Inverter Generators Explained: Pros & Cons in 4 steps // Comparison Vs. Normal Generator
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- Опубликовано: 21 июн 2024
- Course trailer and Coupon Code: • Complete Solar Energy ...
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Contact Jesse for Advice:
www.solarsolution.co
Renewable Energy Engineer & Off Grid specialist Jesse Gorter explains in 4 steps what the Differences, Pros & Cons are between Inverter and Traditional Generators.
00:00 INTRO
01:38 GENERATORS
02:28 INVERTER GEN
06:06 FUEL
07:18 TIPS
www.solarsolution.co
DISCLAIMER:
The content of this video is for information purposes only. If you choose to use any information provided through this video, you do so at your own risk. Viewing and/or listening to this video does not form a professional relationship of any kind. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHT Solar Solution.
#invertergenerator #solarsolution #solarconsultant 
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That was a fantastically simplified explanation of exactly the information I was looking for.
Thanks for your message Chris, I'm glad you found it useful!
This one video was all I needed lol
For those living in colder climates be aware that most current furnaces will not run on a conventional generator. Furnaces with mother boards often require "clean power" meaning less than 5% harmonic distortion. This can be achieved with an inverter generator (
Thank you for your contribution Doug, I am sure this is valuable information for many other viewers in similar situations. Thank you!
The same thing applies to new refrigerators with integrated circuit boards. They will not run with the 14-16% THD of conventional generators. The Honda inverter generators have about 1% THD. Most electrical grid suppliers are at 3% or less THD.
Purchased a standard Generac generator last minute for an ice storm that was due to hit us here in the Northeastern united states. Although it worked ok, it was extremely loud but what was worse.... some of my appliances didn't run properly. For example, my pellet stove would only run the fans at half speed and the auger wouldn't even turn. I assume the CPU board didn't like the dirty AC coming from the genny. Purchased a Duromax Duel Fuel 9000ih Inverter Generator from Lowe's and I couldn't be happier. There truly is a difference in AC sign wave when it comes to sensitive equipment. I could've fried my refrigerator or a TV and not even realized it was the standard generator I was running. Lesson learned.
Damien Sounds like you had a faulty generator. I have a pellet stove that runs fine on a standard (non inverter) generator, and yes it has a computerized circuit board. It sounds like the generator was putting out a modified sine wave somehow. I had tried to run ours off a UPS that has a modified sine output and the motors ran slower than normal and the stove just sounded different.(end of that experiment)
Thank you so much. I'm also impressed that a person of your standing takes the time to give great advice and you get right to the point.
Thank you for your compliment Stephen, it is good to hear you enjoyed the video. All the best, Jesse
Can't wait for him the say "I'll be back".
Hahaha I might as well in one of the upcoming videos Rafael :)
Or get to the chopper!
Arnold Schwarzenegger🤣
@@SolarSolution or you could start one of the videos by saying, I'm back. Lol.
😂 😂😂😂😂
Brilliant! Not a lot of jibber jabber to string it out like American video posts. This guy knew his game and cut right to the chase- thumbs definitely up.
Thank you for teaching me a new word Sanchez! I had never heard of 'jibber jabber' before, and I really like the sound of it. It is also great to hear that you appreciate the style of the videos. All the best. Jesse
Jibber-Jabber is 1950’s American slang for someone who goes on and on dragging out a conversation before getting to the point. Today’s slang is “Batmobiling”. Good job on the info and video.
Thanks for sharing! Very interesting: I had never heard of 'batmobiling' either. All the best, Jesse
The most clearly and concisely delivered instructional video I’ve seen on the internet, thank you!!
You are welcome, thank you for the compliment!
Thank you for the quick comparison of Generator types and fuels . You have a very good talent of painting pictures to help visualize and compare ...... easy to follow .Excellent job Sir.
Thanks Wayne! Wow such a great compliment, thank you for putting a smile on my face.
Solar solution? Solar power is not the solution. Nuclear power is the solution.
