Solar vs Generators...Which One Is The Best?

[@CityPrepping]

Additional videos to watch after this one: Solar Generator Comparison 2024 (kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmW7e4Bno66dkJo) & Determining power needs after SHTF (kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJ3Tc61-l7ymmJo) Save up to $2899 during EcoFlow Prime Day promo! Get exceptional Amazon ‘Deal Of The Day’ offers from July 16-17. Check out the links in the description below, and use my code 24EFPDCITY to get an extra 7% off EcoFlow Prime Day deals (Except flash sale products and DELTA PRO 3). Valid until July 23! EcoFlow Website: bit.ly/3XMBOG6 EcoFlow Amazon: bit.ly/3RQPCeC

[@rebellucy6200]

Best advice- have BOTH! Run the genny during the day and go silent with solar at night. Also use ethanol free fuel!

[@robkocol5664]

Perfect advice! I would only add to use a good fuel stabilizer like (marine-grade, Stabil) even with the E-free gas, due to the potential long lengths of time between use.

[@MagicPrepper]

Plus you can recharge the power banks with the generator to store that beautiful energy for later so win win.

[@chumps7974]

Agreed

[@Robnord1]

Another alternative at night, for those without a power bank is to run a tiny suitcase type inverter generator for essential devices only after dark. Some of the 1000 to 2000W models are amazingly quiet.

[@MichaelofYurtBees]

Ethanol-free will be less maintenance over time. Pay up front, or pay later. It is a choice that each individual makes. When your solar array gets large enough and your battery bank can store enough, life gets easier. You can pay the local electrical supplier or you can invest in your own system. If you go your own way, the local electric company will not supply you in a crisis. I, frankly, don't want them to supply me. The one serving my area is unreliable. No notice power outages. Water containing so much sediment that it destroys hot water heaters at a faster rate than normal (I am going tankless when I build a mounting board (cement board). I am responsible for me. I expect to self-rescue. FEMA camps are for failures.

[@michaelmorrison5280]

Started with solar. A storm knocked out our power for 4 days, and the skies were overcast for the majority of that time. I quickly learned just how insufficient solar can be. I ended up buying a gas/propane on the start of the third day to not lose all of the food in our fridge and two freezers. Now I got both, and I'd recommend it. Solar when you can, gas when you really need it.

[@jbrockskill]

How many KW of storage did you have?

[@jdollar5852]

Absolutely! Solar generators are awesome, but they have limitations. Gas generators are more powerful, but they have limitations.

[@ajarivas72]

Just buy more solar panels and more batteries. I run my refrigerators on solar during cloudy days. At night we sleep, no much consumption.

[@jmackinjersey1]

@@ajarivas72 You still need to run the HVAC system 24/7. You only have so much Real Estate to plant panels and store batteries.

[@godemperormeow8591]

Depends on what company and how much Watts or in this case, Kilowatts you are packing. You didn't have electricity to power a fridge and two freezers which seems as if you didn't really have beefy solar panels to begin with. You still need electricity for other, massively taxing appliances such as A/C and Landry machines.

[@CemBas]

I have both. I will use the gas to charge the solar if there is not enough sun that day. 👍

[@danieljones7096]

That really the best option for these systems. I keep a small 2200 Predator to charge up my batteries if I don’t get sun for 3 days.

[@deedieducati2272]

Cris, I have been saying this for years. Have backups for your backup's backup! Having both solar & gas generators, and using gas as a backup for when the sun isn't shining is a very smart thing to do. Also, you can charge your solar generator with a power cord plugged into the gas generator as well. A friend of mine has their refrigerator plugged into the solar generator while the generator is plugged into the wall. I'm not sure I'd recommend that as a sudden surge in power could damage the generator....but to each his own. I live in an area that gets hurricanes and sometimes just really bad thunderstorms. I purposely make my freezer "colder" so if I do lose power my food stays frozen for longer. I do not turn my generator on immediately..... I wait it out to see if the power returns. Usually it does, but if after say 5 hours it is still out, I run the freezer on the generator for a few hours, then cycle it off again. I do this cycle off & on thing until the power returns. Of course you gotta be on your toes to keep it up, but I gotta do it. Btw, battery powered fans blowing over a block of ice are FANTASTIC! Oh, and one more thing: ice cubes melt faster than solid blocks of ice. So....take an empty 2 liter soda bottle and fill it with water about 2 inches from top and leave the cap off, then freeze it. That solid chunk of ice will stay frozen for longer than a bunch of ice. cubes.

[@RitaH247]

I am in Northern California and this week we are under an excessive heat warning alert. Today will be triple digits, and the electric company is turning off power to some areas (not mine) as a fire safety precaution. No matter what happens, I’m glad I have a solar generator to keep me cool and protect my food.

[@aussiegruber86]

If you just swapped to Celsius already you would be still be in double digits

[@bobbygene8274]

No such thing as a "solar generator". You have a storage device.

