Should I Get A Second Generator?

[Olympus]

In your situation, emphasize "portable." It's great to have a generator you can pick up with one hand for remote power. You need one large enough to run a circular saw or drill motor, but small enough to really be portable. The 800w unit won't do it. The 1800 w unit might do it as long as the circular saw doesn't pull more than 15 amps. It's great to have something you can toss in the back of the pickup with some lumber and actually get some work done.

OTOH, the little camper jobbie is pretty handy too. I have one that will run the travel trailer just fine on long duck hunting trips. With propane range, hot water and furnace, all you need is something to run the furnace fan and a couple light bulbs. 800w will also run any energy star freezer or refrigerator, one at a time. Mine is a 1200/1000w 2-cycle that will run 4.5 hours on a gallon of fuel.

This guy gets what I’m gonna my for here. Portability for a second generator is key for me. Like I said in the beginning, I already have an 8k/10k Generac on wheels that I can use for my entire house. But I don’t want to have to trailer it to take it somewhere. And it’s overkill for any kind of small job, not to mention crazy loud.

I was leaning toward the 1000w, bit if won’t run a circular saw or sawzall then it’s probably too small. I’ll check my amp draws on my circular and sawzall to make sure though.

My little pop up camper doesn’t have a/c, so a small ceramic heater would be fine. I could supplement with a buddy heater if I needed to. HF has parabolic heater that has 400w and 800w settings that will be fine for the 1000w unit.

And yes, I still use a sawzall with a cord!

 

[LittleBill21]

i'd like to know where your getting a sportman 2200w for 300, hd is selling for 700

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/393867-should-i-get-second-generator-3.html

 

[TheMan419]

This guy gets what I’m gonna my for here. Portability for a second generator is key for me. Like I said in the beginning, I already have an 8k/10k Generac on wheels that I can use for my entire house. But I don’t want to have to trailer it to take it somewhere. And it’s overkill for any kind of small job, not to mention crazy loud.

I was leaning toward the 1000w, bit if won’t run a circular saw or sawzall then it’s probably too small. I’ll check my amp draws on my circular and sawzall to make sure though.

My little pop up camper doesn’t have a/c, so a small ceramic heater would be fine. I could supplement with a buddy heater if I needed to. HF has parabolic heater that has 400w and 800w settings that will be fine for the 1000w unit.

You keep referencing the 1000 watt unit. However your OP says it is 1000 surge and 800 running. That parabolic heater will cause the 800 watt unit to run at max power. Not usually a good scenario.

 

[Olympus]

i'd like to know where your getting a sportman 2200w for 300, hd is selling for 700

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/393867-should-i-get-second-generator-3.html

Here you go. With free shipping even! It says normal price is $680, but it's on "Rollback" for $300. I see it's $700 on Home Depot website right now. I'm wondering if this is misprint or if that's just a crazy good deal. It has 4 stars at the Home Depot website with 208 people writing reviews. That's not too bad in my opinion.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sportsma...h-Parallel-Capability-CARB-Approved/435994295

 

[Groo]

the big yamaha inverter has a 240v model. pretty sure it has remote electric start too.

 

[Olympus]

You keep referencing the 1000 watt unit. However your OP says it is 1000 surge and 800 running. That parabolic heater will cause the 800 watt unit to run at max power. Not usually a good scenario.

Saw a YouTube video of someone using the parabolic heater at 800w setting and the 1000w unit didn't kick out or show overload. If that's the only thing on the circuit, I don't see that it would be that big of a deal.

Anyway, in looking my circular saw is 13 amps and my sawzall is 12 amps. Both are a good deal over the 1000w unit's capability. I guess that pretty much settles it for me with the 2200w unit. Part of the portability aspect is being able to take the generator somewhere remote and still get some kind of work done too.

 

[Doofy]

I would think you would want the quietest portable generator also. The Honda eu2000i is about 65db and will run about 8hrs on 1 gallon of gas. Not sure how quiet the other brands of small generators are. I would certainly want to hear them run.

 

[Olympus]

I would think you would want the quietest portable generator also. The Honda eu2000i is about 65db and will run about 8hrs on 1 gallon of gas. Not sure how quiet the other brands of small generators are. I would certainly want to hear them run.

They're saying the Sportsman 2200w is rated at less than 53db with no load at 23 feet away.

 

[Doofy]

They're saying the Sportsman 2200w is rated at less than 53db with no load at 23 feet away.

That is pretty quiet.

 

[Industrial Toys]

You could be all snuggled up in your sleeping bag with your stadium pal and generator remote control to start the heater should you feel cold. That would be slick.