Space heaters for power outtages

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Space heaters for power outtages

Postby spencerdiesel » Sun Dec 31, 2017 9:03 am

Our next place will have wood heat :D During our most recent power outage, our 2 1500 watt electric radiator-looking things loaded the generator pretty good, but didn't put out much on the business end.

Anyone know of a more efficient heater option that is < $200? I don't mind our current heaters taking 3000 watts, but they don't have much to show for consuming all that gas :lol:
1992 W250, 5 speed, 4.10, Ext. cab Ext. bed, 12.5k winch, 75 gal. fuel tank

H1C/18

Fuel: THD 6x10 VCO sticks, THD 12 psi piston pump, THD fuel pin, 366 spring, fuel screw 2 turns in, timing to the head/ >1/4”
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Re: Space heaters for power outtages

Postby PToombs » Sun Dec 31, 2017 6:05 pm

Why didn't you run the regular heat from the generator?

I put in an extra double circuit breaker and an outside plug to plug the generator into. I shut off the main breaker coming in and turn on the one from the generator and the whole house has power.
pete

Just enough power to break everything behind the crankshaft.
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Re: Space heaters for power outtages

Postby Richie O » Sun Dec 31, 2017 7:02 pm

1500 watt heaters will heat a bathroom and that's about it. I would go with a k1 heater or a vent-less propane non electric heater. K1 does stink some, and propane can lead to moisture in the house. Both have their drawbacks. Try to get something that does not require any electricity for sure. Having to run a gen set just to keep heating on is a drag. I did what Pete said. I can fire the whole house with a transfer switch. I just finished doing all the wiring and got my last plugs and heavy 50 amp power cords last month. I will be ready next time. For heat I have a wood stove that can keep the house comfortable. I burn 6 cords a year and some oil.
1989 W250 727, 3.07 L/S, S300, P/S Intercooler, Stans exaust, Pump adjustments, 127k miles,297 hp
1993 W250 extended cab, rag, 4.10 l/s, 6x16's, HTT 62/71/14 piston l/p, Isspro EV series tach, fuel pressure, boost, oil pres, water temp, volt, pryo, 132k/ 301 hp
1992 W250 with NV4500, 3.54's, 16cm 60mm GDS H1C, ground stock cone, Isspro tach, pryo, boost, fuel pressure, slow, rusty, dented,180k
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Re: Space heaters for power outtages

Postby PToombs » Mon Jan 01, 2018 8:20 am

A transfer switch is the proper way to do it, you just throw the lever and it shuts off line power and turns on the genny circuit. I did it my way because it's cheaper, I know how to wire it, and I will be the only one doing it. A transfer switch your woman can come home, plug in the generator and flip the switch, and it's safe.

I have a 110k btu salamander I use to heat my garage. I use clear kerosene, keep it clean and wipe the dust off regularly. I've had it for 7 or 8 years, and now it smells a little sometimes. I wouldn't use it in my house except for an emergency, but I can.
I also have a 40-60k btu propane fired salamander I use at work to thaw stuff out. It's small enough to carry around, and burns real clean. The parts guy actually borrowed it again last week to heat his garage. He may need it, it was -12 here this morning. :lol:
That may be an option for you for temporary heat, it cost about $110 and runs off a bbq grill tank.
pete

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Re: Space heaters for power outtages

Postby spencerdiesel » Mon Jan 01, 2018 9:27 am

I didn't even know you could run the house heat with a genny :( How many watt gen does the average heat pump take to run off of?
1992 W250, 5 speed, 4.10, Ext. cab Ext. bed, 12.5k winch, 75 gal. fuel tank

H1C/18

Fuel: THD 6x10 VCO sticks, THD 12 psi piston pump, THD fuel pin, 366 spring, fuel screw 2 turns in, timing to the head/ >1/4”
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Re: Space heaters for power outtages