[@Sovereign_Citizen_LEO]

@@bobbygene8274 - ...with built in small high frequency inverter.

[@mmjay7078]

WTH he talking about! I’m in the capital of California and we get excessive sun!

[@montanaplease]

I would move personally

[@wt9653]

You need both. When the battery depletes, you charge back up the batteries with the gas generator. The trade off is, two hours of battery charging with the gas generator equals 24 to 36 hours of battery life. That 5 gallons of gasoline can extend to a couple of weeks of electricity for your house.

[@ajarivas72]

Buy more solar panels. One day we won't have gasoline

[@beesknees6970]

wow. I hadn't thought of charging my batteries with short run times of a generator. what size batteries are you charging for 2 hours that give you 24-36 hours of battery? That's awesome.

[@wt9653]

@@beesknees6970 When I said 24 to 36 hours don't mean normal use. When power goes out, you go into conservative mode. Keep the refrigerator and lights going. You can make coffee, conservative when using a microwave or air fryer. Large 4 to 5kwh Power station with fast charging (1.5 to 2 hrs) DIY 5kwh of batteries with 1500w battery charger.

[@beesknees6970]

@@wt9653 Yeah I'm looking to only power a low watt window AC for no power situations as I live in a high heat southern location. Trying to figure out what type of system to use. Thanks for the info!

[@wt9653]

@@beesknees6970 Be careful with the air conditioners. Some of them are very high energy hogs. I have a Midea 12,000 BTU inverter window mount AC. On Eco mode, it uses around 350 to 500 watts. That means you would deplete the battery (5000wh) very quickly. 7 to 8 hours tops. Depends on your budget, you can always add additional batteries. Ecoflow Delta ultra is an example of large power station. You can add something like 12 additional batteries to it. Very expensive!! The Prime day was the time to buy. They were 40% off.

[@markhager8321]

I run my propane generator twice a day for 1 hour. Each times run to recharge my 5 solar generators. Works great

[@fredking1782]

@@markhager8321 Then, they’re not solar generators.

[@beesknees6970]

How long do you get to run your solar batteries off of that charge from the propane generator?

[@Wormanatti]

Both! HAVE BOTH! Nothing is better than options.

[@davidhamilton163]

Sitting here in Missouri City Tx with no power since Monday morning. Currently running a Champion 2500 Inverter/Generator on propane. Everything in the fridges and freezers still good, and also able to safely charge all electric devices, including all the batteries for my Milwaukee (my choice of battery system) fans, lights etc. My plan is to eventually add battery as well for night time use and convenience of using in the house/garage.

[@Mc.flyyy11]

Yeah my folks are in mo city too. My dad luckily the week before had a plug in to the electric panel so he could plug in a generator for a whole home back situation. Talk about timing!! Be safe

[@FishRanch.in.Commiefornia]

I have the champion 7500 watt. It'll run my house and AC unit. PGE had a 8 hour planned outage but this guy still had cold beer !! Lol

[@jddavis8431]

I built a shed especially for my gas generator with an exhaust port. My genny can run all day with the door shut. Can't really hear anything until you're behind my home. Also, everything stays locked up and secure.

[@GunneyRat]

I agree that's what I do is use both. I practice every year when I go camping for a week

[@MichaelBasedow]

My thoughts: first… your video are awesome and have helped me a lot getting ready for alternate power sources. I have made some EcoFlow purchases to utilize in my home. Here is my plan to recharge the EcoFlow systems throughout my home. First each unit is covered with an EMP blanket when it is stored (never when it is in operation). The use a small generator (dual fuel if possible) 2200k Honda (very quiet and efficient) to re-power the system. You can re-supply the generator by siphoning gas out of cars. I was looking for the most efficient way to operate an electric generator. The EcoFlow Alternator Generator system of $600 may be too expensive to run of a car or car battery. The price and operating fuel consumption running a car is not efficient to only charge the Electric Generator. We need to be smart in SHTF conditions. Our phones (bluetooth) will likely not work. And we need to look at all possible resources we may have available around us to harvest power. Your thoughts please.

[@sweetsuccesstrading5097]

We have the Genmax 9000 ied Dual fuel, and only use propane with it. It can be used to recharge the Solar Batteries, with the batteries being primarily charged from the grid till needed. The farm house primarily uses propane for the appliances with wood as primary heat, so there’s plenty on hand.

[@MagicPrepper]

Nice comparison. It is definitely an individual consideration based on environment or living situation. An apartment dweller is much more restricted than a rancher when weighing out what makes the most sense. The smart systems are nice but sometimes I wish I just went with a manual transfer switch for the ease of use.

[@gordony8196]

I agree! I purchased a 3000 w duel fuel. I also have portable battery generators. The only downside to the duel fuel gen is it weighs 110 lbs. It has wheels, but I won't be taking it in case of bug out, because I'm old and weak! 😊

[@Sovereign_Citizen_LEO]

just put it in your bugout bag....

