Generator Help

[Fudged Undies]

Looking to pick up a generator for that "just in case" time of the year we're currently in in So. Florida. The general consensus I hear from friends is to go with a honda. The few times I've use one it has worked well, however I can't justify the pricing for the infrequent use. I don't need anything super heavy duty, just dependable enough to work when it's needed. I'm looking at one in the range of $500-$700 putting out around 5000watts.



I've been looking at Harbor Freight and the Chicago Electric gens. with the Robin motor. They have a nice little banner that basically says they're better than Honda but.... Hoping some folks have some good experience with some other brands. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

What you have been told it correct, Honda is tuff to beat. They run well, are super durable, very forgiving as far as maintenance.



That said, they do cost more money. So if your plan is to use it on rare occasions you need to shop around and compare what your getting for the money spent. The nice thing about a Honda is the fact they can sit there a year and not be used, but when you need it, it will start and run with little effort.

 

[Les]

I know exactly what you mean. I live in Plantation. I got mine from Home Depot. Made by Coleman and was $599.00. You can get 12 months interest free to help off-set the initial cost. During the recent no sales tax for hurricane supplies, this generator was $549.00 and no sales tax. The Honda's are great, but the quiet one's are VERY expensive. Since this is basically a back-up system for the occasion problem (meaning it just sits in my garage taking up space) this was my solution. My plan is that since I bought the generator, I hope I won't ever need to use it.

 

[Scott Tanner]

the honda is very quiet, some thing the others aren't, IMHO

 

[Wes Davis]

If you have a Pep Boys Auto Parts nearby check there for some good deals on generators. Also Harbor Freight. Very inexpensive but you get what you pay for. Be sure when storing the generator to either run all the gas from the carburetor or use fuel stabilizer.

 

[B M]

I bought a honda last year prior to, Wilma....or was it Rita.....or the beginning of Katrina....Anyway, one of them put the power out in most of Miami for a week and a half.. My first generator, so I was unsure, about powering things around the house.. I bought a 5500. At the highest usage, I had a window A/C, not sure of the BTU, but enough for a 500 Sqft room, a small TV, 2 100 watt lights, and the fridge. Lights never flickered, and the generator never made a cough, even though the load was heavy. Six gallon tank lasted about 9 hours under that load. The rest of the time was regulated on and off due to no gas avail....anywhere, why? Because they didn't have generators. I will NEVER be without a generator again. With the Honda I shouldn't have to be. I made sure I started it up a couple months ago, and started first shot, not questions. Make sure if there is any fuel inside you stabilize it, otherwise you'll eventually get into trouble. I bought this one, because it was a priceless story. We didn't have power after one of the smaller storms, and we were borrowing my sister in laws, generac, just to keep the food cool. Her husband brought it out and attempted to fire it up to show me how to use it etc, etc. After about an hour of him yanking and cranking and cursing, my daughter comes by and says....... Huh, it doesn't want to work, how come?? His reply, Well......it's not a Honda. That was it . Perfect commercial. I bought the Honda a month later, when they were back in stock. GET the Honda ! ! ! You will be glad when we go through this mess again, and the money won't matter.. P.S.. I don't work for, or get commission from Honda in any way!!!!! Take care

 

[Ben Poche]

i love my honda it ain't no ridgline:lol: it starts up easy my wife can start it if the electric start will not work my dad has a harbor freight 6000w and keeps useing mine at his property i don't ask why and i guess he never told me why because i told he not to buy it

 

[Fer Echegaray]

BUY AMERICAN!!!
















Just kidding :lol::lol:

 

[Ben Poche]

this is mine

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[Wes Davis]

Try to buy one that has the automatic feature. The engine only runs at the speed required to power what is plugged into it. Saves alot of gas which means much longer run time between fills.

 

[walter clark]

Kohler Generators and Kohler engines. American made from the ground up and are built to last.

 

[TomT]

I just vought one from Pep Boys about 2 weeks ago for $329. I'm like you, I may never have to use it but just in case. That's why I bought a cheap one. No doubt Honda makes the best but not worth the money for my use. I just want to be able to run my fridge and a couple of fans.

