Skeptical...

[CurlyDave]

Open your horizons.

I have a 6300 Watt continuous, 9100 Watt starting, Craftsman generator with a Briggs & Stratton engine. I paid $989 on sale and this generator has worked through two house builds and all the random needs for remote power for myself and a few neighbors. Both house builds involved providing power 8 hours/day for about 4 months each. That is somewhere in the neighborhood of 1300 hours and it is still going strong. The only failure was the hour meter, which I have never gotten around to fixing.

Yes, it is loud, but as an emergency generator this would last a lifetime...

 

[dmccarty]

Another option is to buy a welder with a generator. The gas engined welder's were at the same price point you are discussing with the Honda.

I thought real long and hard about a PTO generator but in the end did not buy one. We could power the whole house with our tractor if we wanted too but the PTO generator is also large to store. In the end, I did not want to spend even the reasonable amount of money for a PTO generator.

What we got instead is a generator that runs off the DR Mower. It is cheaper than even a PTO generator and I already have to maintain the DR mower engine. The generator should be enough to run the pump, fridge, and freezer. I have only used it on remote projects and never had to power the house. Woo HOO!. We do have the proper power connection and cut of switch.

Later,
Dan

 

[TCBoomer]

I use the main service panel lock-out method, so when my generator is connected, all circuits are powered. My generator model is an EB 6500, about 14 years old now.
No doubt there have been changes. :laughing:

You have the contractor series and a good one at that, but from what I was told it can't be used with a transfer switch. Something about it being a GFCI and the neutral bond(?) with a transfer switch.

Are you selective with what you run since you say it powers all circuits? I ask because my 5500 rated 6500 surge generac got smoked and that was using a 6 circuit switch, so not much running. Lost the well pump too, but I'm still inclined to think the gen failed first and took out the pump

 

[TCBoomer]

I have a Generac 5500 watt portable that I have owned for about 10 yrs. Never a problem.

whats the longest outage you've run it for?

My Generac XL5500 died after the second week long outage...mine was also 10 yrs old and never missed a beat until then

 

[TCBoomer]

Open your horizons.

I have a 6300 Watt continuous, 9100 Watt starting, Craftsman generator with a Briggs & Stratton engine. I paid $989 on sale and this generator has worked through two house builds and all the random needs for remote power for myself and a few neighbors. Both house builds involved providing power 8 hours/day for about 4 months each. That is somewhere in the neighborhood of 1300 hours and it is still going strong. The only failure was the hour meter, which I have never gotten around to fixing.

Yes, it is loud, but as an emergency generator this would last a lifetime...

How old is yours? Once upon a time I wouldn't hesitate to buy a craftsman, but no more.
Ever since Kmart and Sears got 'married' I think the quality and service declined.

Last fall I looked at buying a specific Generac model that Sears offered at a great price, but discovered Sears was just a middleman for international tools who were the actual sellers. Google international tools if you want. This arrangement is a good example of what Sears has become.

 

[TCBoomer]

Another option is to buy a welder with a generator. The gas engined welder's were at the same price point you are discussing with the Honda.

I thought real long and hard about a PTO generator but in the end did not buy one. We could power the whole house with our tractor if we wanted too but the PTO generator is also large to store. In the end, I did not want to spend even the reasonable amount of money for a PTO generator.

What we got instead is a generator that runs off the DR Mower. It is cheaper than even a PTO generator and I already have to maintain the DR mower engine. The generator should be enough to run the pump, fridge, and freezer. I have only used it on remote projects and never had to power the house. Woo HOO!. We do have the proper power connection and cut of switch.

Later,
Dan

For what little welding I need done, I have use of several at work so not much need or interest there. But thanks for the suggestion.

I have a strong interest in a PTO unit now and have been searching all I can. I found an old thread that Soundguy talks good about his Northertool unit and the price isn't bad at all. But then I found another lengthy thread that had a comment from Neil at Messicks stating the Tiger Power is no longer made. I wanted to call and inquire about it, but no sense now. So far all I've found with a decent review and price is Northerntool.

But I should also mention that lengthy thread gave me reason now to consider some of the cons about a PTO unit.

I want...I want...I want lol, question is WHAT do I want!?
The Honda naturally

 

[tractchores]

I just sold my generac (with less than 10 hours on it). The thing was a huge piece of junk, burning oil, hard to work on, loud, etc. it was cheap though. It replaced a 36 year old honda that ran perfectly, but was only 3500 watts (btw that honda sold for 700 and the guy who bought it was a generac distributor). I now have another honda 6500 (probably the same model you are looking at). Honda controls their prices, so you have to call around and find deals. I called 5 dealers and got mine a few hundred off list. It's 1700 more than the generac, but if its like my last one it will work every time and last.

 

[tractchores]

Btw i also looked at pto. If my wife could have hooked it up herself when i travel i would have gone that way. Much easier than maintaining another engine.

 

[dave1949]

You have the contractor series and a good one at that, but from what I was told it can't be used with a transfer switch. Something about it being a GFCI and the neutral bond(?) with a transfer switch.

Are you selective with what you run since you say it powers all circuits? I ask because my 5500 rated 6500 surge generac got smoked and that was using a 6 circuit switch, so not much running. Lost the well pump too, but I'm still inclined to think the gen failed first and took out the pump

I am selective about what I run. I just leave the breakers on and don't turn on too much. The only circuit that is a heavy draw, and I cannot control when it runs, is the electric water heater. I've only had that since last July and am waiting to see if it trips the breaker on the generator. I guess it could if the frig, well pump and water heater came on together.

The generator does have GFCI, I don't know the details of the neutral bonding. I did use it at our old house with a transfer switch, but I didn't do the wiring.

Now, at this house, the generator power-out cord with four wires only uses three, the earth ground (green) is not connected through to the service panel. I can't find anything unsafe about that, nor have I had any problems using it that way. Connecting it will cause the GFCI on the generator to trip. There is a thread about that somewhere. IIRC it is paralleling the neutral and ground that causes the GFCI to trip.

 

[woodsman74881]

As a general rule, If your generator has a bonded neutral you need to use a transfer switch to prevent neutral feedback to the line. If your generator has a floating neutral you can use a panel lockout type of switch to hook up generator to house panel. Contact the manufacture to find out what type of neutral your generator has. I prefer the floating as an electrical contractor. Always make sure you have a good ground!!!! You or someone else could get hurt otherwise.