Is solar power or a whole house generator clean enough for hifi gear?

[Zeon]

I am planning to install solar power and/or a whole house generator (still deciding which one, depends on budget) at my house to use during extended periods without power. Is it safe to use either of these systems to power hifi gear?

This is the generator I'm looking at: https://www.amazon.com/Generac-Guardian-7034-Aluminium-Enclosure/dp/B01MDLE5CC For solar I haven't chosen a specific system yet.

I would be using it to power my TV, media player, Onkyo TX-NR626, my Klipsch 5.1 setup (RF-62 II's, RB41 II's, RC62 II, and SW-112), as well as a desktop PC that I built along with 4K monitor and 2.1 studio monitors/sub.

I'm looking into this because I know that portable generators output relatively dirty power not suitable for this type of gear, but I'm not experienced enough with whole house generators or solar yet so I wanted to check if anyone here knew if it was safe. Thanks.

 

[TLS Guy]

I am planning to install solar power and/or a whole house generator (still deciding which one, depends on budget) at my house to use during extended periods without power. Is it safe to use either of these systems to power hifi gear?

This is the generator I'm looking at: https://www.amazon.com/Generac-Guardian-7034-Aluminium-Enclosure/dp/B01MDLE5CC For solar I haven't chosen a specific system yet.

I would be using it to power my TV, media player, Onkyo TX-NR626, my Klipsch 5.1 setup (RF-62 II's, RB41 II's, RC62 II, and SW-112), as well as a desktop PC that I built along with 4K monitor and 2.1 studio monitors/sub.

I'm looking into this because I know that portable generators output relatively dirty power not suitable for this type of gear, but I'm not experienced enough with whole house generators or solar yet so I wanted to check if anyone here knew if it was safe. Thanks.

I cant find enough data on that generator to tell you. Variable speed generators come in two types.

First type is where the generator is constant speed, but the engine is not. This type uses a continuously variable mechanical transmission between the engine and generator to keep the generator at constant speed.

All generators will vary the frequency of their output as the speed changes. So if the engine and generator are direct coupled then an inverter has to be used, This means the generator output is converted to DC and then an oscillator generates the 60 cycle AC wave form.

The way your generator works is not stated by the manufacturer. My guess is that it has a variable speed transmission because of the low price.

Now solar panels produce DC and so an inverter has to be used to produce an AC supply. An inverter should produce a very clean wave form. The wave form out of standby generators is almost universally rough.

So if I were building an off grid solar house, since there has to be an inverter anyway, then I would not use the continuously variable transmission type, but the AC to DC to inverter type.

I have a vintage V4 air cooled Wisconsin engine driving a Kohler generator for stand by which is somewhat more powerful than the one you cited. The AC waveform is rough, so I use a UPS devices with smoothing to run my gear.

Unless you have a very small house 15 KW is not much power. By code the generator must be able to meet the house demands, unless you divide your house system into two systems and have one system equal the output of the generator. I have two panels anyway, as the large loads are interrupted by a ripple signal from the power company. The generator supplies the non ripple panel.

Unless you are knowledgeable and experienced I would not design this system yourself.
From your question I doubt you are in a position to design this safely and reliably.

 

[Speedskater]

In pro audio generators are often used at on-location live events. But it's hard to make generalizations about generators. And some generators and solar systems are sources of noise and interference.

 

[Andrein]

I heard some pure sine inverter give a better wave than the mains. Provided you have enough power for the peaks.

 

[TLS Guy]

I heard some pure sine inverter give a better wave than the mains. Provided you have enough power for the peaks.

A sine wave inverter operating in its power range should give a near perfect sine wave. The AC mains is also very good and had to be kept in tight parameters by law.

 

[mtrycrafts]

...

This is the generator I'm looking at: https://www.amazon.com/Generac-Guardian-7034-Aluminium-Enclosure/dp/B01MDLE5CC ....

Welcome

I suggest you read that one customer review of his experience with this generator. I think both of you may not be living in the US or a location that has reliable power.

 

[TLS Guy]

Welcome

I suggest you read that one customer review of his experience with this generator. I think both of you may not be living in the US or a location that has reliable power.

Well I did not want to break it to the guy, but you can't run a long duty generator with a cheap small engine. Pretty much all good small engines have disappeared. Toro make their own and are good. JD have been forced to make their own small engines for their pro mowers.

Probably Briggs and Stratton industrial small engines are best, and that is not saying much. I had one in here with a major, major problem this summer. As is usual JB did not honor their warranty. A major cause was nasty stretchy Chinese bolts. Anyhow I had to take the engine out, which meant pretty much a total disassembly of the mower and a major engine take down. If I had not taken mercy on my friend, it would have been over a 2K repair.

Anyhow generators need big engines operating way below their max power load. If not you will get trouble.

I have a lovely vintage industrial engine designed and built in a manor America was famous for. I was lucky and picked it up pretty cheap, 6K in 1999.

A good whole house generator with associated electronics professionally installed will set you back about 20K. Anything less expect trouble unless you only use it once in a blue moon.

If this guy is serious he needs to be talking to JD or Cummings generator division, not Googling Amazon.

Even then generators engines are severe duty engines. We had one of our V12 cat diesels at our hospital throw a rod through the block once.

 

[slipperybidness]

When I was running mobile laboratories, we were using Onan diesel powered generators. I just took a look, and it indeed looks like those were running Cummings engines.

Those things were rock-solid. Allowed us to power A/C in the south US all day, and all the lab instrumentation without a problem. Lab instrumentation would be very susceptible to dirty power.

 

[TLS Guy]

When I was running mobile laboratories, we were using Onan diesel powered generators. I just took a look, and it indeed looks like those were running Cummings engines.

Those things were rock-solid. Allowed us to power A/C in the south US all day, and all the lab instrumentation without a problem. Lab instrumentation would be very susceptible to dirty power.

My propane fueled V4 Wisconsin powered generator.

 

[mtrycrafts]

My propane fueled V4 Wisconsin powered generator.

With that propane no real worries of running out in an emergency, not anytime soon.

 

[TLS Guy]

With that propane no real worries of running out in an emergency, not anytime soon.

I have a 1000 gallon propane tank. It is kept over 50% full, especially in the winter.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I have a 1000 gallon propane tank. It is kept over 50% full, especially in the winter.

Yep, king of the hill.