Diesel household standby generator,recommendations?

[Yale]

Thinking of maybe getting a diesel generator for use on the farm and as a backup for the house.

Any to look at or avoid?

Brands,engine makes etc.,better if electric start.

 

[Kidds]

I recently bought a 7KW petrol one off these guys https://www.hampshiregenerators.co.uk/
Rang them up, told them what I wanted it for and what I was going to run off it and they came up with a "Senci" petrol generator. Service was first class, very helpful, quick delivery and the generator has done what I wanted it to.
Used it to run all my apple squashing machinery and it has some pretty big motors. I often think I should have got a diesel to save on fuel but the nearest one to what I wanted was out of stock and due to covid, brexit etc they couldn't say when it would be available. However, diesel is a big jump in price and realistically it would take a lot of use to actually make a saving. I was running mine flat out for 8 hours a day and used less than £20 a day in fuel.

 

[harrow]

I recently bought a 7KW petrol one off these guys https://www.hampshiregenerators.co.uk/
Rang them up, told them what I wanted it for and what I was going to run off it and they came up with a "Senci" petrol generator. Service was first class, very helpful, quick delivery and the generator has done what I wanted it to.
Used it to run all my apple squashing machinery and it has some pretty big motors. I often think I should have got a diesel to save on fuel but the nearest one to what I wanted was out of stock and due to covid, brexit etc they couldn't say when it would be available. However, diesel is a big jump in price and realistically it would take a lot of use to actually make a saving. I was running mine flat out for 8 hours a day and used less than £20 a day in fuel.

The trouble with petrol is it goes off, expect a lifespan of 3 to 6 months. Its alright if you keep it fresh.

 

[upnortheast]

Thinking of maybe getting a diesel generator for use on the farm and as a backup for the house.

Any to look at or avoid?

Brands,engine makes etc.,better if electric start.

1st thing is to work out what size you need.
Get your sparky to put his clamp meter on the live wire at the meter then turn on as much kit as you usually have running at any one time. That should give you a guide to your demand, then multiply that figure by 1.5 to give you a buffer

Some modern meters will show your max demand if you scroll through the display

 

[Courier]

If it's only for occasional use / backup how about a P.T.O. drive ?

 

[Yale]

I recently bought a 7KW petrol one off these guys https://www.hampshiregenerators.co.uk/
Rang them up, told them what I wanted it for and what I was going to run off it and they came up with a "Senci" petrol generator. Service was first class, very helpful, quick delivery and the generator has done what I wanted it to.
Used it to run all my apple squashing machinery and it has some pretty big motors. I often think I should have got a diesel to save on fuel but the nearest one to what I wanted was out of stock and due to covid, brexit etc they couldn't say when it would be available. However, diesel is a big jump in price and realistically it would take a lot of use to actually make a saving. I was running mine flat out for 8 hours a day and used less than £20 a day in fuel.

The trouble with petrol is it goes off, expect a lifespan of 3 to 6 months. Its alright if you keep it fresh.

1st thing is to work out what size you need.
Get your sparky to put his clamp meter on the live wire at the meter then turn on as much kit as you usually have running at any one time. That should give you a guide to your demand, then multiply that figure by 1.5 to give you a buffer

Some modern meters will show your max demand if you scroll through the display

If it's only for occasional use / backup how about a P.T.O. drive ?

Want one for keeping the freezers going,boil the kettle etc,maybe if power out for a while hook up the oil boiler.

Wouldn't want to hook it into the house direct really although that is a thought.

 

[Nearly]

The trouble with petrol is it goes off, expect a lifespan of 3 to 6 months. Its alright if you keep it fresh.

It not only goes off. Some other bugger always uses it.
Diesel always on stock and freshish.

 

[Timbo]

I recently bought a 7KW petrol one off these guys https://www.hampshiregenerators.co.uk/
Rang them up, told them what I wanted it for and what I was going to run off it and they came up with a "Senci" petrol generator. Service was first class, very helpful, quick delivery and the generator has done what I wanted it to.
Used it to run all my apple squashing machinery and it has some pretty big motors. I often think I should have got a diesel to save on fuel but the nearest one to what I wanted was out of stock and due to covid, brexit etc they couldn't say when it would be available. However, diesel is a big jump in price and realistically it would take a lot of use to actually make a saving. I was running mine flat out for 8 hours a day and used less than £20 a day in fuel.

Be sure to put some fuel stabiliser in the tank and run it at least quarterly else you'll find...it wont.

 

[defender]

Diesel , big enough to run the house and fit a changeover switch
Better if it runs at 1500 rpm and FG Wilson is a good make although there are plenty quality old standby sets out there for keen price ,

 

[Yale]

Anyone know about Hyundai diesel generators?

 

[Deutzdx3]

One of the little diesel ones in a box a pretty reliable. 6.5kva. Easily run a large house. 8hr tank.

 

[Exfarmer]

Petrol does not go off, complete ball cocks.!

 

[Farmer Roy]

Petrol does not go off, complete ball cocks.!

Err, it does.
a lot of the volatiles evaporate over time, it goes “stale”, it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere & ultimately it can leave varnish like deposits

so many starting problems, especially with small engines, are easily solved by putting in fresh petrol

 

[Timbo]

Petrol does not go off, complete ball cocks.!

Sorry you're very wrong

 

[TripleSix]

Petrol does not go off, complete ball cocks.!

It does.
Turns to varnish eventually, modern ethanol fuels can have a very short life

 

[Pilatus]

Petrol does not go off, complete ball cocks.!

You may be correct, but the guy that mends my chainsaws said that modern day petrol definitely does go off especially over winter months. It’s due to the ethanol they now add to modern day petrol and I believe him.

 

[TripleSix]

Anyone know about Hyundai diesel generators?

They're not a Hyundai, rebadged chinesium.

 

[Farmer Roy]

The rule of thumb for storing anything with an engine for a long period of time was if it’s diesel, leave the tank full, if it’s petrol then drain the entire system.

 

[Barleycorn]

Anyone know about Hyundai diesel generators?

I'm looking for a couple of generators for standby on pressurised water systems. Been told to avoid Hyundai as spares and backup are rubbish. Looking at Perkins / Stanford from Hampshire Generators, more expensive but should be good for 20/30 years, see me out!

 

[Mur Huwcun]

It does.
Turns to varnish eventually, modern ethanol fuels can have a very short life

It’s gone south seriously in last few years. I can run my lawnmower, chainsaws, strimmer, leaf blower and generator all spring/summer on a jerry can or two of petrol but come Christmas ish time when I need to sort some logs out by hell will the chainsaws start and run on the fuel in tank or from the can. Then come spring everything needs a fresh dose!! Ride on mower fair play to it will run on anything so always gets last years fuel!!! Was even ran on some 12month old two stroke mix last summer!!