Generator Myth-busting: The Truth About Generators

[@johnclyne6350]

Awesome perspective on generators! All true! Thank you for making this video! I’m a power lineman for a local power company in my area. The smart people have generators. The not so smart are the ones that don’t have a generator & complain the most when the lights are out. We own the best inverter generator money can buy (Honda EU 7000is). We look at having back up power like an insurance policy you hope you never need. But if the lights do go out (and they have). It’s not even an inconvenience.

[@jolkraeremeark6949]

I would really like to hear your thoughts on a floating neutral generator vs. bonded when running, say, certain furnaces.

[@yaknowwhothis5102]

I know I can’t find a clear explanation on how to run em anywhere lol

[@DragonwoodDesigns]

Just a note about back-feeding the grid: True it would technically being stepped up through the step down transformers. In our neighborhood we get our 240 volt [120 x 2] 200 amp service from a box in the neighbor's front yard. That steps down a 7200 volt line from a pole mounted transformer half a block away. That pole steps down from 15k volts. (All going back to the 115k volt main trunk lines.) All in all, a VERY bad day for any line-worker not familiar with the "Crowbar" and the knowledge of how a step down transformer can be a step up transformer, just by switching what lines the power is fed to it. BUT... What really happens, is that the entire neighborhood is waiting for their power to return, with all their distribution panel circuit breakers closed and their porch lights on. Unless you have enough power to run the entire neighborhood (and adjoining grids), the instant your generator tries to power "all that". It is going to load up and die. Within seconds. Please don't ask me how I know.

[@rhettstrahan598]

We have a 9000W portable generator. We use a 50Amp connection to power our house for hurricanes. Is there a way to clean the power going into the house ?

[@PowerEquipmentDirect]

We don't recommend externally cleaning up power coming from an emergency generator because it's more expensive to try and clean power rather then just buying an inverter style generator. Also, some UPS systems will not accept the raw power from a generator, which can make any power conversions less than ideal and have varied results.

[@frankeggers4024]

If it is a high quality generator the output would be a practically perfect sine wave which would create no problems.

[@margarethwlodarski4777]

I really needed to know. Thanks for the info💐

[@almarco2341]

I bought a 14000 BTU portable AC unit. Do you think my 4500 inverter generator will be able to start the compressor and handle the load please?

[@PowerEquipmentDirect]

A 4500 watt inverter will be powerful enough to start and run your 14,000 btu portable a/c.

[@Mike-01234]

Be nice to see THD% from different common generators people buy. I know Generac claims they can get less then 2% without the use of an inverter which is impressive, but also Westinghouse says they are under 5% THD. I wonder if these tests are done under loads with AC units turning on pulling lot of current.

[@MrBritrider]

Not my Westinghouse generator. It has 23% THD and they will flat out tell you that LED bulbs and sensitive circuit boards won’t be protected. That information was not presented to me when I purchased my generator.

[@nospam-hn7xm]

Excellent video and great information. Thank you for sharing!

[@PowerEquipmentDirect]

Our pleasure! We're glad it was helpful to you!

[@elsancho6697]

How about the myth that generators put out "dirty" power and might not operate a furnace or even damage electronics? I don't really hear people address this issue.

[@PowerEquipmentDirect]

Thanks for suggesting this. Total harmonic distortion (THD) is a term used to measure that "dirty" power and it is illustrated using a sine wave. Gas generators do put out variable electrical currents that change based on the load and other factors over time, which makes them somewhat of a liability when running sensitive electronics that could be fried by surges or large fluctuations in electrical current. It would be similar to having an electrical surge at home and your computer was plugged into the wall and not a surge protector. This article describes how THD works in the context of inverter generators providing "cleaner power" than gas generators: www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/stories/1906-Ultimate-Inverter-Generator-Guide.html

[@funonoldwheels7150]

Most modern electronics convert AC to DC before they use them. I suggest that they are unaffected by "dirty" electricity

[@MrBritrider]

@@PowerEquipmentDirectWell that’s just great for inverter fans. What about us duh heads that got a standard generator that weren’t informed about filthy electricity? What can they do to protect their LEDs and delicate circuits?

