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Generator run time per gallon varies greatly by manufacture. Just like gas mileage varies per vehicle. Not all small 4 seat cars, driving the speed limit get the same gas mileage, even though they...
Answer
#1: Post edited
by
James Jenkins
·
2020-05-01T15:18:31Z (almost 4 years ago)
<p>Generator run time per gallon varies greatly by manufacture. Just like gas mileage varies per vehicle. Not all small 4 seat cars, driving the speed limit get the same gas mileage, even though they are doing the same work. </p><p>Most manufactures include run time per tank or gallon in their literature. Searching online for your make and model of generator should get you answers for your generator. </p><p>The are two primary markets for portable generators.</p><ol><li><p>Construction workers</p></li><li><p>Campers and Survivalists </p></li></ol><p>Both have minimum run time requirements, Construction works want the generator to run while the are working, at a minimum 4 hours. Campers want their generator to run all day, at a minimum 8 hours. As a result most generators run between 5 and 10 hours on one tank of fuel at 50% of rated output.</p><p>Personally I run my generators at home, at least twice a year (Spring and Fall), to ensure they are ready for the coming season. </p><p>When test running your generator put about a 1/4 tank of fuel in it. Plug in some things and and let it run until it runs out of fuel. This should be between 1 and 3 hours, multiple by 4 and that is how many hours it runs on one tank of fuel.</p><p>Fuel stabilizer is important. I always add fuel stabilizer to the fuel I run in my generators. I never know when I will run it again, but I know it could be 6 months, so stabilizer prevents gas break down. At the end of the season I put left over generator fuel in my car/truck and get new fuel (adding stabilizer) for the seasonal test run and reserve fuel. </p><p><strong>Edit</strong> </p><p>No load requires about the same fuel as 50% or less load. </p><p>More load requires more fuel, there are multiple ways for manufacturers to balance fuel supply for increased load. Some of these solutions are less efficient then others. If it is important that you have good estimates on fuel consumption per hour, testing (per above) is your best choice.</p><p>For really ballpark estimates, figure 4 hours per tank, and in most scenarios you should be fine, with a little extra just in case. </p><p>For more info on why inexpensive generators don't scale kWh to fuel consumption see <a href="https://outdoors.stackexchange.com/a/21707/4079">This answer at 'What to look for in a portable generator?'</a></p>
- <p>Generator run time per gallon varies greatly by manufacture. Just like gas mileage varies per vehicle. Not all small 4 seat cars, driving the speed limit get the same gas mileage, even though they are doing the same work. </p>
- <p>Most manufactures include run time per tank or gallon in their literature. Searching online for your make and model of generator should get you answers for your generator. </p>
- <p>The are two primary markets for portable generators.</p>
- <ol>
- <li><p>Construction workers</p></li>
- <li><p>Campers and Survivalists </p></li>
- </ol>
- <p>Both have minimum run time requirements, Construction works want the generator to run while the are working, at a minimum 4 hours. Campers want their generator to run all day, at a minimum 8 hours. As a result most generators run between 5 and 10 hours on one tank of fuel at 50% of rated output.</p>
- <p>Personally I run my generators at home, at least twice a year (Spring and Fall), to ensure they are ready for the coming season. </p>
- <p>When test running your generator put about a 1/4 tank of fuel in it. Plug in some things and and let it run until it runs out of fuel. This should be between 1 and 3 hours, multiple by 4 and that is how many hours it runs on one tank of fuel.</p>
- <p>Fuel stabilizer is important. I always add fuel stabilizer to the fuel I run in my generators. I never know when I will run it again, but I know it could be 6 months, so stabilizer prevents gas break down. At the end of the season I put left over generator fuel in my car/truck and get new fuel (adding stabilizer) for the seasonal test run and reserve fuel. </p>
- <p><strong>Edit</strong> </p>
- <p>No load requires about the same fuel as 50% or less load. </p>
- <p>More load requires more fuel, there are multiple ways for manufacturers to balance fuel supply for increased load. Some of these solutions are less efficient then others. If it is important that you have good estimates on fuel consumption per hour, testing (per above) is your best choice.</p>
- <p>For really ballpark estimates, figure 4 hours per tank, and in most scenarios you should be fine, with a little extra just in case. </p>
- <p>For more info on why inexpensive generators don't scale kWh to fuel consumption see <a href="https://outdoors.codidact.com/questions/58429#answer-58433">This answer at 'What to look for in a portable generator?'</a></p>