Just like if you were running a 600W solar array and had a grid intertie setup and it spun your meter backwards when you were using less power than that.

I picked up one, but it was only on sale for $109.99. Used the 20% off and got it for $87.99 + tax ($95.48 total) and a free flashlight(which came with batteries). I just went out and mixed some gas and ran it for a while to see what it souneded like. I was pretty impressed at how it sounded for a cheap gennie, granted i havent heard a good one. Plugged in a 500watt worklight to put a load on it. I would like to try a circular saw, but all i have is a 13watt one and don't want to even try that until its broke in a bit.

I noticed in the front of the manual it mentioned to use 89 octane but didnt see that anywhere else. I ran it with 87 being thats all I got. Are you running it with 89?



ETA: I liked how on the maintainence schedule it says to change the fuel/oil mixture after 25 hrs, even though you would have done that at least 5 times in that period.

Hmmm

No, exploding parts.

You need to match the phases between Edison's generator and yours - if not bad bad things happen.

I've got a little old 2 stroke Kohler that belonged to my father. I keep it around just because it's nice to have a portable 12V battery charger.

depending on the size of the heater, you may not be able to run both at the same time. YMMV.... The power filter would make a great addition, for extra insurance against voltage spikes, however this thing is pretty consistent with the voltage within normal operating watts.

You could put a cable through the handle, other than that not really any places to attach to....maybe weld a lock hasp to the legs.

3 week update.

I have been running the generator five hours every weekend, for three weeks now...including the initial run time of about eight hours, I have accumulated approximately 23 hours of total run time.

A couple notes:

This generator does not like starting in cold weather, after sitting for five days with gas in it. Took about 7-10 pulls to start it on a 28f degree morning (it is stored in a outdoor shed). This may be attributed to the 2 year old gas I have been using to run it, Im not sure. But after the 7-10 pulls, it fires right up and chugs away.

The engine starts to idle better after 10hr of run time.

Run time has improved as well, averaging about 6 hours a tank (1 gallon) at about 3/4 load.

Overall, I keep the same rating of 3 out of 5 Stars. I hope to use it soon for an upcoming tailgating party to run some accessories in the camper.

They've been out of stock here for a while. They don't have any in the distribution center either.

We picked one of these up last weekend. 92.83 w tax. For a cheap chinese POS I was impressed . Started on the 3rd pull and ran like a champ. It does have an idle surge, however with the slightest load it levels right out and runs fine. At that price I do not think a person can go wrong...provided you're not trying to overload the thing. We did not purchase the extended protection package as offered. I figure at that price after the warranty expires it becomes disposable. Should run the camper just fine.

We do not have access right now. The truck camper has a roof air unit and while it's no problem pluggin in and trying it ( I predict fail ) the whole unit sits in a snowbank under a tarp...spring is however just around the corner and I will post the results. Some things I have run : A 1/2 inch impact driver ( another Harbor freight purchase ) ,battery charger, sabre saw, toaster, air compressor (with a 2 hp motor ? ) grinder 1/4 hp motor and a skill saw. All ran fine but the generator did struggle a bit with the compressor. That motor does have some start issues and takes a while to run full rpm and I suspect that to be the reason for the generator surge.

I bought a 5 or 5.5k btu window unit (don't remember which size, and it's now packed away in the attic awaiting another hurricane...so i can't confirm right now) a while back and tested it out with both this ETQ genset as well as a EU1000i. Neither one had enough juice to overcome the initial surge to kick the compressor over .

The Honda just tripped very quick (had to hit the reset button) and gave up on the load; the two-stroke one grunted heavy, made a little racket and tried to hold the load but eventually I ended the experiment after ~1minute as I didn't want to break the genset while seeing if it could be overloaded. In my book, the window unit will have to be for the 5.5k watt big(er) generator.

Regarding the smaller ETQ/harbor freight generator, it's a very good bang-for-buck buy.

I've used it a couple times with good success with an electric chainsaw remotely out away from the house (just for boring non-SHTF uses ). After I bought mine and told a coworker about it, he bought one and uses it fairly regularly in combination with an electric pole-saw/tree trimmer out at his ranch/farm; genset in the bed of the truck and just a 50ft extension cord to the saw, leave the genset running, drive to a tree, hop out and do the necessary cutting, set the polesaw back in the bed and drive to the next tree and repeat. It uses so little gas it's really not worth the bother to shut it off when not immediately needed.

AHHHH Crap!!!!!

Now it looks like I will getting one too. Payday is in a week so I will get it with my coupon for $79.99 from the Rifle man mag. I have a super duty surge suppressor I will use in combo with it. I just wonder if it is big enough to run my fridge? That is about all I want to run. Hate to loose all of the food.


Buzz

Yep once the compressor starts it should be able to handle a smaller newer frige. It however will not start the roof air on the camper. The reset did not trip on the generator but the motor on the ac was NOT sounding well and I pulled the plug. I did then start the ac hooked to a 30 amp line and it started and ran fine with no issue. My conclusion is the 800 amp unit performs very well within it's means...a very good bang for the price. One does have to understand it has it's limitations.