Small Generator/inverters

Another thing to consider: carbon build-up. Specifically, it gets behind the rings, fills the ring grooves in the piston and eventually forces the ring to expand out and gouge the cylinder. I own an Onan genset that runs at only 1800 rpm and that one has carbon build-up problems because it never runs wide open to "blow it out", which is an urban fallacy. Carbon builds up, moreso in 2-cycle engines, but in 4-cycle too. Yamaha Ring-Free is the best thing I have found to fight it. Two ounces to ten gallons ration for one gas tank to jump start the process and eat out the built-up carbon already there, then one ounce to ten gallons every tank to fight it ongoing. Stuff is similar to Sea Foam. It is Sea Foam on steroids: https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-Outbo...r=8-3&keywords=yamaha+ring+free+fuel+additive

Fight the real temptation to cheap-out. It's cheaper than the alternative.

 

I can vouch for the predator 2000w inverter generator. Ours has 70 hrs + on it. Use it to power our pop up camper, it's been thru storms, bounced around in truck, fires on 1st pull everytime. I just do the oil changes every 30hrs. Add fuel stabilizer every tank and it's good to go.

 

Reviving this thread as I’m looking to buy a ~6000W run power gas generator to power the house in case of a hurricane. Actually a little late on this as we’re a month into the season.

Lowe’s has mainly the Briggs & Stratton $800 model that got a hefty number of one-star reviews for various failed components. Another option is the Harbor Freight Predators which I know nothing about but seem to get great reviews. Anyone have experience with the gas-powered 9000W max start model, or similar models?

 

Yes. I own six generators of varying size, if you count the one on the motorhome (that's the best one, an Onan.) Predator or Champion are fine if money is an issue. Try to get an inverter-type generator. Best choice is paralleling two Honda EU7000is together and running them on natural gas. Listen to me and listen good: Generac is a piece of shit. Do not buy ANY Generac. I know. I own one.

Honda inverter generators. Best there is. EU series.

DO NOT parallel two generators that are not the same, even though there are vids on the net of it being done. Very dangerous. Can kill you. The only two that are dissimilar that you can parallel SAFELY are the Honda EU2000 and

$1,090 EU2200 ITAN 2200-Watt 120-Volt Super Quiet Portable Inverter Generator with CO-Minder - 49-State

EU2200, AND ONLY THEN CERTAIN SERIAL NUMBERS ARE COMPATABLE. Honda website has the serial numbers. You can't parallel an EU22000 to an EU3000 or EU7000. Or any other combinations of these.

 

The Honda EU series is way out of my price range.

Been researching inverter generators and I understand the general concept and advantages. Is the “clean power” actually helpful if it’s powering the house directly though? The gas efficiency and noise reduction are appealing. Basically it’d be a choice between two Predators, similar power, $800 for the regular generator and $1200 for the inverter generator. Would only be used as a house power backup.

 

A year ago bought the Honda Eu2000 and low and behold, when Hurricane Sally blew in last fall it knocked out our power for about three + days. We ran the generator until we went to bed each night or left the house for errands, and it ran a fan and a lamp in the living room plus our refrigerator with lots of frozen items in freezer. It was quiet, light weight and barely sipped gas. A month ago, Lowe’s had a knock off of that generator that normally sold for $389 on sale for $359, and it was during Florida’s tax free storm supply week. Bought it for my in-laws to use in their condo to salvage their frozen and refrigerated food. Haven’t started it yet but will soon. It had great reviews. Those little generators are great, and you can buy more than one and string them together by design for more juice.

 

Yep, they are good enough, but if you can swing it, buy once, cry once. You'll end up with a Honda eventually. And if you buy it first you will SAVE money in the long run. Take the money you save though and buy a back-up just in case. The thing to watch is voltage drop as you load on increasing demand. I frequent a generator forum (sad commentary on my life) and have read many threads of harmful low voltages as these "Chonda" knock-off generators get loaded down. Some quoted voltages as low as 73 volts. Also, high THD, some verified as high as 25%. SO to answer your question, yes, it matters if you are running your frig and freezer on low voltage with high harmonic distortion. Don't run your computers or TV's with these if you don't want problems. Lastly, waveform. If you have a friend with an oscope have them show you the waveform. Some I've seen posted online look like someone turned Helen Keller loose with an Etch-a-Sketch.

