Generator

[laxb0rder]

Hey guys after what happen earlier this month and how stoms have been changing and getting stronger lately its time for a generator. I dont want to have to do the power inverter thing again. I know that I have read up on generators some here before but figured I would give this a shot and ask if anyone knows of anywhere that may have a good deal on one on black friday.

I was planning on picking one up from Cabelas a Champion Weekender 3500 watt for like 300$. But then in talking to the family they want to get one that we can use for the house, keeping fridges up a few lights running the well and such not at all once but being big enough. Im thinking that this 3500 watt would be too small correct? It will be wired into the fuse box professionally.

So i guess my question is what size should i be looking for, specific brands, and if you know any good places to start my search. And i cant go over board and spend too of money on this.

Thanks,
Steve

[shecter]

I was told that a geni under 4500 watts is useless for a fridge. It'll run it until the compressor comes on and it'll shut the geni down. Sorry I can't help more.

[laxb0rder]

Ok well thats useful to know, thanks. I've been starting to ook for something over the 5000 watts point.

[seagull18]

You would definetly need 5500 or higher. Look at the Generac GP5500, Consumer Reports rates it very high for the price and it will handle most of your needs.

[sdheath]

Personally I don't worry about my refrigerator. It'll hold fine for a day, and if it goes longer than that my insurance will cover any loss with zero deductible. I'd rather have a smaller gene that runs longer on a tank of gas. As long as I can run the tank, pellet stove, TV/internet and a few lights we're happy.

[rjmurd]

I have a 3500 watt one. It is perfect for some lights, fish tank and fridge, TV, electric blanket, coffee maker, but not big enough for the well pump.

[swannyson7]

I was told that a geni under 4500 watts is useless for a fridge. It'll run it until the compressor comes on and it'll shut the geni down. Sorry I can't help more.

You were lied to... the typical fridge only uses about 1000-1500 watts to start the compressor up and the running wattage is around 200w

[shecter]

They way he explained it to me was the compressor kicking on draws to much power suddenly. Not saying I'm 100% right just trying to help. It would be nice to be able to use a smaller geni when I buy one.

[Collinrb]

They way he explained it to me was the compressor kicking on draws to much power suddenly. Not saying I'm 100% right just trying to help. It would be nice to be able to use a smaller geni when I buy one.


I ran my fridge off my 3250 watt gen through the storm the entire time, as well as my tank. No problems with the generator, except me running out of oil in it of course.

[gmate]

Ran fridge tank lights and misc. stuff in the house on a 3000w during Irene.

[laxb0rder]

yea the 3500 is right for my needs, run the fish tank, quiet, good ratings, under 300$ but i dont think its the size the family wants and if they are going to pay the difference to run the well and heat then i've gotta find an upgrade.

[hunkafish]

I think shecter is referring to AC compressors, I live in FL and have been down this road to many times never again a gasoline generator, BUy a natural gas modified generator if you have gas at you house. If not get the propane mod than can run gasoline or propane. the problem with gasoline genereators is they sit and the gas goes bad carbs get clogged and you find this out when you need it most, natural gas/propane burns clean and starts up everyime. Also when gasoline isnt available propane seems easyier to find. I like a quite generator,quitest made is a Panda for boats comes in a sound proofer shell, mine is a yahmaha 5500 portable with 6 -30lb Propane tanks pretty quiet I run everything except A/C system and run it threw a power conditioner/that prevents drops and spikes that generators are prone to. And yo are correct to have an electrician wire you in. Hope this helps. I have bought 5 gasoline generators,since then 1 yahamaha/propane mod going on 8 years old used 6-7 times

[Lavoisier]

I just bought this unit about an hour ago: Generac GUARDIAN Series Air-Cooled Automatic Standby Generator — 8kW (LP), 7kW (NG), Generac OHV Engine. They get a top rating by Consumer Reports and if you can install them yourself not too expensive. Generac also makes a 7kW unit but because of the non-metal cover it must be located at least 10' (or is it 15'?) from a residence, which means digging trenches--I hate digging trenches!

I checked with a number of sellers and I could not find anyone who can ship before the middle of January so that is something to consider as well.

[Paul B]

My Coleman generator is 5,000 watts and runs my 3 refrigerators, reef tank, furnace and all the lights that I have ever needed. I have had a generator for 20 years never found it to be too small,I never once tripped the breaker on it.
During Sandy my power was out for 4 days and I had no problem except getting gas was hard. Now I am ordering a converter to run it on natural gas.

