Generator recommendations?

[Charles Kozierok]

This seems the right place for this.

We want to get a reliable portable generator to handle power outages and also the occasional trip to off-grid locations. Maybe something in the 2 KW range.

Any thoughts or suggestions most welcome.

Thanks.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Honda, have a nice day.

 

[jagec]

Honda eu2000i

 

[heymrdj]

Yup the Honda's are pricey, but they have built in inverters with extremely clean power output and silence that is ahead of the industry. I'm actually looking to pick up a 2 or 3000i myself this September.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Define "handle power outages." If you're looking for something just to keep your fridge running and maybe charge a phone or run a small computer, a 2 KW generator should be OK, but if you're looking for something that you can plug into a transfer box and that will keep the house somewhat functional (some lights, the furnace fan, the well pump, the fridge, etc) then you're looking at a bare minimum of 5 KW and more likely 10 KW.

Remember too that a "2 KW" generator will have a sustained output well below that. For example, the Honda 2000i is only rated at 1.6 KW sustained. The "2 KW" is a surge value that cannot be sustained.

And things like a refrigerator may only draw 800 watts continuous, but they can pull 2.4 KW on startup so that needs to be considered.

Basically, while a 2 KW generator is great for camping, it may not do what you're looking for in a power outage. On the other hand, if you're not looking to do much other than keep the fridge running it might just barely be workable or you could bump up to a 3KW and it should definitely be enough to just keep the fridge on.

ZV

 

[Gillbot]

http://www.harborfreight.com/engines-generators.html

If you want cheap look at Harbor Freight. If you want good, look into a Honda or other well known brand.

 

[mvbighead]

Never used this, but the reviews are good, and the price is as well:
http://www.amazon.com/DuroStar-DS400...ords=generator

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

I've got 2 Yamaha EF2800i's and my friend has 2 of the Honda 2000i.

The honda's are queiter but they wont start an AC unit on a camp trailer(2 of them hooked together will, but 1 alone wont) while a single Yamaha will start it up. The Yamaha isn't very loud either, and is light enough I can carry it around myself.

I picked my second Yamaha up off of craigslist for $350, was still in mint condition.

 

[skyking]

that was a very good score. Possibly warmish?
Anothe genset I have not owned but hear good things about is the Lifan units carried by Home Depot online.
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...ct-1-_-202196143-_-203369834-_-N#.UCWcs6DYCSo

 

[Gillbot]

Go big or go home?
http://www.harborfreight.com/engines-generators/gas-engine-generators/20-kw-generator-192.html

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Honda eu2000i

WAAAY overpriced.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

Thanks for all the replies.

The two priorities for this during a power outage are to keep my sump pump going if necessary -- this was an issue when Irene hit the northeast, and I was lucky I didn't spend a night with bailing buckets -- and ensure food doesn't spoil in my deep freezers. Both of these chores can easily be handled by a 2 KW unit... especially since it's not necessary that either device be powered continuously. I'd also probably want to run a computer or two, but they don't use too much.

The Honda really does seem to be what I want, though obviously it is rather expensive. But I'm completely "over" saving money on devices that I then have to worry about problems with later. I figure this will last for many years and so is worth the investment.

Quick question for anyone who has one: if you transport the unit in a car, does the whole inside of the car quickly smell like gas? We may end up porting it around a bit and the wife is concerned about that.

Thanks again.

 

[heymrdj]

Hey im on the road but just wanted to say that yes the general generator smells like gas in the car. The hondas do not however. They are really well sealed. But for the most part all generators dont stink much. Generators do their job sitting still. You dob t exactly want fumes around them.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Charles Kozierok]

Thanks for the data point!

 

[skyking]

I have a 1000 honda that will run my fridge just fine, and not at high idle either. The quiet hondas have a vent valve in the cap you close off for transport. It keeps them sealed up and no smell.
Just remember to open it up to run, or it will die after about half hour

 

[Zenmervolt]

Thanks for all the replies.

The two priorities for this during a power outage are to keep my sump pump going if necessary -- this was an issue when Irene hit the northeast, and I was lucky I didn't spend a night with bailing buckets -- and ensure food doesn't spoil in my deep freezers. Both of these chores can easily be handled by a 2 KW unit... especially since it's not necessary that either device be powered continuously. I'd also probably want to run a computer or two, but they don't use too much.

I'm not sure about "easily," especially since you're talking about more than one freezer.

