generators

[andy230]

Hello all,

I suppose this is vaguely thumper!!

I'm looking for a bit of info in genny's.  I know nothing about em, but need to learn.

In order to get a bit of power in my garage, I'm considering buying a generator to provide primarily lighting (fluo tubes), maybe heat (tho will prolly go for oil/ paraffin heater), and occaisional heavy load like a powerdrill.

I've been advised that deisels are better but dearer.  True?  Are they more reliable?

What rating will I go for?  Was thinking 1500W...  Overkill?!

I've been told that some have a "storage" function, in that they can provide a limited amount of power for a short time from some sort of internal battery.  Heard of this?  That would let me nip out to look for summat in the dark and put the lights on without necessarily having to start up my genny.

Fimnally any ideas of how much to pay??

I was going to keep it round the back of the garage block.  The flats are on the other side, so it should annoy too many folk, there's no-one very nearby and there are bushes all round.  Plus, I plan on building a small box around it to semi-soundproof it (obviously considering intake & exhaust), and protect it from the weather.

Cheers, hope you are wiser than I!!  Or if anyone wants shot of one....

a

[themoudie]

Aye Andy,

Screwfix, Machine Mart and Northern Tools websites. I don't have their URL's but you know how to do that!;-)

Also ask round some of your local tool hire shops, prices, what lasts longest and what they'ed recommend for running X, Y and Z. Never know they may be able to 'help' with a slightly used machine at a preferential rate!

Cheers, Bill

[GB500nz]

go for petrol unless you're going to run it all the time. A diesel won't pay for itself if it's only used occasionally. But if there are flats nearby, why not a long flex plugged into something handy? A kero or propane heater is definitely the go for heating a shed. Just keep an eye on safety.

[Steve H]

go for petrol unless you're going to run it all the time. A diesel won't pay for itself if it's only used occasionally.

Petrol has a habit of 'going off' and furring up carbs, so a diesel might be a better bet on that basis. That said a generator carb is probabaly quite simple and made of plastic, so may be less of a problem.

[andy230]

"Thang yu vury mush!"

Elvis has now left he building!  He will plan to buy a petrol genny and speak to the guys in ye olde tool shop!

a

[guest29]

Diesel Generators - Very economical- Very Noisy

[john g]

Just seen some at B&Q at £47 ? that will run some lights & maybe a small drill etc.
Worth a try (with a years warranty?) & if not up to the job, no great loss, as you can use it when you travel about in the camper or even sell it!

[andy230]

Hi John,

Yeah, thats what prompted the original post!!  I was going to go for an inverter with a big van battery, but they looked pretty good for the money...

Will do some more research, see what I can get.  I suppose if I needed to drill, cut or grind something I could always bring it inside.

I mean, thats what kitchens are for, isn't it?!

a

[Richard]

I put a multi fuel burner (wood/coal) in my garage and it keeps it fairly warm in the winter.  Fuel is mainly scrounged.

I figure I have enough liquid combustibles in there already.

Regards,

Richard

[guest27]

Hi All

Have some remains in the shed of a mates bikes that were in a paraffin heated workshop.  Open flame plus petrol fumes etc.  Not a good mix.  Although they draw leccy power - oil filled rads are pretty good and you have to try hard to get one to set it alight.  Mind a small multifuel stove running on wood scraps sounds good too.  Machine Mart seem to do cheap ones of them too.  The MM in Swansea often seems to have damaged returns for sale - a number of gennies turn up.
Deisel ones should run on scraps from the local chip shop - with a bit of modding and petrol ones are apparently real easy to convert to LPG.
Finally I did see an ex MOD diesel 9kVA jobbie for sale not long back for £600.  NOw alot of money but should be able to run the flats on that... :-)

As an option - why not run flour lamps from a 12v source - from caravan / chandlers etc.  I picked up a couple of small ones years ago and ran a garage lightiung from them.  The car battery would last ages, Connect the battery to a charger and thence to the Genny and you will have lighting at the flick of a switch for rummaging around and then for longer visits fire up the genny and charge the battery as well as running a couple of bigger lights?

R

[themoudie]

Multi-fuel stove sounds good and I have one, but beware, a friend lost the following after a spark/ember dropped out from an unattended 19kg gas bottle multifuel stove conversion.

Garage with stone walls, concrete floor and corrugated iron roof.
Guzzi 750 S3
Ducati 750 SS 1981 type
Armstrong 500 [magnesium cases went like flares!]
Serow
Gilera 160 1950's
Guzzi Monza
DT175
MZ 250
2 X Guzzi's in bits
Friends Guzzi LeMan MkII in storage
All tools, spares, luggage - gone!

Ducati 160 engine looks like a slumping jelly and conrods and cranks deformed of all other engines, no alloy apart from the Duke 160 didn't melt!

Make sure your insurance is up to scratch, as a fire like this WILL change your outlook on the 'material things' of life!

I hope nobody else experiences this.

Regards, Bill