Solar Generator VS Gas Generator...Which One Would You Choose!? Which Is The Ultimate Home Backup?
After watching the video do you see a benefit to having both solar and gas as part of your backup plan? If so I think the Pulsar GX400BN is an excellent affordable option to accomplish that!
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Video Timestamps:
Solar Generator VS Gas Generator: (0:00)
How Using Both Is Good: (2:34)
Testing the Pulsar GX400BN: (5:33)
Getting Ready For The First Start: (8:17)
Max Load and Noise Testing: (12:07)
#jasonoid #pulsar #offgridpower #backuppower
You don't choose you get both. And you only use the generator to charge the solar generator, On the days when the sun is not out. And here's why you'll save energy in the long run. As a solar generator only needs 2 or 3 hours to charge and for most normal people will last nearly an entire day depending on what kind of batteries you get. It will only take the energy that you use Minus whatever the inverter is taking Tuesday idling in the background. Whereas with a gas generator it is running non-stop all the time even when You're not drawing very much energy from it if any at all. By instead using the generator to top-up your solar battery you're only pulling from the solar battery what you're using and no more. So you essentially make your gas generator fuel supply last twice to 3 times as long using this method
if you pick one i would pick solar+battery but good to have fossil fuel in emergency when sun or shore power not available easily. another backup could be if you have a electric bike with pedals some have regeneration capability you can prop it up and pedal it and keep essential loads running.
That's what my video was all about! 👍
@@echow2001 Laugh out loud you had me to that last bit. And the set up that I'm On for my RV is I most definitely have of a solar generator with full solar imports. Basically 4 panels at 200 W a piece running parallel, Mascing alpha solar charge capability of my unit. But I also have a small Honda generator that I can run on the side should the sun not be out for a day or 2 and I'm running low on juice. That way I don't have to worry about the air conditioning not working when I need it the most. Let alone my induction cook top....
@HighmageDerin - Just curious how much gas / propane is consumed charging a Leaf or Tesla (or how much per KW) . My Leaf has averaged 4.7 miles per KW . . . . and requires 1400 watts at 115 volts while recharging. Since it only has the 6 KW charging capability at 230 volts or 1400 watts at 115 volts finding a suitable charging station does not always work out. And the Leaf only has a max range of 75 miles to 'empty' . . . So carrying a gas powered charger could prove handy on longer excursions. The Pulsar shown can run 8 hours at 1/2 load . . . using how much gas ? Their site does not give fuel tank size or consumption rates. Am curious how many MPGe that would average out to . . . ! take care, rh
One of the few KZhead channels that I always watch the full video.
This is Jason’s wife and I wanted to personally thank you for your support on Jason’s channel. ❤️
@@katers22 Thanks for the "behind the scenes support" that makes these videos possible!
Both is always the answer. Great video, Jason!
Decidedly agreed!
Good video Jasonoid :) P.S. We always prefer having power station for the main, and gas generator for the backup plan :)
Both is always needed now for best home back up. Having a gen run a fridge is just burning fuel. So charging the power station is a great way to save fuel and store extra power. And then solar to supplement it. Even on cloudy days you can still generate a decent amount of watt hours pending size of array. Once you have a set like that, you will find your self using the gen less and less and less. Good vid Jason. Propane for the win!
Your videos are great, dude! Keep it up.
excellent review Jason.
Very educational coverage for emergencies at reasonable costs.
I'm with you on the description and I am not fond of the name "sogen". I've been looking for a 4000-watt inverter generator that can run on natural gas. I will explore this possibility with this company. Propane lasts indefinitely as Hank would say.
I think it would be a great idea to have both
I see your favorite colour is Grey, so I had to subscribe. Either way comprehensive review, I do agree, getting both makes sense but what I didn’t really consider is storing propane is easier, safer and no real shelf life issues, 👊🏾🇳🇬🇺🇸
Well done, Jason!
Thank you!
Yet another great video. I run both. Fuel during the day (while the batteries charge from solar) Night is just for the fridges and the Bluetti's have no issue running them.
Now this one should be a banger!!
Yes I would want both. 🥳
Exactly the video I was looking for because I had the exact the same idea but could not find the content to assure me. Thanks!
Glad I could help!
Great review. The Pulsar is a quite intriguing. I will be very interested how the quality and longevity will compares to a Honda generator. The Pulsar is rated at 8 hours run time at half load. Is this true of both the built in gas tank and for 1 - propane cylinder the typical gas grill size? I agree the longevity of storing propane is a big plus when using this as a backup to the backup. Thanks, Jason, for another fantastic video review!
