Discussion
With a new project car and a garage with no electric I need a genny. It'll be used to run some light, a kettle maybe and the odd power tool; a drill, sander that kind of thing. Maybe some heat as well come January/February if I havent got the engine running by then.
I think something around 2.4 kW would do, and seems fairly cheap. Am I under speccing and really need to look at something bigger? I shouldnt need it on for more than a few hours at a time
I think something around 2.4 kW would do, and seems fairly cheap. Am I under speccing and really need to look at something bigger? I shouldnt need it on for more than a few hours at a time
andy-xr said:
With a new project car and a garage with no electric I need a genny. It'll be used to run some light, a kettle maybe and the odd power tool; a drill, sander that kind of thing. Maybe some heat as well come January/February if I havent got the engine running by then.
I think something around 2.4 kW would do, and seems fairly cheap. Am I under speccing and really need to look at something bigger? I shouldnt need it on for more than a few hours at a time
Can't you just run a cable from the nearest socket.I think something around 2.4 kW would do, and seems fairly cheap. Am I under speccing and really need to look at something bigger? I shouldnt need it on for more than a few hours at a time
2.4kW will barely get you a kettle and when it is running you won't get much light or anything else. Certainly not a 1500W drill.
Is the garage miles away from the house? I wouldn't personally consider running even a small workshop solely off a generator, unless you're spending mega bucks on one you may find it lacking. Would've thought an industrial four-gang extension lead from the house would serve most purposes, with maybe a diesel/gas fuelled space heater to keep you warm.
Couple this with a few hand held inspection lamps you can charge overnight and run off the car battery and you'll be sorted.
Couple this with a few hand held inspection lamps you can charge overnight and run off the car battery and you'll be sorted.
Hmmm, I think this is just a maths question, unless you plan to have the kettle permanently switched on 
Add up the wattage of the items you want to run. Maybe you can't run the heater and the kettle at the same time, for example. No problem, as long as you know. I'd allow 20% extra power capacity to be sure.
I don't own one, but Practical Classics (or similar) had a review of 2 and 4 stroke generators in last month, still on the shelves last weekend I think.
If it's going to run continuously for a few hours at a time, I'd guess a 4-stroke Honda or Briggs & Stratton engine...
Add up the wattage of the items you want to run. Maybe you can't run the heater and the kettle at the same time, for example. No problem, as long as you know. I'd allow 20% extra power capacity to be sure.
I don't own one, but Practical Classics (or similar) had a review of 2 and 4 stroke generators in last month, still on the shelves last weekend I think.
If it's going to run continuously for a few hours at a time, I'd guess a 4-stroke Honda or Briggs & Stratton engine...
Edited by Ordinary Bloke on Tuesday 18th November 22:12
Garage is half a mile from the house, rented and I dont have an ext lead that long. Doubt the neighbours to the garage would want to be providing electric, although I havent asked to be fair
I'm rebulding a car that hasnt seen the road in a while, so might need to run the odd electric item every so often and a couple of hours of light. I could use battery lamps if needs be, not planning to be there much after dark, just to finish off whatever I cocked up earlier
I'm rebulding a car that hasnt seen the road in a while, so might need to run the odd electric item every so often and a couple of hours of light. I could use battery lamps if needs be, not planning to be there much after dark, just to finish off whatever I cocked up earlier
Living here and battling hurricanes, we are generator savy. 
I have a 5.7KW, 11HP petrol (McCollough). I run a refridgerator/freezer, a large TV, a lamp, window AC, and a coffee maker. It uses about half of its capacity. The 5 US gallons go for 12-15 hours under that particular load. The thing is on wheels and is about 2.5 ft. tall and 3ft long with wheels.
I have a 5.7KW, 11HP petrol (McCollough). I run a refridgerator/freezer, a large TV, a lamp, window AC, and a coffee maker. It uses about half of its capacity. The 5 US gallons go for 12-15 hours under that particular load. The thing is on wheels and is about 2.5 ft. tall and 3ft long with wheels.Good call on the heater as I didn't read that in the first post. Fair enough on the armoured cable as well but who really does this in practice!
Having said this as the garage is in a block it seems to be a moot point.
With the kettle, the heater, the lights, etc. you'll need to be looking at a 10kW plus but if you are sensible and turn the heater off when boiling the kettle and using the drill, etc. then you should get away with 3.5kW 'ish.
My experience with small generators is that when overloaded they work their nuts off to try and supply the required power at which point you can hear they are being overloaded and turn off something to bring them back to normal levels. I can't imagine this is good for them though but we didn't care as they were always on hire!
Having said this as the garage is in a block it seems to be a moot point.
With the kettle, the heater, the lights, etc. you'll need to be looking at a 10kW plus but if you are sensible and turn the heater off when boiling the kettle and using the drill, etc. then you should get away with 3.5kW 'ish.
