Generator Recommendatins

Bill VA

Well-known Member
Going to buy a generator for the farm/camp house. The chores are running a small air compressor from time to time, circular saw, grinder, etc. aside from that, occasionally a refrigerator

Need something large enough that it will handle the inrush and load of a single phase motor, 20 amp circuit would suffice.

Also needs a to be low cost as I'll leave the generator on the place. There is risk of it being stolen, even under lock and key.

Probably a stretch, but reliable, parts availability, etc.

I've read some good things about Champion generators, Generac seems expensive, even for their low end stuff.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Bill
 
I like Honda and Yamaha Inverter style portable Generators, sure they cost more, but are good quality and sooooooooooo quiet. However to be able to START a refrigerator and some bigger motors, you're gonna need more power and/or high surge rating, NOT their little 2000 Watt, perhaps a 3000 minimum to 4000 or even 5000 watt SUBJECT TO THE LOAD AND ITS INITIAL STARTING CURRENT. NOTE we cant tell you the size without knowing your actual loads, so the above is ONLY a rough guess. I also like Onans. The cheap loud screaming gensets sold at BIG BOX DISCOUT STORES are lower quality and parts availability and service may be NON existent, but sure they are much cheaper.

HOWEVER if theft is a risk Id hesitate to put a Honda or Yamaha Inverter genset out there grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

If you use plug and cord connected tools or appliances fed from the gensets onboard receptacles OSHA instructions explain in part if you drive an earth ground rod it can CAUSE RISK OF ELECTROCUTION so be careful and ground per OSHA and the NEC, NOT what Billy Bob and Bubba or their brother in law might say lol. See URL link below, click on portable generators construction for the PDF file, don't take my word for it.

NOTE some portable Gensets come from the factory with a Bonded Neutral, others have a floating Neutral !!!!!!

Your money your choice, not ours, but Id sooooooo hate to have a Honda stolen grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

John T
OSHA Generator Grounding
 
Will it be the sole source of electricity or will it be used only one hour every ten years, like mine?
 
Bill,

Here is my $.02 worth. I have two champion 3500 watt RV generators, Honda clones, because they can put 30 amps 120v out one outlet. Most other generators will put half their power out two different outlets. What good is that if you want enough power to power motors? I use mine for an electric chain saw and to power up a well if needed.

Mine have given me no problems. The cheaper model is hand start and I bought a second one with electric start. Not to mention they are very easy on gas. I have both on wheels. One is pulled behind mule, other I pull with a mower. I use them more for remote power than back up power.


Don't care what you buy, just make sure get one big enough to power up motors, RV models.

You can buy many champions for the price of an inverter.
 
Stay away from Generac. Champion has a good reputation and a good support network. What ever you do buy a brand name.
 
have two Harbor Fright one 5000 one 8750 the 8750 is in my bow fishing boat and rum 10 500 watt halogen lights and two 400 watt high pressure sodium lights and it is working 5 to 6 hrs. a night 2 or 3 nights a week [going out right now] going on four years and has never missed a beat. best bang for the buck. Honda knock off
 
(quoted from post at 18:09:49 07/08/16) Going to buy a generator for the farm/camp house. The chores are running a small air compressor from time to time, circular saw, grinder, etc. aside from that, occasionally a refrigerator

Need something large enough that it will handle the inrush and load of a single phase motor, 20 amp circuit would suffice.

Also needs a to be low cost as I'll leave the generator on the place. There is risk of it being stolen, even under lock and key.

Probably a stretch, but reliable, parts availability, etc.

I've read some good things about Champion generators, Generac seems expensive, even for their low end stuff.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Bill

Highest continuous wattage 120V only generator from Champion. The other 224cc machine maybe alright too.http://www.championpowerequipment.com/products/generators/for-home/100210-3800w4000w-generator/
 
This is a lot of generator for the money: http://www.carrollstream.com/category_s/126.htm

I'm using this engine on a generator I built. It's loud. Make no mistake. But starts right up no matter how long it's been sitting, and barely sips fuel.
 
When I bought a generator I look to see who is best in parts, service, and reliability and not price. I don't want a generator to puke out on me when I really need it and can't get it fixed.
 
I have a Kohler whole house generator. It will run on
NG or LP. I have NG. It will start automatically when there's a power outage Hal
 
Thanks everyone.

Bought a Champion 3400/4000 - rated/starting watts generator, model 100222. Price was 299 and with tax came in around $315. On sale at Lowes. Came with running gear.

TSC had a similar Champion, but with one less 120V outlet and no running gear, it was $329 and the running gear was $44ish. Not sure if it had a meter. The model I bought has a meter that shows running hours, total hours, voltage and frequency.

Started on the first pull AFTER I turned on the ON/OFF switch......

It will only be used for a few hours at a time most. In the farm house, it is the only source of power. We'll use it on the home front when there is an extended power outage.

Hope this thing lasts a long time.

Thanks again,
Bill
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I have two Generac generators and a Generac engine in my Dixie Choppper. All three have given me years of trouble free service. The only other generator I "might" consider is a Kohler. Champions are nothing more than Chinese junk. But then when price is the only consideration........
 
If you're going to leave it for the local, inbreed, toothless, hillbillies to steal, why would you care? Only sane approach to weekend property is an RV that you drive home with all your stuff in it. We can't have nice stuff anymore!
 
If you store it in a shed, put some dryer sheets in and around it. It keeps the mice from building nests in it. I had to take my Genny almost completely apart to clean it out one year. Damn mice had shredded paper and completely filled the flywheel with crap.

