Gasoline generators  Vs. Diesel Vs. Electric (For Storage Batteries) or Propane?

I understand some generators can use gasoline and be switched to propane use.

I am looking for a small generator for just the very basics. Freezer, small stove, radio and heater. Freezer will be the only appliance for continuous use.  This would be for up to a month of use. Primarily for disaster relief in southern Florida. The space it will fit in is about four feet by three feet.

I say diesel, though propane has it's good points, 25% engine life engine life, but it's still a gas engine with a lot more moving pats and things that tend to fail, but you don't have to change the oil nearly as often, and that's a huge plus.
But if you run out of propane in an emergency, that could become an issue, plus propane has nearly one fourth less BTU per gallon, which means you'll burn 1/4th more fuel over gasoline.

I weighed all the pros and cons before I bought, and here's the one I went with and I really love this power house, very quiet as compared to my other one the GL 7000 lowboy by Kubota, but it still wasn't nearly as loud as my 10K Honda POS.
If this is only going to be used occasionally, the GL model may be for you, it will last a lifetime.

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Good advice, Solar. However, there's nothing wrong with a good gas generator, and they're certainly a hell of a lot cheaper to own!

That said, I would advise getting your hands on some ethanol-free gasoline for your gas generator, indeed for any gas-powered equipment that is likely to sit for lengthy periods (lawn mowers, weed-eaters, etc.). In most states, ethanol-free gas is getting difficult to find, and you can expect to pay a premium for it. But it's still out there, mostly at marinas and airports.

Look here to find a pure gas station near you. Where I live (Ohio), the nearest pure gas to me is a marina over on Indian Lake, about 20 minutes away. Last time I was there, I paid $4.59/gallon for pure gas, about a dollar more than the 10% ethanol stuff near home. Believe me, it's worth it.

Also, using a gasoline conditioner, like Sta-Bil, is a good idea for any gas-powered equipment likely to be sitting for a while.

Quote from: TboneAgain on October 30, 2013, 02:29:05 AM
Good advice, Solar. However, there's nothing wrong with a good gas generator, and they're certainly a hell of a lot cheaper to own!

That said, I would advise getting your hands on some ethanol-free gasoline for your gas generator, indeed for any gas-powered equipment that is likely to sit for lengthy periods (lawn mowers, weed-eaters, etc.). In most states, ethanol-free gas is getting difficult to find, and you can expect to pay a premium for it. But it's still out there, mostly at marinas and airports.

Look here to find a pure gas station near you. Where I live (Ohio), the nearest pure gas to me is a marina over on Indian Lake, about 20 minutes away. Last time I was there, I paid $4.59/gallon for pure gas, about a dollar more than the 10% ethanol stuff near home. Believe me, it's worth it.

Also, using a gasoline conditioner, like Sta-Bil, is a good idea for any gas-powered equipment likely to be sitting for a while.

I agree, to a point

If price is a factor, then gas wins out, but if you're like me and plan on keeping it for a few decades and expect twenty thousand+ hours of use, then diesel definitely and costs far less than a gas genset.
So true, gas gensets can be found for as little as $100. but there is one little problem as you pointed out, ethanol.
Finding ethanol free gas is becoming a rarity, as well as freakin expensive.
There is none within 100 miles of me, and air plane fuel is nearly $7. per gallon.
But here's the little secret, manufacturers like Briggs and Stratton made millions of carb kits and carburetors over the years, it will take more than a decade to deplete them, Stabil is the one saving grace, but even it can't stop the ethanol from eating up parts in the carb.

Case in point, I just put a third carb on my log splitter ith a Honda engine, they too made millions of parts long before ethanol was inflicted upon the mkt.
I use treated fuel in the splitter, only to have the same issue occur every year, the float dissolves, even after draining the tank.
The upside, Honda discounted the carburetors to $29. normally 3 times that price so they can unload the older plastics and rubber and replace them with ethanol proof rubber.

Of course this is all 2nd hand, but it explains why the carbs keep melting down every year.

This is what the owner of a Polaris shop that's been in business for decades.
I have no doubt the splitter will be back in the shop in the spring, since I tried to start in this summer, to no avail. 

In all the years living off the grid, I've gone through at least 20 gas gensets, averaging 100 hrs, I got 5000 out of a Generac, excellent engine.
I know the hours because I keep an oil change log book on all my engines along with hour meters.
But I have yet to have a diesel gen fail, I have two still running like the day I bought them, one has 25 thousand hours on it.

It really does come down to years, if you move a lot, or only need a generator a few times a year, then a cheap gas model is the way to go and I'd definitely endorse Generac or any Kawasaki model, Honda is too expensive, period.