 

[Fudged Undies]

Tom, that's the problem though, The day you need it, if it doesn't start you didn't really save any money. I'm aware that honda is the way to go, and now I will check out kohler (didn't know they made one) but there are others like McCulloch, which I thought made a decent product, Robin or Tecumseh . I've heard to avoid Briggs from friends due to engine failures and the stats on the generac's never look too good.



I was hoping some folks here had some different brands would would be able to give some insight. I'm actually kinda surprised there isn't more feedback on other brands (with the exception of the generac story above).

 

[walter clark]

My dad has a techumseh an wishes he had never bought it. has been in shop several times over the few years and little use it has had. Be sure to us stabil in your fuel for long storage periods.

 

[Phill R]

A couple of things to note;

Make sure the specs on the generator list the running wattage. Some will fool you by listing the peak or surge watts and will actually have much less power.

Alot of them can only be used to capacity if hooked up by the 220v connection.

As far as fuel stabilizer, I don't use it. Twice a year, I drain the tank and put in fresh gas.(I added a tank drain to make that easy).



My choice was a Dayton 5000w (running watt) model with a Honda 9HP electric start engine. I wired my main breaker panel with an interlocked transfer switch and 220v feed. I can run everything in the house except the central air. (I would have needed about 8000w and twice the money)

 

[Rich Stern]

Ed, I've got a Generac 4000EXL model. Has a Kohler engine, spin on oil filter, pressurized lubrication, standby idle, and electric start. Have had it for 6 years. It lives outside in it's own Rubbermaid stoarge shed. I added two 12v marine blower fans to the shed, powered by the generator 12v outlet, so the genny can run inside the shed, which acts as a sound enclosure. You can't hear the generator from more than 30 or 40 feet away. The genny also has the wheel kit, so I can use it elsewhere, if needed.



It's never failed to start easily, by electric start or manual pull, in all that time. I always use fuel preservative with any gas that goes in it, and I try to start it every 30 to 60 days and let it run for 10 minutes.



One of the things I like about the Generac is the surge capacity. Can handle 6600 watts starting load without tripping. The 4000 watt running load is plenty for keeping a few lights, fridge, TV/satellite, computer gear, and electric circuit for the furnace going. I could also put a small window AC unit on it without any problem, if needed.



Because you live in a very warm climate, an electric start may not be necessary. Kept in good tune, these things start very reliably via manual pull.

 

[Ben Poche]

i have a dayton at work that works great as long as it has frest fuel and it came from grainger

 

[Deleted deleted]

I agree you folks in hurricane zones should have one. I've considered one, but we never have long-term power outages here. Most last only a few minutes, had only 1 outage of 3 hours in the past 15 years.



Tornadoes only cause limited damage paths, making it relatively easy to restore power to most areas.

 

[Wes Davis]

Rich I am interested in hearing more on your enclosure. One of the bad things about generators is noise for your neighbors. Nothing will piss a neighbor off more then having to sit in the hot dark with all the windows open listening to your generator while you drink a cold beer from your refrigerator in your well lit air conditioned home LOL. Did you cut holes and mount the fans? Did you reverse one fan so you are pulling air in and exhausting air out the other? Do you leave the door open when the generator is running? Do the fans completely eliminate heat and exhaust buildup? Thanks Rich

 

[Rich Stern]

Wes, I used this Rubbermaid shed:

I mounted two of these marine 12v fans on the left side of the shed, both as exhaust:



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On the right side of the shed, I cut an intake hole and put a foam/mesh screen on to keep the dirt and leaves out.



The exhaust from the genny blows right against the shed door and would melt the door if left unprotected, so I have some HVAC insulation (foil laminated) mounted on the door to deflect the heat.



The blowers are wired to the 12v plug on the genny, so they start when the genny starts. Once closed up, the sound is reduced by a huge amount. Those Rubbermaid sheds are two-ply plastic with a lot of dead air space between the inside and outside layers of plastic, so they kill sound very effectively. My neighbors can't hear it from inside their homes. They might hear it outside, but if so, it's mild. I can't hear it in the house unless I stand next to a window that's about 10' above the shed.



It's run for a couple of hours inside that shed without overheating. The exhaust from the blowers is very warm (but not hot), and after an extended run, the frame of the generator is warm, but not hot, suggesting the ambient temp in the shed is fine. I used a thermometer to test it one time, and it never went above 100 degrees inside. The 12v blowers pull a lot of air through that shed and keep the genny from melting.