Running a petrol generator vs the cost of batteries compared

[KoKaRoT]

I just bought a 5kw genie from adendorff, assembled and ran it for 15min as required.

My question is, when do you operate the choke, do you plug the appliances in and then fiddle or before?
The manual is a literal Google translation, so makes no sense.

 

[Lupus]

I just bought a 5kw genie from adendorff, assembled and ran it for 15min as required.

My question is, when do you operate the choke, do you plug the appliances in and then fiddle or before?
The manual is a literal Google translation, so makes no sense.

You open the choke on start, as it's started you close it, let it idle for 5 minutes and than plug everything in.

 

[KoKaRoT]

Alright thank you, but sounds like the thing is dying if I close it. Puffs of smoke and crazy vibration, when I open it, sounds better but obviously using a higher fuel mix.

 

[Lupus]

Alright thank you, but sounds like the thing is dying if I close it. Puffs of smoke and crazy vibration, when I open it, sounds better but obviously using a higher fuel mix.

Weird, when it's open it should sound like it's sputtering, when it's closed it should be running decent

 

[Nemesys]

Alright thank you, but sounds like the thing is dying if I close it. Puffs of smoke and crazy vibration, when I open it, sounds better but obviously using a higher fuel mix.

The choke assembly on those generators are very temperamental. It has no stops to prevent over rotation of the butterfly. On mine if I push the choke in completely it over rotates and partially closes again which causes the engine to run vey rich and uneven. I normally play around with the choke until it runs very smooth and the throttle lever remain steady in one position.

 

[rh1]

I just bought a 5kw genie from adendorff, assembled and ran it for 15min as required.

My question is, when do you operate the choke, do you plug the appliances in and then fiddle or before?
The manual is a literal Google translation, so makes no sense.

I actually think it is mislabled. Off is On and visa versa, as that is how I use it.

 

[rh1]

Weird, when it's open it should sound like it's sputtering, when it's closed it should be running decent

This is exactly how it sounds but in reverse as per the lable.

 

[Drifter]

In the good old days, you would start up, pull the choke, and it will slowly pull back itself as the engine warms up. You need a richer mix on a cold engine.

 

[Lupus]

This is exactly how it sounds but in reverse as per the lable.

If it is running smoothly leave it

 

[Apogee]

The choke assembly on those generators are very temperamental. It has no stops to prevent over rotation of the butterfly. On mine if I push the choke in completely it over rotates and partially closes again which causes the engine to run vey rich and uneven. I normally play around with the choke until it runs very smooth and the throttle lever remain steady in one position.

What is the 'butterfly' you are referring to here?

 

[Apogee]

What is the 'butterfly' you are referring to here?

Update:

Found it.

 

[Nemesys]

Update:

Found it.

That's exactly how the choke operates.

 

[Ragnarök]

Anybody have one of these .
How silent are they , and how cost effective is it running on LP gas

Inverter Generator Low Noise RED RHINO Dual Fuel 4.3KVA

This gas generator can run a small home with up to 6 lights, tv, wifi and computer. You will have a choice to choose the cheaper type of fuel to use at the time of using it.

leroymerlin.co.za

 

[Big Rat]

Have a ryobi in a box thingy. 2kw, uses about a liter per 2 hour session.
When load shed start i switch off the mains, and the geyser, plug the generator into a socket and everything in my home runs off it. When a fridge kicks in, the gennie stalls a bit and then settles a bit higher refs, no worries.
2 fridges, deepfreeze, tv and dstv, sound system, no worries.
i just cannot run anything with an element like kettle or hairdryer. for hot water i have a gas stove.
And barely hear it inside the house. the exhaust is aimed at the ol' biddy neighbour who makes my life hell, so no issue with noise either.

 

[Nemesys]

i switch off the mains, and the geyser, plug the generator into a socket and everything in my home runs off it.

If I interpret correctly what you are saying here, you are putting yourself and your family in great danger by reverse feeding through a plug outlet. Doing that is illegal and render the earth leakage protection inoperative and someone can get killed if toughing a live wire. Do yourself and your family a Favour and have a qualified electrician do a proper connection for the generator

 

[Neuk_]

Our new house has a generator but we'll be putting an ESS in, at Stage 6 it would cost around R400 - R500 per day to run the generator

 

[rh1]

Generator is connected to my solar system. The installer connected it for me when doing the install. I keep it for the dark days ahead. When clouds are thick and Eskom is down. I will run it to top up my batteries.

 

[Neuk_]

Generator is connected to my solar system. The installer connected it for me when doing the install. I keep it for the dark days ahead. When clouds are thick and Eskom is down. I will run it to top up my batteries.

This is what I plan to do, what inverter are you running?

 

[KantSnyer]

Anybody have one of these .
How silent are they , and how cost effective is it running on LP gas

Inverter Generator Low Noise RED RHINO Dual Fuel 4.3KVA

This gas generator can run a small home with up to 6 lights, tv, wifi and computer. You will have a choice to choose the cheaper type of fuel to use at the time of using it.

leroymerlin.co.za

Was also checking this out yesterday, already have a backup for the house but looking for a portable backup option, the LP Gas option is interesting due to it's shelf life vs. petrol.

This is what I could find so far, obviously a rough estimate :

Running a generator with a 3000-watt load for an hour would consume 2.95l of propane.

 

[rh1]

This is what I plan to do, what inverter are you running?

MAC AFRIC 6.5 kVA (5 KW) Standby Petrol Generator (with T.F.V meter) - Adendorff Machinery Mart

A well-sized generator that can power the average South African home. Made with ease of use in mind, this generator has an integrated wheel and handle design as well as an electric start. Petrol Electric (key) start Compact and Mobile

www.adendorff.co.za

Likes:

Powerful, can run fridges, microwaves and fridges and I had no issues running LED Tvs, Desktop PC and Laptops. Sevice kits starts from R150 last time I check.

Dislike: Noisy. Chinglish User Manual. Mislabled choke.

Edit: Relatively Cheap: R8995 now, last year this time it was R7995.