[@jennifernebraska9728]

Our town community center has a huge dual fuel generator. We are allowed to take our battery packs there to charge. Recently had serval days of power out. Center was opened for cooling, meals and charging of all our needs. Neighbors working with neighbors.

[@stacyewhite3037]

I have the EcoFlow Delta Two with the additional battery and solar panels. In Houston, I think it was a good choice for this homeowner.

[@Carlos-Saldana]

Are you able to run AC with that setup?

[@bullet1218]

Get both ...solar for clean power and gas just in case cloud cover during a outage of power...that way you can power what you need and recharge your solar generator...💯👍

[@OGColorado]

We had an electrician install a power transfer panel. Our generators can be plugged in outside the garage and power 6 basic circuits - especially the heating system, kitchen and office. We have 3 gas / propane backup generators and several hundred pounds of propane, cans of fuel ( rotate with fill ups every 3 months ). Now for solar.

[@kathleenwhite988]

being 70 and on disable I cannot afford this but love watching be safe be strong

[@luisgonzalezjr.7465]

Hi. I can relate to being a senior and disabled. If you can at least purchase a small power bank to be able to maintain some smaller electronics like cell phone or cpap it can make all the difference in an emergency. Good luck.

[@kathleenwhite988]

@@luisgonzalezjr.7465 Thank you

[@stevenshircliff393]

Like your thinking! I have 14kw battery backup, transfer switch, and a 3000 w pure sine wave generator to top off my batteries. Also have a siphon pump kit to get gas out of our cars. And others if necessary.

[@earlshaner4441]

Outstanding subject and remember the rules of 3 and 3 ways to do everything during survival

[@Robnord1]

👍 One is none. Two is one. Three ...Perfect.

[@earlshaner4441]

Yes my friend this rule has served me well

[@jorgebautista4650]

Love you mention both. I prefer solar but live in Alaska. With 6 months of winter and lest sunlight, the ICE option is the better option.

[@Texasprepper]

What happened to "land of the midnight sun"?

[@samtrosper7224]

The best scenario would be to have a good sized solar array with multiple server rack batteries and a generator to charge up the batteries when there is not sufficient sunshine. With this system you could also go off grid forever. In a SHTF event expect the grid to go DOWN.

[@Bloodstryke]

how could you "go off grid forever" when you can't make gasoline or natural gas? You are assuming those are going to always be available.

[@samtrosper7224]

​@@Bloodstrykemake your own ethanol burn half and drink half lol

[@anthonyglaser929]

A couple of thoughts from a long time Floridian. Here we have a whole season dedicated to Hurricanes and the havoc they can bring. So power outages are common during August, September, and October. What I hav found is that the petroleum generators now have an option called inverter generators which are significantly quieter than the older gas generators. Not quite as powerful but worth the extra money. Also here in Florida during the summer months we can and do go through periods where it's two or three weeks of overcast rainy, so keeping the solar stations juiced can be a challenge. Although Victron and a few other companies now have a charger you can use with your car to charge your solar station.

[@crazycgames]

Agreed, and if you have a solar generator and cloudy weather, you'll probably want an inverter generator for charging the batteries back up (not normal generator as that line power can be quite...noise/bad).

[@roncameron7461]

Thanks for this latest video...I worked in the power generation industry for 30+ years. I've been amazed at times, even in my own resistance to wanting to invest in secondary power options for when the power is out. It took our power being out for over 24 hours in the middle of summer several years ago before we finally decided we had to make some changes and invest in some alternatives... it's nice to have at least a little backup these days...thanks again for keeping us focused on positive solutions for what will probably be very needed knowledge and equipment in the future!

[@kidvision564]

The beauty of a gasoline generator (if you don’t have a propane underground storage tank or natural gas) is the fact that your car has probably 18 gallons of gasoline in a very safe storage system- and you can pull it out. It can last for more than 2 weeks if you are savvy about generator usage.

[@j0sh4tran]

What’s the best way to pull gas out of your car?

[@DominicMazoch]

Have a window unit or portapower AC unit. You may have to turn a room into a place of cold refuge for a while. A genny can handle it. Ran a room AC, 50 and 100 watt ham rigs, and an ice box. Had shoreline connected to a properly wired box for the Houston storm

[@robertchristianson1187]

Having lived off grid in Arizona 13:02 for 20 years it did not take long to realize that a generator was important when there were extended days of no solar. I used propane as it was easier to store and at the time was less costly than gasoline.

[@mothra4445]

I have 7,000 watt gas generator to run most of the house during the day. I’m on a well and septic so that keeps things going. I hooked up an emp shield on my service and only hook up the battery when needed. I live in the country so I have a 200 gallon gas tank with stabilizer. For after dark I have a 2,000 watt solar generator for the refrigerator and freezer. Keep the generator in a faraday box when not in use. For lighting we just use various oil lamps!

