hyundai

 

[Puddleduck]

if needed in a hurry screwfix sell hyundai

Delivery 3 Feb ......

 

[Puddleduck]

I have a 3.5 klw petrol suitcase generator... bought it last year for the up and coming "Power Cut`s"... we were told were coming.. Did not have one.. cos I am on 22/7 oxygen machine and a small 1ltre was not man enough... so flogged it and bought the 3.5klw one..

Told because of this Eogen storm we would definitely have cut`s this time.... couple of hours of strong wind and a few downpours and that was it...

After Judy went and got petrol filled it up and both of us tried pulling the cord and both gave up, ended up asking a friend across the road to have a go....... 3 pulls and it burst into life.... SUITCASE size YES,,, Weight wise about 50kilo....

Cannot go asking other people to come and start it really...... So getting rid of,,, just over a year old and been run for approx 10 minutes. Cost me I think about £6-700........... For sale Collected £300.. Bargain comes with original box, manual, tools, and other stuff to run 12 volt...

It would cost I imagine a fair few quid to get it collected and delivered, but the offer is there... if it helps...

A very generous offer but no idea how we would collect it.

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[Puddleduck]

And some good news!!!

An SPEN van has just arrived with an emergency generator as they have been informed I am now "at risk". Thank you Social Services and NHS emergency response teams.

The SPEN people were full of apologies as they should have responded after 24 hours but obviously with the way things worked out other people were much more of a priority as we were managing (just) with Jenny.

So priority for next week is to sort out Jenny 2.

EDIT: The SPEN Genny isn't working. We will manage tonight and they will come back in the morning. I am going to use the medical equipment I have delayed using so I get some sleep .....

 

[Googlebot]

Looks like you have already, but just in case you haven’t, make sure your GP is aware. They can do lots of things to try and avoid you getting admitted to hospital and can call on lots of different people to supply you with medical equipment and staff to avoid getting to the stage where you can’t cope at home.

Hope they sort it with the generator this morning.

 

[fishplug]

It's been a while since I researched generators, but at the time the Champion ones were coming in as the leading contender to the Hondas.

So, I bought one and used it for many years to power high consumption devices (fridge, deep fat fryer....) while doing outdoor catering.

Have been extremely happy with it.

I see they do an electric start one although it's £100 over your budget.

The Hyundai looks fantastic for the price and size, so I'm only mentioning the Champion in case it allows you to power more stuff with its 8000w compared to the Hyundai's 3200w - I don't know if that's important to you or not (or might become so later on)?

 

[Puddleduck]

Looks like you have already, but just in case you haven’t, make sure your GP is aware. They can do lots of things to try and avoid you getting admitted to hospital and can call on lots of different people to supply you with medical equipment and staff to avoid getting to the stage where you can’t cope at home.

Hope they sort it with the generator this morning.

The GP is aware and is absolutely fantastic as are all at the surgery. I think we keep them supplied with tea, coffee, chocolate and biscuits!!!

Social Services are a bit curate's egg. My case is classed as urgent for needing support at home and ss will carry out an emergency assessment in 6 weeks - that's an assessment not putting any help in place which could take months. However the emergency care team were top rate and have put a bomb under SPEN.

And thanks for the positive thoughts for the generator.

It's been a while since I researched generators, but at the time the Champion ones were coming in as the leading contender to the Hondas.

So, I bought one and used it for many years to power high consumption devices (fridge, deep fat fryer....) while doing outdoor catering.

Have been extremely happy with it.

I see they do an electric start one although it's £100 over your budget.

The Hyundai looks fantastic for the price and size, so I'm only mentioning the Champion in case it allows you to power more stuff with its 8000w compared to the Hyundai's 3200w - I don't know if that's important to you or not (or might become so later on)?

The Champion one with electric start and high output might be worth the extra as it would power the whole house with lights and sockets as well as what we do now (central heating, fridge, freezer, internet hub and power banks). The internet hub is needed for phone thanks to the imposition of DigitalVoice. Mobiles work for so long then the back up power on the repeater tower fails so then no mobile signal. Our water supply system has also been improved from the simple gravity fed to a pumped system and when the power fails..... We do have a stock of bottled water.

When the SPEN Gen is sorted I will get Martin to ask make, model, output etc and see if that would be even better or if it is one to avoid.

It will be time to call Calum, our lovely electrical genius to see if we can sort some sort of change over system between grid power and Genny that complies with all the regulations. Old Genny has a separate mini-circuit to run heating etc so no mains connection at all but we need to move plugs on appliances from the mains circuit to the Genny circuit. It's worked well for 20+ years but we are getting older and perhaps there is a better way.

I'm sure the issue with SPEN Gen will be simple but it was so dark, wet and cold last night, people were tired and it was better to come back to it fresh this morning. I hope all the emergency staff got some respite overnight as they are working their socks off.

 

[Puddleduck]

SPEN Gen up and running 5 minute fix seen to easily in the light and when folks were less tired.

I think every broken generator has been dragged out of sheds and outhouses to be robbed for parts and there are now a few Frankenstein's Monster / Igor contraptions where 3 broken gennies make up one that works!!

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