What are real world runtime figures with the small portable generators?

I assume that you are talking about 900 VA , not kVA (1,000x VA).

And to type more than anyone should... For smaller residential gensets, there maximum rating is typically both Watts and VA max (i.e, a 1,000 Watt genset is 1,000 VA max too).

Larger/commercial gensets seem to be available (typically?) rated at 0.80 (80%) power factor... Or (just using 10,000 as an example, could be 100,000 or even 1,000,000+ rated--Way more than most of us here will ever need/use):

• 10,000 Watts * 1/0.80 PF rating = 12,500 VA max = 12.5 kVA

And to be clear:

• Power = Volts * Current * Power Factor
• PF can range from 1.0 (running a filament light bulb/resistance heater) to 0.70 (typical induction motor) to 0.50 or less (such as the "modern" twisty fluorescents, and such bulbs).
• PF is also equal to Cosine of the Phase angle between Voltage and Current (AC math) = Cosine of 60 degrees = 0.5 = 50% PF

A really nice website/newsletter on Generators (including power factor):

http://www.screenlightandgrip.com/html/emailnewsletter_generators.html

Personally, I would suggest not running a residential genset at more than ~80% of Watts (or VA) rated load continuously:

• 1,000 Watt/VA * 0.80 = 800 Watts/VA max continuous loads
• 900 VA loads / 0.80 (Bill's fudge factor) = 1,125 Watt/VA rated genset suggested minimum

Normal loads (like refrigerators, washing machines, etc.) typically are highly variable loads. Perhaps a high starting/surge current and relatively low running current (fridge ~600 VA surge, ~120 Watt continuous load, possibly 500 Watt defrost heater).

Battery charging can be a very different kettle of fish... If you are at a 10% rate of charge and discharge to 40%, and plug the charger in... It can draw near 100% of rated load for 4-5 hours (tapering down as the battery nears full charge).

So, for many of us, charging batteries with a deeply cycled battery bank can draw many hours of max charger rated load... And run the risk of overheating the genset windings/tripping onboard circuit breaker. NEC type Breakers are generally rated to not trip below 80% of rated load, and will trip with 100%+ of rated load (could be minutes to hours).

The next size genset would probably be pretty nice (~2,000 Watt/VA rated). Especially for Inverter-Generators (which have relatively low surge current capability and can trip with even very short surge current starting spikes--Whereas a similar standard alternator genset would "ride through" such surges).

Ran my inlaws home with 2 Fridges, 1 freezer, and 1x fish pond water+air pump on something like a bit less than 3 gallons per day on a (now obsolete) EU2000i Honda (right at the limit--Had to run ECO Throttle off for first 24 hours until broken in--Otherwise a starting fridge would stall the genset).

Made up an external fuel pickup (used 5 gallon fuel cans) with a fuel cap+syphon hose. Ran great for 2-3 days (normal oil change).

The smaller Hondas are great because they have a fuel pump that can draw a (small) vacuum on the internal fuel tank. Install a vent+hose in the fuel cap, and it can draw directly from an external tank.

Not sure, but I think the new EU2200i uses a (slightly) larger fuel cap. Don't know if the various models of EU3000 genset can syphon fuel or if you need to connect directly to an internal fuel pump or not.

-Bill