[@ernestwalden3894]

Actually I never heard of any of these myths LOL

[@PowerEquipmentDirect]

That's not a bad thing. "Myths" are usually rooted in patterns or have some elements of the truth, but they grow legs of their own based on repeated information changing slightly over time. If you've heard something and repeated it to someone, then someone else has likely done it as well and before long, it becomes "industry knowledge" when in reality it's not completely correct. That's why we thought this video would be helpful to clear up the confusion on these popular topics. We also see this happen with industry professionals and installers all the time.

[@frankeggers4024]

Depending on how it is done, there may be nothing wrong with installing a generator in a garage. When I worked for Onan decades ago, the company had a couple generators installed in the building. They were city water cooled which greatly reduced the ventilation required. The exhaust was piped outside. Because they ran on natural gas there was no fuel to spill. Generators are quite often installed in boats, commonly near the boat engine. So, your caveat about not installing a generator in a garage should be modified.

[@PowerEquipmentDirect]

We don't make cases on the exceptional situations of anything related to safety. We will never recommend that any generator is installed or used indoors in any residential application. For the average person using a generator at home or recreationally, that is a cardinal rule that should be followed. The main reason is not for fuel spillage, but the potentially lethal carbon-monoxide fumes that can be inhaled to a fatal degree, and you'd never know because it is colorless and odorless. We appreciate your examples, but they are in reference to commercial/specialized applications that are outside the scope of focus for our video. Not everyone will understand those differences, and therein lies the danger.

[@mikejames7099]

CAN WE RUN OUR GENERATOR 3500 WATS all night when camping for a heater? or what should i do i got a new one im afraid to have it on longer then 2 hours

[@PowerEquipmentDirect]

If you are saying that you have a separate electric heater that you want to power with a gas generator, you could *BUT* you'd have to make sure the generator was far enough away from your group so no one is breathing in carbon monoxide (an odorless, deadly gas), and that it isn't too loud to be uncomfortable or a distraction from sleep. How many hours it would run depends on the load of the heater and the size of your gas tank. If you have an inverter generator, it would be quiet and safe enough to use close by and still power an electric heater for several hours. Inverters are the top choice for campers and recreation for those reasons: they are pretty quiet and do not emit carbon monoxide because they are not gas-powered. They work like portable power cells which make them convenient.

[@funonoldwheels7150]

You're not camping if you bring a generator, and for the sake of your neighbors, please don't bring one

[@mikejames7099]

@@funonoldwheels7150 we have our own Land

[@franklinslamo]

Are you saying you can't run a generator in an open carport? My carport is fully open on three sides.

[@PowerEquipmentDirect]

Our primary concern is reminding people that in any enclosed space, dangerous/deadly levels of carbon monoxide can concentrate and harm people that inhale it. It's difficult to detect because it is colorless and odorless, and even more difficult to detect outdoors because monoxide detectors are typically only used inside buildings. In your case, the carport is not really an enclosed space like a permanent structure/satellite garage, so if carbon monoxide has the ability to dissipate and escape, it should be fine. However, we will only recommend full outdoor use with a gen tent for added protection.

[@mt8956]

I bought a Duel Fuel Inverter Generator, my goal is to parallel two XP9000iH & run them on propane. Only reason am going with inverter generators is to have low THD. The inverter generator cost me about 1 or 2 devices I have at home.

[@PowerEquipmentDirect]

Inverters really do provide some of the lowest total harmonic distortion (THD) levels in the industry, mostly due to the way they are constructed electronically.

[@ashestoashes6902]

Thank you ❤️

[@PowerEquipmentDirect]

You're welcome, thanks for watching.

[@steveallen2610]

The only thing is the little one needs a load to be wide open. It is just in idle mode till a load is added.

[@hunkenpunken]

You should have mentioned difference with safe inverters vs modified cheap gen sets.

