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Posted by nick hull on May 1, 2008, 10:54 am
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I think I need a 1kw generator to run power tools too far away from the
ac mains. It will be used to run drills, saws including a small chain
saw (7 amp), etc. There seem to be 3 types of small generators, the
2-cycle at less than $150, the 4-cycle at over $300, and the inverter
type at even more money. My usage will be infrequent, short run times,
but I want a reliable unit that will still start and produce power 10
years later. Would a cheap 2-cycle work reliably long term if the total
hours is low?
Cordless drills get expensive as the batteries give out in a few years,
and I often need a heavy 1/2" or better slow speed drill. I also need a
electric chain saw to trim branches on top of a ladder, I have gas ones
but they are a nuisance to start on top and carrying a running chain saw
up a ladder has safety issues.
Another possibility is an inverter operating off a 12 volt battery. My
problems there would be the motor starting surge tripping the inverter,
and my current tractor only has a 6 volt battery so I could not
continuously recharge.
Any help appreciated.
Free men own guns - www(dot)geocities(dot)com/CapitolHill/5357/
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Posted by Pete C. on May 1, 2008, 10:54 am
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nick hull wrote:
>
> I think I need a 1kw generator to run power tools too far away from the
> ac mains. It will be used to run drills, saws including a small chain
> saw (7 amp), etc. There seem to be 3 types of small generators, the
> 2-cycle at less than $150, the 4-cycle at over $300, and the inverter
> type at even more money. My usage will be infrequent, short run times,
> but I want a reliable unit that will still start and produce power 10
> years later. Would a cheap 2-cycle work reliably long term if the total
> hours is low?
>
> Cordless drills get expensive as the batteries give out in a few years,
> and I often need a heavy 1/2" or better slow speed drill. I also need a
> electric chain saw to trim branches on top of a ladder, I have gas ones
> but they are a nuisance to start on top and carrying a running chain saw
> up a ladder has safety issues.
>
> Another possibility is an inverter operating off a 12 volt battery. My
> problems there would be the motor starting surge tripping the inverter,
> and my current tractor only has a 6 volt battery so I could not
> continuously recharge.
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> Free men own guns - www(dot)geocities(dot)com/CapitolHill/5357/
A good sized inverter running off your vehicle (not a standalone
battery) is a good option for infrequent use if the vehicle is within
extension cord range. Otherwise for basic tool use, the cheap 2 cycle
generators will do the job fine (see Neon John posts on
alt.energy.homepower for detailed reviews on those). The inverter
generators like the Honda and Yamaha units are fantastic for RV use, but
overkill for basic tools.
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Posted by Jim Wilkins on May 1, 2008, 12:57 pm
Please log in for more thread options > nick hull wrote:
>
> > I think I need a 1kw generator to run power tools too far away from the
> > ac mains. =A0...>
> > Cordless drills get expensive as the batteries give out in a few years,
> > and I often need a heavy 1/2" or better slow speed drill. =A0I also need=
a
> > electric chain saw to trim branches on top of a ladder, I have gas ones
> > but they are a nuisance to start on top and carrying a running chain saw=
> > up a ladder has safety issues.
>
> >...Otherwise for basic tool use, the cheap 2 cycle
> generators will do the job fine ...
I went through this decision process about 10 years ago after an ice
storm dropped a tree on my roof and kept the power off for a week. I
was able to fix the roof with a hand saw and cordless tools recharged
by a small 2-stroke generator.
Had the damage been any worse I would have needed a generator that
could run a Skil saw, so after a few weeks when people started trading
in the ones they bought hastily after the storm I picked up an unused
1600W Coleman, cheap.
Of course having it means not needing it, but a friend who lived out
in the woods without power borrowed it for a while to run a
refrigerator and water pump, not at the same time. It was enough,
barely, except that the gas ran out about 3AM. He then bought a larger
one which will run all night but is on wheels because it's too heavy
to lift. Mine is light enough to put in a wheelbarrow and take to the
job, or carry up onto the deck or the roof.
So the point is to size a generator for emergency repairs or to keep
your critical appliances running.
I use a Sandvik bow saw for trimming on a ladder because I don't like
making the undercut one-handed with an electric chain saw.