Don't judge a video by it's thumbnail. When I searched the difference between them the 1st video was a guy in front of his garage with about 10 generators and inverters the 2nd video was this gentleman in his dress shirt and tie. I thought for sure this guy was going to try and sell me on an inverter and the guy in front of his garage would tell me the difference. Let's just say I got that one bassakwards. Thanks for the great explanation!
Very valuable feedback, thanks for sharing Kyle. A good lesson on thumbnail design! I am glad to hear you enjoyed the video. All the best, Jesse.
Best damn tutorial video on the internet as far as I am concerned for any topic. Straight to the meat of the topic. Does not use any fillers to stretch out the time. Professional and well made. First class thank you.
Wow, what a great compliment to receive! Thank you Roy, I am glad to hear you appreciated the video. All the best, Jesse.
ONE of THE best DIY'rs "teaching" video's I have EVER viewed. Having been an electronic instructor for 45 yrs; I can say without a doubt; that you kind Sir; KNOWS what you are talking about. Thank you. Enjoyed it from beginning to end. Great!
Wow, thank you Pat Dee!
He clearly is an expert and laid out all relevant and necessary points to consider. Although I didn’t hear him mention about sensitive electronic devices sometimes requiring inverter generators. Maybe he has another video on that. If not, please do a video on sensitive electronic equipment & inverter generators.
Thanks for your message Holmes. Excellent suggestion about the follow video, I will do this shortly.
Course trailer and Coupon Code: ruclips.net/video/VKa_yBiu728/видео.html
Got it, thanks
Brilliant. Going to book your services online.
I Live in the North East--And Running a natural gas line is fairly easy--if you already have it and you have proper size pipes
So the noise is the same at full load?
Exactly what I was thinking
EXCELLENT explanation / review... analogies were great! Thank you for getting your education and experience and sharing it!!
Hi Ed, thanks for your message. I am glad to hear you found the video useful. All the best, Jesse.
I could listen to this guy talk all day!!
That is great to hear, thank you for your message Christopher. All the best, Jesse.
Good info for me. Exactly what the doctor ordered
I just wanted to thank you. Your presentation was excellent, as was the content!!
Hi Eric, thank you for your message. That is a great compliment, thank you! It is good to hear you enjoyed the video. All the best, Jesse.
Thanks for that amazingly simple explanation! Based on the information you shared, I believe the inverter will be the better option for my application!
Thank you for your message Al, it is good to hear the video helped you in your decision making process. Enjoy your new generator! All the best, Jesse
This video makes my day and help to decide the inverter generator vs conventional generator purchase
That's great to hear Ravinder, thanks for your message.
Fantastic presentation right on point no fluff … superb……thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Great explanation. I have been confused about these two types for years. Thank you for clearing it up for me.
Happy to help!
Damn. That explanation was so clear and easy to understand! Thank you!
Thank you Al, that is really good to hear. I am glad you enjoyed it! All the best, Jesse.
Excellent tutorial. Extremely useful advice. I actually have both types. The inverter Genset for my wheelchair van, when I'm on the road, at a rest stop. The conventional Genset I use for my RV, and power tools. This gives me better knowledge of which to use in different situations..
Glad it was helpful Doc!
Man, I really didn't have any idea what types of generators there were and functionality. This video explained it all and easy to follow.
I am glad to hear so Eddy, thank you for your message!
Great explanation on the the two types of generators, I learn a lot. Thank-you
You are most welcome, thanks for your message. Glad to hear it provided you with new information [thumbs up]. All the best, Jesse.
Thanks Jesse, this is THE info I need.
Glad it was helpful Harold! Thanks for your message. All the best, Jesse.
Thanks! Clear and intelligent delivery.
Thanks for your feedback @MushroomTip46, I am glad you found it helpful. All the best, Jesse.
Love this guy. He's a great teacher.
Thank you Marcia, that is nice to hear. I am glad you appreciated the video. All the best, Jesse.
