Generator for full time use in destination trailer.

[JSWa]

I am going to live in my destination trailer full time (3-6 months) while my house is built. What type of generator should I use? Does not need to be "portable". I will be using a lot of power as I have computers, gaming systems, extra freezer and refrigerator for outside (chest type). Need to be able to run some home grade power tools at same time as everything else. Must be able to run non stop for 6 months +. I would rather go slightly overkill on this because it's pretty important that I have enough power and it be reliable.
50 amp trailer.
Will have a large new shed next to the trailer, so I can store it out of the weather if necessary.
I have never lived in a trailer or owned any type of generator.

[Bumpyroad]

Lwiddis wrote:
Running a generator full time for six months plus would be a nightmare. Someway, somehow get utility power to your homesite. Do you have any easements for power lines? Have consulted with the local power company?

it will be a lot cheaper to put in electricity now and run off that for a year than to buy a generator and keep pouring dollars into keeping it going. keep in mind that fuel prices are going to go up.
bumpy

[Lwiddis]

Running a generator full time for six months plus would be a nightmare. Someway, somehow get utility power to your homesite. Do you have any easements for power lines? Have consulted with the local power company?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

All this and little info. 😞

A generator that is built for 24/7 service is referred to as PRIME POWER rated.

If rented a prime power generator will be installed, and maintained by the rentor. They take care of maintenance. This is not inexpensive.

A new home typically has 200 amp 240 service. A huge generator equivalent.

At a 20 Kw load it would not be unusual to see a 1 gal/hr fuel consumption, This would be with a 12-turn unit meaning 1,200 RPM, An 18-turn unit uses typically 12% more fuel.

Look at the starting load on a single worm-drive Skilsaw. Typically 2 Kw. Electric homes are terribly inefficient money wise. I remember at Lake Tahoe, condominiums with 3,300 kWh monthly usage. I pencilled out a preliminary design for solar power in my place in Mexico. NINETY group 27 lithium batteries, and eighty 300+ watt solar panels. For an all-electric home with Air Conditioning and dehimification for 1,700 square feet, electric clothes washing and drying, R/O system.

Fun, ain't it?

[rlw999]

If you can't run temporary power for whatever reason (which seems like the best option), maybe you can find an a used Onan QD10000 somewhere. Those are $10K new, but I know someone that bought a wrecked Class A cheap just to get the generator, he had to replace the housing, but otherwise he got a diesel generator with 200 hours on it for $1000.

Those Onans will run for thousands of hours without a problem as long as you keep the oil changed, the diesels can go 200 hours between oil changes, so you'd "only" need to change oil once a week.

If you can get away with storing your fridge+freezer somewhere else (maybe a neighbor will let you put them in his garage), then you may be better off adding some batteries either inside or outside your RV to give 24x7 power, and use a smaller generator during the day when you're home to run your computers, etc and top off the batteries. So maybe you can get a much cheaper 3000W inverter generator (which will keep your computers happy with their clean power).

Size the batteries so you don't drop below 70% charge level and you can get years of use out of them. With the money you're saving from not buying the big diesel generator, you can add some solar to help keep the batteries topped off.

[Bumpyroad]

from the OPs post, it appears that he will live in a trailer with an adjacent shed while his home is being built. Is this going to be on the same lot as the house? if so this thread is silly, just get electricity run to the lot now and forget this generator nonsense.
bumpy

[mr_andyj]

It makes zero cents, err sense to run a generator. Gens are the least efficient at producing electricity. You will pay a fortune in fuel. You will need multiple oil changes over those months.

Yes, to do this you need those diesel trailer mounted rental generators. Diesel will produce more power per dollar wasted, I mean spent, for power.
You need a big generator as the little Rv ones are not really made to run for months non-stop, they are made to run for days, or just during peak times during hot afternoons. Yes, RV gens will run for thousands of hours over their life, but will not handle the power loads you want (domestic refridge, Ac, power tools, TVs etc.).

Then you will be smelling exhaust and breathing carbon monoxide for months on end.

Whatever power your eventual house will get is what you need to set up first. If city power then get that done, if solar, then get that in place, or buy stock in an oil company...

[bgum]

If you must run a generator look into a military surplus generator skid mounted or trailer mounted. It will be diesel powered. Fuel will be expensive.

[valhalla360]

Another vote for a temporary electric drop.
- Most retail generators are not rated for full time continuous use to start with. Plus they typically call for oil changes every 50-100hrs, which means you will have to do 2-4 oil changes per week and constantly be keeping it fueled up (at significant cost).
- A solar system that can run all the stuff you are talking about will be very large and very expensive (think 5 figures). It will also need a battery backup system capable of carrying you through the night.

PS: check with local zoning laws to make sure you can "live" in your RV while building. Many areas do not approve.

[theoldwizard1]

DrewE wrote:
Will your house have electric service? Assuming so, get a temporary construction drop/panel and use that to power your trailer, etc. while building.

By far the best solution !

DrewE wrote:
If you absolutely must run a generator (nearly) constantly for six months, give careful consideration to what fuel is available and least expensive where you are.

This is a HUGE issue !

[deltabravo]

DrewE wrote:
Will your house have electric service? Assuming so, get a temporary construction drop/panel and use that to power your trailer, etc. while building.

Ditto.

When new houses are being built, this is how the construction crew gets power.

A temporary power service will be far cheaper in the long run.
A good generator for running full time and not be noisy as heck would be a Honda EU7000is.
For full time usage, I wouldn't want anything other than an inverter style gen.

I love my Honda EU6500is which was the predecessor to the 7000

[Bumpyroad]

IIRC in VA if you get a builder's permit, the electric co will wire the lot up?
bumpy

[Dave_H_M]

Will your house have electric service? Assuming so, get a temporary construction drop/panel and use that to power your trailer, etc. while building.

Drew has the answer. That is exactly what I did from 15 March until just before turkey day.

[craig7h]

For what you are talking about, I would go along with what Drew said about the temp electric at the build site. That for many reasons makes more sense.

If a generator is a must, for that long of a period of time, I would call the "Generic" folks. You might as well go big and get something to use as back up for the house. Will your house have propane or natural gas? See if either company can run a temp line for the Generic while you are building. With that said I would try and do the temp electric service. Much easier and maybe safer.

[wa8yxm]

I would give serious consideration to a SOLAR system as well as a good generator. NO it does not need to be a portable.

Most houses (Absent air conditioner) can get by on 5,000 watts of power for Furnace, lights, electronics and kitchen (The services you need) You might consider having an "Whole house" emergence generator Generac or Onan installed in the say 10,000 watt range (this will run most A/C's too)
then when the house is wired you put in two breaker panels. One is "Mains only" and the other.. is the "E" panel (Emergency) that way when (not if) the power company lets you down the back up kicks in