Looking for a decent generator.. 5000 watts

[RalphVa]

A recent issue of Consumer Reports had a full report on 5 kw generators. Honda was rated #1. Some brand I'd never heard of before was #2 but was only $1,000 vs. $4,000 for a Honda.

We used a (think it was ) Suzuki electric start 4.4 kw for around 3 or 4 years until we got our 12.5k diesel whole house unit. The Suzuki powered practically everything but the heat pumps. We had to shut everything down to pressurize the water system though. It didn't have enough grunt to start the well pump with anything else on it. Only had to do this every 2 or 3 hours or more. Had 2 frigs, microwave, 2 freezers, 2 garage doors, lights, etc. on that little generator. Now, the diesel generator runs everything but the big 4.5 ton heat pump. Even will run the clothes drier through the magic of 6 big circuits that are on controls that check whether there's enough left in the generator to allow them to come on.

Ralph

 

[newbury]

<snip> Buy as many joules <snip> as your budget will handle <snip>
Rgds, D.

Yeh, that's what my wife would say, but she spells joules different

 

[3930dave]

Yeh, that's what my wife would say, but she spells joules different

LOL :laughing:

Rgds, D.

 

[TomSeller]

I have 400 amp service to the house, no way I could power it all with the generator.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have 400 amp service to the house, no way I could power it all with the generator.

Drool. I'm limited to my 200amp service for 'everything'. Dream is to have additional 200amp dedicated to my shop!

 

[4570Man]

Just because you have a 400 amp circuit box ( actually it is very likely 2 200 amp boxes doesn't mean you actually are pulling 400 amps. I also have 400 amps, but a much smaller generator powers everything. You can be conservative and only run one high draw appliance at once while running on a generator. Before you get too jealous my shop is at a different location and sadly only has a 60 amp box.

 

[TomSeller]

Because you get too jealous my shop is at a different location.

Huh??

 

[4570Man]

Huh??

Dang spell check. Should have said before. Another poster was drooling over your 400 amp service because he only had 200 amps, and said he would love to have a 200 amp service in his shop.

 

[dragoneggs]

Dang spell check. Should have said before. Another poster was drooling over your 400 amp service because he only had 200 amps, and said he would love to have a 200 amp service in his shop.

Hey you talk in' about me?

 

[TomSeller]

Hey you talk in' about me?

We shalt not covet 4570Man's shop