Too many appliances on a generator???

[crazie.eddie]

I'm looking to get a generator, probably the Sears Craftsman Briggs & Stratton Generator, Elec Start 10 HP (model# 030298) (http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07132565000P?keyword=generator). I'm looking to plug in the following:
- 125 gallon tank, which includes an XP3 (w/Hydor inline 200 watt heater), Eheim Pro II 2128 (built in 210 watt heater). Instead of unplugging the lights (Coralife 72" deluxe PC), airpumps, powerheads (2 of them), I will include these as well.
- 29 gallon tank, which includes an Eheim Ecco 2234 (w/Hydor inline 200 watt heater), and also the lights (30" Coralife 36 watt T5), airpumps, and powerheads.
- 20 gallon long, which includes an Eheim Ecco 2234 (w/Hydor inline 200 watt heater), and also the lights (30" Coralife 36 watt T5), airpumps, and powerheads.
- 38 gallon, which includes Marineland Emperor 280 and a Won Brothers 300 watt heater.
- 10 gallon, which includes an ViaAqua 300 watt heater, and also the lights (NO Flourscent), airpumps.
- 29 gallon, which includes a Marineland Emperor 400, Wonn Brothers 300 watt heater, and NO flourscent light.
- 2 Refrigerators
- 1 Freezer

I don't know if the above list will too much for the generator or not. I understand if a generator is running full, that the engine works harder. I was wondering if you overload a generator, will there be less power to run on all appliances plugged into it or will the engine just work even harder?

[jeep]

That's a 5600 watt generator. Add up at the wattage of everything you want to power up. If it's less than 5600 then you will be fine!

[gta333]

You will have to figure the voltage loss. The further away the generator is from the device the less voltage you will have at them. make sure you use atleast #12 wire cord to plug them in. Gary

[Greg Richardson]

The generator will quit if you overload has been my experience. Remember the watts you see is for peak power.
You want to run it under that. Like the advice given add it all up. You'll feel much better when you make your purchase.

To give you an idea I power up one fridge, TV, X-box, microwave when needed, couple lights in my house when power goes out.

At the same time in my fish room a separate building I run four tanks, TV, Computer with two monitors, fridge, stereo, microwave when needed.

One cord goes to house, one to fish room. One is 100ft long.
Other is 50ft. Both heavy duty cords. This is a 3500 watt Honda.

So I think you'll be fine but I think it will make you feel a whole lot better adding it all up knowing for sure.

Remember if you are close to peak power after adding it up you can run your fridges off and on. They will stay fine cold wise and your generator work better and will last longer imo.

[phidelt85]

I have the model just above that one, and I ran my furnace, fridge, TV, Heat/air for my 125gal, storage tank pump/600W of heater, lights off of it. It pegged out at 40% output at times on the generator.

[tonymaccs]

Remember to compare the power you will draw to the DUTY rating or output of the generator, not the peak output.
I'd estimate from what you've listed there you will have plenty of reserve to run some house fixtures as well which will help keep the family members from rioting when they are sitting in the dark and your fish room is getting all the comfort!
It's likely the gen will have an auto overload cutout feature which will protect both the gen and the fixtures in case of overload- but check to be sure.
Tony

[dwall174]

I'm looking to get a generator,

If your around the Chicago Area I would check out voltmaster (http://www.voltmasteramerica.com/index.htm) in Melrose Park.

[dwall174]

Oops I just noticed the date of the last post!!!
You probably got one by now.:o

[Apistomaster]

This thread caught my eye only today because a lightening knocked out my power for six hours last night.
My block seems to be prone to outages compared to just a few blocks on either side of me. It is a pretty strange limited outage but the past power outages were in the Winter and never lasted more than 45 minutes but if I have one as long as yesterday in the winter I could get into some major fish losses.

Buying a generator is not something I want to spend money on but I am going to have to consider it. Not many of my fish are cheap or tolerant of cold because I have had to select only fish that can survive the very high temps reached despite air conditioning. A new and better air conditioner was really my planned major purchase before I go through another hot season. All my fish except discus and wild Betta spp stop breeding when the water stays at 88*F for a couple months.
I dread finding out how much a large enough unit would cost me. I just bought this house after renting it for 3 years and I spend money on fish room related things and not so much on appliances but most of the appliances are what you would expect to find in a rented house. Kind of a "Our best is none too good" sort of appliances. Like the old country western song goes, " If it it isn't one thing, its another one on the way."

[Greg Richardson]

Larry. Not sure how big fish room is but they have some stand up AC portable ones that I have noticed last two years price has gone down at HD.

[dwall174]

This thread caught my eye only today because a lightening knocked out my power for six hours last night.

The past power outages were in the Winter and never lasted more than 45 minutes but if I have one as long as yesterday in the winter I could get into some major fish losses.

Buying a generator is not something I want to spend money on but I am going to have to consider it. Not many of my fish are cheap or tolerant of cold

Even though a generator is good to have it’s not much help for long power outages in the winter unless you also have a transfer switch so that you can run the blower on your furnace. One like THIS (http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/Reliance-Controls-TF151W/p1094.html) is all you need. Trying to keep your tank temp. high enough with just the tanks heater is a PITA. Been there tried that! Even with a generator & a 1500 watt space heater I barely keep the tank over 70 degrees

[Greg Richardson]

If I didn't have a wood stove that be good idea for furnace.

[Apistomaster]

Maybe I should change my perspective and view a wipe out as an opportunity to start over?

I am insured well in case of fire and could easily rebuild a better fish room if that ever happened. I should check to see if losses due to major power outages can be covered.
Companies insure stranger things.

My visitors expect one since I have extension cords off extension cords ad infinitum. Old house with few outlet compared to modern construction.

Thanks for the suggestions. Air conditioning is not the most difficult problem to correct since I only need an 18,000 BTU unit to get enough control over the high temps. I inherited a dinosaur air conditioner almost old enough to collect social security.

[cturner]

Apistomaster, I'm curious as to what type of insurance you have? I have state farm and they will only cover my tanks not my fish or other equipment. The bad thing is with most of us our fish are more expensive than the tanks and equipment we have.

[Greg Richardson]

When it comes to insurance what most people fail to do is video tape all of their belongings.

It is rare any of us save receipts for everything we buy putting them else ware.

So if your house burns down having a video tape of everything in your house stored at a freinds house or safe deposit box it will save you a lot of heart ache.

You can't expect the insurance comopany to believe you that you had everything you state. They have guidelines after that is reached you better have proof. I have heard the stories to many times. Very sad.

[cturner]

Yeah I've got a video in a lock box at my bank and I update it every year. That way I always have an updated video. I just can't believe that my insurance won't cover my fishy friends if something were to happen to the whole tank like a burgler breaking it or natural disaster (since they seem to be happening alot, everywhere).

P.S. Sorry to have taken this thread in a whole different direction.