Running a petrol generator vs the cost of batteries compared

[system32]

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.

Get some of these:

Problem solved.

 

[rietrot]

Get some of these:
View attachment 1334492
Problem solved.

Makes interacting with family more difficult.

 

[Benedict A55h0le]

Get some of these:
View attachment 1334492
Problem solved.

That is the sissy way out. I will rather just destroy the gennie.

 

[AstroTurf]

My petrol generator has slightly better specs than the Mac afric one (3KW max load, 2.8KW running load) and uses slightly less petrol at around 750ml/h

I have had it since 2014 and have changed 1 spark plug and oil 3 times at a total cost of around R80 for the oil (it came with the spare spark plug). It now needs a new AVR but is still running, the AVR is on it's way at a total cost of R182.
Total maintenance cost for 8 years of R262.

It is not powerful enough to run the house and the kettle or a hob so add gas to the cost for emergency suppers or tea for the wife. I have filled my gas bottle 3 times in those 8 years but also use it for camping, inverting sugar for my bees or other hobbies that need portable heat source.

The article calculations seem to think you will be running the generator every time there is loadshedding so possibly a 24 hour store?

That yearly petrol cost in the article is seriously worst case must have power every second of every day scenario and nothing like real life.

Working experience for me is as follows and may help others decide:

When not home (office hours, out for the day on weekends and such) it's obviously not running.
If the power goes off when we are sleeping it is not running.
Often we will not turn it on over weekends during the day if the power goes off as it is not always needed.
When there is no load shedding or power issues it can stand in a corner and wait for the next bout.

We had the power at our house go off for 4 days once including a weekend and used a little over 20l during that time.

 

[Benedict A55h0le]

And remember, that gennie must be serviced not only based on running hours. It must also be serviced based on time interval, even if it was not used.

 

[system32]

For comparison, grid electricity is about R2.50/kWh

 

[Maverick154]

This is once again such lazy journalism. You compare 4 generators and the price of fuel to run them and put that against a battery system but neglect to state how much it will cost to charge that battery system at current KWh prices. Basically a pointless comparison...

 

[AstroTurf]

And remember, that gennie must be serviced not only based on running hours. It must also be serviced based on time interval, even if it was not used.

See my last post

 

[Benedict A55h0le]

See my last post

You are not servicing like you should, do you skip your car`s servicing as well?

 

[s0lar]

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.

Wilgeheuwel = suburbia?

 

[Botha22]

View attachment 1334508
For comparison, grid electricity is about R2.50/kWh

That is the missing column in the tables either R/kWh or R/x kWh, so that you are comparing like for like. And include the Eskom cost for charging the battery backup.

 

[AstroTurf]

You are not servicing like you should, do you skip your car`s servicing as well?

Instructions say first oil change after 20 hours of use, then every 100 hours of use.

It's not a car or big generator, it's a small 4 stroke generator, as basic an engine as you can get.

I check what the oil looks like every couple months of use and if it's white (water ingress, never happened cause no water cooling involved in this stupidly simple design) or black (old) it gets replaced, otherwise it's a pointless exercise.

 

[rh1]

My petrol generator has slightly better specs than the Mac afric one (3KW max load, 2.8KW running load) and uses slightly less petrol at around 750ml/h

I have had it since 2014 and have changed 1 spark plug and oil 3 times at a total cost of around R80 for the oil (it came with the spare spark plug). It now needs a new AVR but is still running, the AVR is on it's way at a total cost of R182.
Total maintenance cost for 8 years of R262.

It is not powerful enough to run the house and the kettle or a hob so add gas to the cost for emergency suppers or tea for the wife. I have filled my gas bottle 3 times in those 8 years but also use it for camping, inverting sugar for my bees or other hobbies that need portable heat source.

The article calculations seem to think you will be running the generator every time there is loadshedding so possibly a 24 hour store?

That yearly petrol cost in the article is seriously worst case must have power every second of every day scenario and nothing like real life.

Working experience for me is as follows and may help others decide:

When not home (office hours, out for the day on weekends and such) it's obviously not running.
If the power goes off when we are sleeping it is not running.
Often we will not turn it on over weekends during the day if the power goes off as it is not always needed.
When there is no load shedding or power issues it can stand in a corner and wait for the next bout.

