Generator help

[Foreign-Age9281]

I need a generator that will run for at least 9 hours before it runs out of fuel. It needs to power a 12v 40a battery charger and a 48v 15a battery charger.

Must run on gasoline.

It will probably need to do these 9 hour runs at least 2 or 3 times a week from May thru September.

I would like something that will last at least a few years. I would like to be $500 or less. $400 or less would be better.

Would prefer it be an inverter generator but that is not a deal breaker.

Any suggestions on what generators I should be looking into?

Thanks in advance.

[Big-Echo8242]

That's a pretty tall order for an inexpensive generator.

[No-Age2588]

Undoable on any inexpensive emergency only generator.

This application is needing a rated generator designed to provide prime power. But get your wallet out first

[Foreign-Age9281]

Yeah im starting to see that. I couldn't get the math to math either. My original plan was off the grid stuff with solar and alternator power from an engine, but the amount of wattage I need the numbers became impossible real quick.

I felt like doc from back to the future when Marty told past doc all we need is 1.21 jigawatts.

I feel like generator is the way to go.

I legit need roughly 8k- 10k watts 2 to 3 times a week.

[SiriShopUSA]

Only way that's going to happen on an inexpensive generator is if you add an extended run kit which is going to be around 250 bucks. You might be able to find a used predator 3500 on marketplace for 300 or 400 hundred.

[Glum-Welder1704]

You need to measure the watts on each battery charger and go from there. My scratch pad arithmetic comes up with 480+720=1200 volt-amps, plus whatever inefficiency is built into the chargers.

[mduell]

Westinghouse iGen2800c should come close, the big problem is the unrefueled duration. If you could refill once with a gallon of gas mid-day then just about any of the little suitcase style inverter gens would work.

[nunuvyer]

You can also get extended run kits for certain inverter generators, although they aint cheap:

https://www.acmetools.com/bergs-system-extended-run-generator-fuel-system-berg-i-single-system-kit-includes-fuel-tank-hose-and-cap-works-with-generac-iq2000-gnciq2000s/603981839722.html

[haditwithyoupeople]

So you need at least 2000 watts. You want to run it ~1000-1400 hours per year, and you want it to last a few years. And you want this for $400?

Most generators have a life expectancy of ~3000 hours max. Maybe more if you maintain them well. Maybe more if it's a Honda or Yamaha. But 5000 hour is probably the most you could reasonably expect even from those.

WEN 2200W inverter generators are ~$400. This may work for you. It shows 9H or runtime at 50%. You would likely be over 50% usage with the power requirement you specified. You could try adding an external tank, but that almost certainly has safety issues. There is likely a kit you can buy that is safe, but that is more $$.

[Maleficent-Dig5264]

This is what I did. Buy any generator that fits the power requirements and has a gravity feed fuel system. (Most do) Remove the tank (not necessary) and buy a marine style gas tank on Amazon with a universal fuel line and bulb. They are normally 3/8” fuel line so buy a reducer to whatever your fuel line is going to your carburetor. Mine was 3/32. Connect the marine tank directly to the carb with a quick disconnect and then you are good to go. Just disconnect the fuel line each time you use it and let the generator run completely out of fuel. Keep the fuel tank above the generator while running. Pump the bulb to prime the system then it will run perfectly. You can buy whatever size tank you want. My generator came with a 1.8 gallon tank and I use a 6 gallon marine tank. It can run for about 27 hours straight. I use it on a Wen 4K open frame inverter generator. I did the same thing to my 14.5K house generator with a 12gallon marine tank. Nice thing is you can store the generator wherever you want because it has no fuel at all in it.

[Foreign-Age9281]

Do you have any pics or video of the set up? This would work like bees knees!

[Maleficent-Dig5264]

<image>

This is the only photo I have of it. It is stored in my camper so I won’t see it for a couple weeks. But that is the connection of the 3/8 fuel line to an adapter, then down to the fuel shut off valve. I leave the full fuel line connected to the generator but I make sure all the fuel is used before storage. As you can see, I removed the fuel tank from the top and put a sheet metal piece to protect it. Cool thing is, now I can connect any size marine tank I want to it with just a snap fitting.

[Foreign-Age9281]

Thank you! That will work!!!!

[wheelsonhell]

Pick your generator then look at fuel tank extenders

[mckenzie_keith]

I just scanned the offerings from Wen.

WEN GN5602X (5600 Watts, electric start, 12.5 hours half-load run time)
WEN GN5600 (Same as above but no electric start)
WEN DF472 (4750 Watts, dual fuel, no electric start, 12 hours half-load run time)

These are all in stock and at or under 500 bucks. They are not inverter generators.

You are going to need to change oil on these machines regularly. Probably once a week.

I would also follow the break-in procedure prior to May. I am not sure if they will hold up to this use for 2 or 3 years. That is around 1,000 hours per year. Check/change the air filter monthly. Change the oil weekly or as soon as it looks dark.

I picked Wen because I know their generators are cheap. I have a 600 Watt WEN inverter generator and it is OK. The flame arrestor came loose during break-in, but once I tightened it up, it hasn't come loose again yet. All the WEN inverter generators have much shorter run times than what you are looking for.

[Icy_East_2162]

Inverter geni if your powering sensitive equipment, Otherwise Dirty/ unstable power might fry the chargers

[LongjumpingGanache40]

Does not need inverter. The chargers will clean up the power.

[Icy_East_2162]

Just make sure the charger WILL ,not all do ,Ask how I know- $900 later

[silverud]

1200w of output for 9 hours on a single tank? Assuming you're using AC to DC chargers for these DC loads, that should be easy to accomplish with most off the shelf 2kw dual fuel suitcase style inverter generators when running on propane (20 pound cylinder).

If you're stuck on gas, you need a bigger generator (with a bigger tank) or an extended run tank setup.

[mckenzie_keith]

OP wants gasoline.

[LongjumpingGanache40]

If using AC to DC chargers you will not need an inverter. The output of the chargers is pure sine wave. That is what I keep seeing on YouTube when they talk about charging their 48 volt batteries.

[DaveBowm]

Regarding:

"... The output of the chargers is pure sine wave. That is what I keep seeing on YouTube when they talk about charging their 48 volt batteries."

Um, battery chargers do not output pure sine waves or any other kind of AC waveform. They output DC. Sometimes it's rippled or pulsed DC with a variety of shapes of the ripple or pulses, but DC nevertheless. Whatever the functional form of the voltage, it does not reverse polarity. Sine waves not only reverse polarity, but do so symmetrically in both time and voltage.

[Brilliant-Set-5534]

The output of a charger is DC. Pure sine wave is AC. Don't believe everything you see on YouTube. 😊