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Can I Run An Entire Off-Grid Cabin Using A Gas Generator?
16 Answers
Hi. I'm wondering If I can power a cabin in the woods, a living room, two bedrooms, and a bathroom with a gas generator. When I mean power, I mean everything, sockets and all. The cabin is deep in the woods and has no power connection whatsoever. I go there two, three times per year for two-three days to fish. I was wondering if I can buy a gas generator, it can be a high-end one, and hook up everything so it has power as a standard home for a day or two?
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I'm glad that Atheist has got his brain in gear tonight! If you're in the USA, Sonny (as your references to a cabin deep in the woods appears to suggest to me), you need to note that this is a UK-based site and your 'gas' is our 'petrol'. (Here, 'gas', in such a context refers to LPG, butane or similar). However the type of generator I've linked to would still work, as...
22:26 Sat 06th Nov 2021
Welcome to The Answerbank, SonnyT.
As long as your generator can handle the power requirement of everything that you wish to supply from it, there shouldn't be any problem. It's heating that draws the most power, for example, this 7kW duel fuel model should provide sufficient power to heat a small cabin and run other lower-powered devices at the same time:
https:/
(I've used a random example from a UK site there, which is currently out of stock. Irrespective of your location though, there should be a suitable model available to you).
As long as your generator can handle the power requirement of everything that you wish to supply from it, there shouldn't be any problem. It's heating that draws the most power, for example, this 7kW duel fuel model should provide sufficient power to heat a small cabin and run other lower-powered devices at the same time:
https:/
(I've used a random example from a UK site there, which is currently out of stock. Irrespective of your location though, there should be a suitable model available to you).
I'm glad that Atheist has got his brain in gear tonight!
If you're in the USA, Sonny (as your references to a cabin deep in the woods appears to suggest to me), you need to note that this is a UK-based site and your 'gas' is our 'petrol'. (Here, 'gas', in such a context refers to LPG, butane or similar).
However the type of generator I've linked to would still work, as it's a dual fuel model. (You'd obviously need one that could provide 120V though, instead of the European standard 230V).
Using petrol (= US 'gas') though might present a practical difficulty in transporting sufficient fuel to the site. In the UK the maximum quantity of petrol that one can legally have in a vehicle (other than its own petrol tank, of course) is 20 litres (5.3 US gallons), spread across two 10 litre metal containers. (Plastic containers aren't acceptable for such quantities). The maximum amount of petrol that can stored at home is 30 litres (7.9 US gallons). I suspect that US state laws will impose similar, if not stricter, conditions, which you'd need to be aware of if you were to follow up on your plan to use a generator at the cabin.
If you're in the USA, Sonny (as your references to a cabin deep in the woods appears to suggest to me), you need to note that this is a UK-based site and your 'gas' is our 'petrol'. (Here, 'gas', in such a context refers to LPG, butane or similar).
However the type of generator I've linked to would still work, as it's a dual fuel model. (You'd obviously need one that could provide 120V though, instead of the European standard 230V).
Using petrol (= US 'gas') though might present a practical difficulty in transporting sufficient fuel to the site. In the UK the maximum quantity of petrol that one can legally have in a vehicle (other than its own petrol tank, of course) is 20 litres (5.3 US gallons), spread across two 10 litre metal containers. (Plastic containers aren't acceptable for such quantities). The maximum amount of petrol that can stored at home is 30 litres (7.9 US gallons). I suspect that US state laws will impose similar, if not stricter, conditions, which you'd need to be aware of if you were to follow up on your plan to use a generator at the cabin.
Yes, when I say gas I mean petrol. I'm not American, but I have been living in the US for a long time. My cabin is in Pennsylvania's woods. I have an old generator, but one person told me that old ones may cause trouble with modern electronics that I should only use a generator to power utilities, and not sockets. Is that true?
you are using it for around 10 d a year - fallow for 355 d and I wdnt expect a generator to work at the first pull after two or so years
I am not sure if any of us have done it . if you have enough loo-la to maintain a cabin in the woods then you have enough spare to try it and see.
this place
https:/
was run by one generator whilst it was being excavated 1980 and I would not say it was as bright as a torch. ( clearly much bigger than a house)
I am not sure if any of us have done it . if you have enough loo-la to maintain a cabin in the woods then you have enough spare to try it and see.
this place
https:/
was run by one generator whilst it was being excavated 1980 and I would not say it was as bright as a torch. ( clearly much bigger than a house)
>>> I should only use a generator to power utilities, and not sockets. Is that true?
Check that any generator you're considering using has a close tolerance figure for the voltage. The one in my link above, for example, has a tolerance of ± 3% against a nominal voltage of 230V. That means that the actual voltage delivered is between 223V and 237V, which should be safe enough for any electronic devices in common usage these days. A similar tolerance figure on a 120V generator for use in your area should be adequate. (Remember too to check that the AC frequency needs to be 60 Hz in the USA, rather than the 50 Hz we have in the UK. To be honest though, unless you're using the power for a a very old electric clock, where the mains frequency provides a reference point for the time - rather than a crystal, as in newer clocks, I doubt that an incorrect frequency would make any difference to most modern devices anyway).
Check that any generator you're considering using has a close tolerance figure for the voltage. The one in my link above, for example, has a tolerance of ± 3% against a nominal voltage of 230V. That means that the actual voltage delivered is between 223V and 237V, which should be safe enough for any electronic devices in common usage these days. A similar tolerance figure on a 120V generator for use in your area should be adequate. (Remember too to check that the AC frequency needs to be 60 Hz in the USA, rather than the 50 Hz we have in the UK. To be honest though, unless you're using the power for a a very old electric clock, where the mains frequency provides a reference point for the time - rather than a crystal, as in newer clocks, I doubt that an incorrect frequency would make any difference to most modern devices anyway).
PS: To be on the safe side, I'd advise that any delicate electronic equipment, such as a computer, should be powered through a surge protector strip:
https:/
https:/
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