Electric motors require several times their normal rated draw for startup. For example, a single 800 watt electric motor can draw 2,400 watts during startup. While this is a very brief transient load, if the generator is only rated at 2 KW max, the "800 watt" motor won't start because the 2 KW generator won't be able to supply the 2.4 KW startup surge.

Basically, even though a 2 KW generator can probably run the sump pump and a couple of freezers at their continuous draw (the rated power on the stickers for the appliances), it's going to have difficulty with the startup surge and may not be able to start even one appliance, and will definitely have problems.

A freezer is better than a refrigerator, admittedly (my refrigerator pulls 11.6 amps or about 1.3 KW but the deep freeze only pulls 5 amps, or about 550 watts), but it's pretty iffy whether a 2 KW generator could handle the startup surge for the sump pump if both freezers were already running. Granted, it may not be terribly likely that both freezers would be running at the same time.

Now, if you mean that you'll physically be un-plugging appliances from the generator and moving it to other appliances to distribute the load, then I think a 2 KW generator would be fine. I just have my doubts about it being able to start a sump pump if there is already a load on it from a freezer or two.

If you were thinking of plugging everything into the generator and leaving it like that for the duration of the outage though, I'd want a 5 KW unit for peace of mind.

ZV

 

[jagec]

I use a bog-standard bilge pump hooked up to a marine battery on a trickle charger as my backup sump pump. Sure, it isn't rated NEARLY as high as the AC sump pump, but it can run continuously for days on one battery, draws very little startup current, and if more than 500 GPH starts flowing into my basement, I've got problems even if the power doesn't go out.

 

[Throckmorton]

They should make hybrid generators with a battery or capacitor that allows higher startup loads.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

My problem with the newer Honda generators is they are not twice as reliable, twice as quiet or, twice as small yet they charge twice as much.

 

[Gerle]

Law of diminishing return?

 

[desy]

I thought about the same thing
I just ended up buying a 3kW inverter to hook up to the car for as often as I ever intend to need one.
This gets me around yet another gas powered thinger to maintain and service but still can provide me some AC in a pinch

 

[heymrdj]

I thought about the same thing
I just ended up buying a 3kW inverter to hook up to the car for as often as I ever intend to need one.
This gets me around yet another gas powered thinger to maintain and service but still can provide me some AC in a pinch

You realize that a 3,000W inverter at 12v needs at least 300AH of battery power right? Most car batteries are 45-60AH. The battery will just be overdrawn and the inverter willl shut down due to low voltage.

 

[jagec]

You realize that a 3,000W inverter at 12v needs at least 300AH of battery power right? Most car batteries are 45-60AH. The battery will just be overdrawn and the inverter willl shut down due to low voltage.

Not to mention that you'd need #4/0 wire to support that kind of amperage, wired directly between the battery and the inverter. This stuff:

Which means that the car would be sitting there with the hood open, running to keep the battery from dying instantly (which means that you can't park it in the garage because of fumes), with an umbilical running to the house. And you could only really draw 1 kW continuously due to battery and alternator limitations.

Better to just sit in the car with the AC on at that point.

 

[BUTCH1]

Yea HF has killer prices but I'm not crazy about the longevity of a Chinese built motor, for a little more $$ you can get something with a Briggs at least, even the cheapest Briggs can be a workhorse if it's treated right. Keep in mind these motors will work hard and will need frequent oil changes so it's best to stock up on 30W (or whatever the manual calls for). During the 2004 'cane season it was very hard to find any genny but some that did ran them for 2 weeks straight without ever changing or checking the oil. One small motor repair shop had like 50 units with blown motors because of oil issues and none were covered by the warranty because of owner neglect..

 

[Gillbot]

Yea HF has killer prices but I'm not crazy about the longevity of a Chinese built motor, for a little more $$ you can get something with a Briggs at least, even the cheapest Briggs can be a workhorse if it's treated right. Keep in mind these motors will work hard and will need frequent oil changes so it's best to stock up on 30W (or whatever the manual calls for). During the 2004 'cane season it was very hard to find any genny but some that did ran them for 2 weeks straight without ever changing or checking the oil. One small motor repair shop had like 50 units with blown motors because of oil issues and none were covered by the warranty because of owner neglect..

There are forums out there devoted to the HF tools. I suggest you do some reading on them. Some of them aren't too bad at all, if you accept the price you pay for the item.