Time for a new portable generator

[fried1765]

FWIW: It isn't a Honda, but it has been getting good reviews elsewhere; Northern Tool's 7000W 240volt inverter generator

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200756204_200756204

All the best,

Peter

Also made in China!

 

[fried1765]

We've had a 2000 inverter type Honda for years. Its a tool that works when needed and built to last.

I have a Yamaha YG2800i.
Sweet little 2800 watt inverter unit.
A bit more power than the 2000W Honda unit.

I also have a nearly new, but 30 year old, 6500W Honda conventional generator.

 

[Root Cause]

So it is time for a new portable generator. Wife wants one for her barn. It has a separate well and its own electical panel. Electrician will be out this month to install the proper transfer switch and 30 amp plug in.

I currently have a 6500 watt running (8500 watt surge) portable that I will be "donating" to the barn for use there. She can then have water and lights if the power is out.

For the house I want to get an inverter generator, but I need the 220v and wattage to run the well, fridge and some lights. I am willing to do load management to not run all the things at the same time. I want the inverter so I can run the router for internet and a TV while the power is out.

The house already has a transfer switch and a 30 amp plug.

I am not interested in Harbor Freight junk.

One that has caught my eye is Champion 100520 - 7000 Watt Digital Hybrid Open-Frame Electric Start Inverter Generator w/ Quiet Technology CARB

Also looking for other options. That generator would just about max out the 30 amp plug at 220v so don't really need more power. Looking for good reliability.

Generally it appears we are having about 2 power outages a year lasting about 20 hours each. Electric start is a must have for me as the Mrs. is not going to be able to pull start something that big..... heck I would struggle with it given my back.

Thanks for the input as always.

So what did you decide?

 

[masscity]

Champion generators are made in China, in the Zhejiang province. The champion generator company is an American Company and operated by Americans, but its manufacturing and assembling occur in China. They are based in America, California but they do manufacturing in China.

I have a Champion 4000/3500, the only problem I have had with it is regular gas with ethanol in it. Cleaned it good with Sea Foam and now use Hi Test gas without

ethanol.

 

[fried1765]

Champion generators are made in China, in the Zhejiang province. The champion generator company is an American Company and operated by Americans, but its manufacturing and assembling occur in China. They are based in America, California but they do manufacturing in China.

I have a Champion 4000/3500, the only problem I have had with it is regular gas with ethanol in it. Cleaned it good with Sea Foam and now use Hi Test gas without

ethanol.

Be aware: Just because gas may be "Hi Test" gas, it may or may not be ethanol free!

 

[EddieWalker]

If you are going with gasoline to power the generator, Honda is the gold standard that all other generators compare to for a very good reason. They are better then all the other brands out there.

I spent money on other brands and they all work great the first year, but then they become harder to start, and harder to keep running pretty quickly.

I did not want to spend that much money on a generator. I decided that I was only going to buy a Honda, and after dealing with the shock of what they cost, I rethought what I needed it for. I do not have to power a well. I'm on city water. We lose power all year round, but the longer periods are during winter when we get snow and ice. Those have been as long as 5 days without power.

I went with a Honda 2000 to power the TV, internet, charge our cell phones and keep the lights on. We can get by without anything else.

My long term goal is to connect my house to Natural Gas. I have already had them install the line into the land and it's about 50 feet away from where I'm going to build my 3 car attached garage. When I have that done, I'll get a natural gas generator that's a little bigger, but not really a lot bigger, since we really don't need very much more power. We will use it if we have it, but we can survive just fine off of the stove for heat and warming water to bath.

I do not know what brand to buy for natural gas. I'm not looking right now, but my parents are wanting one for their house and it's become a challenge to figure out what is junk and what is worth the money. Sadly, Honda does not seem to make natural gas generators.

 

[TractorGuy]

The whole inverter thing is over emphasized.

I have an old military MEP 803A diesel that will run at 10KW plus continuous.

I bought a Duromax for my daughter on one of the $500 ebay sales. It is a dual fuel that will run at 8KW. It has to be the cheapest of the cheap you can get. I was surprised to hear it came out of their shed and fired right up the second season.

Both units have been run non stop for 5 days on two different occasions with nary a hiccup on any of our computers or tvs.

Just saying.

 

[Root Cause]

I have no doubt Honda is king.
However, I have a troy built with a Briggs 6500/5000.
I have had it for years, keep up the maintenance, and use the fuel, shut-off valve to stop it when I am done with it.
I let it set for months and it always starts before I can count to 2.

I almost bought the HF inverter 9000/7000 that just came out but I am not sure I really need it for just emergencies. Frankly, 7000 watts didn't impress me either for the cost with my needs.

The Westinghouse 12500/9500 has a hertz meter built-in and I have a hertz plug-in meter to verify it at the house plug. I am not an electrician but I am not convinced I need to pay the additional cost to run TV and laptop for 20-40 hours / year. I may be wrong but somehow have managed all these years with just a genny. Someone prove me wrong: I would like to hear why.