John
 

The Champion is an exception for the Chinese knockoffs and little more $. Champion made a point of exceeding Honda quality instead of going cheaper.
 
Here is a, admittedly destructive, test that someone did on a Champion from over at the Smokstak forum. It will make you think twice about a Champion, especially when you read all the things that were wrong with it even before they began the test.

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158819&highlight=champion

Just my $.02 -- Brian
 
I have been fighting Genajunk since 1980. They do have some units that did give good service. But for the most part they are junk.I just sent two to the scrap yard. Both have less than 20 hours on them. Gensections burned out. Generac doesn't build their own engines. So what ever you have on the mower. It didn't come from Generac.I have one in the shop says Generac on the engines. But you have to order parts from Briggs.

Champion is the only import that I know of. That is a good quality product. They have a good support network. Much better than that Chinese junk that most sell.
 
That test was not a fair test. He was comparing a 3600 RPM Champion. To an 1800 RPM Onan. The Onan was designed for a long run under load.Neither one is a prime power unit. But the Onan would take the abuse better. Very unfair test.

Onan tech since 1980
 
My point was that before the test even began, the Champion, rated for 3500W continuous/4000W surge, would not hold 60Hz when loaded above 2800W.

Secondly, it only lasted 22 hours under that load. A set has to be rated 'prime power' to last over 22 hours at 80% of rated load? :) :)
 
You need to bone up on your engines,Billy.Generac always has built their own Engines ,they sold part of the company off to Briggs,but kept their engines for other uses(Companys),so if you are dealing with Briggs,then you are not dealing with Generac products.I'am only speaking of their Engine line.
 
I don't know what you are talking about. Generac certainly does build their own engines.
 
Something is not right with that video. Voltage follows frequency. When the frequency falls, so does the voltage.

Note the Onan is at 115V and frequency is 60.4hz. The Champion is at 112V and the frequency is 47.5hz.

If the voltage should be 115V - and the frequency is 60hz, wouldn't (47.5hz/60hz)*115V = 91V ? Not 112V ?

Is the volt meter measuring the Champion out of whack? Could it be that the Champion is running fine? Doesn't the Champion have an analog volt meter, didn't see the reading of it shown.

Also, as the voltage drops, doesn't the amp draw go up - something like I^2 and in doing so, if the voltage was low - wouldn't it burn out the electrical powered device, fan or heating element that is being powered by the generator?

I have to admit - I didn't watch the whole video. Not exactly a MIL-STD-1332B type test.

Could be the Champion generators as a whole are crap, but this test proves nothing, except a test setup may be flawed or a single Champion generator may be defective, but for this guy to paint with such a broad brush, with such a ratty test set-up, shows nothing.

YMMV

Bill
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I have two portables with 5000 running watts, one is a Generac with a Chinese engine and the other is some off brand with a Subaru engine. I paid almost $600 for the first one at Lowes (I think) and the other I got at a consignment auction for $65. They couldn't get it started and no one really wanted it. When I got it home I took the air cleaner off, sprayed some ether in it and it fired right up and ran fine and has since. Check your local sales and you might get lucky too and if it gets stolen you won't be out much.
 
You are correct. A three volt difference will not result in a 13 hertz drop. 57.5 would be more in line with it.Still in the range of proper operation.As I said an unfair test.3600 versus a 1800 rpm unit of course the 3600 will fail first.
 
(quoted from post at 14:47:19 07/14/16) You are correct. A three volt difference will not result in a 13 hertz drop. 57.5 would be more in line with it.Still in the range of proper operation.As I said an unfair test.3600 versus a 1800 rpm unit of course the 3600 will fail first.

That is an inaccurate generalization . The 3600 rpm unit can and will last as long or longer than 1800 . We had 3600rpm units at the airport that ran the entire night shift, every night for years on the runway barriers .
Just oil changes , occasional spark plug and airfilters that's it.
 
(quoted from post at 01:05:06 07/12/16) You need to bone up on your engines,Billy.Generac always has built their own Engines ,they sold part of the company off to Briggs,but kept their engines for other uses(Companys),so if you are dealing with Briggs,then you are not dealing with Generac products.I'am only speaking of their Engine line.

I have to disagree. I have been dealing with Generac since 1980. I have never seen a Truly Generac engine. I have seen Topaz,Chevy,Hino,Mitsubishi,Yanmar and a few more I can't remember. But I have never seen a Generac engine.
 

I agree that there are some good 3600 rpm units. Onan had some units called AJ. Well built and made to run. Friend of mine has one on his welding truck. Starts in the morning and may run all day five days a week. 1968 model and still going strong.

The China imports are not really that well built. I have seen a lot come and go in 47 years in the business.
 
(quoted from post at 11:03:15 07/15/16)
I agree that there are some good 3600 rpm units. Onan had some units called AJ. Well built and made to run. Friend of mine has one on his welding truck. Starts in the morning and may run all day five days a week. 1968 model and still going strong.

The China imports are not really that well built. I have seen a lot come and go in 47 years in the business.

No matter who builds the small engine . They all grind to a halt when bubba doesn't check the oil, use the right oil or side hill slants the engine .
 
I would stay away from the Japanese knock off engines. Very hard to find parts for. At least they are hard to find in my rural part of Nebraska.

I have generators. One is a 1975 Briggs. That thing can sit for years and will start on the first pull.

The other is a 2000. It is a Kohler. Very hard to start in cold weather. Have to clean the carb every time I use it.
 

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