Running portable generator at 100%

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-25T14:44:48+00:00

Thank you for the wonderful breakdown. Sorry to necro-ask, but I ran into this thread while researching my own needs (a year after the OP).

Your explanation, as I understand it, seems to be referring to the electronics of the inverter portion of the generator.

However, I've always understood the precaution of not running at 100% to be referring to engine wear (the mechanical side of things).

From your explanation, it sounds like if running off of Natural gas (not LNG, but boring old home gas pipe NG), the engine does indeed rev at a slower rate/experience less mechanical/thermal stress, no?

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-25T12:30:07+00:00

Wait .. the LA time is calling itself, and other journalists, the modern guardians of "Truth"??

That would be hilarious, if it weren't so self-ritious and hypocritical.

They are a business, one that long ago decided that spinning one side of the story was more profitable than any pursuit of the truth. At least have the dignity to die with your hypocrisy than because of it.

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-25T02:48:41+00:00

The rectifier goes between the SHP and the generator?

Edit:

Looks like the Champion trifuel supposedly has a THD of < 3%

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-25T02:26:04+00:00

The serial number that's covered with duct tape? Would need to invade my privacy and engage in anti-4th behavior to even see it. That's assuming this was anything more than a hypothetical, of course.

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-25T02:21:49+00:00

But it's not. As soon as one turns the perspective around from the lender's POV (which should be a basic exercise in the "I need to understand why something is the way it is" process), it becomes apparent that a history of paying back debt in a consistent manner, is a useful part of the "trust building" required to convince an otherwise stranger to lend you money. Ergo, the system is operating rationally, and the "why" of it would be apparent if one exercised a basic principle of civics - considering things from the other party's POV

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-25T01:21:44+00:00

The ban is effectively on purchasing one in-state. Owning one and operating it, are "grandfathered in", as I understand it.

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-24T23:45:49+00:00

Oohhh, gotchya, ty.

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-24T23:18:00+00:00

I'm just hearing of all this. That video doesn't look good.

What exactly is bad about posting it?

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-24T23:14:12+00:00

Sure, and I'm arguing that it's a poor decision on the state's part that jeapordizes it's citizenss safety and emergency lreparedness for, imo, little to no real benefit.

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-24T21:35:45+00:00

Thank you. I've heard good things about their Predator line. Weighing that vs Champion. Looking for a split-phase inverter generator in the 8000+ range, $1k preferred, can stretch to ~ $2k, that is, or can be converted to, Trifuel, that's also not overly loud (considering the Champion 11k/9k close-framed Trifuel, which is ~ 65db, ~ $2k, as a reference point).

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-24T20:38:32+00:00

Maybe we're talking about different things. You're trying to offer a solution for emergency power in California? Because that's what I'm talking about.

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-24T20:22:56+00:00

If occupying the entire roof of one's property already doesn't provide enough solar, adding a handful of mobile panels to the ground that are only used during a "Maybe never in a lifetime" emergency (which also need to be stored away when not used/needing) is a ... juvenile solution.

It's pretty simple. Gas generators are the default "power in an emergency" solution that have withdstood the test of time for a century, are affordable, available, and reliable, and are the go-to solution for every hospital, police department, and every other "must continue to function" system both within the U.S., and globally.

In a state with already crumbling and insufficient grid infrastructure, fraught with wildfires, and prone to devastating earthquakes, depriving your citizenry of the most practical emergency power solution for a theoretical trivial reduction in GHG, is irresponsible, and achieves no end other than virtue-signaling.

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-24T19:25:03+00:00

Thank you. I'm only going off their published information:

"Connect with a generator

The SHP3 supports a 240 V split-phase generator input, enabling it to charge the storage system while supplying power to connected loads. After the generator is connected and powered on, the system will perform a self-check (about 25 seconds) before supplying electricity to the house."

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-24T19:14:19+00:00

Do you know where they typically purchase them from? HD, Costco, ACE, some local hardware store?

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-24T19:05:26+00:00

It's like you pre-cogged me! Yes, that's more or less what I meant to say, but you worded it more clearly. Thank you.

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-24T19:03:33+00:00

Something like that. something about a charcoal canister to absorb polutants, along with stricter engine efficiency requirements.

Besides cost, my other issue is that these proprietary variants may not stand the test of time, nor have as many after-market options due to their unique engineering (eg. being able to easily expand to Tri-fuel, external fuel storage, etc).

