I have a few generators and would like to mention a few things to consider.
(another Hunner long winded post)
The problem I see with solar unless you have a large bank of batteries, is that the need around here for backup energy seems to be during long periods of cloudy rainy weather or snow so I can't rely on the panels to re-charge during usage.
ALWAYS shut off the main incoming breaker to your breaker box BEFORE you plug in the generator and before starting the generator back feeding your system, and besides yourself, Linemen don't like being fried while repairing your incoming power.
ALWAYS ground a generator. Use a grounding rod driven in the ground and attach it to the grounding point on the frame. If you have a plastic cased generator I would still connect a ground to the engine somehow.
If you are buying a mid range output generator I strongly suggest to get one with pressurized oil lubrication. They have small screw on filters.
The ones sold in large box stores usually are dip and dunk, burn about as much oil as fuel and if they don't have a low oil shut off will self destruct while you are drinking that cold beer out of the fridge far away from where you placed the generator so you did not have to listen to it.
My opinion is that type are not designed for long term use, like 7-10 hours a day for several days.
(like during a hurricane or ice damage) I saw truck loads, really, of burned up ones piled up in front of the small engine shops.
Run a fan to cool them in hot weather and keep them in the shade outside. If you run it in the garage you better have an even bigger fan and lots of venilation and no air inlet to the house.
Disconnect things you value like that big screen TV upon start up and shut down. When the generator runs out of gas the voltage will drop off and can cause problems or upon starting up can surge and like most electronics if you let the smoke out, it's toast! If you can get one that puts out pure sine wave for those items and have a final regulator in line that works the best.
If you make a dual male plug to back feed thru a circuit in the house do not handle that with the generator on. Yea, maybe obvious to some people.
I cut the main power from the grid, plug into the house start the generator and then plug in the dead cord from the house. That way you don't have any live feed should the power come on to the cable or generator.
If you split a 240 output you can run both sides of your breaker box and have flow to everything, just use what you need.
One possible set up is to back feed thru your electric clothes dryer if it is 240 volts and will power up both halve of your breaker box.
I have several of those Honda invertors that are gasoline powered. Very quite and reliable four strokes. No mixing gas.
1000i
2000i
3000i has 30 amp output plug which fits an octopus cable or 30 amp marine plugs which I use to power a 13,000 btu air unit on my boat in the summer and heat in the winter.
My larger ones I went with the Generac brand with pressurized lubrication. I use these in my business as well as at home so I listed some things it will run besides the house.
Generac 4000xl can't start a portable air compressor, they are hard to fire up, it will run a small AC, and an energy efficient fridge but not at the same time. 30 amp style plug besides others.
Generac 7000exl surge to 12,250 (awesome surge) will start a small compressor and fridge, bigger AC, 30 amp plug besides others.
Generac 15,000 surge to 22,500 this black beast will kick everything in my house. Fridge and central air unit, stove and oven, we have block parties at my house during outages. It also runs any of my power tools including it's main use to run a 240 volt air compressor and have even run a cable next door at times for my daughter to have the fridge and lights.
Remember start up loads for AC and refridgerators can be 3 times the running amperage.
DO NOT try to refill the fuel while the generator is running, you beer will stay cold for a hours without the fridge running.
When I built my shop I put in a large exhaust fan, say chicken house, and ran a large feed line from the other end of my house where the grid comes in.
Then I installed a breaker box in the shop with a 240 plug for my mid size compressor.
During outages I can back feed the 7000 or 15,000 genny thru that plug and don't have to go out in the rain or snow. I can close off the shop and the fan exhausts the foul air. I usually open the shop garage door when I go out to refill the genny and flush the air.
I have an opening window in the walkthru door to let in fresh air.
I believe in Sta-Bil but after long periods of no use dump the gen contents in containers and run the mower on it unless it's flat and smells funky.
Give the genny a break after a few hours of running and let the retention of cold in the fridge carry over while you enjoy battery power for lights, or have that romantic meal you just cooked by candle light.
I always wanted a diesel generator to sit in my Cummins and hook it up to my 100 gal tank but could never justify the cost.
I saw at one time a way to put a PTO on a Cummins and run a onboard generator but never pursued that either.
See I don't just work on my Hummer H3.
I run a fan inside the trailer for this big guy and have a roof vent.
On small jobs when it's hot I use this small compressor and try to keep the jug cool.
Mid-size compressor. On the wall below the breaker sub box is the 50 amp plug I use for the compressor or back feed the house.
I am editing this post for more details and have added some info after my recent 4 days on generator power. I decided I should expand upon things I take for granted some people may not know. I will be working on it some more later.
First if you do not know how to do this having learned it during your life experience, consult someone before doing it. No not Bubba, an electrician! I figured mine out like I wanted it but had an electrician check over what I was going to do in case I overlooked some dangerous situation.
I think I was more paranoid than he was about double checking things for safety and he admitted becoming lax about some of that. lax can kill you? I don't mind being accused of redundancy and over designing, obvious huh?
I want to repeat about not storing gas near the generator, do not try to fill it while it is running or while the exhaust is still hot especially with the great designed new gasoline spouts!!!! I finally transferred the gas to an old jug to pour into the generator. STOOPID junk.
My large one has a 30hp engine that besides the pressurize oil lube also has a small oil cooler but it still puts out some BTU.
Do not use it in an enclosed garage in the best way to say this.
The exception and I don't condone this is with the large door open have a fan blowing the exhaust out. The door to your home should be sealed well and you should have a carbon monoxide detector inside the door going out to the garage.
I will repeat my shop has a 15 knot wind going thru it when I do this and there are two gasket-ed doors to the house. Besides that the fan is strong enough it takes effort to close these doors when it is running because of the suction. So any air leaks are drawing air away from the house. I have two detectors and neither one went off. Carbon monoxide, in case you don't know is an odorless deadly gas by-product of combustion.
I had the luxury of swapping generators when it was time to refuel and let one rest.
My large one has a 30hp engine that besides the pressurize oil lube also has a small oil cooler but it still puts out some BTU.