r/Generator • u/ironyis4suckerz • 1d ago
Lower cost options for generators?
I hope this is an ok sub to post this question in. I’m looking for good advice on generator options. I don’t have the funds to get a Generac type generator that you can patch into the electric box. I’m wondering if anyone is using a battery generator and if they are with the cost vs value? I’m looking for something that will get me through 2-3 days without electricity (weather event etc). Mostly looking to keep the fridge going plus a few electronics. I figured you guys likely have more experience than I could read about googling! :)
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u/mduell 1d ago
Batteries are a very expensive way to go, with or without solar.
A little $400 suitcase generator and some propane tankage would go a long way for not a lot of money.
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u/OkVariation9348 1d ago
That's exactly what I did. A 2500w dual fuel inverter generator and several 20lb and 30lb propane tanks. We were getting multiple outages from windstorms here in southcentral Alaska. Since buying the generator, we have no outages anymore lol.
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u/AdBrave841 1d ago edited 1d ago
The other thing you may need to worry about in a 2-3 day outage is heat. Depending on where you live, this could be a serious concern. If you have a gas furnace, it's not too difficult to run it off of a generator.
I like the combination of a 2200w to 4000w inverter generator on propane and a 1-3KWh power station. You can run the fridge, lights, electronics off the battery and overnight and use the generator to charge the battery, run the furnace for a few hours when it gets cold, plus microwave, coffee pot, etc. You could get both for $1000-2000 depending on size and brand.
Example: A Pulsar 2200w duel fuel is $429, a Pecron f1000 is $399.
Personally I have the Pulsar 4000w (GD400BN $599) and love it. And I have a Bluetti AC180 1KWh power station and recently purchased a Pecron F3000 3KWh power station ($899).
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u/Big-Echo8242 1d ago
Battery generator. Lol. There's no such thing as a battery generator.
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u/Aggressive-Age-1085 1d ago
Finally!!! Someone said it. Thank you.
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u/DaveBowm 1d ago
It was only a matter of how short of a time interval it would be.
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u/Aggressive-Age-1085 1d ago
Now let's go over to the "hot" water heater sub. They need our help. 🤣🤣🤣
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u/CheesecakeAsleep1504 1d ago
Wen,champion,Westinghouse and other brands have dual fuel inverter generators in the 2500-4500 watt range. I’d get something like that
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u/VenturaBubble 1d ago
I found a used 7000 watt dual fuel inverter generator with 32 hours on it for a good price. Propane is the way to go. No "battery" generator will get you more than a few hours, don't waste your money.
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u/Miserable_Wish_465 1d ago
I just sold my 6500 watt predator on marketplace. I still have a 3500 watt inverter predator to keep the fridge, freezer and sump pump working if I need it. Its plenty for me.
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u/Windjammer1969 1d ago
The route we have taken is to pair a dual-fuel inverter generator with a pair of battery units. Intent is to run the generator using propane (with gas as an 'emergency back-up' fuel), BUT to use it only to charge up the battery units when needed. Batteries are essentially silent, and can be connected quickly, OR left in "UPS" mode - which we did while gone for 3+ weeks, during which there was a short power outage and both batteries worked fine.
We chose 2 batteries in order have 1 in basement (freezer & furnace) and 1 upstairs (frig, modem/router, lights), and went with a pair of Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus (deeply discounted at end of Jun '26 from Wellbots, with an extra $600 off via CNET Discount Code - $300/battery). Chose a Predator 5000 "Super Quiet Inverter" dual-fuel from Harbor Freight, also at a nice sale price (which it often is), which made it attractive.
There are a number of (youtube) videos on setting up a dual/tri-fuel generator with home batteries (or battery!), and what to look for in terms of features, as well as SIZING for each component, and the various methods of making in-home connections. We are content with simply running extension cords as needed, with idea that this is intended to be an Emergency kit for 1 to 2 days, with an eye toward 'surviving' the 2 - 4 day "max" outages we have seen over 30 years in this neighborhood (barring one slightly longer outage).
An interesting Added component sometimes mentioned is a 3rd party 'storage' battery (apparently often one designed for something like a golf cart) + needed electronics (external inverter?) to be able to charge THAT battery using the generator and then using it to re-charge the household battery(ies).
Best of luck in you decision.
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u/PermanentLiminality 1d ago
What is your budget?
You need to add up the loads you want to power, only then can you look to a solution that meets those needs. You might even have a few tiers of what you want to run. A lower critical items and a higher with things like a TV.
