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Started By
Message
Recommend me a generator
Posted on 7/10/19 at 8:04 am
Posted on 7/10/19 at 8:04 am
I’ve been thinking of getting one and the incoming storm has my wheels spinning... What brands should I stick to? What’s then minimum watts I want to get? Not looking to run whole house... Mainly deep freeze, fridge, winder unit, lamps... etc.
Generac seems to be the most common that I’ve seen.. what about the harbor freight predators?
Generac seems to be the most common that I’ve seen.. what about the harbor freight predators?
19
Posted on 7/10/19 at 8:29 am to Uncle JackD
Honda. They come in various sizes.
I’ve had my Honda EU2200i 2200 for several years.
A usually run a refrigerator, small chest freezer and couple of box fans.
Super quiet and runs12+ hrs on one gallon of gas. Start it up a few times a year. Cranks up after a few pulls. Very satisfied with it . Check them out.
I’ve had my Honda EU2200i 2200 for several years.
A usually run a refrigerator, small chest freezer and couple of box fans.
Super quiet and runs12+ hrs on one gallon of gas. Start it up a few times a year. Cranks up after a few pulls. Very satisfied with it . Check them out.
Posted on 7/10/19 at 8:33 am to Nicky Parrish
That probably wouldn’t be enough for an AC huh?
Posted on 7/10/19 at 8:42 am to Uncle JackD
This size is one of the smaller ones. They do make larger models that I’m sure could handle window units.
Also there are ways to hook two of them together but I don’t know anything about how to do that.
A Honda dealer would be glad to explain size capabilities I’m sure.
Also there are ways to hook two of them together but I don’t know anything about how to do that.
A Honda dealer would be glad to explain size capabilities I’m sure.
Posted on 7/10/19 at 8:52 am to Uncle JackD
It should run a small window unit.
Google appliance kW and make a list of what you want to run and thatll get you damn close to what you need.
Google appliance kW and make a list of what you want to run and thatll get you damn close to what you need.
Posted on 7/10/19 at 9:10 am to Uncle JackD
Anything Honda. Have used them for years for work.
Posted on 7/10/19 at 9:29 am to Uncle JackD
Another vote for Honda.
Before getting a standby generator, we used a Honda for hurricane-related outages. Pretty much all the neighbors had other brands (Briggs, whatever). None of theirs would run through the night w/o running out of gas. Our Honda would - it had much better fuel economy.
Hondas will cost more, but reliability and the convenience factor of better fuel economy might offset the $$$.
Before getting a standby generator, we used a Honda for hurricane-related outages. Pretty much all the neighbors had other brands (Briggs, whatever). None of theirs would run through the night w/o running out of gas. Our Honda would - it had much better fuel economy.
Hondas will cost more, but reliability and the convenience factor of better fuel economy might offset the $$$.
Posted on 7/10/19 at 9:35 am to Uncle JackD
What floorit said is a good pt
Make a list of the Items you are planning to run this will give you a ballpark figure of the watts needed, just a heads up some appliances—air conditioners, refrigerators, for instance—draw more wattage momentarily when they're cycling on. So add that also
Typically you could say
refrigerator/freezer 700 watt
Window unit 800w
Lamps 30w
Fans 50w
Obviously those are depending on size, and Honda would be the top choice also the most expensive but for a reason (last forever good on gas) I’ve never owned another brand so someone else can add info
Really boils down to two different models inverter or portable
Both will cover your needs
Inverter
much quieter than an portable because they throttle up and down to match demand rather than run at full power all the time. They also have more sophisticated exhaust systems which also help tamp down noise.
More expensive but better on gas
Portable
Cheaper so you get a little bit more bang for your buck watt wise,
downside heavier and a lot noisier also uses more gas
With either get the biggest tank that you can
Getting up because your generator is out of gas at 3 AM sucks balls
Make a list of the Items you are planning to run this will give you a ballpark figure of the watts needed, just a heads up some appliances—air conditioners, refrigerators, for instance—draw more wattage momentarily when they're cycling on. So add that also
Typically you could say
refrigerator/freezer 700 watt
Window unit 800w
Lamps 30w
Fans 50w
Obviously those are depending on size, and Honda would be the top choice also the most expensive but for a reason (last forever good on gas) I’ve never owned another brand so someone else can add info
Really boils down to two different models inverter or portable
Both will cover your needs
Inverter
much quieter than an portable because they throttle up and down to match demand rather than run at full power all the time. They also have more sophisticated exhaust systems which also help tamp down noise.
