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 Rat_Patrol 
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Joined: Jul 2008  MN, USA
 Posts: 247 Feedback: 0% (0) |
Posted: 8/17/2012 2:04:39 PM
[Last Edit: 8/17/2012 5:40:56 PM by Rat_Patrol]
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT First thoughts: Looks nice. Changing oil will be a minor PITA unless you suspend it and leave the bottom open, or set up your generator hut to make it easy (What I will do).
Features of note:
Add oil (10W30 until over 85F ambient temp, then 30wt. Manual recommends 10W30 for normal conditions), add gas (90 octane minimum as stated in the manual) and turn on fuel valve. Allowed fuel to fill the carb (which has a bowl drain plug, nice touch) and gave it a couple slow pulls on full choke with the engine switch off. Turn on the engine switch and it fired on first pull. Also worth mentioning: you don't have to pull it very hard or fast to start it. I pull our old push mower about twice as hard to get it going.
The manual tells you to run it on choke for one minute to allow it to warm up. While this unit does not have a half choke setting, you can play with it so it is not pouring fuel out the exhaust during warm-up.
The generator evened out quickly after choke was turned off.
I allowed the unit to run at throttle with no load for a few.
Broke out the space heaters: Results
Update 1: Handled the window A/C wit NO problems at all. A/C is a 5 year old Kenmore 12K BTU Energy Star. Went from off to full power and the generator leveled instantly. I think this A/C powers up the fan first, then the compressor. Only about a second apart, but would reduce surge demand.
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hootch13
Typical White Person
Team Member
Joined: Sep 2007 NC, USA
Posts: 3212 Feedback: 100% (20) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/17/2012 3:31:27 PM
nice write up; thanks.
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Posted: 8/17/2012 4:05:12 PM
Originally Posted By Rat_Patrol:
Just received this morning this Generator. Got it for $199 plus MN sales tax with free shipping on Sunday. After the train was late from VA, it finally arrived. First thoughts: Looks nice. Changing oil will be a minor PITA unless you suspend it and leave the bottom open, or set up your generator hut to make it easy (What I will do). Features of note:
Add oil (10W30 until over 85F ambient temp, then 30wt. Manual recommends 10W30 for normal conditions), add gas (90 octane minimum as stated in the manual) and turn on fuel valve. Allowed fuel to fill the carb (which has a bowl drain plug, nice touch) and gave it a couple slow pulls on full choke with the engine switch off. Turn on the engine switch and it fired on first pull. Also worth mentioning: you don't have to pull it very hard or fast to start it. I pull our old push mower about twice as hard to get it going. The manual tells you to run it on choke for one minute to allow it to warm up. While this unit does not have a half choke setting, you can play with it so it is not pouring fuel out the exhaust during warm-up. The generator evened out quickly after choke was turned off. I allowed the unit to run at throttle with no load for a few. Broke out the space heaters: Results
Thanks. Did you use a Watt-O-Meter to see actual watts used or did you use the heater's ratings? |
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Posted: 8/17/2012 4:06:03 PM
Originally Posted By SR712: Originally Posted By Rat_Patrol: Just received this morning this Generator. Got it for $199 plus MN sales tax with free shipping on Sunday. After the train was late from VA, it finally arrived. First thoughts: Looks nice. Changing oil will be a minor PITA unless you suspend it and leave the bottom open, or set up your generator hut to make it easy (What I will do).
Features of note:
Add oil (10W30 until over 85F ambient temp, then 30wt. Manual recommends 10W30 for normal conditions), add gas (90 octane minimum as stated in the manual) and turn on fuel valve. Allowed fuel to fill the carb (which has a bowl drain plug, nice touch) and gave it a couple slow pulls on full choke with the engine switch off. Turn on the engine switch and it fired on first pull. Also worth mentioning: you don't have to pull it very hard or fast to start it. I pull our old push mower about twice as hard to get it going.
The manual tells you to run it on choke for one minute to allow it to warm up. While this unit does not have a half choke setting, you can play with it so it is not pouring fuel out the exhaust during warm-up.
