Small generators

[Michael Aos]

The pair still won't start my little Dewalt air compressor, but I still think they'll be handy.

Several of the reviews for this compressor suggest it requires a dedicated 20A circuit. I haven't tried to measure inrush / startup current on it.

Figure around ~1422W / ~11.9A running capacity each at my altitude.

I'm still kind of debating whether I want to try and run my Graco 395 paint sprayer off the generator pair or a 100' 10ga extension cord.

 

[Michael Aos]

I also have an 1800W Dewalt Portable Power Station w/4x 6Ah FLEXVOLT batteries, but I've read the modified sine wave is tough on electric motors and I really don't have a good feel for how long it would run the sprayer.
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[LittleBill21]

surprised it can't run that compressor, i have a HF that looks similar and can run it off my WEN inverter.

Inverter generators are safe, they don't allow brown out, they can either do it or go into instant overload.

i have a HF electric wood splitter. 15 amp plug, won't start with my dual WEN's either. got annoyed and checked inrush, 60A on a 15a breaker 200 feet from the house. I don't even remotely understand why it doesn't trip. i also don't understand why my 7k genny can run it either, as its not remotely rated for that surge amperage either.

 

[Threepoint]

OP, with the 5/8 hp motor, I think all you'll need is 100' of 12awg extension cord from a 20A receptacle at your house. 10awg should definitely be enough. Until I was able to run utilities to my barn, I ran a 20-ft Hayrite hay elevator with a 3/4 hp motor on 300' of 12awg extension cords (three 100') from a 20A receptacle in my tractor garage.

 

[MossRoad]

For less than $200 (usually way less) you can find these old Coleman 4000W generators used on e-bay and craig's list all day long. This one is $125.

33 amps @ 110V
16 amps @ 220V
I've had one since 1995 and it works fine to this day.
Cheap, affordable portable power to get some work done.

COLEMAN GASOLINE GENERATOR - 4000 WATT | eBay

 

[Sawyer Rob]

For less than $200 (usually way less) you can find these old Coleman 4000W generators used on e-bay and craig's list all day long. This one is $125.

A friend of mine bought one of those Colman generators NEW... One day he got it out, started it and it ran great, so he plugged it into the transfer switch on his 80 something year old mothers house and hit the switch!

He heard something happen in the house, so he ran in and his mother nearly had a heart attack when the light right next to her, the bulb let out a BANG and blew out! lol

Turning off the generator, he found EVERY light bulb in the house, that was on, had blown!! He wasn't too impressed with his new Colman generator, his mom, even less so!! lol

SR

 

[ArlyA]

:thumbsup: You got that right. We used a Hondu 2000something on a job site and loved it so much, we bought one. Quiet, light weight and easy to operate. Run all day on a tank of fuel. This could run a 115volt cement mixer, run battery chargers all day without ever missing a beat. Quality built machine and quiet to work around.

With portable generators, especially inverter style units, you get what you pay for.

I would advise against the cheap chinese cr@p, and shop *value*, not just price.

 

[Threepoint]

A friend of mine bought one of those Colman generators NEW... One day he got it out, started it and it ran great, so he plugged it into the transfer switch on his 80 something year old mothers house and hit the switch!

He heard something happen in the house, so he ran in and his mother nearly had a heart attack when the light right next to her, the bulb let out a BANG and blew out! lol

Turning off the generator, he found EVERY light bulb in the house, that was on, had blown!! He wasn't too impressed with his new Colman generator, his mom, even less so!! lol

SR

YMMV I bought a 5500K Coleman Powermate with a 10 hp Tecumseh engine new for a house construction project. Then used it for 17yrs with no problems at all. Very reliable. Put it on an 8K transfer switch, and could run multiple circuits selectively, including a 2 hp well pump. Gave it to a buddy when I bought an electric-start 8250K ETQ "Chinese" import for more capacity and easier start for others when I was away. It, too, has been very reliable for eight years.

 

[TractorGuy]

I am surprised by the emphasis on needing an inverter type generator. I run an old 10KW diesel generator on my house and see no problems at all with my computers or television.

When my compressor comes on it even loads the regular utility supplied line current and causes the lights to flicker as it runs.

I bought one of the cheap 10KW start, 8KW run Chinese generators for my daughter and they ran their whole house less the AC during a week long outage. All their computers, TV, and electronics survived fine. Bought it on sale for $500 delivered to my door.

I will take an adequate sized inexpensive generator over an under sized inverter any day of the week.

 

[LittleBill21]

I am surprised by the emphasis on needing an inverter type generator. I run an old 10KW diesel generator on my house and see no problems at all with my computers or television.

When my compressor comes on it even loads the regular utility supplied line current and causes the lights to flicker as it runs.

I bought one of the cheap 10KW start, 8KW run Chinese generators for my daughter and they ran their whole house less the AC during a week long outage. All their computers, TV, and electronics survived fine. Bought it on sale for $500 delivered to my door.

I will take an adequate sized inexpensive generator over an under sized inverter any day of the week.

some ups's, heating pads, heating blankets don't work on non inverter generators i also believe my motion sensor doesn't like my large non inverter generator. i can also get into a brownout condition with my large unit, where my inverter cleanly shuts off power

switching power supplies have no issue with dirty power,which is most electronics. i primarily own my inverters for noise and portability and fuel use, my large generator is run only for a short time.