Running a petrol generator vs the cost of batteries compared

Jan

Jan

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How much it costs to run a generator vs buying a battery backup

Although generators are cheaper than an equivalent battery backup, the cost to run them can be quite high depending on load-shedding intensity.

MyBroadband determined how much smaller generators — capable of running your internet, computer, TV, and a few other appliances — cost to run at varying frequencies of stage 2 and 4 load-shedding.
 
Thanks, seems we'll need one soon. Easiest way to spec/measure what size you'd need?

I dislike generators that create all the noise and fumes. rather an inverter that can be used in an estate.
 
hj007 said:
Thanks, seems we'll need one soon. Easiest way to spec/measure what size you'd need?

I dislike generators that create all the noise and fumes. rather an inverter that can be used in an estate.
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hj007 said:
Thanks, seems we'll need one soon. Easiest way to spec/measure what size you'd need?

I dislike generators that create all the noise and fumes. rather an inverter that can be used in an estate.
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If you have to work or something sure run the generator.

My neighbors has his entire house connected to his and I'm sure he runs his generator just to watch tv at night.
 
rietrot said:
If you have to work or something sure run the generator.

My neighbors has his entire house connected to his and I'm sure he runs his generator just to watch tv at night.
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So get your own and you can do the same? You just sound jealous.
 
Lupus said:
So get your own and you can do the same? You just sound jealous.
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Lol I have one. And no the noise is annoying so running mine(in closer proximity to my house) would just contribute to the noise and be more annoying
 
rietrot said:
Lol I have one. And no the noise is annoying so running mine(in closer proximity to my house) would just contribute to the noise and be more annoying
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I have one and the noise isn't that bad from about 5m away, close the doors and windows and don't even know it's running. Not sure how people can moan, especially those living in suburbia where you have leaf blowers, angle grinders, lawn mowers, people working on cars and and which are way louder.
Though in my area more and more seem to be moving to battery backups as I've heard less generators, or the price of fuel has restricted them. It is odd to see my light on and a few scatterlings around during load shedding.
 
The assumptions made in the article border on ridiculous.

Why stop at 60, 120 and 180 days? Yes at those intervals the costs may be comparable, but generators are an ongoing expense where batteries/inverters are fixed.

Load shedding is not going to suddenly end in 6 months time...
 
Lupus said:
I have one and the noise isn't that bad from about 5m away, close the doors and windows and don't even know it's running. Not sure how people can moan, especially those living in suburbia where you have leaf blowers, angle grinders, lawn mowers, people working on cars and and which are way louder.
Though in my area more and more seem to be moving to battery backups as I've heard less generators, or the price of fuel has restricted them. It is odd to see my light on and a few scatterlings around during load shedding.
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Those things are not louder and is temporary noise. Generators can be heard from very far away, they are extremely noisy and falls into the ambient noise pollution category. Thank God I live in a complex that will prevent noise makers.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
The assumptions made in the article border on ridiculous.

Why stop at 60, 120 and 180 days? Yes at those intervals the costs may be comparable, but generators are an ongoing expense where batteries/inverters are fixed.

Load shedding is not going to suddenly end in 6 months time...
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Don't forget you need to service the generator every 50 to 100 hours of run time, a service can be R150 to R700
 
Some people live in areas where the power can go out for unpredictable amounts of time due to infrastructure problems. In this case a generator (or full off grid) is the only viable solution. An increasing number of people are joining this club.
 
Generators has one distinct advantage over batteries. You can run them for much longer.

To compare it for longer scenario's you need to add solar panels to the battery.
 
Sapphiron said:
Generators has one distinct advantage over batteries. You can run them for much longer.

To compare it for longer scenario's you need to add solar panels to the battery.
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Well yeah, as long as you have fuel :)
 
Does it make a difference whether it's stage 2 or 4? Isn't it just about the hours run and efficiency over that time?
 
Not so sure about the figures in the article. A neighbour down the road ran a diesel generator for 8 hours, and it cost him in excess of a R1K, and this is going back quite a number of years.
 
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