[@brookeb7994]

I'm currently on a well, but need electricity to run the pump. Trying to figure out how we can convert at least the pump to solar.

[@mothra4445]

@@brookeb7994 your pump is hooked up to your electrical service. You could have a reciprocal put by your service hooked up to your electrical pump and have a cable that can hook up to the service reciprocal, but can also hook up on the other end to your generator and that should do pretty good. it might cost a little money. Hopefully you have a friend or a family member that’s electrician that can do less expensive!

[@Bob-cx4ze]

If I'm running a combustion heater or a generator in the garage (with the door open and exec with an extended exhaust outside) I use a CO alarm with it. Some of the newer generators even have it built in as a shutoff.

[@jeffcarter8160]

I’m in Orlando so my typical needs are after a storm. I went with a tri fuel 12500 as I have natural gas to the house. It runs the A/C and well water system, fridge. I have the important circuits marked and I turn everything else off. “Unlimited “ natural gas

[@robborris4021]

Solar generators are great. If you can afford them. My briggs 4750 generator was 180$ compression tests in the 130psi range. I bought a year old deep cycle for 80$, a 2000 watt inverter for 60$ to power things without the generator. Use the generator for large appliances or/and charge the deep cycle with my 12v car charger

[@jeremyvasquez511]

Hi, if you have an electrical vehicle with bidirectional charging, which is a battery on wheels. You have battery back for days until the sun comes back out.

[@Nate7700]

Disappointed my Tesla m3 doesn't have this. It's literally a battery backup that could power the necessities (fridge, phone, cooktop) for weeks

[@mikecohen2400]

Battery packs, and generators complement each other, add solar for a complete system. Why battery packs, because most important loads you run in a house are intermittent they cycle on, and off. Running a generator constantly to power them is wasteful of fuel, especially in a crisis where fuel may be hard to come by. Which brings me to fuel, buy only duel fuel generators, gas/propane, if you are in a grid down crisis, finding gas may be a real problem, as gas stations may be out of power also, and those that have power may be sucked dry by demand. Propane stores safer, does not degrade over time, and you can store a lot without issues, add a storage tank in the back yard, to have fuel when needed.

[@guspaz]

One need look no farther than the runtime specs for generators. Take the ubiquitous Honda e2200i, which is a good choice for charging a battery power station (it's rated for 1800W, good to handle any 15 amp AC charging). You literally get 1.6x as much kWh out of it for a full tank running it at full load rather than quarter load. So if you use it only to recharge the battery power station at near full load instead of trying to directly power your devices off it, your fuel will last 60% longer right off the bat. Huge advantage there.

[@ajarivas72]

​@@guspazdon't buy generators. Buy more solar panels. There will be no gasoline after nuclear war

[@ajarivas72]

​@@guspaz Sell your generator and buy more solar panels.

[@lougarou8431]

Just bought a new house, I have the 12kw Champion generator with Generlink system. Next year will be a solar panel system on the roof.

[@jimstandefer1799]

As for a solar generator, we need to think about a nuclear winter . However the solar panels will still charge on a cloudy day you won't get a full charge as you would on a normal day .

[@Janisg616]

You will not bother about electricity during nuclear winter. You will be looking for food, preferably that does not have radioactive poisoning in ti.

[@ajarivas72]

​@@Janisg616you need energy for everything. Distilling water for example. Don't worry for radioactivity, nuclear bombs are not as dirty as the movies tell.

[@ajarivas72]

​@@Janisg616tell your neighbors "Go look for food, I take care of your electricity needs"

[@PabloP169]

I agree with your conclusion and what you are personally doing. Unfortunately most people get conned by sales speak especially regarding the "Solar Generators", and what power they really need.

[@iiinsaiii]

I have both. The only time I run the dual fuel generator is to charge up my solar system batteries, when it’s been raining or over cast. Plus I have 2 small Ryobi gas generators that I use too to charge the batteries with a charger. P.S. if you’re going to decide to store some gas. I would number each Jerry cans ( don’t get plastic gas cans, they break ). Get a clipboard and mark down on it when you filled and treated the gas. I recommend Pri-G for gas treatment. I’ve had gas that I treated once a year last two years on Pri-G.

[@rpdx3]

If you live somewhere where there’s not a lot of sun, then you have less need for A/C. Lots of sun, more A/C. Great videos. Thx.

[@williamwiese9963]

I have both, but really like the solar, because no oil changes or having to pay for over priced fuel etc. just added another 6 batteries to my system. Getting ret to go 24 volts.

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

as if you are doing oil changes every day ???? Where are you paying over price for fuel ???

