Affordable Generators??

I have a limited budget and can't afford a Honda, Onan, or Kohler generator. I believe something in the 5kw-7kw continuous output should suffice for home use and still be portable enough to take out in the field. I want 120/240 V. We're on the Co-op water system so we won't have to pump water but will have to turn off the water heater. How sensitive are the electronics in high efficiency furnaces to the line noise and voltage fluctuation? How about sat receivers, computers, and short screen (hi-def) tvs? I've been looking at Champion and Chicago Electric from Harbor Freight units. The HF has electric start with a Chonda (Chinese Honda ripoff) engine.

When somebody finally sells me a winning Lotto ticket I'll be able to buy a stationary tri-fuel whole house unit in with solar backup. Right next to my new tornado and earthquake proof new house.
 
I bought a Coleman 5kw, 10hp generator from Home depot 4 or 5 years ago now. $600 + tax. Runs good, Subaru motor.

I also would like to get a 15kw home standby, but at $4,000. It is too much $$$$$$.
 
Stand by generators are used to run the furnace, keep the freezer and refrigerator cold.Running the water pump is one job it can do fine.Running toys not so good.Friend ran his generator 24 hours straight, used 10 gallons of gasoline.Small engines can eat up their oil supply running wide open.I would look for a used US made generator before I buy from Harbor Fright.Many jokers buy a generator during a power outage and sell it cheap when the power comes back on.
 
My brother picked up a good sized (used) Onan from an RV. He converted it to propane and set it up in a small shead and can run most of the house with it. He said he under $1 K invested.
 
We've had a Generac (I think) 5500 watt since 2004 and it has been fine and
never given us any trouble. We only use it during power outages.
Got it at Home Depot for around $500 as I recall.
Zach
 
There is little bad with the most of the Chonda engines but the power end would worry me. I think that not having the choice of new-good quality I would go used-good quality before new-cheapo myself? As somebody else said watch the want ads after an outage as lots of people buy and then have to sell.
 
'Affordable' can turn into 'Quality' real fast if you need it to run for a long stretch of time. Stick with a US made unit that is 'used'. A few years back I bought a Lincoln welder-generator and have never used it as a generator yet, but it gets used irregularly as a welder. As a result the Kohler engine on it has only a few hours on the meter and is "gently maintained".
 
I put in a 20KW propane unit for my home. It ran a half dozen times the first month, and has not been needed for the last few months.

We are getting ready for winter, so I feel safer.
 
On occasion a "small" pto generator can be found
for the right price.
Champions are not bad for what they are.
Scrimp on something else for a couple of weeks
and purchase a generator 1 to 2 sizes larger than
you think what is required. You be glad you did.
Please do not be one of those people who back
feed through a three prong welding receptacle.
Ask an electrical or electrical code inspector
what happens if that grounding system is sub par
and most are. Also about how placing current on
the ground system will made everything connected
to ground have voltage above true earth potential.
 
What brand did you buy and how much was it?

My neighbor bought a Generac 12 KW for $3,500 that is with the x-fer switch. His generator is 7 years old now.
 
I had a Coleman 6500W for about 10 years. Running the well killed it during a outage. I then bought a 15KW propane rig from Generac. No problems for 5+ years.
 
Had a friend that bought a genajunk and is very disssatfied with it the first time it was used in a power outage it used 1 Qt of oil in 12 hours. and it is noisy one of the cheaper ones that runs at 3600 RPM. I traded for a 4KW kohler out of a Winabago Motorhome that some had let rot down I have a 4.5KW electric start Contractor grade That I bought after the 2000 scare for $100 and $125 to fix it up. Runs at 1800 RPM just 600 RPM above an idle. Is only 120 volt but I can live with that. It uses about 1/3 gal GPH at 1/3 Power
 
i use a 12.5kw northstar pto genst. while not a portable like you want.. reason I mention it is it is a chinese made head.

has run outr house fine since 04 hurricanes in fl.

no lost electronics.

freq meter on it and oscope show pretty darn good power.

keep your load within youre engines 80% rated range and you should be fine.

soundguy
 
You can sometimes find a good generator at a great price by calling someone who is selling an old motor home in poor condition (roof leak, blown engine, etc). Ask them if they would consider selling the generator. I bought a great Deere generator this way for $75. Still works good years later. Jack
 
I've had 4400 watt Coleman for about 15 years. It runs two refrigerators, freezer, & furnace with no problems. I just wish I had spent a few more bucks and got a bigger fuel tank. I can put gas in it every 1-3/4 hours when I'm warm easier than when I'm freezing. As with any gasoline engine you need to check oil regularly. We've had a lot of outages in those 15 years so it has seen some hours of running, just put stabil in it when finished and have it ready to go for the next time. I do everything the hard way, by running big drop cords to all appliances. As B&D says, I'm not a fan of back-feeding a system through a welder outlet or anything else like it. If you want to do that get a transfer switch made for the job, don't half-a$$ it. Oh. and make sure you always have enough gas on hand to run it for a couple of days.
 
Years ago I had bought a generator out of a telephone truck. It was 7kw. It had a Kohler 4 cylinder water cooled motor on it. We ran it when we lost power a lot of years, and it worked good, just couldn't run the air. I sold it to a friend, and is still using it. I bought a NorthStar like SouNdguy did. I made a 3 point hitch cart for it, and run it with one of the tractors. This one runs the whole house and shop too. I don't have any problem with the computers, or TVs.
 

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