Posted: 9/7/2009 9:12:48 AM EDT
| Whats is a good name brand gas generater for light duty use in case of power outages . |
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Honda E2000i. costs about $900 I like the Honda EU2000i but these look good too. Yamaha EF2400iS |
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Honda E2000i. costs about $900 I like the Honda EU2000i but these look good too. Yamaha EF2400iS The Yamaha's are fantastic. It's a little bit bigger, weighs more but is big enough to run a 13.5K btu trailer air conditioner. |
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Dual- or tri-fuel Yamaha conversion, WITH FACTORY WARRANTY. for the win.
http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/ |
| I wanted quite and 3000 watts as I use it in my business. Got the Honda eu3000is several years ago and could not be happier. If shutting down for an extended period kill it with the fuel shut-off so the carb is dry and use Stabil. The 3000 is bigger and more expensive the the 2000 but is built for serious commercial use. I'm sure Yamaha is good just went with what everyone I knew trusted their careers on. |
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The hondas are nice and quiet. I was on a budget I got a Powermate 6250 max , 5000 constant on sale for $425 at homedepot I think its regularly $600 tho Coleman Powermate is using Chinese-made alternator heads on a lot of their models. Quality and long-term parts availability may be problems. In fact, a lot of manufacturers are slapping a Chinese-made alternator head on a Honda, Subaru or Yamaha engine. Shoppers tend to look at the engine brand, and just assume that the alternator head is of similar quality. Often, it's not. |
A generator is a lot like a condom. You don't want something that just works 50% of the time; it needs to work ALL the time. 
I have the Honda EU3000 and the EU2000. This gives me lots of flexibility as well as a backup. They are both quiet and bulletproof. The EU2000 just sips gas and will handle a lot of stuff on its own. I can use the EU3000 during the day (when I have more stuff plugged in) and then use the EU2000 at night with only the window A/C running. Both gennys are pretty portable. I can take them with me to another location if need be. Get the Hondas. You'll be glad you did. 
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Honda E2000i. costs about $900 I like the Honda EU2000i but these look good too. Yamaha EF2400iS The Yamaha's are fantastic. It's a little bit bigger, weighs more but is big enough to run a 13.5K btu trailer air conditioner. Yep, we sell them at work for RV's. Everyone who buys them, loves them! |
| What about being safe for your homes electronics, fridge, well pump etc. I seem to read about some manufactures have claims that they have a cleaner AC than their competitors. Does this mean if the other brands don't mention their clean 60hz AC, that your not getting good clean AC that will not burn up your electrical motors and stuff? |
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What about being safe for your homes electronics, fridge, well pump etc. I seem to read about some manufactures have claims that they have a cleaner AC than their competitors. Does this mean if the other brands don't mention their clean 60hz AC, that your not getting good clean AC that will not burn up your electrical motors and stuff? I have a Dewalt, which is a Honda moter (i think), that suggest not for use of home electronics like laptops, etc. It's a field generator for tool, lights, etc. Is it really a big deal if an ipod is plugged into it? B. |
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What about being safe for your homes electronics, fridge, well pump etc. I seem to read about some manufactures have claims that they have a cleaner AC than their competitors. Does this mean if the other brands don't mention their clean 60hz AC, that your not getting good clean AC that will not burn up your electrical motors and stuff? Pure electric motors (no sensitive motor control electronics) won't be a concern with most generators. A lot of computers will still run on quasi-wave stuff, but it's not recommended. Old (over 10yrs ago) Compaq computer power supplies were known to fail on quasi-sine wave power. Modern appliances will do OK. Computers, test equipment, and other electronic devices do much better with a good, clean sine wave output. The inverter models mentioned here are great for electronics and everything else. |
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I got an awesome deal on a 4000W generator from Checker a couple of years ago. I think it was $100 after rebate. I think it was this one: http://shop.oreillyauto.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=CPE&MfrPartNumber=C46540&CategoryCode=3483C |
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When you see a name like the honda 2000i or whatever it is that i tends to mean it has clean power for electronics from what I recall reading.