[@Truth-op3be]

Final thoughts 💭 is what matters.. the ecoflow alternator is a game changer 😃

[@bobbybusche2716]

Get both.. if your fuel based system has a 12 volt output. Charge your bank while the fuel based system is running. So you have power on demand with the gas system and charge your system at the same time

[@Robnord1]

Great video Kris. I clicked on your video link to ; *How To Power Essential Devices When The Grid Goes Down* , and right at about 21:00 there, you covered what I believe is essential in selecting a proper generator or solar charged power bank. Your spread sheet with W/hr usage calculations should be very useful since many have little background on electricity.

[@NOLAgenX]

Honestly, you need both. If you have non-sunny weather and have some of the newer super-fast charging solar units, you can charge them for really a minimal amount of gasoline. It can come in quite handy when your panels aren’t getting enough sun. This will extend your gasoline supply, as well as limit your expanded noise footprint to just an hour or so.

[@charlesvincent4127]

Well, with a biodigestor set up a generator would be more effective I think, at least if you have the materials and technical knowledge to maintain the generator. but it seems like a person would want to have a mix of things.

[@M9A1MAN]

The right answer? Both. Generator for normal times (rule of law still present), and there's a short power outage, etc. Solar Generator when SHTF. I have both. If SHTF, you do not want to be running a generator past day two or three. You'll be advertising to the entire community you have power. I have a Champion as well inside my garage. I welded a custom exhaust pipe to it, and it runs outside so exhausts the fumes outside. I can keep my garage door closed to minimize exterior noise. My understanding for solar generators long term storage is to keep the batteries at 80%

[@jmackinjersey1]

The good thing about a tri-fuel or even a dual fuel that is converted to a tri-fuel generator is that you simply hook it up to the gas line that is running to your house and you don't need to worry about running out of fuel, unless of course you are in a a real SHTF situation and you are out of power for a few months, and no one is able to maintain the gas flow. Whole Home Standby generators are attached like that, and they run for a long time. Oh, also under maintenance of the ICE generator is oil/filter check and change.

[@HvacGuy76]

People should go camping multiple times a year. Be prepared to live without electricity. If the grid goes down, it could be weeks, months, or even longer. Before the grid comes back up.

[@Nate7700]

Why would it go out

[@loganl8643]

The sun ​@@Nate7700

[@somethinderpsterious]

​@@Nate7700de pawp

[@guspaz]

@@Nate7700 Natural disaster? During a natural disaster, power could be out for days or weeks. Months is unlikely, unless you're extremely rural. Around where I live, the risks are usually wind storms and ice storms, both of which can cause extended power outages. The most recent ice storm was 2023, which cut power to a million people, most of which were without power for several days. My parents were out for several days and relied on a shared building generator for their essentials (fridge, hotplate, mobile device charging), while I was lucky enough to only lower power for a few hours. I'm on the same segment as a fire station, which helps. From experience, my parents need to be ready for multi-day outages, while I only really need to plan for multi-hour outages. All that said, we had a multi-week outage when I was a kid living in a suburban area (also caused by an ice storm), and if I wasn't living in an urban area now, I'd be planning for much longer outages.

[@rickhiggins6521]

People could do some pretend camping at home just for practice. The weather and other conditions are crazy nowadays.

[@HomesteadEngineering]

Nice job Kris. I think you continue to get better and better at this. I agree with your assessment. I might add that for me the best backup option is a large, whole house, battery backed, solar power system. Expensive? YES, but the price has dropped to around $15k for a pretty good system. Thanks!

[@rickybobbypapi]

Which system?

[@HomesteadEngineering]

@@rickybobbypapi Many systems to choose from but I will just give one example: 1. EG4 18k: 12k output, 120/240 inverter with 18k solar input capable 2. EG4 LL: 30kWh LiFePO4 battery bank 3. Panels: 30x395, 12k array All for $19k or $13k after tax credit. Add another $2k for racking

[@garybennett8880]

The City Prepping team is doing a great job providing information and expertise. It will be hard for my spouse to accept paying for a system that doesn’t that doesn’t power air conditioning. I now have a small and large generator. The risk of a gasoline generator failing when you need it is high as you explain maintenance is critical to keep them running. 😊The propane power source is in my opinion is the best way to go. I am really looking forward to your larger system video.

[@northman77]

I already have 25 gal of gasoline at all time for the mid size generator. I cycle it every 30 to 40 days. Now, I need a propane generator, 400 lbs of propane and a good solar "generator/battery".

[@OnusBones]

A lot depends on the cause and [expected] duration of the outage. The advantage of instant, much greater power from an ICE generator is entirely negated if its noise has been heard by feral humans or others looking for resources, even if they are simply remembering it days later. Of course, a large visible solar array might also be remembered. Many factors differentiating these systems are matters of convenience, but broken OPSEC could be a matter of life and death.

[@scottoslund]

“Feral humans“. What a great description. Living in TX, their fate will likely be the same as with hogs.

[@jdollar5852]

I really don't think that a solar system is any safer than a gas generator, with regards to OpSec. As you said, a solar array can't be hidden, and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the house with lights on has a power source. I live in the boonies, but 20 miles away is a city slap full of 200,000 "feral humans" that don't have enough food to last 2 days. In an extended grid down situation, I wouldn't expect them to stay in town and they'll be roaming my direction looking for stuff. That's a no-win situation for everyone.

