Emergency Generator

[Dennisfly]

After having three day-long power outages after last winter's storm, I've been considering buying a generator.

Costco has $200 off a Honeywell HW7000e for a total price of $700 delivered, which seems to be a good price compared to other sources for a Honeywell. The Costco ad lists a "Honeywell engine" while all other vendors show this model with a Honda engine. Does anyone know if the Costco model is a special "cheap" model from Honeywell or if all HW7000e models come with the Honda engine? I want to avoid a no-name China type engine.

Anyone have any experience with Honeywell generators in general?

 

[Travelover]

From their website:

For more information about this product, email info@nspsystems.com or call the Manufacturer Service Center: 888-HWHELP-1 (8am - 5pm EST, M-F).

I'd call them and ask. I'd also see what the warranty terms are. Costco is generally pretty generous with returns. It is probably made in China like their Champion brand, but I've heard that they (Champions) are made to high quality specifications

 

[reb]

I have seen Honeywell generators in the Costco store with Honda and Honeywell engines. If I didn't already have an emergency generator, I would have bought one with the Honda engine. It looked like a great deal.

 

[Dennisfly]

I called the number furnished by Travelover and here is what they said:

The 7000eh has a Honda engine. The 7000e has a Honeywell engine. She said the Honeywell engine is made in China. She said, except for the engine internals, all other components are the same in the two models.

She said both models are guaranteed for 3 years.

I have a Husqvarna chain saw, which I love. I wanted a backpack leaf blower, so my wife bought a Husqvarna, knowing I like that brand. On close inspection, the Husqvarna leaf blower engine is made in China. The leaf blower has performed great though, for two years, and starts first pull.

In my opinion, China makes a lot of junk, but they also make some decent things, having purchased some of each.

All else being equal, I'd take the Honda over the Honeywell engine in the generator.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Sooner or later people will realize there isn't much you can buy today that is NOT made in China.

I agree 100% with buying America, America makes better things that other Countries, and on and on and on. But long ago I gave up trying not to buy items from China as it was way too much work and if I did find and American made product the price was three times the price of the Chines product.

No Country on this planet can compete with Chinas labor force which uses prisoners for free. Can't compete with free.

Every auto builder, tractor builder, equipment builder has parts that come from China. What's even funnier HONDA has parts that come from China.

So it's funny when people say I DO want to buy a HONDA but I DON'T want to buy something from CHINA.

Honda China parts plant restarts, walkout threatened | Reuters

 

[MossRoad]

I called the number furnished by Travelover and here is what they said:

The 7000eh has a Honda engine. The 7000e has a Honeywell engine. She said the Honeywell engine is made in China. She said, except for the engine internals, all other components are the same in the two models.

She said both models are guaranteed for 3 years.

I have a Husqvarna chain saw, which I love. I wanted a backpack leaf blower, so my wife bought a Husqvarna, knowing I like that brand. On close inspection, the Husqvarna leaf blower engine is made in China. The leaf blower has performed great though, for two years, and starts first pull.

In my opinion, China makes a lot of junk, but they also make some decent things, having purchased some of each.

All else being equal, I'd take the Honda over the Honeywell engine in the generator.

I don't think China makes junk unless the American purchaser specifies junk. If the American purchaser specifies good stuff, they get good stuff. Just my opinion, of course.

 

[Mousefield]

I have a Champion brand that I got from Costco. One winter we had no power twice for 5 days each time. Also put a generator panel next to my house panel with 8 breakers. Runs most of our needed uses in the house, much nicer than running extension cords.

 

[rekees4300]

All else being equal, I'd take the Honda over the Honeywell engine in the generator.

ditto ... If you want an engine buy a Honda, if you want a thermostat buy a Honeywell.

 

[rekees4300]

Also put a generator panel next to my house panel with 8 breakers. Runs most of our needed uses in the house, much nicer than running extension cords.

Never heard of a "generator panel" until your post. We have extension cords running all over the house when the juice goes out ... PITA. Have 5500W generator with 4 120v outlets and 1 240v. How difficult is it to install a generator panel? Need an electrician?

 

[Reg]

Honda GX390 engine, $838 was the lowest price I found.

