Looking for advice on engine drive welder/generators

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After a recent 24 hour power outage, my mother has been thinking that we should have a backup generator for our house. Being the resourceful type I began doing research and deduced that the wattage we need is about what many engine drive welder/generators produce. As an amateur welder, at this point I hardly really need something as advanced as an engine drive welder, but with aspirations to be a self employed heavy equipment operator I could see that it could come in handy from time to time. And too it might, with some certification most likely, open up another small business opportunity. When it comes to the engine drives I am having a difficult time deciding, first of all between brands, as well as whether to go with gas or if the reduced fuel consumption of diesel is worth the extra purchase cost.Also, this unit may in the future be called upon to run highly sensitive electronic medical equipment (a ventilator, feed tube pump, etc). Is there any reason that a machine like these would be incapable of doing so?So, with so many factors I come here to ask advice about durability and reliability. Is anybody’s stuff going to hold up better than anybody else’s. My choices at this point:Diesel:-Lincoln Ranger 305D (9.5 KW)-Miller Bobcat 250 Diesel (9.5 KW)Gas: -Lincoln Ranger 250 GXT (10 KW)-Miller Bobcat 250 (Kohler) (9.5 KW)-Hobart Champion 10,000 (9.5 KW)Other generator only options:-CAT D13-2 (13 KW Diesel)-Olympian G12U3 (12 KW Natural Gas)-North Star Tri-Fuel (Honda V-Twin) (10.5 KW Gasoline) (8.6 KW Nat. Gas)-Baldor OHV110E (10 KW Gasoline)-Kohler 12RES (12KW Nat. Gas) (Dedicated home backup system highly recommended by Consumer Reports)(Continuous generator power)I also wonder if its worth it, or if I should purchase just a generator with enough wattage to make my Stickmate LX mobile should I need a portable welding solution.
Reply:Miller/Lincoln/Hobart doesn't matter much here.  All are great machines and close enough to each other in features at each price point.The diesel models you are looking at are still 3600 RPM, with not many advantages over the gasoline models, in my opinion; just a lot more expensive, probably designed as an option to places that require a diesel engine but not the need of the even more expensive ones.That Lincoln 305 is a whole different class of machine, though, than the Ranger 250 or Bobcat.  That's on par with the Miller Trailblazer.  These are the two machines to look at if you want serious welding capability in addition to the power.  If the power is the primary thing, a Bobcat or Ranger 250 is quite sufficient and still a decent welding machine.
Reply:id be leery of it being the primary power source for life safety equipment, not because the machines are not reliable, but i think theres legal implications when it comes to that stuff...id bet two farting coonhounds you shouldnt do it..
Reply:I figured there wouldnt be much difference in the brands. The main reason I was looking at the 305 was that is it the most economically priced diesel that Lincoln makes, also that it uses the exact same motor that is in my small Bobcat, Kubota D722 with which Ive had great luck with reliability, and fuel consumption in that application. One other question that I had was if Im going to spend this kind of coin for a 250 size machine if the comparitively little bit more for a 300 size machine is worth it? Even though I currently just need it for a generator. Also how big (and expensive) would I have to go before I saw any fuel consumpion savings from a diesel vs gasoline comparable units?Heres a little back story. In Jan. of this year my dad suffered a brain aneurysm and has been hospitalized ever since. While he has made great strides in the last months he is a long way from being fully recovered. We have discussed with the medical staff at the facility where he is currently, and there is a possibility that he would be able to come home before he is fully recovered, possibly while still on life support. One of the mandates is that the home must be equipped with a generator in case of a power failure. Beyond that I do not know any specifics as to the requirements of the generator, however Im sure it must be capable of producing electricity that wont harm sensitive electrinics. So that is the basis of my question on that front, is will one of these units, in a residential backup power situation, be suitable for that as part of the home backup situation.
Reply:Also factor in the size and weight and your truck if you plan on getting a bigger diesel.  But you would need it ALOT before seeing the return as a dollar figure.  Usually the diesels are purchased for other reasons.For Miller units, the difference in welding between a 250 Bobcat and a 302 Trailblazer is night and day, BUT the Bobcat actually produces a slightly better sine-wave for auxiliary power.  So there is a small trade-off, though I've never seen anything that didn't like the power from my Trailblazer.If my primary consideration was power quality, though, and I still wanted a welder option, I might lean toward the Bobcat.My only experience with non-welding generators is with very large (250 - 1000 kVA) Caterpillars; and they are VERY good power quality...
Reply:While he has made great strides in the last months he is a long way from being fully recovered. We have discussed with the medical staff at the facility where he is currently, and there is a possibility that he would be able to come home before he is fully recovered, possibly while still on life support. One of the mandates is that the home must be equipped with a generator in case of a power failure. Beyond that I do not know any specifics as to the requirements of the generator, however Im sure it must be capable of producing electricity that wont harm sensitive electrinics. So that is the basis of my question on that front, is will one of these units, in a residential backup power situation, be suitable for that as part of the home backup situation.
Reply:Cost wise a 10kw generator versus an engine powered welder at 10 KW the welder wins out if you look at name brand gen sets and the welders you mentioned. ether they produce a clean enough output is something altogether different that would take some more research.
Reply:One other thing would be to check what the output amperage is I believe but I might be wrong here the Lincolns come with a 50 amp breaker on 220 and the Millers have a 35 but some one with a miller will know better
Reply:Miller has a 50A breaker.  Neither unit produces 50A of 240V, though.
Reply:Sorry bout that the ranger 10000 has a 40 amp should hav egot off my butt and walked outside to check that
Reply:They both produce only 40A of 240V.
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyIf you don't mind buying a dual purpose unit only to have it wired to a transfer switch, fueled, exercised and ready to go at a moments notice, great.
Reply:Me and my friend went thru hurricane Ike on a miller pipe pro wired into his house.  It has a 12 KW generator and ran everything.  We had AC television, and internet even when it hit.  It is also a kick *** welding machine.  Depending on your house, 9.5 kw mightnot not cut it.  We did however burn a little over 200 gals of diesel but it was a little over 2 weeks.