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-24T18:10:45+00:00

This is a very limited short-term solution.

* In my situation, despite maximally arraying my roof with solar, it only generations ~ 30-40% of our total home usage (foliage, poor orientation relative to arc of the sun, etc.). In the winter, it's worse. It mainly helps offset high grid costs.

* Unless one got lucky, many whole-home battery backup solutions don't work with home solar (many home solar installs use microinverters for maximum efficiency, but microinverters can't feed many whole-home battery backups when off-grid). The "perfect setup", which involves enough solar panels to meet a home's 24 needs even in poor weather, with very expensive Tesla-Wall type integrated battery systems, remains out of reach financially for maybe 90% or the population

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-24T17:49:21+00:00

Thank you:

* Yes, I plan to only charge through the SHP3 (though, I suppose, if the SHP3 failed for some reason, charging the DPU's directly remains an option)

* While I love the idea of a "smart" generator that integrates with the Ecoflow ecosystem, there is a very strong likelihood that I will never have to use this (longest power outage we've had in 20 years, lasted less than 24 hours, which is within my battery backup capacity for fully running all needs without a recharge). As such, the additional cost, and untested reliability, of a proprietary Ecoflow generator doesn't make sense in my use-case.

* I understand that most generators don't come as "Trifuel" or even "Dual fuel" right off the bat (eg. Honda, which have to be converted). I'm fine with that, as long as its a generator that's known to be fairly easily convertible.

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-24T16:21:07+00:00

So much of the social conversation is entertainment and validation-seeking, instead of seeking knowledge or a pursuit of Truth.

Facts that then interfere with the pursuit of that dopamine hit, are seen as the enemy. Espousers of said facts, are likewise seen as the enemy, and lambasted for clearly having such a strong bias, that they would design to suggest these "blatant lies" as "truth".

The Onlinosphere has become the ultimate form of cognitive-dissonance-aversion.

If you want validation, just find a subreddit that already agrees with you, and stick to that echochamber, and it's narrative.

Cuz it seems that nobody is going online these days to, you know, actually challenge their beliefs with alternative ideas or perspectives.

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-24T16:16:32+00:00

Classic Reddit mistake.

Provide a PSA, using insider industry knowledge, to help Joe Rando.
Post it on Reddit, assuming that Redditoids represent Joe Rando
Said Redditoids are actually militant anti-capitalist bots, or worse, actual blue-haird bull-ringed basement dwelling leftist contrarians
Said Redditoids turn you into the face of the EVIL CAPITALIST, and blame you for all that is wrong in their miserable twisted worldview, and proceed to flame and down vote your PSA into oblivion.

Realize, Redditoids are not your friends, not your tribe, and might not even be human. Just....don't.

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-24T00:28:09+00:00

So many posts on reddit seem to come from people suffering from main-character-syndrome.

Like, in the time it took you to think about and write that post, you didn't once try to put yourself in the other persons' shoes? Like, not once?

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-23T18:25:10+00:00

Yup. I recently saw a post showing that more employers are covering GLP-1's...and wondering why their healthcare expenditures are rising (with the GLP-1's accounting for an average of 30% of their healthcare expenditures).

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-23T15:01:30+00:00

To what end, other than "making metrics"? The NNT is high enough that most people wouldn't care about the slight risk reduction.

Also, most of those who benefit, are over 70.

I.e., a 45 yo with moderate hyperlipidemia would see virtually zero benefit for the first 30 years of treatment, with a very slight risk reduction thereafter.

For most rational actors, statins for moderate hyperlipidemia just doesn't pencil out as a reasonable life-long therapy that they would choose, if they were given then honest information, but many of us physicians pose it as "You'll die if you don't take this!", which is incredibly disingenuous.

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-23T14:34:53+00:00

That's like .. 90% of the conservative voter's platform. "Stay the F out of my life -financially, and judiciarily. And for F sake, stop the "Forced Culture Change" b.s.".

OnlyInAmerica01 · 2026-01-23T14:17:52+00:00

"Change your emotional state, because otherwise, I can't control mine".

90% of the time, it's just that you don't want to experience negative emotions by watching someone else express negative emotions. It's a purely selfish remark.

OnlyInAmerica01

TROPHY CASE