which portable generators do people have

[mapper]

We have a 20 year old Colman 5 kw generator. It leaks a bit of oil on the floor where it is stored. It has never failed to start after a couple of pulls. I always shut it down before putting it away by turning off the gas and running the carburetor dry. I keep the fuel tank full when not in use. Never had any issues running computer and electronics off of it. It runs lights, refrigerator, freezers and propane furnace (we have to shut down the heat pump).
I think I paid about $300 for it and a six circuit transfer switch. It was purchased during a snow storm that knocked out the power while I was at work, my wife called and said I better not come home without one!:laughing:

 

[airbiscuit]

HONDA,if you want a quality generator.Pricey but worth it..

Or YAMAHA

 

[thatguy]

My "portable" genset is a Honda inverter, we LOVE the thing!

SR

same here.. the EU2000 - I actually have 2 of them

one will run a fridge OR a deep freezer OR a 5/6k room window AC.. on a fuel tank of fuel (about 1 gal) it will run about 7 hrs..

the other we use to power the necessities -TV, satellite dish, internet router, phone chargers - the REAL important stuff


Recently i converted both to run off propane - US Carb was running a special last year for about 50% off - and they came up with a design that you dont need to 'drill' the carb anymore.. You get less run time from propane - BUT at ~4.7 gal per 20# tank - it should run at least 25 hrs or more on a tank..

we are on a well and electric water heater - so i have thought of trying to find a used PTO generator that could be used to heat water, then switch over and run the well pump while we showered

Brian

 

[nikdfish]

I can recommend the Costco version of the Champion 7K/9K dual fuel. We bought one as a replacement for a Porter Cable 5500 that blew it's guts out (after 15+ years) during an outage. It worked very well, could handle our well pump & kept the UPS units on PC, network & TV equipment happy. To my knowledge, the Costco version is the only Champion model that advertises <5% THD pure sine wave output. Since going to a 22K whole house unit (5 ton heat pump), the Champion lives out at the tractor storage building & gets run strictly on propane. It does a good job running the Lincoln 225AC stick welder when needed, at least at the amps I've been using with 1/8" rods. I carry it around on a 3 point carryall on the 1025R when I want to run the electric pole saw for trimming.

Nick

 

[coobie]

Or YAMAHA

YEP,I agree..

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I REALLY like Yamaha products BUT, the comparisons between Honda and Yamaha generators I've seen, the electric produced on a scope, the Honda always has a bit "cleaner" electric and that's a deal breaker for me that keeps me to Honda.

BTW, these were by independent testers....

SR

 

[Larry Caldwell]

For an LP gas unit, I'm not sure the motor manufacturer means much. Tecumseh engines have horrible gasoline carbs, but replace that with a propane intake and the problem goes away. The rest of the motor is just fine. The same with B&S or any other small 4-cycle engine. Propane derates the horsepower, and has a wetter exhaust than gasoline, so the valves and cylinders run cooler with less stress on the bearings. Propane lacks the acid of gasoline, so it doesn't contaminate the engine oils so much. Run a full synthetic motor oil in the crankcase and a small 4-cycle engine will run virtually forever with only an occasional spark plug and oil change. Add to that the fact that you can store propane for 20 years if you need to, and propane gets the nod for a small genset.

Larger gensets benefit from diesel for a number of reasons. Diesel engines are much higher compression and are more efficient. I did see a larger genset once that ran a Ford V-8 on natural gas, but that was a one-off custom unit that was manufactured in the '60s and still running fine 50 years later.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have this Honda eu3000is, and it has been an excellent generator.

Honda EU3iS Model Info | Super Quiet 3 Watt Inverter Generator | Honda Generators

I have the same and after a few before her, this is my lasting love. Quiet, fuel efficient, and semi portable.

I have a 3K watt Honda generator. I put it in the back of my ATP and use it with my power tools, all over the property.

I put it in my FEL bucket and power my 110v tools around the property. Pruning, painting, etc. Otherwise it is my backup house power. Have a mechanical interlock on my service panel and it powers the house during outages. Not everything but super efficient.

People's generator needs will vary, and the whole system needs to be designed. I sympathize with people in in the South whose homes become uninhabitable if the AC goes out. Running a couple window shakers is pretty minor, but a 5 ton central AC system requires a serious power supply. Likewise, people in the upper midwest with all-electric homes have to have power 24/7 to keep the furnace running. Contrast that to my mild climate and a house outfitted with fine 19th century technology. Electricity is a convenience, not a necessity. We can cook on the wood stove, or heat water for a bath. We can go a couple weeks without doing laundry, and gravity feed water will last almost a month. When I used a gas powered generator, I wouldn't even bother to get it out of the barn until the second day of a power outage. I often used a little 1000w camp generator to run the fridge and freezer or the satellite dish. It would run 4.5 hours on 2 quarts of mixed gas. It wouldn't run the water heater or water pump, which is what the gas generator was for. Now that I have the propane unit with electric start wired to the transfer switch, the little generator will probably go back to duck hunting trips.

That said, I don't criticize someone who has an auto-start whole house standby generator on an automatic transfer switch. If you need it you need it. Or if cost is no object, go for it.

Well said, Larry. A whole house auto switch on is wonderful if funds can justify. My 3K Honda travelled with me when I moved. It doesn't power everything but is very versatile. Important to me for a tool that isn't used regularly.

I've been told that I need an inverter to safely run anything with a computer chip in it, and a generator to run anything else. So I boiught this one it is VERY quiet.

Honda EU7i Model Info | Super Quiet 7 Watt Inverter Generator | Honda Generators

Inverter heck yes now a days if it is powering your house. Shoot... that would be my dream house gen if SHTF. Powerful and efficient! I want to link another 3K to give me close to that power and some flexibility.

same here.. the EU2000 - I actually have 2 of them

one will run a fridge OR a deep freezer OR a 5/6k room window AC.. on a fuel tank of fuel (about 1 gal) it will run about 7 hrs..

the other we use to power the necessities -TV, satellite dish, internet router, phone chargers - the REAL important stuff


Recently i converted both to run off propane - US Carb was running a special last year for about 50% off - and they came up with a design that you dont need to 'drill' the carb anymore.. You get less run time from propane - BUT at ~4.7 gal per 20# tank - it should run at least 25 hrs or more on a tank..

we are on a well and electric water heater - so i have thought of trying to find a used PTO generator that could be used to heat water, then switch over and run the well pump while we showered

Brian

Interesting regarding the propane conversion. I have always liked the 2K units because of portability. If funds weren't an issue I would buy a second 3K unit and sync up to power my well pump, hot tub, while we are roughing it (power outage).

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Mark, how is that big propane tank I sold you working out? There is your fuel source for a large genset for your house. That is why I bought it; was going to get the conversion kit for that 17.5 Generac I have. Just sitting now, till I can get around to doing the things to use it on natural gas at my new house.

Ron

 

[dragoneggs]

Mark, how is that big propane tank I sold you working out? There is your fuel source for a large genset for your house. That is why I bought it; was going to get the conversion kit for that 17.5 Generac I have. Just sitting now, till I can get around to doing the things to use it on natural gas at my new house.

Ron

I planned to hook it up to a heater for the garage but haven't bought a heater yet... so it is just sitting there looking pretty. Oh I guess I have moved it a couple times. And thank you for mounting it to accept forks!