I have a couple of off the beaten path jobs coming up, this means no electricity. I am thinking about buying a generator and was wondering if anyone knew how many watts i would need to run a 15 amp compressor without frying the motor. Anyone with any advice or brand recommendations help me out. thanks
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well im no engineer but a 15 amp tool will use 1800 watts or more especially on start up, and 1 hp is 740 watts and i would go at least double that for safety so a 5 hp generator should do the trick. hope my math is right!! but 5 hp sounds like plenty.
of course if you want run two tools at once, well........
ive built a lot of fencing using a 10 hp generator, compressor, chopsaw, but of course rarely do both run at once.
sorry one addition, the generator was a honda and very reliable even at 25 below
Howdy Kaufman.
One of those BTDT things. I use a generator for about 80% of my jobs out here in the mountains. 3500 watt sustained out put generators seem to be the ticket. Runs every thing you got and more than one thing at a time. You just might be able to get by with 3kw size just fine. Electric start is a major plus.
I use a 5kw SOP. Generator mfgs list power consumption charts and guide lines for thier equipment. Throw in little extra margin. Having a little bit too much is better than comming up short.
Put the gerarator as far away from where you are working as practical. The drone will wear on you. You'll wonder where the head ache came from. Conversation difficult and etc. #10 ga cords for the long runs will do every thing a favor.
If you can do it put the compressor on 220 volts. [220v outlet on the generator] The better the electrical panel the less problems you'll have. Spike contol. 20 amp breakers. 110 / 220v taps / outlets.
Every generator that I ever came across that had a Honda motor was very reliable. Never had problems with Generac for the generator side.
Do your tools and equipment a favor and don't run the generator in standby mode. This will make your generator very thirsty. Allow.
There is a difference between sustained and peak out puts. Read the fine print.
A trick I learned from the Army. Dig a hole about 2' deep, deep enough to get the entire set below the surface, and big enough to allow a foot on all sides and put your gen set in it. It makes a big difference in the apparent noise.
At least one cabin I worked at had a dedicated, dry laid cinder blocks to hold back the dirt, spot above ground. A three sided cubby with dirt berms. Not quite as effective as the hole in the earth it made life much more relaxing.
Good idea. Thanks.
Usally shield the generator if it's forced to be close. I try to remote the compressor too or shield it.
Never considered digging a hole. Right now the ground is still pretty much frozen.
I also have a 7.5 KW. Leave that on truck.
A point to consider... Fuel take off / auxerilly tap and work from military style cans and fuel pick up. Some one is always going for fuel. Got mine at a surplus store. 4 working cans, at times, don't seem to be enough. Also there isn't the problem / danger of refueling while the generator is still hot. The fuel line is about 20' long. Don't want to consider a 5 gal fuel misshap. Spill or fire. Do dig or block for the fuel cans.
Wheels. Wheels make your life eiaer to move the HEAVY A$$ED generator around.
The 5 KW has 12VDC tap. That I have found useful a couple of times as a jump start to the truck.
I have some experince w/ the Honda 6.5 KW liquid cooled. NICE!!!! The only short comming is that it takes 2 gorillas to move it.
Both of the generators have external oil filters and low oil cut outs. Definet pluses.
Sounds like a nice generator.
They get heavy some times but that is what friends are for.
This afternoon I grabbed a shovel to implement your suggestion of pitting the generator.
Then occured to me that we are on a mountain. Two inches of dirt and then solid granit.
Any left overs from the well project. Hand me another extension cord will ya please.
Sandbags.
Also helps if they call in an airstrike on your position.
Edited to add last line.
Edited 4/18/2003 1:54:48 AM ET by 4LORN1
I have my fur lined, pass thru membrained, chin strapped, soffitt and ridge vented titainium cone hat.
The only air strikes will be from the black helicopters and I have that covered.
I use generators alot for work.( I presently own 4) 3kw to 4 kw should suit you. As far as brand the best I have used are Yamaha, second Honda. Honda also makes a line that is silenced but is also very expensive comparatively. When you buy be careful to look at rate ,kw , of constant load and of maximum load. i.e. a 3 kw honda only gives you 2.6 kw constant running load.
Philip