 

[hr3]

Never heard of a "generator panel" until your post. We have extension cords running all over the house when the juice goes out ... PITA. Have 5500W generator with 4 120v outlets and 1 240v. How difficult is it to install a generator panel? Need an electrician

Very simple "rekees4300".. very easy to do and if you need any help just drop a line..

 

[Reg]

Never heard of a "generator panel" until your post. We have extension cords running all over the house when the juice goes out ... PITA. Have 5500W generator with 4 120v outlets and 1 240v. How difficult is it to install a generator panel? Need an electrician?

Most probably means a transfer switch (& panel).

 

[rekees4300]

Very simple "rekees4300".. very easy to do and if you need any help just drop a line..

Thanks hr3, appreciate the offer. My main question, how would the generator and the main panel be connected to the generator panel?

 

[bearhawk]

Thanks hr3, appreciate the offer. My main question, how would the generator and the main panel be connected to the generator panel?

I believe you move the circuits you want to be able to be powered by the generator to the generator panel. The manual switch is thrown and you plug the generator into the gen panel and fire it up.

I would recommend hiring an electrician unless you have had experience working on a panel before..

Amazon.com: GenTran 301060 PowerStay 30 Amp Manual Transfer Switch: Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[Chilly807]

Depending on your local electrical codes, you may need a permit and a licensed electrician. We do here.

You move the circuits you want supported to an auxiliary panel mounted near your main panel. A short heavy jumper connects the two panels under normal conditions, so your utility feed runs everything. When the utility goes offline, you move a break/make switch to feed the generator panel from the generator only. The transfer switch is designed so that you can't feed the gen panel from two sources at the same time. i.e., the utility feed is broken before the gen feed is made, and vice versa.

Another option is a Generlink which mounts under your meter base and feeds the whole house. You have to decide/remember which circuits you can run with your generator if you take this route.

GenerLink.com - About GenerLink - The easy way to connect a home generator

Also, Generac makes auto transfer switches/generator packages that run on propane. A little pricier, but no switches to make, engines to start, etc.

Generac Power Systems - Guardian Series Generators

Sean

 

[coobie]

After having three day-long power outages after last winter's storm, I've been considering buying a generator.

Costco has $200 off a Honeywell HW7000e for a total price of $700 delivered, which seems to be a good price compared to other sources for a Honeywell. The Costco ad lists a "Honeywell engine" while all other vendors show this model with a Honda engine. Does anyone know if the Costco model is a special "cheap" model from Honeywell or if all HW7000e models come with the Honda engine? I want to avoid a no-name China type engine.

Anyone have any experience with Honeywell generators in general?

If it where me any money was not a big issue I would buy a whole house gen and be done with it.I used to run a Kubota 6500 watt gen(gas) and switched to a 17kw generac whole house(propane) last spring,best investment we ever made.We have $4650 invested in ours(installed).coobie

 

[Mousefield]

Here are 3 pics of my setup. In pic #1 the generator panel is the one on the left. Once the power goes out we switch the generator breaker on the house panel. Start the generator and plug the cord into the generator and the wall receptacle. It now will power 8 of the house breaker. So things like fridge/freezer plugs, lights, TV and other items like the fish tank heater and pump. Nice thing is no cords and to turn on the lights you turn on the switch. :thumbsup: Surprisingly it supplies power to most plugs and lights in the house. We had this work done by a licensed electrician. If hydo comes back on it will not damage the house/generator panels as it is setup that both panels can not be on at the same time.

 

[Skyco]

What's even funnier HONDA has parts that come from China.

Not just parts- Honda manufactures complete engines in China too...

http://world.honda.com/group/JialingHondaMotors/

http://world.honda.com/group/DongfengHondaEngine/index.html

 

[wdchyd]

I put in a Reliance from Home Depot (Lowes sells it also) for under $300. with everything to hook it up with.....Reliance Controls 31406CRK - Power Transfer Kit for Portable Generator

For years we used to run ext cords all over the house.....not anymore....plus we have our well hooked up......

Last spring we had 6 days without power and other than the noise of the gen in the sideyard we sometimes forgot there was no power outside......

I agree with hiring electrician if you are not elec savy......:thumbsup:

 

[rekees4300]

:thumbsup: Lots of excellent info guys! I'm going to weight the various alternatives and perhaps soon the days of octopus extension cords will be over.