This guy was awesome in die hard!
Thanks Brent, I am glad you enjoyed the video.
He is not Jeremy Irons lol
Simon says... get me an inverted generator.😂
Lmaooooo
Great explanation of something I had always wondered about.
Hi Jim, thanks for your message. I am glad to hear the video was useful for you. All the best, Jesse.
Thank you. You answered every question I had, plus a few I didn't.
Great video! Short, to the point, comprehensive... thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for a very good explanation between an inverter and standard generator in a consolidated but thorough video. Very professional presentation.
Thanks for your message Brent, I'm glad you liked it.
Good video. Didn’t talk about the advantages of propane as a fuel source. Propane is shelf stable so it can be stored for many years without degrading. There’s also no carburetor and it does gum up your fuel system. These factors create significant advantages if you only use your generator for emergency power. I know many people that had issues with gas because they didn’t run out the fuel or had old gas when they needed to use their generator. In my case, I hadn’t used my propane generator in a few years. We had a major power outage. I was able to grab a propane tank and start my generator in one pull. My neighbor had to have his gas generator repaired due to fuel issues.
No doubt propane is more expensive and the gas tanks are larger to store, but for infrequent use propane does offer great advantages in easy of maintenance and reliability. Don’t under estimate those things.
Hello Rich, thanks for your feedback and contribution. I couldn't agree more, great points! All the best, Jesse.
I didn't see "VS Propane" in the title genius
Very informative, detailed explanation of the differences- without showing a bias towards one or the other. Just got an inverter to power our fridge and phones during outages- it worked great this whole week.
Thanks Wade, that is good to hear. Great that my bias didn't surface throughout the video, I tried hard! :)
Enjoy your inverter!
What kind of generator did you buy? Would it power a full size fridge?
Thanks for the help. For years I have had one brand and watt generator Champion 4000/3500, great gens but heavy and loud, at least older ones. Now I'm older and lifting that beast into my truck is impossible, so now I'm on the hunt for lighter and love quieter. This vid gives me a place to start, thanks again.
That is a great situation you find yourself in Timmy Tool: It sounds like your previous generator served you well, and now you have the perfect excuse to shop for a new one! Good luck and enjoy the selection process. I am glad this video helped you on your way. All the best, Jesse.
Excellent, very clear explanation - thanks so much! :)
You are welcome! Thank you for your message, Jesse.
great video covered all the points very well.
Glad you liked it!
Good video thank you Arnold.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for your excellent explanation describing the differences between generators and inverters. This is exactly what I was looking for.
Glad it helped
Crystal clear !
That is good to hear Daniel, I am glad the video was useful for you. All the best, Jesse.
I really love this video, it was a very clear, easy to follow and understand. Please continue to share your knowledge 😊
Thank you! Will do!
Great video. Perfect recipe for communication
Thanks Torah, that is good to hear. Jesse.
Very well put together. Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great and very useful video, thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Don't forget the big one if you will only use a generator for emergencies, like after a hurricane or ice storm, which can take out your electric service for a few days after they hit.
Unlike gasoline, you can store propane forever, since it will never degrade in storage like gasoline and diesel will, especially in a hot climate. Propane tanks bought on the internet, then filled by you, can sit inside your garage or shed forever. (Don't store them out in the rain, because they will rust and could eventually leak, since they are made of steel.) If you have a bunch of filled propane tanks, you won't find yourself waiting in a long line waiting to buy gasoline after a storm cuts off your power. Not only is storing a lot of gasoline dangerous, but it becomes useless after about a year. And few gasoline stations can pump fuel with the grid down. I like the 30 pound propane tanks, since they aren't too heavy when full of liquid propane. Aluminum tanks are lighter, but quite expensive.
Some generators can also run on natural gas, which is probably the best solution if you have gas service to the building. Generators which can run on either propane or gasoline aren't that much more expensive than the ones which can only use gasoline. Always run a gasoline generator until it is out of fuel, unless you plan to use it again within a month. If you let gasoline sit in it for years, it won't start when you need it. That is another good thing about using propane. You just shut it off, and roll it inside.