We had the power at our house go off for 4 days once including a weekend and used a little over 20l during that time.

Interesting.

So far I have about 6 hours usage. Manual says 1st service after 20 hours and thereafter every 50 hours. My MacAfrica came with the first service kit included. It is about R150 at Adendorff the last time I check. So dont expect to much cost in servicing it.

I dont used it at night. Nor during the day. As my micro UPS keeps the router going and my work laptop battery comfortably see loadshedding through and my 10 year old personal laptop can easily last 2.5 hours. We tend to used the gennie only on Saturday mornings when we have to do the laundry, so just to run the washing machines and pumps that supply the water for doing the laundry.


Edit: Future use is backup for the Solar system I will hopefully installed by July for the latest. Still awaiting some parts.

 

[AstroTurf]

Interesting.

So far I have about 6 hours usage. Manual says 1st service after 20 hours and thereafter every 50 hours. My MacAfrica came with the first service kit included. It is about R150 at Adendorff the last time I check. So dont expect to much cost in servicing it.

I dont used it at night. Nor during the day. As my micro UPS keeps the router going and my work laptop battery comfortably see loadshedding through and my 10 year old personal laptop can easily last 2.5 hours. We tend to used the gennie only on Saturday mornings when we have to do the laundry, so just to run the washing machines and pumps that supply the water for doing the laundry.


Edit: Future use is backup for the Solar system I will hopefully installed by July for the latest. Still awaiting some parts.

I like the macafric brand so am sure it will last you a very long time, as for the service kit, get one but doubt you will need anything from it for a very long time.

Just get some oil and spark plugs, basically all the small generators need to do a service (and some petrol to clean the air filter).
The spark plugs last many many years so just good to have a spare.

Oh and do that first oil change after 20 hours as it will get all the factory leftovers out of the engine (flakes of metal, assemblers hair and cigarette ash and whatever else may be in there),.

 

[JustAsk]

This is once again such lazy journalism. You compare 4 generators and the price of fuel to run them and put that against a battery system but neglect to state how much it will cost to charge that battery system at current KWh prices. Basically a pointless comparison...

Agreed.

Not only that but they use FULL LOAD petrol spec for the gennies and compare it against a low spec 12v solar system.

 

[Corelli]

The generator is far better.

The problem with batteries is that unless you have solar, they are useless if they die.

Honda Generators are best, but expect to pay.

We recently had an outtage of 40 hours with Eskom substation that blew. My power battery backup didnt last long and then it went kaput. Alas I didnt have a generator but now bought a Honda one. And am installing solar geyser also.

I reckon, with a Solar Geyser (for comfort), Zero Gas Freezer (as a backup), and the generator I can survive a total blackout. Oh I already use a gas stove.

Just need the generator for the fridge now and then and to run the electrics. Will add in 4 solar panels later just to switch over the lights etc. But have emergency bulbs throughout that can run for between 2-4 hours with no outtage.

 

[Corelli]

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.

Just switch your appliances off electricity or make them more energy efficient. Thats what you need.

I saw a defy freezer that comes with a solar panel (yip), but then you get Zero Appliances which runs on either electricity or gas. Used one when camping long ago, so ended up buying one. Worked well making ice cubes before while it was 36c at the campsite.

 

[cyb3rt]

I quite like my config at the moment.

2 x 100Ah Lithium's on a Mecer 24v inverter.

This setup is in my garage, with cabling running through the roof into the house. One connection point at my TV with a large lamp for some light (also my fiber connectivity), and the other going all the way to the other side of my house, into my gaming room. This runs my laptop with screens, as well as a switch with 3 IP camera's outside.

This is perfect for my needs, and ran my equipment without issue yesterday for about 4 hours without even dropping a bar on the battery icon.

 

[Lupus]

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?

Stage 2 is up to twice a day, stage 4 is 3 times a day, for most areas with 2 hour schedules.

 

[Lupus]

Wilgeheuwel = suburbia?

My part is , we're in the old part that has houses, not that other side full of townhouses.