What size generator?

fenwick458

GDB2222 said:

fenwick458 said:

I'd just buy a 3Kw generator. if it's going to be used for emergencies when the power goes off that way if you needed you could boil a kettle, plug in an electric heater (one at a time obviously)

Plug in an electric heater? That’s a bit crazy thermodynamically. The generator is likely to have an efficiency of only about 30%, ie 70% of the energy in the fuel gets lost in heating up the generator and the outside air around it.  

ok well supposing next winter theres another wild storm and power is out for 3 days and it's freezing temperatures, you can either discuss the thermal efficiencies or plug in an electric heater to keep warm.
efficiency is going to be poor, it's probably over £1 per kw/hr from a generator but thats not the point, it's for emergencies

GDB2222

fenwick458 said:

GDB2222 said:

fenwick458 said:

I'd just buy a 3Kw generator. if it's going to be used for emergencies when the power goes off that way if you needed you could boil a kettle, plug in an electric heater (one at a time obviously)

Plug in an electric heater? That’s a bit crazy thermodynamically. The generator is likely to have an efficiency of only about 30%, ie 70% of the energy in the fuel gets lost in heating up the generator and the outside air around it.  

ok well supposing next winter theres another wild storm and power is out for 3 days and it's freezing temperatures, you can either discuss the thermal efficiencies or plug in an electric heater to keep warm.
efficiency is going to be poor, it's probably over £1 per kw/hr from a generator but thats not the point, it's for emergencies

I don’t disagree, if it comes to that.  

However, it would make more sense to have a wood burning stove. Or, as the OP was looking at a dual fuel generator, an LPG stove. Or simply use the generator to operate the gas central heating. 

GDB2222

If I were on LPG heating, I’d be buying enough gas to last the winter right now.  Maybe the winter after, too.