I am doing the same thing, and think it's o.k....which doesn't really mean anything.....I have one I use, and one for backup, in it's original packing....been on the shelf for at least 4 years
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Who doesn't have a generator?
- Thread starter wolfmanrogers
- Start date
We use generators for work a lot. Sometimes we get the little ones for whatever reason.
If you have had one on a shelf and never ran it, I’d run it. My best guess is 60% of them work right out of the box.
Stabil and regular ops checks if you really might need to rely on an emergency generator.
Just my opinion
If you have had one on a shelf and never ran it, I’d run it. My best guess is 60% of them work right out of the box.
Stabil and regular ops checks if you really might need to rely on an emergency generator.
Just my opinion
I bought one in 2021. Unboxed it, added the oil, put the cover on it and it sat until a few weeks ago. I put the battery tender on it, & once I figured out how to get it started (had to finish a few connections that I’d missed in the unboxing) it started right up. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend letting it sit that long, but as a real world example, it worked in my case. As mentioned by
wolfmanrogers
it’s better to break it in and familiarize yourself with it in advance.
I bought one in 2021. Unboxed it, added the oil, put the cover on it and it sat until a few weeks ago. I put the battery tender on it, & once I figured out how to get it started (had to finish a few connections that I’d missed in the unboxing) it started right up. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend letting it sit that long, but as a real world example, it worked in my case. As mentioned by
The only thing I'd add is that it has to be startable.
If it has a battery start and it's been sitting a while, unmaintained - expect that battery to be dead.
Remember that the bigger a generator is, the more oompf it's going to take to pull-start it, and if you're not around - someone else might have to start it. Set your expectations accordingly.
Going to go pick up oil and fresh gas for the new little one today, try to get it running before tonight.
Just supposed to be cold, but better safe than sorry.
Just supposed to be cold, but better safe than sorry.
We’ve had one for years that runs the whole house (except heat and a/c ) also have gas logs for heat.
Several years ago when a hurricane came through we were off for about a week. Finally got turned back on so we loaned ours out to an older couple that needed it. Next day our power went back off, so I had to scramble around and find one to borrow, luckily my uncle had a spare!
Several years ago when a hurricane came through we were off for about a week. Finally got turned back on so we loaned ours out to an older couple that needed it. Next day our power went back off, so I had to scramble around and find one to borrow, luckily my uncle had a spare!
Yes I confess I do not have one and I need one desperately. I will pick one up before the cold season hits again. I have a family friend ( the lady that babysat me and had four sons ) will let me stay at her place anytime I need to. She is like a second mother to me. Summer isn't a problem but getting snowed in with no electricity is the problem. It's not a situation of if it happens but when it will happen. What size would I need to run the heat, fridge and a few small appliances?Who doesn't have the ability to make homemade electricity? How many wake up calls do you need? Keep an extra spark plug, engine oil, and fuel to get you through a few days without power.
I'm curious about who hasn't seen the need for this yet.
Looking at yougreg vess
I got iced in twice this last winter. Once for two weeks and once for one week. I didn't loose power or anything else but it could have become a catastrophy no doubt.
Go around all the devices you want to power and add up the number of amps they consume. When you have your total, add about 20-25% just to give yourself a little extra capacity (and to account for any motors that have to be started, because they draw extra power on start).
How to Choose the Right Size Generator - Consumer Reports
Get help calculating what size generator you need. Plus, advice on whether to pay more for an inverter model, or even invest in a whole-home generator.
Watch out for 'heat'. That can pull a LOT of amps, depending on how much and what kind of heating you're running.
Bear in mind you also have to figure out how much fuel you'll need, based on how long you expect to run your generator. If you buy one that's far too large for your needs, it's going to burn more fuel, and if you run out of fuel, you're out of electricity.
Make sure it has the right amount of oil in it, some have a safety cutoff if it’s low. Ask me how I know! Lol