I agree the best setup is to have both. There will always be days without sun which you will need to recharge. Using the generator in bursts to recharge the power station is the best move. great advice.
Nice! Absolutely both and letting the generator be strictly the 3rd level back up. Using Propane also solves the problem of needing the drain the generator for storage since leaving the gas in there can cause it to gum up.
Australia 🇦🇺… I live off-grid and I use both.
Excellent video Jason and good logic at the conclusion of using both. I easily stretched 2 days of gasoline & propane to a week using both.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
I am in SE Texas. We have a 430cc tri-fuel generator that runs on Natural Gas. When connected to the main panel, It is large enough to run the central A/C plus the other necessities. As a backup we have (3) pair of connected 1408Wh power stations (2816Wh). Any pair can be connected to the panel but no 240V. There are (12) 100W rigid solar panels, 8 are made into 4 suitcases with retractable legs. In the winter I would use the power stations first.
Excellent setup! Thanks for sharing how you use your setup. Maybe viewers can takes some ideas :)
Great video. IMO to be seriously prepped you need all three components. Gen, power box and panels. I 100% agree with you on running the gen on propane if possible for all the reasons stated.
Thanks!
Definitely both
BOFE! A system like that Eco Flow with the generator is pretty slick. In the winter for me it's about the same cost and a little easier just to run off the grid on those foggy and cloudy days instead of charging batteries from my little propane inverter generator. But, in a grid down situation, that's what I would do.
I have several of those battery boxes and also a couple gas portable generators. Luckily i havent lost home power but plan the same as you suggest.
I choose both.
That's exactly what this video was about! 👍
Excellent video include all the points I have been considering in buying a dual fuel generator. It will supplement my generator. And propane last years so I am sold on a dual fuel generator for good backup . Next will be a wind generator. Thank you
Wind would be really cool!
Jasonoid I also hate the term "solar generator", glad you called that out. Does the generator produce a pure sine wave? Does the voltage drop under load?
Another great video! Would love to see some content on Wind Turbines too. FYI, propane will never go bad when stored properly. Just take care of the tanks and check for leaks occasionally. I agree that having both options are important. Keep in mind that the BTUs (energy) contained in one 20lb of propane (currently a refill is ~ 30 dollars in my area). The same amount of energy would cost about $10,000 in the cheapest LifeP)4 batteries. But... Propane is single use, and of course, the batteries are rechargeable. So having extra solar panels can help make the most of the sun when it is shining.. Also, unless you have a super high efficiency cold weather rated heat pump, propane is going to be the far better heating option - consider having a small propane heater (learn how to vent properly) and a small window A/C - these are much more sensible to operate if power is out for and extended period of time.
With LFP being the standard and server rack batteries being as affordable as they are, I prefer battery over gas. I did a Livestream about my thoughts on it.
Even my 30kwh of batteries eventually die after 3 days of clouds. I think having gas / propane is a great backup plan.
I'm Amish according to setite so I don't use that much power but I agree, after a few days, all bets are off.
Question. You talk about electrical noise for sensitive electronics. I was looking to get the Anker f2000, but you have me concerned. I want it mainly for powering led cob lights for filming (like aputure lights). Will this "noise" cause an issue with these?
The Anker F2000 has a good inverter sine wave that performed well in my testing. I haven't tested specfically, but think it should perform just fine with aputure lights.
Thanks for the video/effort. My spouse said both immediately :-) The generator seems more compact than the Champion "4500" ones which I have one of. But, might be the electric start piece might be part of why different rough size.
Yeah, no electric start on this one. Your champion is rated for more power as well. This one is a 3200w continuous genny.
That is the way my backup was designed. I built a 4 KVA system with 60 KWh of battery. The Inverter could also charge at 4 KVA. It would charge the battery from a 5 KW generator. Any issues with the generator, the Inverter would take over immediately. Sustained outage required 3-4 hours of generator every other day or so, and the tank on the generator would run full power for about 8 hours.
Excellent setup! Thanks for sharing your build.
No brainier have both. It's a win win for sure! Even if you don't have solar panels its still a win.
Did the voltage drop below 110 V on all outlets during the 3200 watt test or just at the heat gun? That seems to be a big drop
The voltage only sagged that much under the max load test, 2800+ watts (at high elevation 4500 ft). Under a normal load voltage was at 122v.