Jim Wilkins
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Posted by Bruce L. Bergman on May 1, 2008, 12:49 pm
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>I think I need a 1kw generator to run power tools too far away from the
>ac mains. It will be used to run drills, saws including a small chain
>saw (7 amp), etc. There seem to be 3 types of small generators, the
>2-cycle at less than $150, the 4-cycle at over $300, and the inverter
>type at even more money. My usage will be infrequent, short run times,
>but I want a reliable unit that will still start and produce power 10
>years later. Would a cheap 2-cycle work reliably long term if the total
>hours is low?
Might, but I wouldn't chance it. In the US, the enviro-nuts have
made two-stroke engines a distant memory, and the UK shouldn't be that
far behind. If you are going to go the portable generator route,
consider it an emergency generator for household use first (storms and
such), and the fieldwork is test and exercise.
You have to spend a few bucks to get a reliable unit - stay away
from the "Fung Shui Peoples Machine Tool and Noodle Works" ;-) units
because when it breaks in a few years you will /never/ find repair
parts. They have no repair network in place, and nobody is going to
have a stock of parts - you'd have to make them, or toss it and buy
another...
Nice thing about buying from a well established name like Honda,
Yamaha, Subaru Robin, Briggs & Stratton and Cummins/Onan is you know
where to find them. They have service networks and spare parts.
The Inverter Style generators are more money, but they have an
important advantage - the power output is under 5% THD, and can
operate electronics and computers without damaging them. That, and
the engine throttle is varied by load, and if the load is light the
engine drops back to almost idle.
Better conventional generators are also clean enough for
electronics, they will state it in their specifications - if they
don't, don't use them for that without checking. Not worth blowing up
the computer.
Whatever one you pick, remember to run gas stabilizer in the fuel,
so it doesn't go bad in storage and gunk up the carburetor.
>Cordless drills get expensive as the batteries give out in a few years,
>and I often need a heavy 1/2" or better slow speed drill. I also need a
>electric chain saw to trim branches on top of a ladder, I have gas ones
>but they are a nuisance to start on top and carrying a running chain saw
>up a ladder has safety issues.
>
>Another possibility is an inverter operating off a 12 volt battery. My
>problems there would be the motor starting surge tripping the inverter,
>and my current tractor only has a 6 volt battery so I could not
>continuously recharge.
Well, if you want to do this on the cheap, there is a way - Get a
large inverter (2000 watts to allow for surge loads), a deep-cycle
battery, a small 4-stroke gas engine, a sheave that fits the output
shaft, and a large (120A) car alternator. Couple together, stir well.
And if any one part fails you only have to repair that.
Or get a PTO connected 120/240V AC generator for the tractor - they
have step-up gears because most tractor PTO's spin at IIRC 540 RPM.
Couple it to the PTO and trim the engine throttle to get 60 Hz output,
and you are done - Unless your tractor has a feedback control they
aren't tightly frequency controlled to run electric clocks or
turntables (anything using the power line for a time reference) but
plenty close enough for electric motors.
--<< Bruce >>--
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Posted by nick hull on May 1, 2008, 8:13 pm
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> If you are going to go the portable generator route,
> consider it an emergency generator for household use first (storms and
> such), and the fieldwork is test and exercise.
I already have a bigger 5kw generator for household use, it's too big
and heavy to use in the field. I need something small and light so I
can lift it easily and carry it around.
Free men own guns - www(dot)geocities(dot)com/CapitolHill/5357/
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> I think I need a 1kw generator to run power tools too far away from the
> ac mains. It will be used to run drills, saws including a small chain
> saw (7 amp), etc. There seem to be 3 types of small generators, the
> 2-cycle at less than $150, the 4-cycle at over $300, and the inverter
> type at even more money. My usage will be infrequent, short run times,
> but I want a reliable unit that will still start and produce power 10
> years later. Would a cheap 2-cycle work reliably long term if the total
> hours is low?
>
> Cordless drills get expensive as the batteries give out in a few years,
> and I often need a heavy 1/2" or better slow speed drill. I also need a
> electric chain saw to trim branches on top of a ladder, I have gas ones
> but they are a nuisance to start on top and carrying a running chain saw
> up a ladder has safety issues.
>
> Another possibility is an inverter operating off a 12 volt battery. My
> problems there would be the motor starting surge tripping the inverter,
> and my current tractor only has a 6 volt battery so I could not
> continuously recharge.
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
> Free men own guns - www(dot)geocities(dot)com/CapitolHill/5357/