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Thread: Portable Generators
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10-04-2010, 01:47 PM #1
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Black- 383 Procharged & N20 Vert
Portable Generators
Thinking about buying one, since we lost power for 6 hours on one of the hottest days.
I know out here in Calif, I would rarely ever use it. But I also need something to back up my parents house. Since my Dad is ill.
What should I be looking for?? Besides the wattage? Brand, features?
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10-04-2010, 02:10 PM #2
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10-04-2010, 02:17 PM #3
Usually 5000 watts would be adequate - it all depends on the amount of things you want to operate.
Are you looking to power the entire house? (you may need a switch gear in order to power the entire house) Or are you just thinking of running extension cords to critical equipment? (fridge, freezer, water heater, furnace, etc, etc)
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10-04-2010, 02:17 PM #4
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10-04-2010, 02:24 PM #5
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10-04-2010, 02:32 PM #6
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10-04-2010, 02:34 PM #7
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10-04-2010, 02:50 PM #8
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10-04-2010, 03:48 PM #9
Honda's are nice but no way I'd pay that much for just a generator. You're better off buying a Generac kit with an automatic transfer switch for that much.
I personally have a 6kw I bought from Menards for $500 and it works just fine for what I need. Installed a 10 circuit manual transfer switch and I'm all set just in case.
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10-04-2010, 03:58 PM #10
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Black- 383 Procharged & N20 Vert
Just the critical stuff and maybe a bit more like a TV and Computer. Was thinking about a Briggs & Stratton 6200 Watts. It was around $1000.
But I don't know any of the features I should be looking for. Voltage regulator for sure, to handle my electronics.
I saw the Honda, thats more than I want to pay. What are the good brands?
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10-04-2010, 04:57 PM #11
Most of the non-Honda generators are loud as hell. We have a 5,000 watt Coleman that we run a couple times a year. It's nice to add a Gen-Tran box to your electrical panel as it allows you to isolate the circuits you want to energize. Unless you have an auto-start generator, no sense spending the coin on an automatic switch. We have a manual switch, an earlier model than this, but you get the idea: http://www.gen-tran.com/eshop/10Expa...oductCode=2026 For sensitive electronics, you'll definitely want a filter.
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10-04-2010, 07:13 PM #12
i bought a Troy Built from Lowes --electric start--6250 watt with a 3 yr extended warranty for 799.00
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10-04-2010, 07:46 PM #13
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Black- 383 Procharged & N20 Vert
Generators have to be CARB approved? WTF?
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10-04-2010, 07:54 PM #14
what are your needs in order of importance? Unless it's a honda everything else is the same. Most of them are chinese built engines and they're all built by the same company in china no matter what the brand name is. I bought a 5500 from Pep Boys (~$500) ~5 years ago and use it almost every weekend during the fall while hunting and it's performed flawlessly. I've also ran my whole house off that one when the power goes out. With the Honda's you're mainly paying for how quiet it is. There are no generators out there that are as quiet as a Honda so if noise is a top priority it's Honda. Everything else is going to be in that 72-75db range if you're looking at larger gen's that'll run a house. Which means it'll be about as loud as a lawnmower running.
Since you're looking to run the house make sure you get one that has a 220v side. That way you can put a transfer switch in and just run 220 to that. I go the cheap more dangerous route if you don't know what you're doing and back feed through the dryer. Is your house all electric? If it is you'll want a really nice size gen or you won't be able to run much. Water heaters and things like that will eat the wattage up in a hurry.
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10-04-2010, 08:04 PM #15
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Black- 383 Procharged & N20 Vert
1. Refrigerator
2. Lights
3. AC
4. Computer
5. TV
What about a Honeywell Gen 7000 watts with a Honda Engine??
Not electric. Gas stove, heater and dryer.
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10-04-2010, 08:16 PM #16
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10-04-2010, 08:17 PM #17
looking at a picture of that thing the motor is pretty much identical to mine....right down to the filter box and choke.
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10-04-2010, 08:18 PM #18
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Black- 383 Procharged & N20 Vert
I just don't know what brand and features to look for. Briggs & Stratton and Honda are the only names I am familiar with.
I think anything over 5500 watts should be fine.
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10-04-2010, 08:25 PM #19
well, for the money you can buy 2 of mine for what a honeywell 5500 costs and then you have to look at how often you're going to use it. Like I say, one of the most important things to look for is that 220 side so you can run the whole house off that side.
edit: I believe it's actually 240v
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10-05-2010, 04:29 AM #20
Just FYI - I do believe they all have that feature. If they didn't, I think they'd be out of business do to wrecking their customers devices.
Other than that - the rest of the feedback is good.
I'd go with the 240 volt connection initially, but if you don't want to go that route, I'd go with the 10 circuit connection with the manual switch as someone else mentioned.
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