Portable gas generators?

[LarryT]

Richard, I just bought a Honda EB3500 from a motorcycle dealer. I had to agrue pretty hard to get a decent deal. Since then, I've found the same generator at a construction tool store and a lawn and garden pro shop for about the same or less than I beat the motorcycle guy down to. I paid $1900 out the door, they originally wanted $2400 plus tax. Look in the yellow pages under generators.

Larry...

 

[RMulkey]

Richard,

I have had great luck with Honda generators in the past. I currently have a EB6500S Industrial model we use to power a construction site. It has run 6 hours day, every day for about a year with no issues. Just change the oil once every 40 hours of use. I paid $2400 with the battery. Be aware Honda has five product lines of generators for different uses:

1) Lightweight Product Line
2) Super Quiet Product Line
3) Economy Product Line
4) Deluxe Product Line
5) Industrial Prodcut Line.

You can get their full specs at: http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/gen.htm I went with larger model to run a 220V irrigation pump and power a welder. We will also use it for backup power for the house once we move in. The ES6500S is heavy at >200lb due to the 13hp engine with steel cylinder liners and overall heavy construction. The other product lines are lighter. The Super quiet line is intersting, but very large physically do to the sound enclosures.

As a side note we installed a 200A Manual transfer switch in the house for safety. We can always buy a bigger generator, possibly a permanet unit or PTO driven model. The power is reliable where we are moving so the backup generator is a luxury.

Hope this helps.

 

[cowboydoc]

RMulkey,
Thanks for the info. I just called the contractor supply here in town and they are $1750 on the 3000 watt model and $2400 on the 4500 watt model, ouch! Guess you get what you pay for though.

 

[DocHeb]

I've had the same idea of using another muffler for my generator. I wonder if you could use a motorcycle muffler. Compare the noise difference between a 8 hp generator and a 120 hp road bike (not one of those "ninja" testosterone open-pipe bikes). The noise:hp ratio is pretty high for the generator.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by DocHeb on 07/27/01 11:51 AM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[TxBilly]

Richard
My Kubota dealer in Katy, TX has them (Roach Kubota - has a web site - roachkubota.com)
Bill

 

[JayinNH]

Gary,
I have a 6500 peak Generac that I pick up by myself. Even when it's full of fuel. I found that for the price Generac was a good choice. I bought mine about 4 years ago and payed just under 600 for it.The reason I bought a larger generator was to run power tools and more hungry power equipment up at camp. A small one wouldn't be able to handle the load put on it. I also use the generator for Bow fishing at night to run my 6, 500 watt halogen lights as well as the trolling motor
Jay

 

[ccatfish]

Ironic, I just had my generator wired to a 400-amp transfer box yesterday. I don't want to talk about what I had to pay for that, but I had to go through 4 electricians before I found one that could be trusted. Even the posters at www.electrician.com couldn't agree on how these should be wired.

Anyway, I purchased the generator earlier this year from http://www.norwall.com/. I was very impressed. The unit was a 7500 watt electric start and it shipped directly from Generac during a time of extreme shortages in my area due to ice storms. Northern had been picked clean except for a $5k diesel.

I do highly recommend the wheel kit. My 300+ pound monster would be very difficult to move without it.

The limited run time does bother me. If anyone has ideas on how to extend the run time via a separate tank or by adding some kind of siphoning system to pull from a larger source, I would like here about it. I too am occassionally away for extended periods and I don't like the idea of my wife pouring gasoline 3 times a day.

 

[cowboydoc]

Boy you guys are right about the Honda being the quietest. I called around on all the major brands and nobody even comes close to Honda for being quiet and at a closer range!! The quietest seems to be the EU3000 at only 49 db. The one I have now I found out is rated at 100db. That's pretty impressive. I found internet price of only $1590 so that's not too bad. Think I will be ordering one. Thanks for all the info.