The generator evened out quickly after choke was turned off.
I allowed the unit to run at throttle with no load for a few.
Broke out the space heaters: Results
Thanks. Did you use a Watt-O-Meter to see actual watts used or did you use the heater's ratings? Used heater ratings. Don't have a watt-meter. |
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Posted: 8/17/2012 4:15:04 PM
Originally Posted By Rat_Patrol:
Final thoughts: I am very happy with my purchase. For $213, I have a generator that will power my window A/C, fridge, and freezer. I can unplug the A/C to run the well pump. (based on adding watts on my appliances). Should this generator go on sale again and I have extra money, I would consider buying a second. The heaters you tested with are a pure resistive load, with no real startup surge. The motors on the A/C, fridge, freezer and particularly the well pump will have significantly higher amp requirements when the motors first kick in. Have you tested any of those with the genny yet? Regardless, it's still worth what you paid for it IMO. |
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Posted: 8/17/2012 4:23:48 PM
Originally Posted By midmo: Originally Posted By Rat_Patrol: Final thoughts: I am very happy with my purchase. For $213, I have a generator that will power my window A/C, fridge, and freezer. I can unplug the A/C to run the well pump. (based on adding watts on my appliances). Should this generator go on sale again and I have extra money, I would consider buying a second. The heaters you tested with are a pure resistive load, with no real startup surge. The motors on the A/C, fridge, freezer and particularly the well pump will have significantly higher amp requirements when the motors first kick in. Have you tested any of those with the genny yet? Regardless, it's still worth what you paid for it IMO. No, only the heaters. Honestly, the well pump is what I am most curious about. Its a small 120VAC pump, and the running watts is supposed to be 1500. Doesn't rate the start-up surge. I am going to be putting into high gear re-wiring the well pump junction box to allow me to run the well of an extension cord. So, can't test the well yet. Yeah, even with its small size, $200 bucks for a NEW generator is worth it. Even just for the fridge, a light or two and the A/C. |
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RocketmanOU
Inventor, CEO...more importantly, RIFLEMAN
Team Member
Joined: Apr 2010 OH, USA
Posts: 2519 Feedback: 100% (26) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/17/2012 5:08:42 PM
I'd grab a cheapie pump and an oil filter, and rig up my own circulation system on the side.
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Posted: 8/17/2012 5:41:30 PM
Update 1: Handled the window A/C wit NO problems at all. A/C is a 5 year old Kenmore 12K BTU Energy Star. Went from off to full power and the generator leveled instantly. I think this A/C powers up the fan first, then the compressor. Only about a second apart, but would reduce surge demand.
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Posted: 8/17/2012 5:44:02 PM
Originally Posted By RocketmanOU: I'd grab a cheapie pump and an oil filter, and rig up my own circulation system on the side. I am honestly not too concerned. We have used TONS of these oil splash engines on the farm. From generators to sprayers to water pumps. As long as we changed the oil every 25 hours or so with good quality oil, we have never had a problem before. |
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Posted: 8/17/2012 6:32:21 PM
Damn, wish I'd see one for $200.00. I recently bought a 4200w generator for $300.00. Father has an older RV Suzuki 1800w generator in his garage that he says leaks oil that he said I could take and try to fix. I live where the power goes out all the time.
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Posted: 8/17/2012 6:45:59 PM
Originally Posted By Rat_Patrol:
Originally Posted By midmo:
Originally Posted By Rat_Patrol:
Final thoughts: I am very happy with my purchase. For $213, I have a generator that will power my window A/C, fridge, and freezer. I can unplug the A/C to run the well pump. (based on adding watts on my appliances). Should this generator go on sale again and I have extra money, I would consider buying a second. The heaters you tested with are a pure resistive load, with no real startup surge. The motors on the A/C, fridge, freezer and particularly the well pump will have significantly higher amp requirements when the motors first kick in. Have you tested any of those with the genny yet? Regardless, it's still worth what you paid for it IMO. No, only the heaters. Honestly, the well pump is what I am most curious about. Its a small 120VAC pump, and the running watts is supposed to be 1500. Doesn't rate the start-up surge. I am going to be putting into high gear re-wiring the well pump junction box to allow me to run the well of an extension cord. So, can't test the well yet. Yeah, even with its small size, $200 bucks for a NEW generator is worth it. Even just for the fridge, a light or two and the A/C. I think the rule of thumb is something like startup=3X running watts, so you'll probably be pushing it. It'll be interesting to see if it handles it... please keep updating your AAR! 
