TRI-FUEL Generator PASS or FAIL Post Hurricane Beryl !!!

TRI-FUEL Generator PASS or FAIL Post Hurricane Beryl !!!

In this article, I'll be discussing the little test I put the Westinghouse WGen 11500 generator through. Since it needed to be broken in, I decided to run it during a Category 1 hurricane that recently passed through town. We experienced an outage that lasted about 26 to 27 hours, and the generator performed exceptionally well. Let’s delve into the specifics of how it fared during this hurricane.

How I Set It Up

Despite the generator coming with a 1/2 inch hose, I used a 1-inch hose that I already had and then stepped it down to a 1/2 inch hose right at the quick connect. For power, I connected the 50 amp outlet and used a 20 amp regular duplex outlet for my shed’s exhaust fan.

I decided not to hook up my central air units (3-ton and 5-ton) because they were recently installed and still under warranty. Instead, I used a window unit. The generator powered two refrigerators, a washer, dryer, vent hood, stove top, lights, a couple of TVs, and several ceiling fans without any issues.

Performance and Challenges

One minor issue was that I couldn’t shut my generator shed due to the inflexibility of the hose with the regulator's position. It opposed the door instead of facing to the side. However, when the eye of the storm passed, and the weather was calm, I simply put a tarp over the shed and secured it with tie-down straps, which worked fine.

Oil Changes

I initially ran the generator for an hour last week after buying it. During the first four hours of the storm, I had only the two refrigerators running, drawing about 14 amps, well below the 50% mark for breaking in. After five hours, I changed the oil. Subsequently, I changed the oil every eight hours, even though the manual recommends every 25 hours. Given the circumstances, I preferred to err on the side of caution. I performed about three oil changes and will likely do one more before storing the generator.

Praise for the Generator

The 50 amp power outlet worked flawlessly. Throughout the outage, the generator handled everything without any hiccups. If you're looking for an emergency generator, the Westinghouse WGen 11500 is worth considering, especially for natural gas use. I didn’t have to chase down fuel, a significant advantage during a hurricane when gas stations often lose power and can’t sell fuel even if they have it.

Conclusion

This Westinghouse generator performed admirably and proved to be a reliable source of power during an emergency. If you’re in the market for a solid generator, give this one a serious look.

Thank you for reading, and see you in the next article!

Keywords

• Westinghouse WGen 11500
• Emergency generator
• Oil change
• Hurricane
• Natural gas generator
• Power outage
• Setup
• Performance
• Tri-fuel generator

FAQ

Q1: What type of generator did you use? A1: I used the Westinghouse WGen 11500 Tri-Fuel generator.

Q2: What equipment was powered by the generator during the outage? A2: The generator powered two refrigerators, a washer, dryer, vent hood, stove top, lights, a couple of TVs, and several ceiling fans.

Q3: How often did you change the oil during the generator's operation? A3: I changed the oil first after five hours and then every eight hours thereafter, although the manual recommends every 25 hours.

Q4: Did the generator have any performance issues? A4: No, the generator performed flawlessly, handling everything without any hiccups.

Q5: Was there any problem with the generator setup? A5: The only issue was that the hose wouldn't flex enough due to the regulator's position, preventing me from closing the generator shed door. However, I managed by covering the shed with a tarp.

Q6: Why did you prefer a natural gas generator? A6: Natural gas generators don't require chasing down fuel, which can become scarce during emergencies. This generator ran on natural gas, which proved very convenient during the hurricane.