 

[sea2summit]

I have an old military MEP 803A diesel that will run at 10KW plus continuous.

I've been tempted, any wet stacking problems? It's been my experience with the 10k's if not loaded...

 

[TractorGuy]

I've been tempted, any wet stacking problems? It's been my experience with the 10k's if not loaded...

No wet stacking. I built a load bank using four 5400W dryer elements. I connected two in series to half the load. I run it under a 40A load for an hour every month. It is divided up in three circuits so I can apply the load in increments.

During the two 5 day straight runs I used it it never started smoking or anything. We did turn on the stove breaker and bake cookies a couple of times just to load it when we didn't need AC running. Both of the hurricane outage we had the weather was mild so we didn't need AC. I would also run the hot water heater for an hour each morning so that would give it a good daily load.

All that said I probably would not consider a MEP now. They became so popular that they are selling within a few thousand of a brand new Perkins from Hardy. I bought mine before people started buying them up and shipping them to Puerto Rico. I was all in, hooked to the house with an interlock, and load bank built for $2000.

 

[kenmbz]

I have a Champion 9000 Starting Watts-gas- about 15 years old.
Use it 2-5 times per year with ethanol High test and Stabil
Runs for days on end, not fuel efficient, but works.
I use the electric start and run carb dry after each use.
Change oil and it keeps going.

 

[nyone]

If your going to spend honda money and own a diesel tractor I would seriously look at what kubota, cummins and yanmar offer for a 1800rpm diesel generator.

 

[rekees4300]

So it is time for a new portable generator.

Thanks for the input as always.

These are recommended by Consumer Reports

 

[Root Cause]

When I see you make a post, it always reminds me of the Guardians of the Galaxy!
sorry, off topic again...

Sorry to spoil the imagery but I don't look nearly that good.

 

[TheMan419]

Ok so new question.... is the need for a inverter type hype as some have posited in this thread? I want to run the router for internet and the tv. Since we live in an area prone to tornados keeping up on those issues is important. I do have a place I can keep the generator out of the weather and still running and hooked up to the house.

 

[fried1765]

Ok so new question.... is the need for a inverter type hype as some have posited in this thread? I want to run the router for internet and the tv. Since we live in an area prone to tornados keeping up on those issues is important. I do have a place I can keep the generator out of the weather and still running and hooked up to the house.

If you plan to run electronic devices, and are going to buy a NEW generator, you definitely should buy an inverter style generator.

 

[TheMan419]

If you plan to run electronic devices, and are going to buy a NEW generator, you definitely should buy an inverter style generator.

that is what I was thinking, but several in this thread have poo pooed that need.

The plan is to buy NEW (not new to me but new new). Mainly want to run the well, pumps on the boiler and the fridge/freezer. But since you are running a generator you might as well have some creature comforts. Especially since I need a generator big enough to run the well in the first place.

The Champion I posted about in the first post ticks all my desires.
Inverter
Size
Electric Start

The only thing it does not have is a dual fuel option. Although the generator I do have is gasoline only. We have had it for about 8 years. The only time it did not start was when I forgot to plug the battery minder in. It started on the third pull, but man the recoil start on that thing is a bear with a bad back.

 

[Root Cause]

I too would like some information on the need for an inverter. My simplistic understanding is that you want 60 hertz at all times or it could damage sensitive equipment.
So far, my 2 generators seem to be doing just that. There may be more I don't understand or maybe my sample size it way too small.

I just bought a 12500-watt dual fuel for $999 to run the house.
We just went through a gas shortage that affected the entire southwest. It lasted a couple of weeks without a natural disaster or a terrorist attack. For that reason, dual fuel was my #1 priority.
If I really do need an inverter genny, then I will go buy a small one and isolate the tv and laptops to one room.

 

[fried1765]

that is what I was thinking, but several in this thread have poo pooed that need.

The plan is to buy NEW (not new to me but new new). Mainly want to run the well, pumps on the boiler and the fridge/freezer. But since you are running a generator you might as well have some creature comforts. Especially since I need a generator big enough to run the well in the first place.

The Champion I posted about in the first post ticks all my desires.
Inverter
Size
Electric Start

The only thing it does not have is a dual fuel option. Although the generator I do have is gasoline only. We have had it for about 8 years. The only time it did not start was when I forgot to plug the battery minder in. It started on the third pull, but man the recoil start on that thing is a bear with a bad back.

You could also buy a very small (1,000W) inverter generator for the equipment that needs precise voltage/frequency, and a larger non inverter generator for everything else.
That is what I have done.

 

[grsthegreat]

OMG. Ive been running generators to power my house for 25 years, and none were inverter. One was even a chepo unit purchased used from rental yard at auction.

just use the standard surge suppressor that i normally use for electronics, and computers are fed thru UPS sources. I have never burnt out an electronic device except for an oven that went during a lightning strike on my ground mount transformer. Since that strike, i installed a whole house surge suppressor and no further issues.