Don't scrimp on cords. I couldn't get a 5500 watt genny to run a window A/C unit, and the arfcom generator gurus helped me figure out that the problem was the cord I was using (a so-called "industrial" 12g cord). |
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Posted: 8/17/2012 7:50:42 PM
[quote]Originally Posted By midmo:
Don't scrimp on cords. I couldn't get a 5500 watt genny to run a window A/C unit, and the arfcom generator gurus helped me figure out that the problem was the cord I was using (a so-called "industrial" 12g cord). [/div] What type of cord is needed for A/C, I have a 8,000 BTU window unit. |
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Posted: 8/17/2012 7:56:19 PM
Originally Posted By Mak:
[quote]Originally Posted By midmo: Don't scrimp on cords. I couldn't get a 5500 watt genny to run a window A/C unit, and the arfcom generator gurus helped me figure out that the problem was the cord I was using (a so-called "industrial" 12g cord). [/div] What type of cord is needed for A/C, I have a 8,000 BTU window unit. I ended up using 10g romex with a hand wired plug/outlet box, but there are much better solutions out there. You can probably Google one up, or wait for some of the previously-mentioned arfcom gurus to give you better guidance on that. I haven't upgraded the romex cord yet because I'm planning on having the electric co-op wire me in a transfer switch at the power pole, and will run a buried permanent cable between the genny and the transfer switch. |
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Posted: 8/17/2012 8:24:55 PM
When I tested my A/C, I had a 25ft 10GA Polar extension cord hauling the power from the generator to the A/C. Just as an FYI.
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Posted: 8/17/2012 8:31:32 PM
For those wondering about cords you can buy actual cord rated wires and put female and male cord caps on it at the home depot I think they go all the way up to 8 ga which would more than take care of most things being run on a gennie
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Posted: 8/17/2012 8:34:34 PM
[Last Edit: 8/17/2012 8:36:52 PM by Rearwardassists]
Originally Posted By Mak:
What type of cord is needed for A/C, I have a 8,000 BTU window unit. Here is a table that will tell you go by the amps drawn Conductor Size AWGTypes SE, SEO, SJE, SJEO, SJT, SJTO, ST, STO, SPT-1, SPT-2, SPT-3 2 95 Amps 4 70 Amps 6 55 Amps 8 40 Amps 10 25, 30 Amps 12 25 Amps 14 18 Amps 16 13 Amps 18 10 Amps |
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Ops
Grouchy Old Fart
Team Member
Joined: Apr 2001 PA, USA
Posts: 7869 Feedback: 100% (16) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/17/2012 8:42:55 PM
I have one of those with a dead armature. Part is "not available."
It has maybe 10 hours on it. Buyer, beware.. Ops |
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Posted: 8/17/2012 9:27:59 PM
I look at these as loaners to my Mom and other family members. If they do fail, I could loan one of the more trusted units. Nobody in my circle needs power for medical needs so these should fill the bill. Keep freezers and refrigerators cold, a few lights on and furnace blowers working.