 

I bit the bullet years ago, pay once cry once, got 2 of the eu2000 units with a parallel kit and a 6gal extended run gas tank. Just a 6gal boat gas tank, but with 2 gas caps and fuel line to both hondas. Last hurricane we went 3.5 days, 24hrs/day, and only used 8.5 gal of gas. Ran a 11,000btu window ac unit, well pump, and entire house. Just had to keep an eye on what we used and when. I could have gone weeks with the gas in my truck. Now they make a unit with the 30amp plug, so the ugly add-on I got isn't needed any longer.

 

That is about as good as it gets! It has to be the most fuel-efficient way to have a reliable 4000 watts of power available when you need it most. The carbs have a drain port built into the carb bowl with a drain hose that drains the last bit of gas left in the carb after you "run it dry". After it dies from gas starvation there is still a little bit of gas in the float bowl.

 

Good to know about the Generac I was looking at their 3800? About a month ago decided to go with the Northern Tools Powerhorse 2300. Knowing full well it could only run part of my house appliances. I have re-run some circuits and added an inlet plug so that I can flip the main just hook up one extension cord to power ‘A’ side of my 120v sub panel. I will be adding a ‘B’ side inlet plug later on down the road or possibly a 240v 50a inlet plug off the main panel… it all depend on how the hurricanes affect the power situation. One thing I know is I will build a small cage and roof for the generator so that I can have the option to leave it out all night without fear of theft.

I too used the Tax holiday to take advantage of the Northern tools generator saved $40!

 

https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200464517_200464517

This generator is about 80% of what you get with EM6500S, at half the cost. The newer Honda iGX motor in the 6500 is fancier and computerized. A regular GX390 can be converted to propane which eliminates the gasoline hassle.

I don't think the pure sine wave inverter hype is really worth the substantial extra expense. All computers and todays TVs are already AC to DC, so there's no issues running them on not-so-pure wave power. Some cheap LED light bulbs don't like squared off power, but its not dangerous, just an annoyance. Refrigerators don't care.

Spend more money on a generator with a quality engine and you'll end up saving money in the long run.

 

Get it going. Do the break in stuff on it BEFORE it is needed. My Champion had me run a load at a certain power level for 5 hours. Then change the oil. I ran it on propane to keep the system clean.

 

Good advice. Thanks. There’s a storm brewing right now that will impact FLa next week or sooner.

 

I have a Champion Dual Fuel. I got it just so I could use propane instead of gas. The only real drawback is it has a slightly lower rating on LP vs. gas.

 

Yes cleaner power is better, though a lot of things will still work with modified but power transformers that turn it back into DC for lower voltage circuits might run hotter.

The real benefit of an inverter is it disconnects output from the engine speed. So it can slow down the engine with light load but keep the 60hz output.

 

I don’t understand all that technical mumbo jumbo. I crank it up, plug in my fan and it works.

 

Forgot about this thread
Reminded mr to run my gen
Haven’t been rub since the fall
Started3 pulls

 

Well, I went with this:

The only problem is, I have a 50A receptacle on the house and the generator has a 30A outlet...ordering an adapter for now, since the local electricians are all backed up. Will need them to swap out to a 30A receptacle and also replace the two circuit breakers in my panel with 30A. The breaker on the generator will suffice in the short term.

Thanks all for the advice.

 

Break-in still has a place in the longevity of any mechanical equipment. Manufacturers do not have the staff, break-in fuel budget or time to fully break in their products. There is a big difference between running it after assembly only long enough to seat the piston rings sufficient for product sale and actually breaking-in the entire system. Manufacturers do not have bench time or bench space to do break it in all the way.

 

Everything I've read says to run on gas for a few hours before running on propane. Supposedly the gas additives make stuff seat better than dry gas.

I set my plug gap narrower than OEM Spec after I converted my generator to propane. It has been theorized that this helps burn efficiency of gas. No concrete proof, but my RPM did go up by about 200 under no load.