Home Depot SKU #844308
Manufacturer's Webpage:
http://www.colemanpowermate.com/generators/pm0543000_17.shtml
I'll assume that folks shopping for generators know that A; 3600 RPM generators powered by small gasoline engines are intended for intermittent, not continuous duty, and B; 3000 watt generators aren't normally recommended for home standby power use. I don't want to start a flame war with one of those 1800 RPM diesel generator guys who routinely powers his whole farm with his and sells power back to his local utility company to boot. I'm from Southern Connecticut where a spiffy generator in the garage is more of a Tim the Tool Man thing to show off to your buddies rather than something you're likely to really need with any regularity.
That said, I've been shopping for the best deal on an all-purpose "hobby" generator for years and I think I finally found it.
The Home Depot in Orange, CT, had a couple of Coleman Powermate 3000 watt generators (3750 watts surge) marked "refurb" and priced at $299 (regular $399). These are the highly portable Premium Plus 3000 models, with folding frame and large wheels, not the Maxa 3000, which is a nice unit but with a bulkier frame.
Once in a while I've seen units like the Coleman Powermate Ultra 2500 in a wholesale club for $299, but they invariably had the garden-variety, valve-in-head lawnmower engines. These units have OHV engines, which are usually quieter and smoother-running, and likely to live considerably longer. The manufacturers make claims about better fuel economy too but I'm not sure about that.
The Premium Plus 3000 is portable enough that if I need to do some work at my old garage where there is no power, I can just fold the handle and toss it in the trunk without too much trouble (it weighs 110 pounds). It can power just about anything I'll need to use over there, and if the power should go out at home, it can keep the fridge, the fish tank, the TV, and the lights going. I can use the old trick of flipping off the breakers in turn to run the water heater or other power-hungry appliances one at a time.
As I explained, they were tagged "refurb", but were squeaky clean, not a scratch or a trace of usage anywhere, except that they both had crankcases full of oil (perfectly clean and honey-colored oil, I might add), and bore all the original safety tags and paperwork. I was also given a new product warranty.
Subtract 10% with an easily obtained Lowe's "New Mover" coupon, and you're at $270. Seems like a good deal to me. I remember paying a lot more than this for a tiny Onan 400 watt unit after Hurricane Gloria in 1985, just to keep the aquarium and a couple of lights going, and that puppy weighed about 50 pounds.
I'm sure this is a YMMV, so check your local Despot if you're interested.
Carl
Manufacturer's Webpage:
http://www.colemanpowermate.com/generators/pm0543000_17.shtml
I'll assume that folks shopping for generators know that A; 3600 RPM generators powered by small gasoline engines are intended for intermittent, not continuous duty, and B; 3000 watt generators aren't normally recommended for home standby power use. I don't want to start a flame war with one of those 1800 RPM diesel generator guys who routinely powers his whole farm with his and sells power back to his local utility company to boot. I'm from Southern Connecticut where a spiffy generator in the garage is more of a Tim the Tool Man thing to show off to your buddies rather than something you're likely to really need with any regularity.
That said, I've been shopping for the best deal on an all-purpose "hobby" generator for years and I think I finally found it.
The Home Depot in Orange, CT, had a couple of Coleman Powermate 3000 watt generators (3750 watts surge) marked "refurb" and priced at $299 (regular $399). These are the highly portable Premium Plus 3000 models, with folding frame and large wheels, not the Maxa 3000, which is a nice unit but with a bulkier frame.
Once in a while I've seen units like the Coleman Powermate Ultra 2500 in a wholesale club for $299, but they invariably had the garden-variety, valve-in-head lawnmower engines. These units have OHV engines, which are usually quieter and smoother-running, and likely to live considerably longer. The manufacturers make claims about better fuel economy too but I'm not sure about that.
The Premium Plus 3000 is portable enough that if I need to do some work at my old garage where there is no power, I can just fold the handle and toss it in the trunk without too much trouble (it weighs 110 pounds). It can power just about anything I'll need to use over there, and if the power should go out at home, it can keep the fridge, the fish tank, the TV, and the lights going. I can use the old trick of flipping off the breakers in turn to run the water heater or other power-hungry appliances one at a time.
As I explained, they were tagged "refurb", but were squeaky clean, not a scratch or a trace of usage anywhere, except that they both had crankcases full of oil (perfectly clean and honey-colored oil, I might add), and bore all the original safety tags and paperwork. I was also given a new product warranty.
Subtract 10% with an easily obtained Lowe's "New Mover" coupon, and you're at $270. Seems like a good deal to me. I remember paying a lot more than this for a tiny Onan 400 watt unit after Hurricane Gloria in 1985, just to keep the aquarium and a couple of lights going, and that puppy weighed about 50 pounds.
I'm sure this is a YMMV, so check your local Despot if you're interested.
Carl
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