You need to change the oil in an air cooled generator every couple of days of continuous use because most of the smaller ones don't have oil filters to trap tiny metal particles from normal engine wear. Changing the oil every 24 hour day of use, is even better. Change the oil after the first hour of use of a new generator, and observe how much metal is floating around in the oil under a bright light. You don't want those metal particles grinding away at your motor's bearings. They are why your car has an oil filter.
Obviously, generating your own power using any generator is always much more expensive than buying electricity from the grid. And in hot, humid climates, where a lot of air conditioning capacity is needed, even solar can rarely beat the grid because the AC needs to run a significant portion of the night. Humid air cools slowly at night, so buildings stay hot inside all night.
In the USA, many people connect generators to their 240 volt electric clothes dryer plug receptacle using a heavy #10 or #8 AWG copper cable, which they made with a male plug on both ends of the electric cord. Of course, they first need to disconnect the home from the grid by turning off the main breaker in order to avoid overloading the generator by trying to power the entire area. A live male plug can be deadly if you touch any exposed terminals while the generator is running, or the home is still connected to the grid with the dryer end plugged in, and the generator end unplugged, and you touch the exposed terminals. It is usually illegal too, but thousands of people still do it after hurricanes take out the grid during the hot, humid summers. They call such extension cords, 'suicide cords', for a reason.
Hello Bill, thank you for all your valuable contributions. I am sure many viewers will benefit from your perspective. I will pin this comment to the top of the page, so others can learn from it as well. Thank you for your support, all the best. Jesse
Very informative a screen shot will preserve it for an emergency. 👏👏👏👏👏🍻
@@SolarSolution Thanks for promoting valuable comments. RUclips could do a better job at that!
Great knowledge ... Good to know ..... Ñever know whats gana happen especially after anyone cud run the us (trump) and the bs of cov 19 ... Never know when u need a generator for a couple days maybe weeks....
I've used 12yr old diesel that was really sour in my tractor and it ran exactly the same but the sour diesel exhaust was nasty
Very informative. Thank You!
Glad it was helpful Rick!
That was extremely helpful and in layman's terms. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you! Excellent presentation. I'm an engineer and I feel I learned the key information that would help me decide which of the two types of generators is appropriate for my use.
Great to hear!
GOOD JOB something I have been wondering about.
Thanks Danny, it is good to hear your feedback. I am glad the video helped you. All the best, Jesse.
Thank you very much for a well-structured and informative video.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent explanation! Thank you!
You are welcome Mandux, it is good to hear you enjoyed the video! All the best, Jesse.
Yes I did enjoy this video. I really really did. 😊
Hi Dusty Boot, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Great video covering pros and cons. I'll go with the inverter generator since I don't know what all it will be used for in an emergency.
It's good to hear the video helped you in your decision-making process! Thanks for your feedback. Enjoy shopping for your new generator, I bet you will be content with the inverter-type. All the best, Jesse.
Nice presentation...condensed, simplified and well presented. Good teaching at a basic level.
Glad you liked it!
Wonderful primer on conventional generators vs inverter-generators - and the differences in fuel types as well.
This video is a "must watch" if you are considering a new generator!
Thank you!
Thank you so very much for your lecture knowledge in wisdom
Glad it was helpful!
@@SolarSolution yes sir
Thank you for your brilliant information, that helps a lot before buying a generator which is my option soon because of our unstable power problem and very costly in our country.
Thank you for you message and compliment. It is great to hear the video helped you in your decision making process! I wish you will find a great generator which will eliminate the discomforts of the power outages. All the best, Jesse.
Excellent video. Super helpful. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Well done thank you 😊 you answered all of our questions in your video!
Excellent! It makes me happy to hear that Ann, thank you for your message.
Excellent video. Also awesome accent, I was waiting for you to say "We've been expecting you Mr. Bond."