[Tweaked]

My Coleman generator is 5,000 watts and runs my 3 refrigerators, reef tank, furnace and all the lights that I have ever needed. I have had a generator for 20 years never found it to be too small,I never once tripped the breaker on it.
During Sandy my power was out for 4 days and I had no problem except getting gas was hard. Now I am ordering a converter to run it on natural gas.

Run my house on a Generac 5500 (way underated IMO as I have two briggs 5500 at work that constantly kick down from small loads). I run a ton of lights, 3 reefs, two fridges, my sons game room, etc. etc. We switch some things down for a bit to run the sump and water heater, but yes a 5500 Generac is all you need and a great buy IMO.

[gar732]

I just picked up a generac 5500. It has good reviews and good features for the price.

[joewallace2008]

Powermate colmen 1850watt ran my frig lights Tv and more

[bennr]

Average side fridge will require 2200W for startup.....
Honda is the best gen on the market
Yamaha is close second
Price however reflects this as well.....
Generac is cheap IMO and they do not recommend running for more than 12 hours without allowing at least 12 hour cool off in between.
You get what you pay for.....
Oh, and I strongly advise against running any small delicate electronics like tv, computer, etc.... without the use of an inverter..... Most gens will have small voltage fluctuation that can do harm to these electronics either immediately or over time.

[Rwinfrey]

I am not even close to an expert on brands but my buddy who owns a power equipment shop is and he told me there are like two companies who actually make the motors for these things...Honda included.... He said the big difference was just the muffler and all that does is reduce the noise .i have a generac 10k whole house and it has so far work flawlessly .i will never own a home without one again.....

[BubbaBoBobBrain]

Have you checked out Harbor Freight? They have some generators for pretty good prices and most get pretty good reviews by contractors that are running them 24/7 while on job site. If you find any that you like I can check the harbor freight by my job and could probably even pick it up for you so you wouldn't have to pay for shipping. You could just get it from my house. Also, for what its worth, I would recommend at least a 6000 watt generator if you want to run pretty much everything in your house also. Just throeing my 2 pennies out there on generator size.

[bennr]

I am not even close to an expert on brands but my buddy who owns a power equipment shop is and he told me there are like two companies who actually make the motors for these things...Honda included.... He said the big difference was just the muffler and all that does is reduce the noise .i have a generac 10k whole house and it has so far work flawlessly .i will never own a home without one again.....

Your friend is ill advised..... The biggest issue about these machines now a days is yes, where was it built....and just because it says John Deere or cub cadet or whatever on it does not mean they make it!....ask your friend then who makes the generac motors.....I can tell you that it is not the same place as the Honda....not even same continent! And ask him who is making small Briggs and Stratton motors too.....there are more than two companies alone who have the rights to Briggs and Stratton......
Oh, and there are also more than two companies making the Honda motor too.....Honda being one of them! Most larger well known companies no longer produce their own small equipment because it is just as profitable for them to sell the rights to it to another company who can produce it and slap on their logo....it is even more profitable for a third party company to produce small equipment and have the rights to a few large well known equipment providers and slap on whatever logo they want depending on supply and demand.....maybe 60% love John Deere, 20% like cub cadet, 10% for Troybilt, and so on you get the point.....they can pick and choose each month according to demand for a specific "brand"and this demand changes all the time.......this is how business is done now for these companies.....this is the most profitable way for both major equipment companies and the smaller third party companies....in order for any company to maximize profit they must be able to meet supply and demand efficiently.....
In my previous statement I was simply saying that based on others testing as well as myself I have seen Honda outperform any other generator on the market.... Their small gx motor is by far the best on the market.....generac motors as well as most Briggs and Stratton use a lot more gas and run much hotter.....a friend of mine has a Honda generator that is 8 years old....this is from when they were still made in Japan....his still starts on first pull and I seem it run for 36 hours straight when we got a taste of sandy up here in Ontario..... Of course we had to fill it up three times with gas....I will agree that for the price a generac is worth the money.....generac is by far the most used small generator here in Ontario and I keep seeing more and more each year....

[Rwinfrey]

Like I said I am no expert . You are right exept for Deere they make there own still.