[@OnusBones]

@@jdollar5852 Whatever your power source, you should have blackout curtains, and otherwise practice light and noise discipline.

[@AhLaDad90]

Thanks for the video, you can use the gas to charge the solar faster than the sun.

[@michaelshrader5139]

I just got power restored after Beryl it Texas yesterday... I was on my 10K watt generator for 4 days straight, it wasn't fun but thanks to it and a single window AC unit I wasn't miserable and was able to keep my fridge and box freezer cold and have some fans and lights working. But, I was running the last of my gas supply thru the generator and seriously concerned where I was going to get more gas from when the power finally came on... I'm now thinking about a more efficient Inverter Generator and a power station with a solar panel array just as soon as I can afford it, because this 10K watt portable beast I have here is too thirsty for fuel and getting fuel for it is expensive and extremely difficult after a major power outage event has occurred in Texas! Had my power stayed out much longer, I'd have been SOL as well... .and for almost a million people, their power is still out and may not be restored till sometime next week as the earliest it's being reported! People are blaming the utility companies for being unprepared here, but what was their personal emergency power plan? I wonder.... 😕

[@bobbygene8274]

You need a propane option if feasible-back it up with gasoline if you have to.

[@gavinfry7176]

In my opinion, lots of people overbuy to run there "comfort" devices... i keep telling them, all you really need to run is couple of lights, a fridge and perhaps medical devices, do you really need to run all your house lights? Why not just some simple 12v led lights, do you really need to run that giant fridge/freezer when a 12v camping fridge will do. If you prioritize and minimize your power consumption then perhaps just a small solar setup will do. Jist my opinion, i know everyone has different requirements

[@MrFunkyskier]

Without energy, providing security for your family becomes very difficult. Purchase all you can afford. Generators are great, but bring unwanted attention. Get your critical loads on a dedicated panel with Solar and Battery. Use generators to power larger loads and to recharge batteries. Also, if you are rural and own a tractor, consider a PTO generator. A small 35HP tractor can run a 15Kw PTO generator using a gallon of diesel an hour.

[@DanHORVATH-yi6cu]

Im solar powered since 2012. I also own a champion Generator thats duel fuel. Propane, or gas. Runs 1/2 day on 1 gallon of gas. And mine is very quiet.

[@markjohnis1872]

We employ a small gasoline generator (daytime) and a small solar generator (nighttime) ... for absolute basic power requirements ... our goal is to have enough fuel for up to 2 months ... then utilize vehicle fuel if needed ... this is for week-long hurricane power outages as well as potential long-term grid down situations ... please don't forget to store water, food and weapons ...

[@tndeere2]

I have a Yamaha 2200 generator.Super quiet and runs about 8 hours on 1.5 gallons of gas. I also have a 48 volt golf cart that I can use the batteries to run a pure sine inverter. Good info I’m still studying on the solar generator. Thanks

[@unclechris3958]

As a small engine certified mechanic I would say do both because you can get all the power outages of the engine and you can use it when you have cloud cover or need a large load for a long time I use my generators all the time I own 13 they all run 2 diesels one don’t need a battery to start it’s a lister diesel on a small trailer and the other is on a skid all the rest are gasoline powered portable can be cared by hand they have basic electronics I change the oil ether every 2 years or after 100 hours of runtime I run every one under load for about 2 hours every month the diesels I run every other month a tip to make them not as loud is to put them around trees but not to close to prevent fire and or behind something like a shed but again to not go to close to a house or flammable at least 10 feet from flammables and at least 20 feet from houses and buildings and keep a carbon monoxide detector in your house as well it’s best to run a generator at 80 percent load so if it have 10000 watts you run the best at 8000 watts 80 percent of your running watts mainly with diesel but it’s true for gas to I have grown up around these engines and generators it’s vary important to follow directions on them if they come with them

[@Wherstead]

Would love to purchase the latest EcoFlow solar generators but my budget says otherwise. My best solution is a "better buy" on duplicate sets of a Delta 2 plus a Delta 2 Max extra battery. I use one set while making sure a reserve of 3Kwh supply is available for a string of cloudy days. Has worked great so far and the price is dropping on each.

[@stephensuter5016]

Thanks for this comparison. This is important to help people make their decisions.

[@ShinigamiSalami]

Get glasses that dont have blue light filter, and have anti-glare. Awesome video.

[@SteelWolf13]

CP/Chris: Think Budget. That's where most people start. ME: Nope I start with desired outcome/need/want then figure out how to budget/fund it. :) Delta 3 U is looking pretty nice and the marketing is flooding ALL my usual youtube channels..

