Generator for Construction

[i_am_chris]

Hiya,

I am going to start work at a site that has no power. Need to power a variety of tools that run on 120v power ie circular saw, hammer drill, lights, etc. We'd like to get a propane-powered generator, assuming they run by connecting a hose to those tanks you can just exchange at home depot (etc). Ultimately, this will become a backup generator if we are on the grid, enough to power our wood furnace & radiant floor heat circulators/pumps/thermostats, and a few lights as needed until the power returns. If we are off-grid, this will back up our main backup generator which will be fairly big. Anyway, I am not quite sure how big to go on this construction generator - any recommendations as to how much power I might need? Would love to stay under $1000 if possible. Any product recommendations? Portability is also a consideration, as I have to move this thing around without the aide of a vehicle once it is on-site.

Thanks

[Vector]

The 5550 Watt (8200 surge) Generac I had (until it was stolen) ran anything and everything we threw at it, including a 6.5hp (peak) 30gal compressor (barely). Unless you're going to be operating really, really huge equipment, a 5000W will be sufficient. The company I used to do residential low-voltage for used a 4000W, which I belive worked out fine (I never needed it, inverter in the truck and 18v DeWALT stuff with plenty of batteries).

I know nothing about propane powered generators though.

[Sophist]

I used a 5 KW Bombardier generator for a long time. It was able to run the tools fine unless we had 2 or more running at once AND under load.

You want to watch the AMPS of the outlets on the genny. Most tools are 12 or 15 amp so make sure you have more then you require.

Our genny had 15 amp outlets and would trip the breaker if worked to hard.

[i_am_chris]

Thanks for the info. We decided to go with a Winco HPS6000HE tri-fuel model.

http://www.steadypower.com/catalog/winco_HPS6000HE.php

should get us what we need. Cheers!

[i_am_chris]

As it turns out, you need true "liquid" propane to run a propane generator. Okay, so we were a bit green on this one. As it turns out, we are getting a Valsi GV75MG1300TAE 6000W Electric Generator, 11 HP Tecumseh Engine, w/ Wheel Kit, Electric Start Only (http://www.electricgeneratorstore.com/vagv6011teel.html) Not happy about using gasoline, but we need to get cracking.