I broke one out of the box tonight, added oil, a little gas and it fired up first pull after I pulled it through with the kill switch off twice. I hooked up a shop vac and barely pulled it down. Then I got out my 15.4 amp DeWalt circular saw, it made it work. Both the saw and the vac together really pulled it down. No reading on amps or watts, just observations. It's not too noisy, but I fired up the Yamaha just to see the difference and it is night and day. Plus, what the heck do they use in their paint that stinks so bad while it is burning off? Man do they stink when they get warmed up! These should serve the intended use just fine as long as they don't fall apart in the hours. |
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Skibane
Brown Marmorated Stinkbug
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Joined: Aug 2001 TX, USA
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Posted: 8/17/2012 10:18:52 PM
[Last Edit: 8/17/2012 10:19:20 PM by Skibane]
Originally Posted By Rat_Patrol:
NO 240VAC outlet. If you need this feature, keep looking. If you have a test meter, you might try measuring the AC voltage from the hot (smaller) pin on one of the 120 VAC outlets to the hot pin on the other 120 VAC outlet. If it measures roughly 240 VAC, you might be able to work around the lack of an actual 240 VAC outlet. |
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Posted: 8/17/2012 11:29:07 PM
Originally Posted By Rearwardassists:
Originally Posted By Mak:
What type of cord is needed for A/C, I have a 8,000 BTU window unit. Here is a table that will tell you go by the amps drawn Conductor Size AWGTypes SE, SEO, SJE, SJEO, SJT, SJTO, ST, STO, SPT-1, SPT-2, SPT-3 2 95 Amps 4 70 Amps 6 55 Amps 8 40 Amps 10 25, 30 Amps 12 25 Amps 14 18 Amps 16 13 Amps 18 10 Amps Use caution following this chart when you have any significant length of wire your voltage drop percentage will go up quickly. |
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Posted: 8/18/2012 1:21:39 AM
We got ours yesterday and I plan to run it for 5 hours tomoirrow testing then drain the oil. I'll probably hook it up to the freezer and a lamp in the garage just to make sure it generates. Were going to use this as a back-up for our back-up so it's getting squirreled away after the test tomorrow.
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joemama74
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Joined: Aug 2008 TX, USA
Posts: 8190 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 8/18/2012 9:48:14 AM
It looks like the same Chinese design as the Champion.
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Posted: 9/16/2012 3:45:29 PM
Fired up on 3 pulls...2 pulls when warm.
Oil filler is at an odd angle. Ran my right angle grinder with no issues. Wifey was unable to pull start...that's a problem... |
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Posted: 10/31/2012 10:22:01 PM
Originally Posted By Rudison:
Fired up on 3 pulls...2 pulls when warm. Oil filler is at an odd angle. Ran my right angle grinder with no issues. Wifey was unable to pull start...that's a problem... Sandy has passed and this generator worked great. We used 8-10 hours a day for 3 days. It handled FIOS, a 52" TV, PC and monitor, direct vent water heater, fridge and 3 lamps. We filled it twice, actually topped it off is more like it...I think it drank about 7-10 gallons. I'm more than happy with it but we will be buying a Honda 2000 inverter when funds allow. |
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Posted: 11/27/2012 1:13:32 PM
Originally Posted By Rudison: Glad to hear it held you through Sandy!
Originally Posted By Rudison: Fired up on 3 pulls...2 pulls when warm. Oil filler is at an odd angle. Ran my right angle grinder with no issues. Wifey was unable to pull start...that's a problem... Sandy has passed and this generator worked great. We used 8-10 hours a day for 3 days. It handled FIOS, a 52" TV, PC and monitor, direct vent water heater, fridge and 3 lamps. We filled it twice, actually topped it off is more like it...I think it drank about 7-10 gallons. I'm more than happy with it but we will be buying a Honda 2000 inverter when funds allow. I have also noticed that it sips fuel. I ran it dry the other day, it had about a cup worth of gas in it. It had to run for about 2.5 hours to run dry. No load, but still I think that is good.
I haven't had a need to really use it yet, but I will bet having the power company cut the juice for an afternoon so I can prune some trees. It will be used then, and we will see what happens! |
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dbrowne1
Zero Force Member
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Joined: Jan 2001 VA, USA
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Posted: 11/27/2012 4:31:06 PM
OP's write-up mirrors my experience with this generator exactly. For $200 delivered it's a good buy.
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