Thank you for you message Rob. Haha and I might throw in that line in a future video :) All the best, Jesse.
Very helpful. I've decided to get a duel fuel inverter. I think it covers all the bases for me. Thank you for the concise explanation.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you, I understand completely now.
Great! Thanks for your message Ed.
Thanks for your help
That’s a very good teaching
I am glad to hear you appreciate the teaching style, thank you for your message. All the best, Jesse.
Excellent video, great info! I might add that propane stores forever, whereas gasoline has 1 year tops for shelf life. This is important for those of us who use the generator more for emergencies than daily/frequent use. Fuel cost when there is no electricity is not as much of a factor. My Kingdom for a horse type of thing. IMO propane is safer to store
That is an excellent point Winston, and I agree with you. Thank you for your contribution!
Great info, I would like to know if the genset synwave will damage my electronics?
Hello Bob, thanks for your message. It is good to hear you enjoyed the video. With reference to your question: please note the pinned comment at the top. All the best, Jesse.
Very helpful! Just bought an inverter gen and didn’t know the difference
Glad it helped Jason!
Thank you for sharing your expertise and presenting it simply to help us make good decisions.
You are welcome Jean, thanks for your message.
Jesse- so what about a typical house in 2021 that has several computers, smart TVs and phones charging at any given time? I read that the spikes in energy with a conventional generator can be an issue. Any thoughts on that?
Running an inverter generator to charge solar batteries should be the best choice.
The most common reason battery chargers/ power inverters fail is dirty generators.
At 1st, I used my genny to run A/C directly and it was hard on it stepping up and down.
I then connected it to charge the battery directly and it runs more efficiently and steady.
The genny is more gas efficient at full load.
I actually have 2 super quiet inverter generators. One is 3700 and the small one is 1700 running watts.
The smaller one is more gas efficient per watt produced, but only runs 3-1/2 hours at full load.
The larger one can run all night long at full output, but is much less efficient in terms of Kilowatts produced.
Very helpful information. Thanks
Thank you Vincent!
Short and sweet explanation ☺️..thanks for you
Most welcome 😊
Loved this video, clear and concise explanation, even for a woman ha. So thank you lol. Would love to know more about generators and floating neutral vs bonded and how to use them safely. Theres too many videos with unclear explainations and under qualififed speakers :)
Glad it was helpful!
So if we're running AC and also a laptop, a TV and a desktop PC, is the non-inverter type going to damage those electronics?
Thanks for the explanation
You're welcome!
Excellent advice, thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video. But the one question I have is the total harmonic distortion of my conventional generator. It’s not listed in the specifications. But I’m worried that it’s high enough when running appliances and things like the refrigerator my computer my TV etc. that the power may be damaging those appliances. This of course is over a longer term but nonetheless damaging. Am I shortening the life of my refrigerator by running it on my conventional generator for two days during a power outage? Is there anyway to quantify this?
I have the same question and the suggestions made to use a multimeter and frequency check don't apply. I think a device measuring FFT will do the trick or a plain ociloscope to visibly check the sine wave.
Thank you, Sir! Great presentation! One question, will standard generators damage sensitive electronics, phones, computers, etc...?
An excellent question, thanks! I will share a video on this shortly.
Awesome knowledge. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent, as are the informative comments. Thank you.
Thank you for your message John, it is good to hear you enjoyed the content. All the best, Jesse.
I have a Champion dual fuel inverter gennie. I use it primarily to charge my lithium battery power stations(I have 3 that I use for power), when there's not enough sun for my portable solar panels. I live in Michigan and get overcast quite a bit, esp in fall, winter and spring(which is why I didn't go all in on regular solar panels). Summer is about the only break I get. The non inverter gennie's just wouldn't work as well for this application, unless I added an external inverter into the mix. They are also heavier(I'm 70), so weight was also a deciding factor. Since LPG can be stored for such a long time, compared to gas(even with stabilizer), it gives this machine an additional dimension. I rotate between using LPG and gas for fuel(I also add Lucas to the oil, each time I change it), as I've heard horror stories about running just LPG in these and condensation occurring, causing rust. I appreciate your informative style, simple and to the point.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights, I am sure others will find this valuable as well. You mentioned some excellent advantages of inverter generators, thank you for your contribution. I am glad to hear you enjoy the style of these videos. All the best, Jesse.
