what is a good brand for emergency generator
- Thread starter camaross
- Start date
TAMPAGT07
Well-known member
cderalow
Well-known member
Generac or Kohler is a good deal.
TAMPAGT07
Well-known member
I've just got a few small ones...A coleman 6500 watt max and a smaller 4000 watter...
pattenp
Well-known member
2 key words "good" and "affordable". Honda is good, affordable... well maybe not. I'll say Generac and Kohler are good and affordable, Harborfreight has affordable gens, but not too sure about how good they are. All said and done I have a Generac and have been pleased with it. If I were to buy again I'd go with Kohler because overall I think they are rated slightly better than Generac.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Better than average quality, not necessarily "good deals" !
It is hard to make a recommendation on such a small amount of information. So you want to run your sump pump. 120V/240V ? How many amps does it draw ? No lights, microwave, refrigerator, freezer or furnace ?
Do you want a portable or permanently installed standby (Generac and Kohler are big in the standby business). Permenanetly installed ones are a lot more expensive and need natural gas or propane.
Portable means you would likely have to run extension cords to each appliance (not really that much of a hassle if you have the cords and outages are infrequent). Or you can have a transfer switch or generator interlock (much cheaper) installed.
IMHO the "average" home can get by on a portable 3,000 - 3,500 watts. Of course that is no electric heating or cooling, no electric stove, no electric water heater and no electric dryer. Yes, on a well pump.
Funny thing is, many of the portable generators in the 3,000 - 5,000 are all made by the same company (Briggs & Stratton ?), they just have different labels on them !
fflintstone
Well-known member
honda #1 generac #2
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Kohler does not sell portable generators. Generac does. They cost more than B&S/TroyBilt/Craftsman.
If you are truly just looking for sump pump backup, a large marine "deep cycle" battery and inverter are all you really need. Total cost between $300 and $400.
TAMPAGT07
Well-known member
I assume the OP is running a sump pump with the generator...Make sure that you keep your pump clean..I came home one time and looked in the sump and the water level was about an inch below the floor line...I was real lucky...That never happened again..
M17715
Banned
Any of these mentioned so far.
You have alot of money invested, so IMHO, you should buy something worthwhile to keep it safe. Maybe know is the time to step up and buy a good generator to run the house when the power goes out.
You really need to consider what you're looking for:
Are you looking for a whole house automated standby generator?
Or something you can manually hook up and keep a few gas cans around, to run your sump pump or what not during an emergency?
Are you looking for a whole house automated standby generator?
Or something you can manually hook up and keep a few gas cans around, to run your sump pump or what not during an emergency?
^ ^ This. Big difference in STANDBY Generators (ie whole house generators ran by propane or natural gas), than a portable emergency generator (ie gas or diesel).
OP doesn't list location, but coastline, FL, or areas prone to flooding or ice storms that take out power, I'd look at Generac standby generator running on natural gas.
For the smaller gensets, Generac has been putting their name on some that aren't really all that good.
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
onan
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
The Generac portables look a lot like the Briggs & Stratton portables. Slightly different frame and control panel, but the rest looks identical.
Generac claims they build their own engines but they look a lot like a B&S Vanguard knock offs to me.
I will be installing a whole house unit when we build our new house. My piece of mind and not having to worry about losing power or food spoiling or freezing in the winter is worth the relatively small price for an automatic standby genset.
malibu101
Well-known member
"what is a good brand for emergency generator"--
If you're talking portable, my opinion from what I've seen used hard around jobs, Honda is the choice. Although they are pricey they are very good.
Yes, there are many other good brands out there too. Just like one guy may have a great experience with a "cheap" tool, another guy has a bad experience with a "great" tool.
A brand one person swears by, another person swears at.
If you're talking portable, my opinion from what I've seen used hard around jobs, Honda is the choice. Although they are pricey they are very good.