[@hilltopper600]

everyone needs to look at the new Generlink that works without a tranfer switch

[@tfrench4366]

Several years ago I was visiting in Florida during a hurricane. My mother had a gas generator. Perfect right? Well... Not so much. It sat for several years and I really struggled to get it running. Old gas is mostly the problem. Thankfully the neighbor down the street was willing to give us some fresh gas. Good thing I was there. My mother is in her 70's. What is she going to do???. You need a good plan. If I was not there , she had no plan.

[@boblatkey7160]

Honda EU series. 💪 might be a little pricey on the front side but you will be thanking yourself when the damn thing works perfectly 10 years later!

[@bobbygene8274]

Or 20 years later....EU2000.

[@shelley131]

I have 2 honda 2200's the companion and the other converted to propane. During the freeze we had in Texas they both came in handy since we had no sun for several days. I used my EcoFlows for critical use and the Hondas to power the ecoflow. When there was sun everything was charged with solar. When the sun was down I would use the Honda's to charge the ecoflow. Better to charge the Ecoflows with the Hondas as you only run them for a couple of hours and the Solar gens would run through the night . I've also have daisy chained my EcoFlows to extend running time. I don't believe in extension batteries because if the main unit breaks you have a 40 pound battery you can not use. Maybe you can do a video to show your views how to daisy chain solar generators.. When I bought my EG4 off grid inverter and my EG4 battery I realized I did not have enough solar panels to start the inverter to charge. I just used my Delta Max 2000 to increase the battery run time on my EG4 battery. Did not want to use my Honda in the middle of the night to charge the EG4.

[@kidvision564]

The beauty of A propane/natural gas generator is the unlimited supply of gas via underground pipes. No lines waiting no heavy portable BBQ tanks which last a few hours only

[@GtcoUC]

My condolences for living in California. Stay safe.

[@deeparoyal7349]

AC in the desert SW is Most Important 😅

[@jdollar5852]

Take a look at some of the newer mini split systems that run off solar or AC. I live in GA, so AC is critical during the times we are likely to lose power. I can run a small window AC for about 4 hours using the Bluetti AC200MAX before it runs out of juice. That's in my garage in June, so it might last longer in a well insulated bedroom. AC and keeping the fridges/freezers going is my main concern.

[@WinningWithWarchild]

With Beryl, I learned that all I need to stay afloat for a week or so is: (1) A window unit AC - that I'll need to purchase, (2) My fridge/freezer, (3) Internet Modem/Router, (4) 55" TV, and (5) various lamps & charging stations for my hand helds. I really need the simplest and cheapest way to get by, but I don't mind maintenance, etc. Normally, power is out here for 2-3 days, but with our Derecho and then Beryl, we've had 1-2 weeks of no power. Is there an easy way to get what I need with either Solar or Gas?

[@ElMarinoLoko-yf1pq]

A/C is really a necessity here in Florida. There's plenty of sun to power it...

[@danielsalach1234]

On a gas generator extend the exhaust out the drop it down a few inches get a bucket fill it with water and it will sound like a motorboat.

[@rickhiggins6521]

Thanks for keeping us all thinking.

[@robertduncan2742]

I like the 3 unit with backup generator, a concern i have is cost for one without a gen its 4000 plus

[@CliffSurman-hx2xu]

Have 2 different solar generators, and both say use only inverter generator to charge batteries.

[@JT-lq4yd]

It would be beneficial to have both options available. During the day, the generators can be utilized to power essential appliances and charge batteries. However, it is important to shut down the units and bring them inside before nightfall. I have a 1.6kW gas generator, a 3kW dual-fuel generator, 60 pounds of propane, and 15 gallons of gas. Additionally, I own a Delta 2 (the smaller 1024 Wh version). Previously, I assembled my own solar generator with a 1kW pure sine wave inverter, a 100 Ah battery, and just today, I completed the second one with a 2kW pure sine wave inverter and a 400 Ah battery bank. My goal is to ensure that during the winter, I can operate the gas furnace, refrigerator, lights, and a few other small appliances. During the summer, I aim to power the refrigerator, freezer, sump pump, a window AC unit, fans, lights, and other items. Currently, I have limited solar panels and would like to incorporate battery charging into my system.

[@saba5774]

Pairing a smaller, fuel efficient generator with a battery system is quite efficient. I can charge my 4000wh system on less than a gallon of gas and then run my refrigeration and light load items for 24 hours.

[@arnoldreiter435]

with any disruption in our lives it should be mentioned that the desire and in some cases the assumption of convenience needs to be put aside and replaced with understanding one needs to be involved with and actively making choices that will be beneficial to survival. i.e. dont be sitting in you chair watching tv to see what is going on. I agree completely with having both systems and understanding the best way to use them. couple of things i think should be included with you info. Dont store or use ethanol in generators, yes you can but you will have problems due to this fuel. when getting ICE generator go with the pure sine wave inverter model, they cost more and for a reason. all electronics will be damaged by the modified sine wave some will show damage right away others will show up later. Note that all the solar generators are pure sine wave and a lot of them wont accept modified sine wave gas generators current when you try to charge them with it. and i will end this essay with saying get your preps out and try them to see how they work...... when the lights go out is not the time to be problem solving why your store bought things dont do what you need them to.