With the cheaper stuff or older stuff that is not gauranteed. Just because of the noise factor I recomend a honda, but the quality and low gas use are important as well. Depending on what you want to do you will have to decide what you need. I plan to run my generator when I want to run something that will use most of its power and if I ever buy some golf cart batteries the generator would be used to charge up the batteries as well. The batteries will be able to keep my toys working for long while and I won't have to run the generator all the time. Basically I would charge the batteries up during the day and have the generator shut down and locked up at night while sleeping. There are a lot of generator threads in here, one to go find and read is "does a generator make you a target" or something along those lines. I have had cheap generators and they work but these days I try to find ways to buy quality stuff. I got my 1k watt honda at about half price at a pawn shop. It is scratched up and dented a tad but the thing fires right up and runs great. |
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I got an awesome deal on a 4000W generator from Checker a couple of years ago. I think it was $100 after rebate. I think it was this one: http://shop.oreillyauto.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=CPE&MfrPartNumber=C46540&CategoryCode=3483C I got two of these on the same deal - free shipping, $150 rebate on each. Came out waaaay ahead on that deal. We didn't really have the money to spare, but seeing that the price is now $400 I think it was a good investment. |
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Either get a little bitty one or a great big PTO model. Never ever get a mid-size genny; they are too loud. JK
I bought a 4000W Champion for $279 with a coupon at TSC. It has a Chonda 5HP motor. I love that little yellow bastard. When needed, I have a cable and lock to chain it to the deck or the center wall between my garage doors. Plus, we made up generator kit bags so all the gear is stowed on top of the generator in duffles and such until needed. Kit Bag 1 1 25’ 3 prong black heavy power cord w/ 4 way gray handy box 4 100’ orange power cords 30Ft green ground wire Kit Bag 2 Headlamp in small black bag 2 quarts oil Oil funnel 2 spare spark plugs 12v battery recharge cable metric sockets socket wrench Kit Bag 3 Lock & Cable 3 8’ extension cords 3 3-way’s plug/receptacles Kit Bag 4 8x10 camo tarp 8x12 camo tarp 2 bungee’s 50 Ft. para cord bic lighter duct tape 2 6x12 6mil plastic sheet 25 ft twine |
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we made up generator kit bags so all the gear is stowed on top of the generator in duffles and such until needed. Might want to consider including a copy of the generator owner's manual in one of your kit bags - Will make it easier for inexperienced members of the family to get it running, purchase the proper grade of oil and spark plug, etc. if you're not around. Also, if not present in the owner's manual, a wiring diagram could come in handy for troubleshooting problems with the alternator head. A digital test meter is also very handy - allows you to confirm that the generator is producing proper voltage, and can be used to test extension cords, fuses, batteries, wiring polarity and the generator's electrical parts. Although it's probably a little big to fit in a duffel bag, keeping a corded drill around the house will allow you to "flash the field" on the generator, if it ever becomes necessary. |
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When you see a name like the honda 2000i or whatever it is that i tends to mean it has clean power for electronics from what I recall reading. With the cheaper stuff or older stuff that is not gauranteed. Generators with better power quality often mention "AVR" (Automatic Voltage Regulation) as a feature - On non-inverter models, it typically consists of an active circuit inside the alternator head that continuously adjusts the output voltage as the load varies, providing tighter voltage regulation. On inverter models, the automatic voltage regulation is built into the inverter circuitry. |
| I have a honda eu2000i that I use for my 72gal saltwater coral tank & refrigerator if the power goes.... I'm thinking about getting another one to run a space heater & tv... Thankfully I have only had to use it once but It always cranks on the 2-3rd pull. I crank it up once a month and let it run for 10mins.... |
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we made up generator kit bags so all the gear is stowed on top of the generator in duffles and such until needed. Might want to consider including a copy of the generator owner's manual in one of your kit bags - Will make it easier for inexperienced members of the family to get it running, purchase the proper grade of oil and spark plug, etc. if you're not around. Also, if not present in the owner's manual, a wiring diagram could come in handy for troubleshooting problems with the alternator head. A digital test meter is also very handy - allows you to confirm that the generator is producing proper voltage, and can be used to test extension cords, fuses, batteries, wiring polarity and the generator's electrical parts. Although it's probably a little big to fit in a duffel bag, keeping a corded drill around the house will allow you to "flash the field" on the generator, if it ever becomes necessary. I laminated the starting instructions with pictures and colored arrows and put them in the kit. Each kit bag has a laminated bag tag, too. Great ideas. I will copy the owners manual and put it in a pocket of a bag. I have the 'flash the field' procedure in a my hard drive. Need to print it and put it with the manual. I have a small analog VOM that will go in a kit bag, as well. I have an old, small, light weight, 1/4" chuck B&D, that has been in my tool box since 1980. It goes in the kit bag, too. Thanks I laminated the starting instructions with pictures and colored arrows and We run the generator once a month under a load. But, I need to get my wife and kid to try to start it a couple times. I just noticed that the starting instructions are not listed on a kit bag contents bag tag. FAIL.... updating now Has anybody flashed a field? Are the results immediate? |
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WE used a Honda for 5 days during IKE. There were no gas stations open for 3 days. Many neighbors gennys went quite on day 2, using 5+ gallons of fuel per day. We could run almost 24 hours on 1 gal of gas, plus you can put put the thing in econo mode and it runs just fast enough to run the load you have plugged in. The thing is bad ass.
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Has anybody flashed a field? Are the results immediate? From what I've read, the results are VERY immediate - Hand injuries are possible if you don't let go of the drill chuck soon enough after spinning it. ETA: I had to flash the field on one of my generators once, but used a different technique instead - Basically, I added a relay to the field brush circuit, so that 12 volts DC is momentarily applied to the field every time the electric starter is engaged. |
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I plan to run my generator when I want to run something that will use most of its power and if I ever buy some golf cart batteries the generator would be used to charge up the batteries as well. The batteries will be able to keep my toys working for long while and I won't have to run the generator all the time. Basically I would charge the batteries up during the day and have the generator shut down and locked up at night while sleeping. I have had cheap generators and they work but these days I try to find ways to buy quality stuff. I got my 1k watt honda at about half price at a pawn shop. It is scratched up and dented a tad but the thing fires right up and runs great. Exactly Biere! |