[@dalehammond1704]

Question: Do new freezers require an inverter generator?

[@PowerEquipmentDirect]

An inverter generator isn't required to run a freezer, although an inverter will power a freezer just fine if the wattage requirements are correct. As long as the freezer itself does not require 220-volt power like a sump pump or well pump, it should work fine by plugging into any generator that provides the same 110-voltage capabilities during power outages. A freezer is not considered a sensitive electronic that would need the cleaner power that inverters provide.

[@mp-xt2rg]

Myth doesn't mean what you think it means. Back feeding power though a dryer outlet is not a myth. It absolutely works. Advisable maybe not. But it's not a myth.

[@radby]

No mention of THD. A well known mith is that you don't need pure sinewave to power your electronics (which represent 90% of the load, given that even lightbulbs nowadays are electronic).

[@PowerEquipmentDirect]

While that may technically be true, it's always a risk to power sensitive electronics with higher levels of THD, even if that risk is smaller today than it was in the past. As technology gets better, so does our harnessing of electricity.

[@treadless_co]

I've been trying to find data on acceptable THD for regular LED bulbs. Haven't come across anything yet, but I'm sure they're not built robustly.

[@dancingpianofairy]

No silent generators. So solar generators make noise?

[@PowerEquipmentDirect]

All generators make some sort of noise, regardless of the energy type used, due to electrical or mechanical physics. In the case of solar generators, they are noticeably much quieter than generators that use moving alternators or other mechanical means of generating energy, as opposed to inverter generator technology that works more closely with battery storage cell tech.

[@DragonwoodDesigns]

I think most of you video was misinterpreted somewhere. I thought I would write one comment and let you slide on the rest. But they were so bad! Not good info at all! The couple of comments that were so ridiculous, I won't address. (1, 2, 7). Please don't think I am trying to rip you a new one, but there is a lot that needs to be clarified: 3, dryer plug. Yes, a true suicide cord, but my dryer outlet is 50 amps. About the same as my generator's output. The breaker in the panel is also 50 amps. The wiring is 8 gauge. How can that cause a fire? Obviously, the main needs to be opened before anything is energized. Legally, it's on you if you get caught without an interlock. In ANY case, if there WAS a fire.... everything related to production of electricity would be removed from homeowner's insurance scrutiny. #4 Power anything. Obviously you are not going to run an AC or microwave oven from a small (2500 or smaller) generator. It'[s a no brain-er to add up all the loads you think you might need and purchase the appropriate sized unit. But, the WAY more important point you didn't mention is: No. Your big-box-store / Amazon run of the mill generator will NOT run sensitive electronics! You need an "Inverter" type generator that puts out a pur3e sine wave. I think any (even harbor freight) inverter generator fills this requirement. Regular (cheap) generators put out really dirty power unless under load (a lot of load!) Redneck solution (I had to do it to keep my servers and routers alive. I.e. Found out the hard way!) "Get you a big-ass truck or car battery and hook it up to yer wally-mart batt'ry charger. Then, getcha one a them thar "Pure Sine Wave Inverters" from them Amazon folks. They'll fix you up good with a one kay-dub unit." Filter out the noisy power using the battery as a giant capacitor. 5, noiseless generator. How bad do you need silence? They have shed enclosures. Weed growers from the 70's and 80's dropped units down in holes 20 30 feet deep. Couldn't hear anything 20 feet away from the hole. As for truly noiseless: Solar and wind generators. A slight hum, but that's all. 8, Don't need a generator? Nobody does, unless the power goes out! (You RV'ers and campers are excluded. Just don't run it after 10pm if you are in a campground. Boon-docking? Blast that s..! Get up on the roof of your camper and air-gutair Metallica!) Don't mean to bust any round objects, but as a prepper and purveyor of all things essential when SHTF, I just had to say something.

[@Ivansgarage]

Myth 2... for the idiots... run the generator in your living room....

[@astrophelhart3806]

Is this video made for 3 year olds?