[@Robnord1]

" all electronics will be damaged by the modified sine wave " NOT True. A very few MIGHT not tolerate modified sine wave voltage. Working with AC and DC voltage, inverters, generators, and battery banks has been my thing for 25 years. You are quoting 'internet wisdom', which is often incorrect or incomplete. Quite often this 'wisdom' comes from guess who? That's right...from inverter and inverter generator salespeople. On the topic of pure sine wave for power centers opinions vary between mfr and what forum you're reading. In many cases, owner input says their power bank does okay on modified sine wave regardless of what the mfr has told them. Not all units are the same.

[@arnoldreiter435]

@@Robnord1 i stand corrected, i was going off my experience with bluetii and jackery power stations both of which will not accept a charge from my modified sine generator but will from my honda inverter generator. i personally had to have a refrigerator circuit board replaced and a large tv quit working shortly after i had been using my previous non pure sine wave gen. the service techs opinion was the gen was the cause. i will go with using pure sine wave from now on. seems to me it is even more important that people check their equipment and see that what they have will work when they need it most.

[@mac2863]

Great video. But I think you need to mention longevity of the generator overall. Gas powered generators can last between 10,000-30,000 running hours at full capacity. Solar generators batteries will degrade and no longer return full capacity charges based upon battery usage and drain frequency/ speed

[@michelle5247]

Yes the solar generator batteries degrade over time, but it takes years of continuous usage, and even then they still work at 80%

[@bobbygene8274]

@@michelle5247 That is with proper maintenance during those years of continuous usage.

[@Robnord1]

With solar power banks (NOT a generator), It all depends on being in a good solar climate location and being able to spend thousands on a decent system. Living under 140' tall cedars here in western Washington State, solar is next to useless. To make up for that we have multiple generators, and backups with close to zero hours on them.

[@Snerdles]

If you want it for backup and emergencies then a decently large battery and a generator is cheap (comparitively), and easy. Solar is massively expensive for similar power outputs and unwieldy to use and for any decent output is effectively immobile. In the video you compared 2 or 4 hundred watt panels to a 3500 watt generator. Try lugging 3500 watts of panels to your bug out spot and let me know how it goes.

[@tammyjarding7804]

Love your work. I am new at this. God forbid, if a emp hits, will it take out your solar generator and panels? What if you have a transfer switch and a emp strikes, will it take out your electric panels and transfer switch In the house? Thank you again for your time and work. Have a great day.

[@michaelfrady-i7l]

I just bought a bluetti ac50b and a small gas generator

[@Patrick-USA86]

You really give a person a lot to think about

[@NadesikoRose]

Having both would be nice if you aren’t living in an apartment, so I will most likely going with solar generators and panels

[@LanceBruce]

One thing I haven't seen addressed, several IoT experts suggest that any tech made in China could be shut down at will. Is there a way with any of these solar generators to guard against this? "US lawmakers are concerned that if China ‘may be able to effectively exfiltrate data or shut down’ IoT devices using Chinese cellular modules"

[@bl4643]

Battery+solar+genset is the perfect system

[@bradbeam7254]

Your presentation is spot on, thank you!

[@TheHonestFoodTeller]

Man, you look ripped! I remember years ago (7 or 8 maybe, your channel was pretty new) when I told you that you should work harder on your basic physical strength. Looks like you did it!

[@jeffdickson2482]

I use a dual fuel generator and use it to charge solar generators if no sun is avalible

[@hauntastic158]

OH God Kris.. I am a small engine tech stay away from the Chinese generators. I have seen governors fail, over revving and power surging and causing electrical damage and fires within a home or have failed mechanically. I implore everyone to invest in Honda and Yamaha Gens. they are quiet and reliable..

[@jamesclark7248]

The fact that my lights are on while my neighbors are in the dark shoots the battery OpSec benefit down in the first 24 hours.

[@KaylynnStrain]

sinvce I live in a north facing apartment above the ground floor I can't have a fuel generator so OI have to have solar power stations. since I dont get muych sun on my deck I would have to go down to the parking lot or park across th4e street to juice up my power station andI'd have to sit there with it to prevent it from getting stolen

[@drnv150]

A generator is for backup for a limited time. The first 48 hours to get your game plan, Solar and portable solar with propper battery, inverter, BMS, overcurrent protection, etc. is for longer term set up or longer term portable operation. This statement assumes fuel is very hard to get.

[@joelincolnlincoln6315]

I keep buying generator using itba weke than not needing it for 2 months and selling it. Very importsnt to get eleteic campsite if an option unless u got cooler weather. I can camp fine no eleteic or grnerator in winter and fall ny weather spring too