 

[pdxman]

Richard, wait to you hear (or not hear) the Honda. When they purr like they do you'd think they aren't actually pulling their weight in watts but really are.

 

[GlueGuy]

CowboyDoc,

Don't know.

DocHeb,

That's one idea, but I was actually thinking of just replacing the existing non-muffler for a real auto-type muffler. The larger capacity would provide little to no back pressure, and the added packing ought to quiet it down nicely.

The only issue is adapting the smallish exhaust pipe to the car muffler. Just a little bit-o-welding....

The GlueGuy

 

[fishman]

cowboydoc,

Check ebay. There are a bunch of honda generators listed there, many of them new. Just do a search for "Honda generator".

Too pricey for my needs IMHO, but the new one I have at work is nice!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[JayinNH]

ccatfish,
I've run my generator for 16 hours until it finally run out of gas. I ran a skill saw and lights and charged a cordless drill. I think my tank hold a little under 6 gallons. What kind of gas do you put in your generator? And what were you running from your generator?
Jay

 

[cowboydoc]

WOW!!!!,
You guys just cannot believe how quiet this new generator is. It's the Honda EU 3000 at 48-58db. I just fired it up here in the office and you can't even hear the dang thing. It makes about as much noise as my computer does. I'm really impressed with this thing. This will sure be nice when we're camping in the horse trailer. You couldn't even think with the other one going. If anyone's in the market for a generator this one is great. Thanks to you guys that turned me onto this Honda generator.

 

[fishman]

Still looking at generators. Noticed that Generac has their own line of OHV industrial motors. I can't find a Briggs or a Stratton anywhere on this, their heavy duty product line. The one I'm looking at meets my needs at 4000 watts continuous, has a pressurized oil system with automotive filter, cast iron sleeve, idle-down feature, rated for "industrial" use (whatever that constitutes). Price is $695, which appears downright reasonable compared to Honda or Onan. Does anyone have any experience with the generac motors? What do y'all think?

 

[cowboydoc]

Fishman,
Take a look at www.southwestfastener.com. They have got some great prices there on the Honda. If you want a 5000 watt one I'll sell you mine for a good price. I bought it last year and have used it three times. It's the coleman powermate 5000.

 

[GlueGuy]

My understanding is that the Generac "brand" of engines are just re-badged B&S engines. My 10KW Generac uses a B&S Vangurd engine 19HP? (something like that). Engine is an OHV V-twin and runs like a top. Got a little smoke out of it the first couple of times I ran it, but it's been clean running ever since.

The GlueGuy

 

[JayinNH]

fishman,
I don't know how much you plan on using your generator or for what uses but for the price you can't beat a Generac. They tend to run about 1/2 the price of a Honda. If you plan on putting some serious hours and use it for commercial use then I would go with a Honda. I haven't had any problems with my generator but I've only put about 150 hrs in the years I've owned it.My generator doesn't seem any louder than my friends equivilent Honda but his is 4 years old.Good luck
Jason

 

[fishman]

Thanks to all for your replies.

Cowboydoc,
Thanks, I'll check out that website. As far as your 5000 watt generator, I appreciate the offer, but I have come to the conclusion they are a bit too heavy for my needs (about 160 lbs without fuel?). I'll have to routinely lift it in and out of my truck bed, and I still don't have the FEL (or tractor for that matter /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif) I want. A 3500 watt is minimum, so I have a pretty narrow window there. The 4000 watt Generac is about 110 lbs, and about 6" more compact in all directions.

Besides, wouldn't shipping just about kill us on that deal?/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

fishman,
I totally agree with you about being heavy. I can load this one by myself but it takes all that I've got. Probably be around $100 to ship it on a freight truck. No worries though I'll just keep it around in case I need more than the 3000.

 

[scruffy]

Another site to peruse is http:\\www.hardydiesel.com , you would be surprised at the price of these units, and or just the diesel motors that they stock. Even have PTO units for those off the wall out in nowhere applications.