Portable generator question

Hello everyone,

I hope is allowed and you guys don’t mind the question.
Not Tacoma related but I figured I ask. can you guys Recomend a generator? Something I can take out camping and use at home to power a 5 cubic ft freezer and than some?
With California having this electric power shot offs the little one I use camping is not good at home.
Space is limited and don’t really want to spend more than 1000 bucks. Something that will run 8 to 12 hours and has good safety features. And is not too loud... .

TIA.

 

You can't really go wrong with a Honda EU2200i. They are easy starting, very quiet, run a long time on a tank and are reliable. About $1K. There are cheaper gens that people like, but I have no experience with them.

 

The little Honda's are great if you don't need much power, about 2000 watts. But they are expensive, and have limited power. I have a friend with one and like it, very quiet. But I won't pay that much and need more watts.

I have one of these. They were $100 cheaper when I bought mine. It has always started and works.

Champion Power Equipment 3,650-Watt RV Ready Portable Generator (EPA), 100216 at Tractor Supply Co.

It is small enough that I CAN take it camping. I can load it in the truck myself, but it is easier with 2 people. It will powerup everything in our camper. For home use we enclosed our garage several years back and converted it into a "man cave". It is our back up living space during power outages. I cut a hole in the wall and installed a trap door so I can run the generator on my back deck and run power cords into this one room. It keeps my freezer, refrigerators and TV working along with lights. If I need to cook on a toaster oven or microwave I unplug the freezer and refrigerator temporarily. It will run the window AC unit in that room too, but not much else at the same time.

If you want to power up much more you need 7000+ watts. But those are too big to easily take camping.

 

The generator Marshall suggests is really in a different class than the small inverter generators. It will provide twice the power, and is less than half the price, but also weighs twice as much as the Honda 2000, and is louder. The Honda 2000 output is about equivalent to one outlet circuit in your house. It would run your freezer and some lights but not a microwave or heating appliance at the same time. There is a choice to be made between portability and noise vs power and cost.

 

If you just want it to power a freezer or fridge or run house lights during an outage the Honda 2200 is the way to go. I have the older 2000 version. Dependable, quiet, fairly light weight. It’s a Honda which means it’s really dependable. I’ve had one for 15 years, used it camping, and used it to power various things around the house. No problems. You do want to change the spark plug once a year, change the oil and clean the air filter. Minimal maintenance. Very simple and easy. I’d also advise using stabilizer in the fuel, and starting and running it a little once a month. Also to be sure the fuel doesn’t go bad any fuel left in it at the end of one year drain it and refill. Do these things and it’ll run for decades. The gas tank is a little small but it will run for hours on a tank.

 

hard to beat the HONDAs well thought out reliable compact

yet when i read the replys i wonder what type o camping is realistic

a nite or 2 outback...........powering a cabin ............or backup power for a residence

be nice is ALL bases were covered yet they are 3 unique scenarios


led lites....radio.....recharge computer/cell wont tax a adequate Honda never locate near sleeping quarters

a remote cabin will need at 2000-2400 watts min NEVER located inside

back up power for a residence (family + utilities) estimable 5-10000 watts.....really Not portable

maybe from garage to a pad near utility power at least 12-15 feet away from house

 

This is good advice.

 

Figure out just how many Watts you need then increase the output by a third nothing like not having enough power .

Make sure service is close nothing like having to go 100 miles plus.

Understand just what is covered under the warranty .

 

My Harbor Freight Predator 2000 watt inverter generator was $449 on sale and easily powers my refrigerator and LED lights and TV when the power goes out and is super quiet. Always starts within 1-2 pulls and is easy to maintain and very portable....a honda clone

 

$1,090 Honda eu2200 ITAN 2200-Watt 120-Volt Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator with CO-Minder - 49-State

Honda eu2200 is about the best you can get. Very quiet and light weight, and if you find you need more watts you can get the companion model and run 2 of them joined together for double the power.

 

I also use a 500w Jackery portable lithium if I need any fans or to charge phones, laptops

 

I have a Honda EU2000, and have used it to power my fridge (coffee maker, phone charger, etc.) during power outages. It's a inverter generator that produces very "clean" power, so you can charge electronics with it. I wouldn't plug my laptop into a conventional generator's power outlet... it's also small enough to take camping. It is a very efficient generator that sips fuel.

The current version is the EU2200 (they uprated it 200w). Now remember that rating is "peak" power production, not the constant power. You need the peak for when a refrigerator's compressor kicks in, then the power demand drops significantly.

Now there is another to consider. Costco sells a Yamaha "inverter" generator for ~$500.

A-iPower Powered by Yamaha Inverter Generator (costco.com)

No idea of it's reliability or performance, but the price is half of the Honda generator.

 

I also highly recommend the Honda 2200. Very nice, light and quiet generator.

I have the Champion 3500 as well and never use it because it is heavy, and very loud - annoyingly loud.

 

Small open frame generators work fine great deal cheaper yeah they are not as quiet but will power your stuff just as well. I run the entire house with a 5K Honda generator it is not quiet but the heat is on and the beer is cold.

 

Thank you for the replies everyone. I’m checking them all out. Reading and searching found this one. What do you guys think?
I’m thinking propane would be much easier to store and also safer.

https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100204-3100-watt-dual-fuel-inverter/

 

Only you know if 2800 Watts will power what you need.

I have a well so the pump Hot Water heater the fridge and a few lights If I wanted AC I turned the water heater off. I have 10,000 watts .

I like Diesel because I most times have at least 300 gallons.

During Hurricane Sandy the electric was out for 10 days