which portable generators do people have

[KubotainNH]

Yikes is right, I'd rather spend $500.00 and 3 days building my own............

Ha ha, I was thinking a $5 tarp and some PVC pipe. With the gusts of wind we had today I don't know if any cover would stay put.

 

[Oldpath05]

AFter last nights storm i've been on generator power since I woke up. Champion dual fuel 8kw generator does well powering the house

I've been without power since 2am and still out, my 7500 Generac has been going since 8:30 am. Will yours run a microwave and or a toaster? Those will really lug mine and the toaster takes longer. I think to run the necessities of a house 7-8kw is needed, Nice to make sure the well pump will pump and the fridge will be fridging.

 

[Oldpath05]

Ha ha, I was thinking a $5 tarp and some PVC pipe. With the gusts of wind we had today I don't know if any cover would stay put.

Didn't I read on that site where those covers are held in place by velcro and was rated up to a 300 mph wind..................

 

[dragoneggs]

Ha ha, I was thinking a $5 tarp and some PVC pipe. With the gusts of wind we had today I don't know if any cover would stay put.

Didn't I read on that site where those covers are held in place by velcro and was rated up to a 300 mph wind..................

Yeah... Ha ha, I read 70mph and 18in snow load. Kind of cool as it seems to only attach to the generator making it portable and moveable. I imagine it somehow manages the exhaust appropriately as well. Still too rich for my blood.

I went the DIY route with my welder/plasma cutter stacked rack cover and employed my better half. She bought the heavy duty vinyl cover material and it is going on 18months to finish it. Still has the temporary pins in it prior to completely sewing it up. But the good news I am only about $10 into it. I would take an 'work in progress' pic and share but she would kill me if she found out.

 

[KubotainNH]

Didn't I read on that site where those covers are held in place by velcro and was rated up to a 300 mph wind..................

That's some good Velcro.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Will that Duromax Generator run the unnecessary appliances like a coffee maker, microwave, toaster oven? As of right now now I'm running my 15 year old Generac 7500/12000 surge watts, but it would never run those appliances for some reason. It seems to run the necessary stuff like a 220v water pump, fridge, freezer, lights, laptop and 47" TV. The biggest complaint is it's not quiet, that's why I'm thinking of upgrading.

So how come this is the only ONE realistic priced generator that's mention here with a link? The only other one mention here with the comparable wattage is Honda at a nickel under 4k, are you nuts, that's for people who dont mind buying $100.00 shirts and thinks that's a good deal, no Honda for me.

If your Generac is still working, just keep using it. Any 4-stroke engine is good for 1000 hours if you change the oil once in a while. If it's too noisy, just buy a better muffler. I used to use an old B&S powered generator that came with nothing but a spark arrestor, not even a muffler. The thing would give you a headache if you were within 100'. I bought a lawnmower muffler, which improved things, but still wasn't quiet enough. Then I picked up a scrap yard car muffler from some little compact and piped together an adapter. The motor thread was 1" NPT, so all I had to do was add a 1" to 1-1/4" adapter and nipple, slide the nipple into the muffler and add a little stove cement and a hose clamp. Problem solved. Nice and quiet. Cost me about $3 to fix the problem.

If you are going over 1000 hours, spend the $4k and spring for a diesel. If I run a genny over 6 hours a day in a power outage I'm watching a lot of TV. My current genset is propane, just to simplify fuel storage, but I also get the advantage of better engine reliability. I figure it is good for 200 days of power outages at a minimum.

If your microwave has a chintzy power supply, I can see it having trouble running off of a generator, but any toaster oven should run fine. For coffee I just put a kettle on the wood stove and pour boiling water through a filter cone.

 

[Garandman]

Will that Duromax Generator run the unnecessary appliances like a coffee maker, microwave, toaster oven? As of right now now I'm running my 15 year old Generac 7500/12000 surge watts, but it would never run those appliances for some reason. It seems to run the necessary stuff like a 220v water pump, fridge, freezer, lights, laptop and 47" TV. The biggest complaint is it's not quiet, that's why I'm thinking of upgrading.

So how come this is the only ONE realistic priced generator that's mention here with a link? The only other one mention here with the comparable wattage is Honda at a nickel under 4k, are you nuts, that's for people who dont mind buying $100.00 shirts and thinks that's a good deal, no Honda for me.

Which Honda are you referring to?

The Briggs & Stratton Q6500 Inverter was $1,500, is quiet and will run up to 14 hours on five gallons.

 

[Kentuckyfarmer]

I got a small 2000 watt if I need for a take anywhere quickly type of situation and a 12500 watt for the house if we have ice storm or power goes out for extended period of time. I feed the panel and just continue on like we have power from the elec co. Went with out power for over a week some years ago after a bad ice and snow storm and lived around a fire place just waiting for the power to come on. Was not prepared for it at all. Kids liked it roasting hotdogs and anything else they could put on a stick. But we were smelling really ripe by the end of the ordeal. I always keep 10 to fifteen gallons of gas on hand and generator full and run it at least once a month for half hour or so. I also do a better job keeping food on hand also.

OH yea the 12500 is a generac the little one I don't remember what kind but bought it at cabbala's. Have to look tomorrow and see.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Any 4-stroke engine is good for 1000 hours if you change the oil once in a while.

IF only that were true!

SR

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm still waiting to experience a generator that is significantly cheaper that is quieter like my Honda 3000. Doubt I will live that long.