Postby PToombs » Mon Jan 01, 2018 5:30 pm

I'm not sure. I have a 5k, 5500w surge and it runs my whole house. Keep in mind I burn wood so the boiler doesn't run most of the time. And if the generator is on I conserve and don't have everything on either. I might be running the coffee pot, fan for the wood stove and a few lights, plus a cord to moms for lights or whatever. My generator has a 220 plug, and that's what I feed the house with.
Funny story, my cousins power was out, and he had his 10k generator running. He was going thru the house and suddenly the lights flickered, the well pump had kicked on. He went back thru the house and payed attention to what was on, wife was cooking dinner, 1 kid was on the computer, 1 was playing a video game on a tv, the heat was running, and a bunch of lights were on. No wonder the lights flickered, he then went thru and shut off a few things. He was laughing as he told me about it. :lol:
pete

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Re: Space heaters for power outtages

Postby Richie O » Mon Jan 01, 2018 6:13 pm

Most back up gen sets for houses are 12, 14k gen sets. ( generac, kolher, ) is the big 2 I see. I have several customers I caretake or plow for that have them and only 2 have a 8k generator. These are all the automatic ones that run themselves. All propane units. One guy has a 36k 4.3 chevy v6 generator for his house. :shock: Pete is right, a 5k will do most things, just not all at once. Stay away from the clothes dryer and any other big power users like range/oven. We just had a power outage due to a big storm a couple months back and several of them ran for 7 days straight. I had to shut them down every other day because all of them SUCK the oil out of them. They all run at 3600 rpm, exhaust red hot. Most of them were burning 20 plus gallons per day. The only 1800 rpm unit is the v6. I run a small honda 650 watt unit to run just the fridge, a light, and the internet. If I need to run more I have a 4000 watt craftsman I bought when I was in highschool ( aka THE NOISE MAKER ) and if I want to go crazy my Lincoln welder has a 50 amp 240 plug. We have a storm coming Thursday that sounds bad. 50 to 65 mph winds, then minus 20 F for a couple days.,,, DRAG.
1989 W250 727, 3.07 L/S, S300, P/S Intercooler, Stans exaust, Pump adjustments, 127k miles,297 hp
1993 W250 extended cab, rag, 4.10 l/s, 6x16's, HTT 62/71/14 piston l/p, Isspro EV series tach, fuel pressure, boost, oil pres, water temp, volt, pryo, 132k/ 301 hp
1992 W250 with NV4500, 3.54's, 16cm 60mm GDS H1C, ground stock cone, Isspro tach, pryo, boost, fuel pressure, slow, rusty, dented,180k
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Re: Space heaters for power outtages

Postby PToombs » Tue Jan 02, 2018 5:46 pm

I bet the installed units were spec'd by the salesman. I just can't see needing over 10k most of the time to run a house, even a big one, unless they are running the dryer, electric stove, well, etc.
Rich, I think that 650 is kinda shy for the fridge, it must drag down some when the fridge kicks on. I have an old Montgomery Wards 1400 my dad used to run lights when he unloaded lumber boxcars. I used it a few times for lights, and my coffee maker kicks it in the nuts pretty good. :lol: The one I have now I got from Pep Boys auto parts on sale, paid $325 for a 5000 watt genny. Nice and quiet and works pretty good.
pete

Just enough power to break everything behind the crankshaft.
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Re: Space heaters for power outtages

Postby spencerdiesel » Tue Jan 02, 2018 7:15 pm

It seems like the few manufacturers that were offering low output (4000W to 8000W) air cooled diesel genny's (albeit mostly chinese engines) a couple years ago just up and quit. I'd love to try one out if it could be had for "experimental price" lol.