I agree about getting both. Whether or not you use the generator depends on the length of the power outage, and the reason for it. If it is something innocuous like a local storm or power pole-destroying wreck, it will be safe to run the generator. Ours is only 1800 running watts, but that is enough for multiple refrigerators and a small chest freezer, connected by extension cords. If it is an extended outage, and fuel availability is an issue, I'll break up the load onto multiple power stations (and put a few more panels out). If the outage is caused by anything truly catastrophic (natural or man-made), where the sound of a generator would attract feral humans and other parasites, it will be power stations-only, with more panels out. At that point, I'll be using propane to can any chilled meats, and switching over to compressor-coolers, which as you've shown many times, sip power compared to full-size household refrigerators.
I was about to purchase a MaXpeedingrods 3500 for $497 until I saw your review of this Pulsar. For $12 more (using your discount code) this unit has a larger gas tank as well as being dual fuel. I think I’ll give it a try.
The dual fuel is such a nice feature. Running off propane is nice since you don't have spills or gas going bad!
both is a great answer if you can store flammable fuels on your property, our hoa does not allow storage of flammable fuels at our home, so limited to battery storage only.
I didn't know HOAs could control that much about the property. No thanks!
@@Jasonoid hoa's can sometimes be a pain to deal with, but when dealing with multiplexes, its more like renting than owning, but instead of paying rent it's called a mortgage and hoa fees. these days getting a home outside of an hoa is going to become more and more difficult.
The best version of this combo is the EcoFlow system. Their generator plus one of their power stations is the best. The auto start stop on the gas generator saves on gas only running when needed is awesome.
They have some really cool functionality with the auto start and stop per the charge settings! It's got lots of bells and whistles. The generator is fairly expensive at over @$1200 for an 1800w model.
@@Jasonoid agreed. As you know it does charge at the full 1800 watts continuous though so unlike others its rating is true. It is probably the most expensive 1800 watt “portable” generator though lol. I put portable in quotes because it doesn’t even come with wheels lol.
Just curious how much gas / propane is consumed charging a Leaf or Tesla (or how much per KW) . My Leaf has averaged 4.7 miles per KW . . . . and requires 1400 watts at 115 volts while recharging. Since it only has the 6 KW charging capability at 230 volts or 1400 watts at 115 volts finding a suitable charging station does not always work out. And the Leaf only has a max range of 75 miles to 'empty' . . . So carrying a gas powered charger could prove handy on longer excursions. The Pulsar shown can run 8 hours at 1/2 load . . . using how much gas ? Their site does not give fuel tank size or consumption rates. Am curious how many MPGe that would average out to . . . ! take care, rh
I have both. I was using a gas generator first and then got a powerstation with solar panels a few months ago. I use both exactly as you stated in this video with battery as the primary and gas only when/if needed. If i could only have one i think it would be a gas generator. The sun is not always reliable and to get through even a couple days of no sun you need a sizable investment in extra batteries. Other than that i like the battery powerstation a lot more.
Thanks for commenting and sharing your thoughts. A gas generator is pretty reliable vs if you live in an area with mixed weather. In my area it depends on the season. Summer we have mostly sun. In the winter we have a bit more storms.
How did he connect the gas generator to the Bluetti?
Great video as always. I am a big proponent of having a gas generator for backup to the power stations. I own 2 Honda 2200's and use ethanol free fuel. To my surprise one time during a power outage I could not start the generator even though I started them every 3 months and run the carb dry. After that encounter I bought my second one the companion so that I could use the 30 amp plug for the transfer plug. I also realized that I needed dual fuel and converted both generators to propane as well. Many consumers do not realize that the engine on the 2200 generator is a larger compared to others similar in size like the Champion and the Westinghouse. The Honda engine is 127 CC and the Champion and Westinghouse is 80CC don't know about the predator. So on an equal load on all 3 inverter generators the Honda won't experience a voltage drop like the other two depending on load size. I use my Hondas and power stations together when camping. The generators I use on an A/C in the tent during the day and at night during quiet hours I will use the power stations if I still need a/c for a couple of hours. But definitely agree with you both systems compliment each other especially on cloudy days. Here in Texas we have been experiencing severe storms and flooding and we have not had sun for 3 days. I have 2 ecoflow delta max 2000, one is hooked up to the fridge and freezer the other on stand by. I run the generator for about an hour and a half. My power stations are set to charge at 1200 watts while charging one the other runs the fridge. Not much fuel is used .
Excellent information! Thank you letting me know about all this!