My experience with small generators is that when overloaded they work their nuts off to try and supply the required power at which point you can hear they are being overloaded and turn off something to bring them back to normal levels. I can't imagine this is good for them though but we didn't care as they were always on hire!
Edited by Soft Top on Tuesday 18th November 22:17
Jimbeaux said:
Living here and battling hurricanes, we are generator savy. I have a 5.7KW, 11HP petrol (McCollough). I run a refridgerator/freezer, a large TV, a lamp, window AC, and a coffee maker. It uses about half of its capacity. The 5 US gallons go for 12-15 hours under that particular load. The thing is on wheels and is about 2.5 ft. tall and 3ft long with wheels.
Jim, what sort of weight is it? I've spotted one that looks alright, bigger than I first planned but might have a problem collecting it I have a 5.7KW, 11HP petrol (McCollough). I run a refridgerator/freezer, a large TV, a lamp, window AC, and a coffee maker. It uses about half of its capacity. The 5 US gallons go for 12-15 hours under that particular load. The thing is on wheels and is about 2.5 ft. tall and 3ft long with wheels.andy-xr said:
Jimbeaux said:
Living here and battling hurricanes, we are generator savy. I have a 5.7KW, 11HP petrol (McCollough). I run a refridgerator/freezer, a large TV, a lamp, window AC, and a coffee maker. It uses about half of its capacity. The 5 US gallons go for 12-15 hours under that particular load. The thing is on wheels and is about 2.5 ft. tall and 3ft long with wheels.
Jim, what sort of weight is it? I've spotted one that looks alright, bigger than I first planned but might have a problem collecting it I have a 5.7KW, 11HP petrol (McCollough). I run a refridgerator/freezer, a large TV, a lamp, window AC, and a coffee maker. It uses about half of its capacity. The 5 US gallons go for 12-15 hours under that particular load. The thing is on wheels and is about 2.5 ft. tall and 3ft long with wheels.I ran the thing 24/7, no break, for 7 days.
http://www.etoolcart.com/browseproducts/5-700-Watt...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R95M98?smid=AEWYNDAJ4...
Edited by Jimbeaux on Wednesday 19th November 01:18
Ordinary Bloke said:
Hmmm, I think this is just a maths question, unless you plan to have the kettle permanently switched on
Add up the wattage of the items you want to run. Maybe you can't run the heater and the kettle at the same time, for example. No problem, as long as you know. I'd allow 20% extra power capacity to be sure.
I don't own one, but Practical Classics (or similar) had a review of 2 and 4 stroke generators in last month, still on the shelves last weekend I think.
Car Mechanics magazine. Unfortunately it was up to 2kW gennies. Other than that though, the mag is highly recommended for people who like to get their fingers oily. November's edition has/had a Porsche 944 owners survival guide and the final part of an item sorting out an MX5. Add up the wattage of the items you want to run. Maybe you can't run the heater and the kettle at the same time, for example. No problem, as long as you know. I'd allow 20% extra power capacity to be sure.
I don't own one, but Practical Classics (or similar) had a review of 2 and 4 stroke generators in last month, still on the shelves last weekend I think.
Best buy was a Screwfix 23078 2kW (£239:99)
Best budget buy was a 750W SIP Medusa T951 (£74:99)
worth remebering that gennies are normally rated in KVA, and an assumed power factor of 0.8 or so, thus if one says it's 2.8KVA it's only going to supply ~2.25Kw.
a 2.8KVA one will be fine for most stuff, the only issues will be a kettle (~3Kw), a compressor or too many 500W lights...
a 2.8KVA one will be fine for most stuff, the only issues will be a kettle (~3Kw), a compressor or too many 500W lights...
Scuffers said:
worth remebering that gennies are normally rated in KVA, and an assumed power factor of 0.8 or so, thus if one says it's 2.8KVA it's only going to supply ~2.25Kw.
a 2.8KVA one will be fine for most stuff, the only issues will be a kettle (~3Kw), a compressor or too many 500W lights...
Agreed, also don't forget that any tools with a motor in have a big surge current on starting & a genny of this size won't have a lot of overload capability.a 2.8KVA one will be fine for most stuff, the only issues will be a kettle (~3Kw), a compressor or too many 500W lights...
The generator itself will provide heating. A 2.4kW genny will provide 4 to 6 kW of waste heating. You'll need to run an exhaust pipe to the outside of the garage. My kettle is only 1.5kW and is more than adequate. With 100 or 200 watts of fluorescent lighting, a 2.4kW genny should be more than enough. A 4 stroke engine is quieter and more efficient than 2 stroke. If you get one too big, it will run very inefficiently, i.e. throw fuel away.
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