I think there were more Canadian offerings at the time, maybe places like aurora and princess auto still carry them?
1992 W250, 5 speed, 4.10, Ext. cab Ext. bed, 12.5k winch, 75 gal. fuel tank

H1C/18

Fuel: THD 6x10 VCO sticks, THD 12 psi piston pump, THD fuel pin, 366 spring, fuel screw 2 turns in, timing to the head/ >1/4”
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Re: Space heaters for power outtages

Postby Richie O » Tue Jan 02, 2018 7:16 pm

My fridge is a new high efficient unit with a variable speed compressor and it doesn't even grunt the lil 650. I would not believe it either if I didn't see it. No way would it have run my last fridge. I do worry about all my voltage sensitive stuff running them on a dirty generator. Everything in the house has a computer running it right down to the clothes washer. All newer appliances have them.
1989 W250 727, 3.07 L/S, S300, P/S Intercooler, Stans exaust, Pump adjustments, 127k miles,297 hp
1993 W250 extended cab, rag, 4.10 l/s, 6x16's, HTT 62/71/14 piston l/p, Isspro EV series tach, fuel pressure, boost, oil pres, water temp, volt, pryo, 132k/ 301 hp
1992 W250 with NV4500, 3.54's, 16cm 60mm GDS H1C, ground stock cone, Isspro tach, pryo, boost, fuel pressure, slow, rusty, dented,180k
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Re: Space heaters for power outtages

Postby spencerdiesel » Tue Jan 02, 2018 7:17 pm

I know it saddens me that 26 hp and up tractors all have brains :(

Like I've been told.....shoulda been born 30 years before hand :)
1992 W250, 5 speed, 4.10, Ext. cab Ext. bed, 12.5k winch, 75 gal. fuel tank

H1C/18

Fuel: THD 6x10 VCO sticks, THD 12 psi piston pump, THD fuel pin, 366 spring, fuel screw 2 turns in, timing to the head/ >1/4”
Muffler delete

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Re: Space heaters for power outtages

Postby PToombs » Wed Jan 03, 2018 5:12 pm

Really Rich? That's cool, that is really efficient if the 650 doesn't notice it! I wonder if you could put surge protectors on everything? I never thought about that and how many things like the washer or even the coffee maker has circuit boards.
pete

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Re: Space heaters for power outtages

Postby Richie O » Wed Jan 03, 2018 5:54 pm

I don't know Pete. I think its the quality of the power. Both the cycle rate (60 hertz) and the actual wave of the power that makes things happy. I guess the inverter gen sets are the cleanest power. Other higher end gen sets have a control to keep the rpms right to keep it at 60 hertz. All of mine just have the governor controlling rpms. They are not perfect.
1989 W250 727, 3.07 L/S, S300, P/S Intercooler, Stans exaust, Pump adjustments, 127k miles,297 hp
1993 W250 extended cab, rag, 4.10 l/s, 6x16's, HTT 62/71/14 piston l/p, Isspro EV series tach, fuel pressure, boost, oil pres, water temp, volt, pryo, 132k/ 301 hp
1992 W250 with NV4500, 3.54's, 16cm 60mm GDS H1C, ground stock cone, Isspro tach, pryo, boost, fuel pressure, slow, rusty, dented,180k
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Re: Space heaters for power outtages

Postby 1STGENFARMBOY » Thu Jan 04, 2018 7:17 am

Mr. Richie, it looks like it's getting bad up there, be careful when your out and about keeping the roads open.
93 W250 STD CAB, AUTO 3.55, GAUGES, 80HP DDP STICKS, DENNY T ,16CM HOUSING, 60MM GILLETT, VE MAXED,BHAF, BHFF, 366 SPRING,P/S INTERCOOLER, TIMS COOLER TUBS, TIMMING 1/8 BUMP,4in TURBO BACK TO DUEL 5IN STACKS,33 12.50 BFG, HOLLEY BLACK, CONVERTER COOMING.
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Re: Space heaters for power outtages

Postby Richie O » Thu Jan 04, 2018 9:59 am

Yup. its coming. :evil:
1989 W250 727, 3.07 L/S, S300, P/S Intercooler, Stans exaust, Pump adjustments, 127k miles,297 hp
1993 W250 extended cab, rag, 4.10 l/s, 6x16's, HTT 62/71/14 piston l/p, Isspro EV series tach, fuel pressure, boost, oil pres, water temp, volt, pryo, 132k/ 301 hp
1992 W250 with NV4500, 3.54's, 16cm 60mm GDS H1C, ground stock cone, Isspro tach, pryo, boost, fuel pressure, slow, rusty, dented,180k
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