I already purchased a duromax dual fuel conventional generator. How can I use it when I finally get a lithium power bank built. I also live in Michigan and planned on charging the batteries with grid power until I can move to a home that can use solar, but in a prolonged power outage, I don't want the neighbors annoyed by my generator so I planned to only use it to recharge the battery bank as needed. What do I need to do to make my generator work to charge a battery bank?
How about the wear on the engine of the converter as opposed to generator, i think that the inverter would be a winner in that scenario, your opinion on that please.
if they are both running at full load, constant full load then it's just a comparison of two engines running with similar wear and tear, difference being the quality of output for sensitive equipment.
Very well presented. Thanks!
Thank you for your message Christoph, I am glad to hear you enjoyed the video. All the best, Jesse.
Great show! Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome Jason, thanks for letting me know you enjoyed the video. All the best, Jesse.
I could be wrong but I find the conventional generators often produce higher wattage. If you’re running a furnace and stove that’s important. For some reason the inverter generators I looked at don’t produce as much power.
I do have one question. We are taught when energy changes forms (I.e. ac-dc and dc-ac) that there is a small amount of power loss from the actual action of transferring it to a different form. So would that not make it slightly less efficient to go from ac-dc then dc back to ac? Correct me if I’m wrong but I was under the assumption that is how electricity works.
You are 100% correct!
Really interesting and informative, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent comparison at 8:11 and it seems to be what I've just discovered in all my research. Thank you for the video!
Glad it was helpful Nick, thanks for your message!
Curious, will Inverter Generators protect electronic equipment better than conventional generators? Or will my individual surge protectors be sufficient ? Spike protection?
Hi Walter. In general, inverter generators will be more gentile for sensitive equipment, though it still depends on which exact type, how you use the generator, and what kind of equipment we are talking about. I personally always use surge protectors, since I prefer to burn them up instead of the [more costly] components they are protecting.
Voltage spikes are more damaging to electronics than frequency fluctuations as the power supply in electronics converts AC to DC.
Very clear explanation
Glad you think so!
Very informative thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Great analogy. I just purchased a conventional gas powered generator. How harmful is the wave distortion to things like electric motors (boiler) or compressors (refrigerator)?
.
No effect to traditional old fashioned heater blower motor, water pumps, or plain refrigerator. IF YOUR REFRIGERATOR has a tv or like display, and a surge from a large load cycling on and off like a electric dryer or water pump.....??? minimum damage is greatly shortened life. More cycling on and off more surges and most electronics become corrupted one way or another. For emergency just UNPLUG ALL ELECTRONICS (even when off most still are actually on). And use a cheap power bank charge phone. Use generator for lights charge power bank.
will a conventional 3500W propane generator damage electronics such as tv, computer or refridgerator?
Really great explanation, thank you!
Glad it was helpful John!
Thank you for the information. God bless you.
You are very welcome
If you don't mind your lights flickering all the time - buy a conventional generator - if the lights flickering all the time will drive you MAD - as it did me - buy an inverter generator - for electrical loads like heaters, pumps, anything really but lighting - both will do the job equally well - simple as that really 👍
The reason the generator speed drops when a heavy load because the speed control can't react fast enough. The drop and surge under load change can be greatly reduced by having a heavier flywheel, increasing the rotational inertia. But most don't do that to keep weight and costs down.
Spot on! Thanks for your contribution Dave. All the best, Jesse.
Very informative 👏 👌 👍
Thanks Dalwin!
Thanks for this most informative video!
Glad it was helpful!