Costco.ca: Firman 3,200 W Dual Fuel Inverter Generator-now $699.99 ($200 off)

Crazy price. Propane is much cheaper than gasoline (in 20lb tanks) and never goes bad.

soupmaster666 wrote: ↑ Do they have natural gas conversion kits?

No

HKPolice wrote: ↑ Crazy price. Propane is much cheaper than gasoline (in 20lb tanks) and never goes bad.

Exactly. I have only run mine on propane. Never filled it with gas. It also takes the 30lb propane tanks Costco sells.

All of these generator deals are killing me. I've been meaning to pick one up, but I haven't done the appropriate research yet to determine what I might actually need if I were ever to actually need the generator, or what makes a good generator vs a bad one.

ichibansan wrote: ↑ Exactly. I have only run mine on propane. Never filled it with gas. It also takes the 30lb propane tanks Costco sells.

How long can you run it on propane? And with how much load on it? Just to give me an aprox since this might be worth it for us

Evil Baby wrote: ↑ All of these generator deals are killing me. I've been meaning to pick one up, but I haven't done the appropriate research yet to determine what I might actually need if I were ever to actually need the generator, or what makes a good generator vs a bad one.

Perhaps look at it this way. If you get a very long power outage (Think Québec ice storms), what would you need to stay in your house ?
And if you get a small power outage, what would you need for convenience ?
Then think about camping, boating and off the grid stuff.

Inverter Generators are good for Electronics but will cost more, regular generators are good for power tools, air con, heat and maybe a fridge without any electronics.

nounou23 wrote: ↑ How long can you run it on propane? And with how much load on it? Just to give me an aprox since this might be worth it for us

Propane delivers about 90% running watts of gasoline and while propane is cheaper you will use more by litres than gasoline.

The real benefit to propane is the 30 year shelf life.

soupmaster666 wrote: ↑ Do they have natural gas conversion kits?

You can keep an eye on this tri fuel one

https://www.costco.ca/firman-9400-w-tri ... 68053.html

US Costco has it for $999-$200 savings now

If CA Costco gets it under $1000, I might bite as a whole home backup with a backyard NG outlet to fuel it

life359 wrote: ↑ Propane delivers about 90% running watts of gasoline and while propane is cheaper you will use more by litres than gasoline.

The real benefit to propane is the 30 year shelf life.

Is it quieter or same noise level?

IslandDeal wrote: ↑ Perhaps look at it this way. If you get a very long power outage (Think Québec ice storms), what would you need to stay in your house ?
And if you get a small power outage, what would you need for convenience ?
Then think about camping, boating and off the grid stuff.

Inverter Generators are good for Electronics but will cost more, regular generators are good for power tools, air con, heat and maybe a fridge without any electronics.

Thanks.

Like I said, I really need to sit down and think about what I actually need. Our desire is for a long power outage. We don't camp enough, or long enough, to get a generator for that purpose. I'm really only concerned about long power outages in the Winter where travel might not be an option. We have a gas fireplace so for the most part should be OK for heat. Anywho, I suppose this isn't really a discussion for a hot deals thread.

nounou23 wrote: ↑ Is it quieter or same noise level?

It would be the same.

life359 wrote: ↑ Propane delivers about 90% running watts of gasoline and while propane is cheaper you will use more by litres than gasoline.

The real benefit to propane is the 30 year shelf life.

I've given this some thought too. Most people have at least one 20lb tank for a barbecue hanging around. Personally, I have a backup 20lb tank as well. I only have a 5L Jerry can of gas for my lawnmower. Keeping one or two 40L containers of gasoline around in the event of a power outage means cycling the fuel into my vehicle, then refilling the Jerry cans, because even with stabilizer it goes off eventually. That's way too much work IMHO.
A natural gas capable one would be nice, but for me that would mean having a line run, then purchasing a NG barbeque to justify the installation cost.
Push comes to shove, with the dual fuel I know I could siphon gas from our vehicles and run the genny.

HKPolice wrote: ↑ Crazy price. Propane is much cheaper than gasoline (in 20lb tanks) and never goes bad.

If you're using this as a backup for your house or cabin and the power is off for more than a day or two..... gasoline is far more convenient.

life359 wrote: ↑ Propane delivers about 90% running watts of gasoline and while propane is cheaper you will use more by litres than gasoline.

The real benefit to propane is the 30 year shelf life.

Yes but more specifically running propane will avoid the unpleasant side-effects of what gasoline will do to your carburetor and other components over the long-term. Much reduced maintenance, easier fuel storage and handling, storage life and (probably) cost savings comes with the sacrifice of 10% running watt output. That's why my dual fuel Firman generator will never have gasoline in the tank.

JDK111 wrote: ↑ If you're using this as a backup for your house or cabin and the power is off for more than a day or two..... gasoline is far more convenient.

Not when I have 2 20 lb propane tanks and a 30 lb tank. I don't see gas as more convenient at all..gummed up carbs, engine etc

BoredAtWork wrote: ↑ You can keep an eye on this tri fuel one

https://www.costco.ca/firman-9400-w-tri ... 68053.html

US Costco has it for $999-$200 savings now

If CA Costco gets it under $1000, I might bite as a whole home backup with a backyard NG outlet to fuel it

You can buy it in store for under $1000. Saw one today, think it was $899..Costco John Birchall, Richmond Hill

BoredAtWork wrote: ↑
You can keep an eye on this tri fuel one

https://www.costco.ca/firman-9400-w-tri ... 68053.html

US Costco has it for $999-$200 savings now

If CA Costco gets it under $1000, I might bite as a whole home backup with a backyard NG outlet to fuel it

ichibansan wrote: ↑ You can buy it in store for under $1000. Saw one today, think it was $899..Costco John Birchall, Richmond Hill

The tri-fuel model was $719.99 in store not long ago

Wow RFD and Costco!

Bought the 1600 on sale for $400 but it wasn’t big enough. Bought the 3300 for $600 and just broke it in nice but think I’ll end up with this one!

Evil Baby wrote: ↑ Thanks.

Like I said, I really need to sit down and think about what I actually need. Our desire is for a long power outage. We don't camp enough, or long enough, to get a generator for that purpose. I'm really only concerned about long power outages in the Winter where travel might not be an option. We have a gas fireplace so for the most part should be OK for heat. Anywho, I suppose this isn't really a discussion for a hot deals thread.

Call a generator installer or two and pick their brains on the best unit for your situation. You'll need someone to do the hookup anyway so it's not like you're asking for free advice with no possibility of putting money into one of their pockets.