With all the accolades Generac has garnered over the years, you are akin to hit the jackpot with whenever you need a perfect generator. But only if you know which one will be perfect for you, its genre is a lot wider of course and you will find a vast array of generators here.
On the other hand, if you’re new to Generac generators and you’re just learning about them, you’re probably wondering straight away how long these generators will keep on going without stopping. Of course, it’s easy to give a figure like 8-100 hours, but there are different factors which can either make Generac generators run continuously for longer or shorter periods.
This article thus explores some of the unique factors that will influence how long your Generac generator will be able to run continuously..
For starters, Generac ideally deals with two kinds of generators. These are the standby and portable generators.
Portable Generators
Portable generators are created to be easy to carry from location to location. Additionally, they are relatively cheap as Generac’s cheapest portable generator models begin from $430. The XD5000E, which is more expensive and much more powerful, costs well over $3500.
Keeping that in mind, expect about 10 hours of continuous, stable power supply from Generac’s portable generators when you've hooked a 50% load, with a full tank. If you went with the more powerful models however, the narrative is a little different as there is a chance to get up to 30 hours of continuous run time effectively at 50% load.
The higher end of Generac generators have greater run times but you should also be aware that they hold different fuel tank capacities than the more reasonably priced Generac generators, such as the GP3300. High end Generac generators, therefore, tend to have much larger fuel tanks, and this is the main reason they last longer.
Standby Generators
Some of the different types of institutions which would greatly benefit from standby generators are hospitals and business premises. They will ensure you get zero power interruptions whenever the mains power goes out because they have an automatic transfer switch.
Generac have loads of these and you can choose from a wide array of uses. Perhaps Generac's home backup generators can help if you plan to install a standby generator in your home.
Usually, standby generators are pricey, generally running anywhere from $2,000 to $30,000. This is as much an indication of the type of service you will get from these generators too. Generac generators powered by Diesel Generac such as the Protector Diesel generators can run continuously for over 3 days that is to 90 hours!
Type of Fuel
Interested in Generac's standby and portable generator run times? It depends on the type of fuel that the generator will use. As before, Generac offers several different generators to choose from, depending on which type of fuel is available in where you live. The three main types of fuels that these generators run on include:
- Natural gas
- Diesel
- Liquid propane
Natural Gas
If the utility company provides a natural gas supply to your home, you're in luck. The reason is that you can easily go for a Generac generator that runs on the natural gas source of energy. The other thing is you might spend less as compared to someone who went ahead and chose to buy a diesel generative.
Most Generac generators that operate on natural gas are actually standby generators. These generators are sure to cost you a few extra bucks to install, but you’ll always have plenty of fuel to run on, resulting in amazing run times.
An example of a standby generator with an amazingly long run time is Generac’s PowerPact Home Backup generator. Along with regular maintenance check ups, which you will have to do from time to time on the generator, this is the only worry you should have when you opt for natural gas Generac generators as your worry will only be if the natural gas supply is cut.
Diesel
These are the most robust kinds of generators Generac has and more often than not. Diesel is actually a very popular type of fuel worldwide and many standby and portable generators Generac makes use diesel.
If you are interested in one of Generac's Home Backup generators that runs on diesel, you should know that you can purchase these with extended tanks which will allow you to store more reserve fuel.
For instance, the 30KW and 50KW Generac Protector Diesel series generators can be combined with a 132 gallon tank well, this 15KW and 20 KW models can use the 95 gallon tank. If you took these extended tanks you should be able to get over 25 hours running time at a 50% load. But you can still get over 100 hours of run times from these generators.
Of course 100 run time hours sounds fantastic but unless you want to run the generator for those hours the cost of doing so is not likely to be very exciting. Diesel powered Generac generators are the way to go if you do not have access to other types of fuel in your local area.
Liquid Propane
If you don't fancy diesel or natural gas, your only remaining option is liquid propane. But in most cases, you will discover that a Generac generator that operates on liquid propane will run on natural gas too.
If you want a standby generator or you need a portable generator, you can be sure they have a Generac generator that runs on liquid propane. A propane powered portable generator is the Generac 6000 LP3250.
Propane powered Generac generators have run times based on the capacity of the liquid propane cylinders, as compared to generators that are powered with either natural gas or diesel. Also, the liquid propane can be used up quickly if demand for power increases. That’s why most Generac generators that run on liquid propane will also run on natural gas.
Natural gas isn’t necessarily cheaper than liquid propane. The problem is that it’s pretty hard to store helium, but since you can store it in cylinders, it’s a good option for people who happen to be in remote areas or areas in which natural gas access is somewhat limited.
Important Considerations
So, while we’ve only focused on the two most important factors in deciding how long your Generac generator can run on continuously, a few other factors also depend on how you use the generator.
At the same time, while your Generac generator can continue working for days straight, it is nevertheless suggested that you use it as a power backup, not as your everyday power source — and this is because operating a generator for too long can get costly.
With that aside, let’s look at some of the things to take into consideration should you want to run your generators for extended duration.
Regularly Replace the Generator's Engine Oil
Much as your car, a Generac generator needs oil for lubrication of the engine and keeping the engine cool. If your generator is not oiled it will often overheat, and the generator will quickly wear and tear much faster before starting to manifest other mechanical complications.
For this reason, you'll want to oil it first, and then give your generator a break once in a while. While most manufacturers will tell you to change the oil after 200 hours of operation. The spec sheet on your Generac generator will contain all the details when to change the oil in the generator.
Have a Reliable and Consistent Fuel Source
This may seem obvious and straightforward, but if you run out of fuel you won’t get half the run time. All this means you should always have a few extra jerricans of fuel or cylinders of liquid propane so you shouldn’t ever see a low fuel warning.
Provided you did the right sizing when choosing a Generac generator, you obviously should know how much fuel you need and how long it’ll last you. This will help you to know when you should go for refills.
Don’t Run the Generator in Enclosed Spaces
The longer you run the generator, the more carbon monoxide the generator will produce. Otherwise, if you put the generator in a confined space then you will be risking carbon monoxide poisoning. Also, the generator will not run as efficiently as it should be and as a result, the run times will be shorter.
Conclusion
In a nut shell, Generac generators are good when it comes to continuous run time but which one you choose will be the deciding factor. To give an example, a Generac generator that operates on natural gas is going to have the longest run times. But it will be important to have a steady supply of natural gas. This applies to other Generac generators that also uses different types of fuel.