More expensive but better on gas
Portable
Cheaper so you get a little bit more bang for your buck watt wise,
downside heavier and a lot noisier also uses more gas
With either get the biggest tank that you can
Getting up because your generator is out of gas at 3 AM sucks balls
Posted on 7/10/19 at 9:42 am to Uncle JackD
quote:
Generac
Is what I bought; got the biggest bang for the buck
Posted on 7/10/19 at 9:52 am to Wtodd
I have a generac 7.5kW that has been great. It tolerates sitting up well but I do think it should step load better than it does. I can run my whole house on it but I have to be pretty particular about how I bring loads on line. Loaded all the way up it is a gas hog and it's very loud.
It's a good machine for the price. Its reliable which is my main thing and if you know a little bit about generators and power management (and have lots of gas in your boat to siphon out) itll allow you to live through a major outage comfortably.
It's a good machine for the price. Its reliable which is my main thing and if you know a little bit about generators and power management (and have lots of gas in your boat to siphon out) itll allow you to live through a major outage comfortably.
Posted on 7/10/19 at 10:32 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Posted on 7/10/19 at 10:35 am to Uncle JackD
go to harbor freight,their 3500w inverter will run a window unit, it runs almost everything in a 30AMP camper.
Posted on 7/10/19 at 11:01 am to Uncle JackD
Predator from Harbor Freight
Posted on 7/10/19 at 11:04 am to Uncle JackD
Can't go wrong with Generac. 5500 watts should handle most appliances and a window unit, but you can probably get a 7500 for not much more.
Buy some gas cans!
Buy some gas cans!
Posted on 7/10/19 at 11:05 am to Uncle JackD
Either one. They're pretty much the same machine. Same engine and probably the same generator end
Get a siphon pump and use your boat as a gas tank
Get a siphon pump and use your boat as a gas tank
Posted on 7/10/19 at 11:18 am to highpockets
quote:
go to harbor freight,their 3500w inverter
Coupons for all the other Predator generators in the link
LINK
Posted on 7/10/19 at 11:38 am to weadjust
Predators aren’t That much cheaper than a generac... is it really worth it?
Posted on 7/10/19 at 11:43 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
but I have to be pretty particular about how I bring loads on line.
Go on.....seriously and TIA
Posted on 7/10/19 at 11:57 am to Uncle JackD
The Generac you posted is $799 8275/6500 watts compared to a Predator 8750/7000 watts for $529. In that price range all of them are using Chinese made Honda knock off engines.
You could buy a nice window A/C with that $270. Harbor Freight will take back most anything no questions asked if you want to return it during the warranty.
You could buy a nice window A/C with that $270. Harbor Freight will take back most anything no questions asked if you want to return it during the warranty.
Posted on 7/10/19 at 12:04 pm to Wtodd
Here's my proceedure
Main breaker open, all house breakers open. Thermostat in off position. Power up the breaker box. Close the AC breaker. Turn on the AC blower and allow it to get up to speed. Bring the ac compressor on.
this ensures you have the most horsepower available when the compressor starting load hits. You dont want to hit it with both the blower and the compressor at the same time because mine doesnt have enough arse to start both simultaneously.
At that point I bring on what I need (refrigerator or freezer, certain lights, etc) via the breakers until I get up to around 30 amps total load. The generator has a 30 amp breaker on the 220 plug so I cant exceed that. I switch the freezer/refrigerator on and off and sometimes the whole house off to save gas if it's going to be an extended event.
You just have to realize that you have limited kW and 7.5 isn't going to run your whole house like nothing happened. If the ac tries to cycle back on while you have a whole house of bullshite online, you'll trip the main on the generator and blackout the house.
Basically, just manually control the ac on your terms. If it's on make sure it stays on, and if it cycles off turn the thermostat off so it doesnt trip the house off. I have to take everything else offline before I start the ac again
Main breaker open, all house breakers open. Thermostat in off position. Power up the breaker box. Close the AC breaker. Turn on the AC blower and allow it to get up to speed. Bring the ac compressor on.
this ensures you have the most horsepower available when the compressor starting load hits. You dont want to hit it with both the blower and the compressor at the same time because mine doesnt have enough arse to start both simultaneously.
At that point I bring on what I need (refrigerator or freezer, certain lights, etc) via the breakers until I get up to around 30 amps total load. The generator has a 30 amp breaker on the 220 plug so I cant exceed that. I switch the freezer/refrigerator on and off and sometimes the whole house off to save gas if it's going to be an extended event.
You just have to realize that you have limited kW and 7.5 isn't going to run your whole house like nothing happened. If the ac tries to cycle back on while you have a whole house of bullshite online, you'll trip the main on the generator and blackout the house.
Basically, just manually control the ac on your terms. If it's on make sure it stays on, and if it cycles off turn the thermostat off so it doesnt trip the house off. I have to take everything else offline before I start the ac again
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