@@Jasonoid Also I purchased a couple of 12V fridges the Setpower and Dometic. When we experience long term outages transferring the food from the residential fridge to the 12v fridges cuts down on energy consumption. I go from using 120 to 150 watts when the compressor runs to 45 to 55 watts. My jackery 500's will run my 12V fridges for about 45 hours before needing a charge.
108v is probably the low end of acceptability isn't it?? Did you show the Frequency stability under load? Or did I miss it in the video, I don't know how particular the various power stations are about voltage / Frequency of the AC input they see? Great video, and absolutely a must have is a backup for your backup plan!!!
The generator usually had 122 to 118 volts output under normal loads. Just under the max load test (at high elevation) did the voltage sag.
When I get a generator it will be a dual fuel just incase with zero plans to use gasoline unless I have to. This one looks nice, and I definitely like the handle and wheels. I do not see a 12 volt output on it. Not sure if the generators with 12-volt outputs actually put out more than 12 volts or not. That is something I will have to look into. Could be a good option to charge a 12 volt battery in a pinch.
I wonder if the 12v outputs on these generators are designed for charging. From my understanding they are meant for small loads only. The generator in the video didn't have 12v output 😔
And also after the first two hours of running, change the oil and put new synthetic oil in. And always, never use the stock spark plug always get an NGK
Both, you always need a backup if anyone malfunction s. gas generator are more affordable but for the elderly battery power stations are easier to operate. Pros and cons
How long can the propane container run the generator? Has anyone showed that for comparison to battery?
5 gallons of propane is similar to 5 gallons of gasoline.
I'm with the majority that having both units is the way to go. I'd also opt to store and use propane before gas. The great advantage of propane is its easy storage, as well as the fact that in a SHTF scenario, propane would probably be more available that gas.
Totally agree!
If the fueled generator is required to be portable then duel fuel gasoline/propane is the way to go but if an in-place generator will suit then natural gas fueled is best. Natural gas still flows even if the grid is down as long as the system hasn't been damaged say by an earthquake. In a pinch the family auto can serve as an emergency generator. An EV can even be configured to connect directly to the house system. A gas fueled auto can charge up power stations even if somewhat inefficiently.
Excellent thoughts! I agree with you.
Any plans to test the Lion Energy portable solar generators?
Not at this point.
I got an AC300 because I live in an apartment where I cannot run fuel generators because of noise and exhaust fumes.
That's a great plan as well!
No need for a generator, just have a big enough battery and a stack of extra solarpanels if the outage is longer then expected. My solarpanels charge an outdoorbattery that will charge (DC-DC)some indoor powerstations when the outdoorbattery reaches a certain voltage. That way by backup batteries are always charged and ready to go . If the voltage of the outdoorbattery raises even more, another DC-DC goes on and sends electricity to an small inverter which will send it into the house grid at a slow pace, mostly without pushing it into the net. When the grid goes down some transferswitches will transfer the critical loads to the AC out of the indoor batteries. This setup is easy, gives me great backup and still utilizes the energy from the solarpanels when the grid is not down. When grid is down I have some extra solarpanels I will connect to have some extra power coming in.
When cloudy I don't have enough solar panels to offset my loads. If I had more space / land that wouldn't be an issue. Glad you have enough solar to not need a gas generator!
I have both.... just in case!!!
That's the best way to go for sure
My ac200max has no ac input except the ac run 400 watt power brick putting in dc.
This newer Bluetti AC200L has built in AC charging and it's a bit different. With yours, you'd connect the external ac charger to your gas generator and then plug that into the AC200max.
This is why I have a couple different power stations and two Honda 2000 generators. I have tested them paralleled and charging my Bluetti AC300 at 3kW.
That's a great setup!
@@Jasonoid It makes perfect sense when you consider the combustion generator as a range extender for the power station.
Excellent presentation. Thank you. I agree in that "both" are best if you are going to be off-grid for a while. All it takes is a few rainy days to destroy any solar collection. That is an interesting generator and a really good price. I went to their web site and see a Model PDG16iSCO that only weights 24lbs and claimed sound volume at 56dd and I see prices around $350. I wonder how well this unit competes with the comparable Honda? Some reviews on these maybe?
The Honda is definetly more reliable and will definetly get you more use. If you aren't using a generator as often I think these more affordable brands are just fine.