Yes, there are many other good brands out there too. Just like one guy may have a great experience with a "cheap" tool, another guy has a bad experience with a "great" tool.
A brand one person swears by, another person swears at.
cowboyjosh
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2010
- Messages
- 1,066
Kohler, one that is properly sized and installed. You'll love it.
north star generators from northern. most of them are honda powered with made in and or us assembled parts. i have an older one with a gx390 and 8000 watt max power unit. it has seen a fair amount of use with no problems.
KnightFire
Well-known member
https://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/218155_213886938638278_3734158_n.jpg
shovel
Well-known member
Miller Bobcat 250. 12,000 watts of standby power. Badass welder to boot!
I believe Briggs bought the smaller Generac line a few years ago. So when they claim to make their own engines well, I guess they really do.
Somebody please correct me if I'm remembering it wrong.
I'll second you on that. I borrowed one when the power was out for 36 hours. I ran my three door fridge/freezer, laptop, few lamps, sump pump, phone chargers, oven (gas), and a fan. When I hit the switch to allow it to run full tilt instead of by the load, it really ramped up. Wasn't even maxing it out.
bobcatdan
Well-known member
One word, Baldor.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Excellent product if it fits your requirements. Every place I have seen it, it sells for over $1,000. Definitely pricey.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I will second this. When the power went out in Sandy for 4.5 days it was life as usual in my place
Major Ramifications
Well-known member
What was really funny (to me) after Hurricane Katrina was all the whole house generators that couldn't be used because they were installed too low and were flooded.
If you get one, and there's any chance of flooding, mount it accordingly.
Also, if you REALLY want to go big, Kato makes good stuff.
If you get one, and there's any chance of flooding, mount it accordingly.
Also, if you REALLY want to go big, Kato makes good stuff.
ishiboo
Well-known member
Capstone 
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Same is true for your A/C unit !
p_mori7
Well-known member
You can get reasonably priced Honda clone (Lifan) inverter generators at Home Depot for about $1500 for the 5600 watt most powerful unit (which will run alot of things in the house) or for as little as $500 for a smaller one which will power the sump pump and many other things if you rotate the power cord to the different things you want to use.
Inverter generators are much quieter than traditional generators, and sip gas rather than guzzle it like mechanical generators.
brad900
Well-known member
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Another clone ... Boliy
Besides Amazon, these are sold by some storefronts and a couple of other internet stores. Some of them offer extended warranty.
mobiledynamics
Well-known member
KnightFire -
Did you do the pad/install of your generator yourself.
Seems awefully close to the house, unless you definately keep the windows closed during operation.
If I recall Generac calls for no closer than 18" from the house, and at least 5' away from any windows or doors. A bit too close for my comfort zone
I err on the safety side. My vacay house in the sticks, we have it way's out. My only gripe is the location and angle / oil changes......but I feel okay running it with windows open in that scenario.
Did you do the pad/install of your generator yourself.
Seems awefully close to the house, unless you definately keep the windows closed during operation.
If I recall Generac calls for no closer than 18" from the house, and at least 5' away from any windows or doors. A bit too close for my comfort zone
I err on the safety side. My vacay house in the sticks, we have it way's out. My only gripe is the location and angle / oil changes......but I feel okay running it with windows open in that scenario.
The Frisco Kid
Well-known member
Many Generac watercooled units are gear drive to run the engine at higher RPM and get more power... this *****! No one else in the powergen marketplace does this to my knowledge, not even the Chinese knockoffs.
Cummins has made a big push to get market share back from Generac and Kohler in the small units and their pricing shows it. I'd start my search with Cummins, Baldor, and Kohler if you want 20kW or more.
Cummins has made a big push to get market share back from Generac and Kohler in the small units and their pricing shows it. I'd start my search with Cummins, Baldor, and Kohler if you want 20kW or more.
robertlynk
Well-known member
I kind of worry having the down spout draining into the generator area
Why? Liquid cooling!