Page 1 of 16 12345611 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 234
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    6,975

    Default Suburban Kids,buy Large paddock with Know idea.

    We have just brought 20 acres in Wedderburn Victoria, its a one bedroom love shack at present with scope an planes by us too turn it into 3 Bedroom home in the near future.
    Plus a large workshop of course in case you needed to ask[emoji851].

    Shipping containers need moving.

    Shipping containers need moving.

    So instead of potentially starting multiple threads with multiple questions such as, which end of the sheep does the lawn mowing bit? are camels ok, an can i pat the large Grey kangaroos while having my morning Coffee.

    I would just ask hear, from those that “Knows more than Me” an hopefully fingers crossed i eventually learn that urinating on the electric fence is not good thing.

    So first off, the current House(Shack) is completely off the grid(an is un economical to connect too the grid)with a 2.5 kilowatt solar system, so from my understanding at present, that will let us run the fridge an charge my iPhone at the same time, but it will probably struggle to Blow dry my bald head, crew cut ?.An i should stock up on candles for romantic sunset dinners.

    That’s ok we plan too put on a much bigger Solar system in the near future,when we extend the current home.

    So question, i have been looking at Generators to help with the electrical requirements of two suburban kids(only two us) who need too run everything all at the same time, as a stop measure for a year or so until we get a bigger solar system.

    With a budget of around $3000 we went hunting

    SABER 7500W 16hp Petrol Generator w/ 2x IP66 Worksafe Compliant Sockets SABGEN9KBP | Total Tools

    DeWalt DXGN8950ik 8950W 8.9kVA Petrol Generator with Electric Start

    Sydney Tools

    SABER 6500W 15hp Petrol Generator SABGEN7KBP | Total Tools

    I’m fairly sold on something similar to these, we viewed the Sabre 7500W at Total tools today.
    An the sales guy said they sell well.
    Key features we need Electric start, 7500 watts, an a inverter to protect sensitive equipment ie phones computers welders, my hair dryer [emoji6].

    K series Honda engine,There a very common engine and all most any small engine repair shop will know the engine and carry spares if needed.
    An it looks like a few them use that engine type.
    Two 15. Amp power outlets(all the ones I viewed have that).
    A decent size fuel tank, some i sore only had a 6 litre tank(Thats about two an half hours run time).
    A 25 litre tank running will gives about 8 hours run time depending on usage.
    Low oil shutdown too(i have history off destroying an engine due too not checking the oil).
    But more than happy to hear other’s opinions of course.
    Would prefer to shop with Total Tools or Sydney Tools for convenience.

    There will be plenty more questions to come, such as do i need to talk slower in the country.

    Cheers Matt.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    near Mackay
    Age
    59
    Posts
    4,628

    Default

    I have got a Sabre 7500, 9kva generator. I use it for back-up power, it runs the whole house, aircons and pressure pump and all. It replaces a 7kva diesel generator that finally packed it in after too many cyclones (weeks on end without power)
    The Saber has only done a couple of short outages service so far, but it’s doing the job.
    The only thing I don’t like, is how much fuel it uses. I think it would chew through around 40 litres of petrol a day , I run em non stop when needed, we like aircon at night to sleep up here.
    ​Brad.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Sth Gippsland Vic
    Posts
    4,355

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Simplicity View Post
    I would just ask hear, from those that “Knows more than Me” an hopefully fingers crossed i eventually learn that urinating on the electric fence is not good thing.


    The move sounds great!


    There are better ways to test if an electric fence is on Matt!!

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,757

    Default

    Gronya Matt - exciting times ahead!

    Quote Originally Posted by Ironwood View Post
    The only thing I don’t like, is how much fuel it uses. I think it would chew through around 40 litres of petrol a day , I run em non stop when needed, we like aircon at night to sleep up here.
    I can understand it that you need your AC where you live.

    Here's an interesting Back of teh envelope calculation
    40L of petrol = 31kg of petrol.
    Petrol has an energy density of 45 MJ/kg so that's 1395 MJ/day or 58 MJ/hour.

    A 9kW generator running flat out produces 9000 x 3600 = 32.4 MJ/hour
    However, presumably you are not running it flat out 24/7
    Lets assume a 50% operating cycle (i suspect it will be less than this) so that's 16.2 MJ/hr.
    Thats an energy efficiency of 30% which is about all most petrol engines get when running a vehicle.
    Have you thought about heating your hot water using the exhaust?

    40L petrol @$2/l = $80/day
    4.5kW from an electricity provide here in WA (28c@kWhr) for 24 hours = $30/day
    The most we use even on the hottest here in Perth with up to 4 split system ACs running is 70 kWhrs ($20) but fortunately the solar offsets that by about 40 kWhrs.

    At your east coat power prices the petrol generator may be close to competitive.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Little River
    Age
    77
    Posts
    1,205

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by auscab View Post
    There are better ways to test if an electric fence is on Matt!!
    My young cows test the fence by pushing each other into the fence to see the reaction.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    6,975

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bohdan View Post
    My young cows test the fence by pushing each other into the fence to see the reaction.
    I will inform “Her” then that my role in life is not to be used to check if a fence is electrified, good tip [emoji6].