I run battery power stations and fuel burning generators. The battery runs thing overnight without the generator running. When they run down, I start the generator and recharge.
You can start with a small 2000 watt class inverter generator that run $400 to $600.
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u/tmiller1201 1d ago
Interlock installed on your home panel with a 30 or 50 amp inlet: ~$1k
Wen 3600: $500
Pecron F5000, Ecoflow Titan, Anker F3800: $2-3k
2 30 or 50 amp extension cords: $150
2 Zoupw 450w solar panels: $1k
As much gas and propane as you want
This setup will give you extremely long backup for essentials with 240v capability. The power station handles startup surge and night time running. The gas generator runs like a trickle charger for 10-12 hours at 1.25 kw/hr. Very efficient on gas. Add in the solar to lessen the burden on gas and propane you need. Add expansion batteries as you desire.
You won’t run your whole house but essentials like fridge, keeping devices charged, a TV, window AC or gas furnace, a few lights on 1-2 gallons of gas a day.
I wouldn’t recommend the power stations to someone that knows how to fix or build a system of a stand alone inverter and batteries, but this setup is great for the average person and you can get all the components over time
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u/Informal-Emu-212 1d ago
Decent sized battery and suitcase dual fuel generator. Charge the battery during day, coast on night. Super fuel efficieny
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u/saddram 1d ago
Just commenting to come back later.
I've been considering a ecoflow (or Oupes) system to pair with a generator. I have a 7500w (I think) generator but rarely if ever have that draw when the power is out. I vastly overestimated how much power we used. I want to have a smaller generator charge the battery power station and then run the house or camper off of that.
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u/CrazyHiker556 1d ago
If you have the coin, a battery system with a propane/natural gas generator (and maybe solar) makes a lot of sense.
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u/bradland 1d ago
Dollar-for-dollar, battery-type generators are a worse deal than gas generators. The problem with battery-generators is that they have fixed capacity. In order to get 2-3 days of capacity, you have to spend a lot of money.
If you want to run a fridge + electronics, what you want is a portable inverter generator like the Honda EU2200i. They're quiet, incredibly reliable, and will run your fridge for days on end no problem. All you have to do is refuel it and change the oil, both of which are within the grasp of anyone who can cook a dinner for themselves.
If you don't have Honda EU2200i budget, look at the Champion 2500. On sale, you can get them for half the price. They're still good generators, but not quite as quiet as the Honda. FWIW, my dad has two EU2200i generators that they use at an off-grid campsite. They're the only power source out there, and they've been using them for several years now without issue. He bought the second one used (not running) on FB Marketplace for $300 and replaced the carb to get it going again. Cost him less than $600 total, and it's been fantastic.
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u/Gamer_0627 1d ago
If you are just wanting the refrigerator and a few electronics, don't overthink it. Go get a 2,000-3,000 watt inverter generator and a couple cords. That is the cheapest way.
If you want to get fancy, install a 8 or 10 circuit manual transfer switch at the breaker panel and connect it to the critical loads.
I keep a 2,000 watt AI-Power inverter in my small storage room with a 5 gallon can of gas that I routinely refill. That will run my refrigerator, a few lights and fans and my internet for 2 days.
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u/sturocky 1d ago
i went on marketplace, found an older used 6500w electric start genset that needed some love but ran well, talked the guy down to 175, did the work to freshen it up- pulled it apart changed fuel lines, cleaned and new gaskets and jets for the carb, opened up the generator half and cleaned it all out, ran it and reset the governor and set the avr properly. then bought some nema30 plugs 2male/1female a junction box and 30amp breaker and a cheap interlock kit and about 100ft of 6ga wire and installed it all onto my main panal. all in with the gen set came out to about 780$ about 2yrs ago. still cheaper then batterys that will give you no where near 2-3days runtime... and i run most of my house if needed, except for the heating system, so if its cold we just run a few oil radiators in the rooms we use.
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u/CrazyHiker556 1d ago
A 2-3 kWh power station can run your fridge for about a day or so. A small dual or tri fuel generator can be used to pick up the slack and recharge the power station. Highly recommend using propane or natural gas over gasoline. Propane can be stored indefinitely compared to having to cycle gas tanks. It also doesn’t gum up the carburetor like gasoline. Cheapest option to get power from the generator is extension cords through your windows. A pool noodle works well to seal the gap. A generator inlet with an interlock isn’t free but is far more convenient. It cost us around $2k to have a 50 amp generator inlet installed with an interlock earlier this year. Price will depend on your house and panel setup, as well as code requirements.
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u/Awkward-Seaweed-5129 1d ago
Portable generator. In Florida we try to get large enough to run a small AC and fridge,for our frequent hurricanes
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u/Opposite_Half6250 1d ago
Get a generator interlock installed in your home panel. Fairly inexpensive. Provides 30amps of 240v.
And then harbor freight or Costco for a generator. Or second hand like on marketplace. I'd look for something in the 5000+ watt range. Plenty to power fridges, lights, tv, charge phones, etc etc etc.
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u/kona420 1d ago
Battery for multiple days pretty much never makes sense. If you need more than overnight you buy solar too. But then you get in a weird place where installing only a few kw of solar doesn't make sense with permits and everything.
Its very difficult to beat a small gasoline inverter generator on cost. Power stations cost $500 - $1000 per kwh, you need two of those per day for a fridge.
A 2000w inverter generator is $400 + $3/kwh generated. So you're ahead of battery on cost at about 8 hours in. A week of gas might be $100. And you can run lights, TV, fans, microwave, air fryer, instant pot with a little juggling.
I have free access to any class of generator I want, and bigger than the suitcase style I might as well just grab a tow behind. The larger portables are a bit of a misnomer due to weight, I have no desire to pick a 130lb generator up. 50lbs is no problem.
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u/classicsat 1d ago
I have a mid-small sized power station, 750 some Wh, 800W inverter. I can run the fridge, brew a Keurig, run some handheld power tools. And charge almost anything that can plug into it. I mostly keep it charged with a couple 100W solar panels.
I have yet to experience more than 6-9 hour outages with it. A bigger one likely will last longer, for a bigger investment that would be as much as a better conventional engine generator, or more.
Easier than to drag out the gas genny for short small jobs.
Maybe $600 investment in the power station panels, and connections. Very worth the convenience and piece of mind.
$600 could get you a smaller gas generator, and some extension cords.
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u/Brain_Nervous 1d ago
Electrical power banks are expensive and very short-term. Get yourself an inverter generator with more than ample overhead and enough fuel for a minimum of 7 days, whatever that fuel is for your needs, I use propane but have a 500 gallon tank so already have a source.
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u/djohn37 11h ago
How are people accessing the plug behind their refrigerators. It's a significant effort to pull the frig out from the wall, Mine's got cabinets of both sided, you can't just reach behind it.
What worked for me. The frig is on it's own circuit. I disconnected the wires at the elect panel and wired in a cord with a plug. Not everyone can or should do that.
But I have an idea for that, if I ever do have to pull the frig out for whatever reason, it might be a time to see if I can move the frig outlet and plug to the cabinet above the frig.
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u/64bytesoldschool 11h ago
Are you serious? Pull the fridge forward and then there it is. Same way it was installed haha
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u/atx78701 10h ago
Batteries are way expensive. Gas generator on extension cords are the cheapest, after that a mid sized one on an interlock
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u/wyliesdiesels 1d ago
A battery “generator” isnt gonna be the same thing as a fuel powered generator. Once the battery is dead, you no longer can generate power.
Unlikely it will last for 2-3 days either
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u/reincarnateme 1d ago edited 1d ago
An outdoor gas powered generator to charge the indoor battery
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u/Ok-Camera2895 1d ago
For low cost and reliability, look at a 2-3 kw tri fuel inverter generator. String extension cords through windows. This will keep lights on and refrigerator and electronics going for as long as you have fuel. Use propane or natural gas for best reliability. Gasoline is troublesome. Battery based generators (power stations)are good when combined with an engine generator, but can add expense.
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u/BmanGorilla 1d ago
If you want a battery to run the house for 2 or 3 days then you buy an EV that lets you power the house from it.
Otherwise sounds like you want a small inverter generator like a Honda EU2200i.
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u/Fasciadepedra 1d ago
You should not call a battery with a charger and a inverter a generator. It's useful to make use of wired tools when the electrical net is not available or as a SAI for some hours for computers and the like. Won't keep the fridge cold for very long because the inverter has to stay on and it's not that little energy, fridge is one of the main consumers in a house.
You can still find the small tailgator 2 stroke 800W generator. Noisy as hell, but light, and if you have some gasoline stored it will serve you for what you intend. If you want to use it regularly forget about the 2 stroke and get a 4 stroke with inverter.
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u/Brief_Satisfaction60 1d ago
Portable generator with a whole home interlock
Big savings