running furnace on generator - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

38racing · 2011-02-05, 06:26 PM

I assume the electronics in today's furnaces prefer the inverter generator. Does this give the right kind of output?
http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product....=1&topnav=&s=1

Although now I see it's modified sine and this site suggests pure sine is necessary
http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/inverter_faq.html

txv · 2011-02-05, 07:21 PM

Conventional furnaces with electro-mechanical controls can be run on generators.

Modern units need clean power; if it has an ECM blower, I wouldn't run risk of running it on anything other than a pure sign wave genset or genset + external inverter. Control boards and motors are expensive.

A better option might be to get a gas fired convection wall heater which can run without electricity and one of these for refrigeration/a lamp - http://reviews.canadiantire.ca/9045/...ws/reviews.htm

gzink · 2011-02-06, 03:18 AM

Turn on the gas fireplaces and run the generator for some fans.

Airbalancer · 2011-02-06, 08:52 AM

I Installed a generac for the house 5 years ago
http://www.generac.com/Residential/

And it only been on for about 20 mins 3x

beside the weekly run of 1/2 hour to keep the battery charge

txv · 2011-02-11, 12:40 AM

^The grid is taken for granted - considering the age and complexity of a lot of the infrastructure, I can't get over how reliable it's been.

If the greens had their way, we would be having rolling blackouts and your generator would be getting put to good use.

38racing · 2011-02-11, 07:15 PM

Since I'm on NG now I was thinking maybe a direct vent fireplace that need no electriicty but that seems pricey. I see kijji ads for them for like $700 but I expect the piping and install runs it way up. Went to a fireplace store today and even the little stoves were over $2k. Went there because I had called to see if they had a millivolt switch. He said yes @$10.50. Price seemed right. I go and there is just a lady looking after the place who knew nothing. She calls someone and then produces a rocker switch that had 'burner switch' written in marker. She couldn't confirm it was millivolt nor the price at the point. I declined. Called another place with the heatilator number. She could order, take 2 weeks. She recalled needing millivolt switches before and just going to Home hardware. So I looked on the web site I they have a manual one , looks like an off/on position for $22

MartinGStuart · 2011-03-02, 11:25 AM

I would not recommend a used gas fireplace, ever. There are too many risks associated with a used gas appliance. The manufacturer could be out of business, and the parts may be nigh impossible to find. The valve could be sticking shut or open, making it uncontrollable... Really, there are a huge number of problems waiting to take place in a used fireplace. I would recommend buying a floor model gas fireplace, normally you can expect a 20%+ savings, and they will still have full warranty.

2011-02-05, 06:26 PM	#1
38racing Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 213	running furnace on generator I assume the electronics in today's furnaces prefer the inverter generator. Does this give the right kind of output? http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product....=1&topnav=&s=1 Although now I see it's modified sine and this site suggests pure sine is necessary http://www.donrowe.com/inverters/inverter_faq.html

2011-02-05, 07:21 PM	#2
txv Veteran Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,743	Conventional furnaces with electro-mechanical controls can be run on generators. Modern units need clean power; if it has an ECM blower, I wouldn't run risk of running it on anything other than a pure sign wave genset or genset + external inverter. Control boards and motors are expensive. A better option might be to get a gas fired convection wall heater which can run without electricity and one of these for refrigeration/a lamp - http://reviews.canadiantire.ca/9045/...ws/reviews.htm __________________ WARNING: The HVAC information I provide is not based on field experience and DOES NOT constitute professional advice.

2011-02-11, 12:40 AM	#5
txv Veteran Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,743	^The grid is taken for granted - considering the age and complexity of a lot of the infrastructure, I can't get over how reliable it's been. If the greens had their way, we would be having rolling blackouts and your generator would be getting put to good use. __________________ WARNING: The HVAC information I provide is not based on field experience and DOES NOT constitute professional advice.

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2011-02-06, 03:18 AM	#3
gzink Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 950	Turn on the gas fireplaces and run the generator for some fans.

2011-02-06, 08:52 AM	#4
Airbalancer Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Cobourg, On Posts: 101	I Installed a generac for the house 5 years ago http://www.generac.com/Residential/ And it only been on for about 20 mins 3x beside the weekly run of 1/2 hour to keep the battery charge

2011-02-11, 07:15 PM	#6
38racing Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 213	Since I'm on NG now I was thinking maybe a direct vent fireplace that need no electriicty but that seems pricey. I see kijji ads for them for like $700 but I expect the piping and install runs it way up. Went to a fireplace store today and even the little stoves were over $2k. Went there because I had called to see if they had a millivolt switch. He said yes @$10.50. Price seemed right. I go and there is just a lady looking after the place who knew nothing. She calls someone and then produces a rocker switch that had 'burner switch' written in marker. She couldn't confirm it was millivolt nor the price at the point. I declined. Called another place with the heatilator number. She could order, take 2 weeks. She recalled needing millivolt switches before and just going to Home hardware. So I looked on the web site I they have a manual one , looks like an off/on position for $22

2011-03-02, 11:25 AM	#7
MartinGStuart Rookie Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: South Western Ontario Posts: 4	I would not recommend a used gas fireplace, ever. There are too many risks associated with a used gas appliance. The manufacturer could be out of business, and the parts may be nigh impossible to find. The valve could be sticking shut or open, making it uncontrollable... Really, there are a huge number of problems waiting to take place in a used fireplace. I would recommend buying a floor model gas fireplace, normally you can expect a 20%+ savings, and they will still have full warranty.