    Cheers Matt.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Campbelltown NSW
    Age
    77
    Posts
    335

    Default

    Just a thought re solar. Why wait until the home is extended, you could install a solar grid in a dedicated area in the optimum position and angle to maximize efficiency and have the ability to clean the panels as necessary.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    6,975

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by apple8 View Post
    Just a thought re solar. Why wait until the home is extended, you could install a solar grid in a dedicated area in the optimum position and angle to maximize efficiency and have the ability to clean the panels as necessary.
    That is actually a good idea, we have been thinking about that too.
    But would still be comfortable knowing we have a plan B in place(Generator).
    Plus with the world being a bit un organised at present, it may take awhile too get that sorted.

    Cheers Matt.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Darkest NSW
    Posts
    3,198

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bohdan View Post
    My young cows test the fence by pushing each other into the fence to see the reaction.
    Some cows definitely have a voltmeter built in to their noses - possibly they can sense the electric field via the fine hairs? When we first built our original house one of the cows we had on the property would come up close to the electric fence, have a "sniff" at it, then if it was switched off just walk right through (followed by the rest of the mob). Cows also fancy themselves as plumbers......

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    near Mackay
    Age
    59
    Posts
    4,628

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Simplicity View Post
    That is actually a good idea, we have been thinking about that too.
    But would still be comfortable knowing we have a plan B in place(Generator).
    Plus with the world being a bit un organised at present, it may take awhile too get that sorted.

    Cheers Matt.
    I think this would be your best option Matt. Solar to cover most of what you need day to day, and the generator to fill in for when you need a bit more.
    ​Brad.

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    near Mackay
    Age
    59
    Posts
    4,628

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post


    Have you thought about heating your hot water using the exhaust?

    40L petrol @$2/l = $80/day............
    At your east coat power prices the petrol generator may be close to competitive.

    Hot water is covered with The Solarhart, we rarely need to use electricity for that.

    My Quarterly power bill ranges from $300-$1000, depending how much time we actually spend at home. While working away, just the fridge and freezer are running.
    ​Brad.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    6,975

    Default

    The Hot water unit is currently a gas unit, with a couple of Bottles, the oven is also all gas as well.

    So there plans to go back to boiling water on the stove[emoji6].

    Cheers Matt.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    little Hampton
    Posts
    140

    Default Generator

    When down this wormhole about 6 months ago, live on 10 acres in central Victoria and lost power for a week during last years storms, on top of another 2 day blackout, and 19 other power losses ranging between 30 minutes and 3 hours within a 12 month period.

    Looked into all of the different options including solar with batteries (2 Tesla) and in running the numbers realised that we would never get our money back due to the cost of batteries and would still need to draw from the grid in winter due to the climatic conditions up here 750m in the air.

    Solar also won't run my power tools mostly because of the amperage so decided I would go for a simple 6.6 solar system which would pay itself off in 2-3 years with a generator back up.

    I went for the Dewalt that you are looking at, ironically since we installed a few months ago have only had 2 outages both of which only lasted 45 m or so, was enough to test out the capacity of the unit, wouldn't say it would power the whole house especially in winter when we run a few column heaters....we often hit way below zero at night here but with a bit of common sense in power use worked perfectly fine.

    Is a bit of a bugger having to go outside to hook it up and start it but only takes a few minutes so is not the end of the world.

    We also recently had our 20 year old standard water heater replaced with a heat pump system for free as a government initiative, works really well and apparently uses around a third of the energy of the old one so would highly recommend.

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Millmerran,QLD
    Age
    73
    Posts
    11,099

    Default

    Matt

    Something you could consider, only because you are looking at petrol/diesel powered generators, is a three phase unit. They normally have single phase outlets too but you would need to check the single phase outlets are sufficient for your needs.

    Having said that, it is not ideal to be starting a generator each time you pick up a power tool or run a machine. It is too expensive to run the generator continuously (single or three phase). If you were running through numerous lengths of timber on a table saw or thicknessing a large quantity of boards a generator is fine: In other words a small production run, but using the table saw every ten minutes is either tedious to keep starting the gen set or poor for the motor, particularly if it is a diesel. Welding is another passtime that would benefit from a larger three phase unit and conversely would also take its toll on the like of a small solar array.

    A big solar array is probably the answer sooner rather than later, but understandably not immediately on the cards. One thing people do forgaet with solar, because Oz is a sunny place, we do get cloud cover: More cloud cover where you are than where I am.

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    6,975

    Default

    I still don’t know which end of the sheep does the lawn mowing bit.
    Hopefully Mr Ian W ,will advise me soon apparently he knows the answer.

    Cheers Matt.

    We’re not getting sheep Sal will give them names, an they will go from lawn mowers too pets.
    [emoji85][emoji85]

    Cheers Matt.

Page 1 of 16 12345611 ... LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Greetings from suburban Sydney :-D
    By Wulff in forum G'day mate - THE WELCOME WAGON -Introduce yourself
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 29th October 2020, 06:13 AM
  2. Wanted, A Paddock Car.
    By issatree in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORK
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 11th October 2016, 01:22 AM
  3. Suburban Harvest
    By Farnk in forum WOODTURNING - GENERAL
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 7th April 2008, 06:33 PM
  4. The Back Paddock - One More
    By Grunt in forum PHOTOGRAPHY
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 20th July 2007, 08:23 PM
  5. The Back Paddock
    By Grunt in forum PHOTOGRAPHY
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 15th July 2007, 11:12 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •