What problems should one be aware of before buying a relatively expensive Kipor generator?

December 25, 2010 1:12 AM

I am looking into buying a Kipor 6700 generator for my grandparents' house where there are frequent power cuts. Based on the data sheet this is exactly what we need, but since it's quite the investment, I would like to ask if any of you have had any problems (or words of praise) in connection to this or a similar (i.e. Kipor) generator.
posted by vlsd to Technology (6 answers total)

If you've got a generator on site and you intend to power the house from it during blackouts, you will need to talk to your grid supplier and find out what they require of you in the way of making sure there's no way for your generator to try to back-feed into the grid. Electricity suppliers don't take kindly to having their technicians electrocuted by customers who fire up generators during maintenance downtimes without isolating their houses first; also, in any fight between your expensive 5kVA generator and the grid, the grid will win.
posted by flabdablet at 4:53 AM on December 25, 2010 [1 favorite]

One thing to note is that these types of generators need to be run regularly. You have to haul them out and fire them up a couple times a year just to keep them in working order. Any engine that sits too long won't work when you need it to.

Also, what do you plan on them running off it? For a long time my parents had one of these so that we could run a sump pump off it, the refrigerator, some other easy stuff, and maybe the well if we absolutely had to (would have required some ad hoc rewiring though). We always planned on heating the house via the fireplace in an outage, your furnace doesn't exactly plug in to an outlet. You'll need an electrician to install a bypass to run any major appliances off it.

Looking around it seems this is around ~$1500. Couple years ago my parents switched to a nearly whole house, automated system. Runs most everything, switches over automatically, cycles itself on regularly to make sure it's still working, and feeds directly from the propane tank the rest of the house uses. Cost about $12,000 parts and labor IIRC. It was a great investment because not a week after installing it they lost power for 13hrs. Made the neighbors jealous.
posted by sbutler at 8:10 AM on December 25, 2010

Best answer: My only question would be, do you really need that much grunt for power outs? Can't you just plug in the fridge and a few lights to make do while you're waiting for the power to come back?

Other than that, I can say that I own a 2KW Kipor generator which has done many hours of work and has taken a trip around Australia, bouncing around in the back of a ute over corrugated desert tracks and fired up every time... I'm very happy with it.
posted by autocol at 8:25 AM on December 25, 2010

Best answer: Because of their high compression rations, small diesel engines, like single cylinder one used in your linked motor/generator set (operating at 19:1 compression) are notorious for generating high torsional crankshaft forces while running, which must be damped properly to prevent the engine from tearing itself (and any mechanical loads it drives) apart very quickly. So, such small diesel motor/generator sets often are recommended to be operated not on hard concrete (which can reflect vibrations, causing greater wear), and may require regular attention to internal vibration dampeners and couplings, to maintain good reliability.
posted by paulsc at 1:54 PM on December 25, 2010

A lot of people where I live have their entire houses wired to run off generators during outages. I don't know the exact mechanics but the generators are wired in at the main breaker and you manually turn off the outside power and switch the house over to generator power. Once it's on generator power it's disconnected from the grid for all the reasons explained above. People around here tend to blow off a lot of code requirements but this isn't one that gets ignored because of the potential danger to wiremen. So figure on the cost of having an electrician to do the wiring, permits and inspections on top of the generator.

I've never heard of Kipor brand so can't give you any feedback on that sorry. I do know quite a few people with whole house generators and they are very happy to have them when they need them!
posted by fshgrl at 3:04 PM on December 25, 2010

A lot of people where I live have their entire houses wired to run off generators during outages. I don't know the exact mechanics but the generators are wired in at the main breaker and you manually turn off the outside power and switch the house over to generator power. Once it's on generator power it's disconnected from the grid for all the reasons explained above. People around here tend to blow off a lot of code requirements but this isn't one that gets ignored because of the potential danger to wiremen. So figure on the cost of having an electrician to do the wiring, permits and inspections on top of the generator.

Yes- that's a significant part of the cost. So either settle for unplugging and using extension cords, or pay an electrician a couple thousand to wire up one of those setups.
posted by gjc at 9:35 PM on December 25, 2010