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Post by wildhorseluvr on Jan 3, 2021 3:24:00 GMT
OK, this will probably be the one and only time you will ever see me in the Mechanical section...
I was out in the shop this afternoon and took a look at a small, old generator sitting out there. It’s a Honda-Kawasaki 1400z, I’m guessing it’s probably from the mid-80s? What can it be used for?
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Post by farmrbrown on Jan 3, 2021 4:25:52 GMT
www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/honda-eg1500-generator.76358/You could use it for lighting and small appliances, just check the output with a volt meter first, before running anything off it. If you're not sure, check the labels/nameplates on the device you want power with it. 120 volts AC x amperage = watts. So if the 1400z means it produces 1400 watts, I'd say anything that uses 10 amps or less would be fine.
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Post by BrewDaddy on Jan 3, 2021 4:30:06 GMT
OK, this will probably be the one and only time you will ever see me in the Mechanical section... I was out in the shop this afternoon and took a look at a small, old generator sitting out there. It’s a Honda-Kawasaki 1400z, I’m guessing it’s probably from the mid-80s? What can it be used for? I'm only guessing.... But if the 1400z is saying 1400 watts, then I'd say it can do plenty in a grid down situation at least... Use it to charge up a battery bank, throw an Inverter on the batt bank, and you should be able to run your fridge, or a freezer, run some LED lights, a couple fans.... maybe not all at once, or for all that long, but better than nothing... If it starts, it's a keeper.... But I'm just guessing. bd
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Post by wildhorseluvr on Jan 3, 2021 5:07:14 GMT
Ok, I won’t toss it out. After doing a little research, it looks like it most likely means 1400 watts. Maybe not big enough to run a fridge or freezer but if I had an extended power outage, DSil has a number of big generators for appliances or to run my well pump. But the 1400 watt would be nice for smaller things. I seem to remember DH using it to run lights and such at times in the motor home? pretty sure it will run. Might need to have it tuned up? Looks like I need to put a 6500 watt generator on my wish list...
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Post by fordy on Jan 3, 2021 6:05:31 GMT
...............I purchased a Champion 9375 watt model for emergency power outages couple years back ! It came with a remote start fob so I can start it from inside my trailer . With a larger genset you could have an electrician install an automatic switch that will start the genny when your power goes out . When power comes back ON it will switch back to normal electric and turn the genset OFF ! Probably cost $200 or so to get the auto switchover installed , IF you have a reliable generator . , fordy
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Post by wildhorseluvr on Jan 3, 2021 6:07:44 GMT
Thanks, fordy, that would be right up my alley. 🙂
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Jan 3, 2021 17:20:35 GMT
Unless you have someone handy with small engines, I'd suggest taking it to a small engine shop and have them go through it. Chances are it wasn't run out of fuel when last used, which would make it pretty useless without draining the tank and disassembling/cleaning the carb.
Small generators like that are very fuel efficient, and if hard wired into the house circuit through a plug-in, with judicious throwing of breakers, it could pretty much light your whole house. Just make sure the main breaker leading to the incoming power line is thrown, otherwise you run the chance of shocking a repairman working on the lines.
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Post by sawmilljim on Jan 3, 2021 17:41:41 GMT
Now days there’s little chance shocking a lineman. Here they bridge the lines before working on them. Also should they turn the power back on it will probably toast the generator If they bridge the lines that for sure will toast the generator.
Here there are hundreds of chicken houses all with huge generators should one transfer switch malfunction bridging will prevent a disaster.
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Post by joebill on Jan 8, 2021 19:02:23 GMT
"A typical refrigerator draws 725 watts, according to the United States Department of Energy. Divide that number by 120 volts, which is the voltage of your power supply, to get the current that the refrigerator draws in amperes. A 725-watt refrigerator draws 725/120 = 6 amps." It does not take much of a genset to keep your food from spoiling. I have not done it, but I sort of like the following scheme; Any little old cheap inverter, just about, will top 6 amps. The key missing information is how much time does the fridge keep running? After doing the math, you can install a battery with a single solar panel hooked to it, the battery out of the way someplace, inverter right beside the fridge plug in. Power goes down, simply unplug the fridge from the wall and plug it into the inverter. No cranking generators in the dark, gasoline going bad, starter rope breaks, mud daubers build a house inside generator and above all, no noise from generator. Inverters are cheap enough; www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/Generac-6178-0/p8347.html?new_bottom=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAouD_BRBIEiwALhJH6EvHRfqjoYTeWiIG180YsPv7dFs4_nky99WXFfzPjRbjy6MZmDddoBoCMukQAvD_BwEIf I were buying solar stuff right now, I would be inclined to look at craigslist and just buy the cheapest pennies per watt in the size I needed, but a lot of others are more up to date on solar than me......Joe
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Post by joebill on Jan 18, 2021 10:58:53 GMT
Generators are valuable tools when needed, but they tend to die young and be high maintenance. I have had a number of friends over the years who tried to power a normal lifestyle with them and later named their homes "Where generators go to die".... When my late friend Mike passed away, I hauled off 9 dead generators, saved one that had cost Mike around $800. I used that one a single time, but mud daubers had built a nest in the air filter. Next time I started it, it sucked sand into the engine and the engine died for good. Not the first time I had gotten less than a day's use from one....and I have one sitting out on the target range that went from new to junk in less than 10 hours. They are high risk and high maintenance, BUT they can save your bacon if you have them looked after by competent people on a regular basis. It is telling that I have one in storage, brand new in box, never opened. IF I ever have to open that box and put it in service, I will know for sure that my available time has shrunk by at least a half hour per day, because if I do not pamper it like it was a new 20 year old wife driving a brand new Camaro, it won't last a month.... ......Joe
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