It's interesting that the more modern we get with 120/240volt gasoline generators we get we still haven't got the two great features the old Delco 32 volt DC generator's had the automatic start with the flexible exhaust line they would in most cases be installed in the house and vented outside they also had a auto start feature that would sense when power was called for and instantly start up to power it with my last power bill showing an increase in the distribution and transmission charges it looks like it'll be cheaper to cut the grid it looks like distribution charges have increased to over 150$ per month and transmission charges have gone from variable depending on how much power is used to 68$ flat rate so over 200$ per month so with a generator running on NG I should be able to run it for 2hrs per day for a lot less the the only thing that has stopped me so far is all the utubers who say we need so much power that we need a solar system that costs over 10 grand I always thought that that was because of the electric motors in your furnace fridge and freezer yes microwave oven electric frying pans toaster and toaster ovens take around 1500watts but you don't have to run them together with my kerig coffee maker and my microwave oven both on the same breaker I already know that if one is on don't start the other till the other shuts down it's a little bit inconvenient but cheaper than getting an electrician in to run a new line but back to the point Princess auto had a power station on sale it was a real pig in a poke idea their info was a joke for instance it was 2000 watt pure sine wave inverter running on 3 volt lithium battery and from what information I could get the battery pack was sold separately but their garenty is no sale is final until I'm satisfied so I took a chance after I got it I found it wasn't too bad a unit but I wanted to test it out and got a text from the electric company saying that they were planning an outage of 4 hours now at 30 below and a very uninsulated and drafty house I was doubtful that I could get the temperature back up so when the power went out I first plugged in the microwave to cook breakfast 1400 watts for 5 minutes no surprise there then I plugged in my furnace and got a great shock it used a measly 320 watts to start up and then,280 to run on I figure the fridge and freezer with a smaller motor should be less so 960 watts if they all started at same time and my lights having gone from 1100 watts to under a 100 where do we need so much power so it's an inconvenience that I have to unplug the fridge freezer and furnace for the 30 minutes I need to cook but the difference between a 2000$ system and a 10grand or more system is worth it one is affordable for someone on fixed income the other isn't also utubers I've learned not to convert the power to 120 volts AC anything that runs on less than 12 volts DC so in the next few months I will go solar and cut the grid apparently I can pay 5$ per month to keep my line and 100$ to get get a meter put back in so I can go solar power for 10 months and save about 3 thousand dollars a year
One works in the rain, one doesn’t One works at night, one doesn’t
👍😁 Nice points
Never use the oil they give you with the generator always use synthetic immediately. Also, before the first pull on the generator always pull it two or three full polls very very slowly, that lets the oil get into the cylinders before you start it
Great tips! I'll remember those for the future.
I have both and with the question of stored gas there are 3 vehicles that are usually full of fuel that's around an extra 50 gallons if a real emergency comes along
I thought the same thing except most newer vehicles have an antisiphon device in the filler.
@@billhaley8873 my first go to is my 1999 Dodge but with newer vehicles there's always a way just saying
How much gas does that gas generator make??
There's a use case for every type of generator. Obviously I prefer solar 99.9% of the time 🤣👍
i find is amusing that people are still getting hung up over what to call these. You provide a fuel and you get ac electricity......i see both as portable power units. Did you mention the importance of the gas unit being a pure sine wave inverter? my Bluetti will not accept a charge from an non pure sine wave gas unit. I agree that having both is the best practice. My gas unit is just big enough to charge up my solar unit battery at its max, reduces the run time on my gas unit. And like you i am only running propane as it is so easy to store.
Good point, I should have mentioned the requirement of an pure sine inverter generator to charge power stations.
Price.... Gas is always less
Kind of sad that you must state that power stations are stealthy, so you will be less likely to be killed for your energy source.
It's the world we live in.
I would avoid the Bluetti because they are not reliable, and Bluetti doesn't honor their warranty.
Great feedback!
I disagree. I have 4 different Bluetti power stations. One of them had an issue after almost 2 years of use. I contacted Bluetti with a video of the problem. They emailed me a return label for the old one and then sent me a new replacement unit. All are working as they should now.
Get both for sure. It’s like firearms……no single firearm does everything you would like to be able to do. You need multiple for each use-case scenario. In this case, get a tri-fuel generator for the gas generator. It just adds that extra layer of versatility.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
cringey generator. It has almost no ROI and only to find that it does not work because it has not been used or maintained in years. There is a niche for it like places with long winters or at least two days without sunlight. Otherwise, a power station is much more elegant and worth the price over a gas generator
Sogen = Solar generator
Yeah, I don't like that Sogen term either haha
Weight is a con for both.
This is without a doubt the best way to ensure you can have enough power to run refrigerators and stay connected for quite a long time.