Gasoline Generator Suggestions

[lineman88]

After two 4 day power outages last year in the northeast, I've decided to get a back up gasoline generator for the house. (Don't really want natural gas whole house setup - too much) When I built the house, I installed a transfer switch on my main panel in the walkout basement off the workshop. I plan to run a 30 amp power inlet outside the workshop. When needed, I can wheel the generator outside on a pad and hook up with a 15' extension to the inlet. Noise level not a big deal. I need 6500-8000 watts to run stuff and with electric start for the wife.

I have a Honda EM6500SX on back order - will be in end of February ($2,800) - Honda iGX commercial engine. Here is my question. I was at Home Depot yesterday and saw the Ridgid RD8000 (8000 watt) with a Suburu engine and it looked pretty sweet and is 1/2 the price ($1,300). So I came home and read the 5 pages of reviews on HD web site - very positive.

I think the Honda is tops but is it worth the extra $1,500! I'll probably use it once a year if that. They are about the same size and weight.

I thought the GF folks would have some valuable input. Do I cancel my Honda and go Ridgid? I need reliability and clean power so I've avoided the knock off brands. Is Ridgid good as a company? I thought it was HD's brand but guess its a separate company. Thanks in advance.

Links http://powerequipment.honda.com/pro...ion=P2GG&modelname=EM6500S&modelid=EM6500SXK2

http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/RD8000-Generator/EN/index.htm

 

[lotsoftools]

I say to go with the Rigid. Rigid is a well established power tool company. Like you said, much cheaper. And if you maintain it well it is going to serve you for many years.

 

[1233user]

Think about this before you make your final decision: 10 years down the road when something happens and you need to get a part for your generator, where are you going to go? If you have a Honda, Generac, Briggs & Stratton, or Yamaha there are power equipment shops all over the US that sell them and keep parts in stock. If you buy a big box store generator, where are you going to go when you need something for it? It could be something as simple as a carb gasket kit.

 

[Davefr]

Think about this before you make your final decision: 10 years down the road when something happens and you need to get a part for your generator, where are you going to go? If you have a Honda, Generac, Briggs & Stratton, or Yamaha there are power equipment shops all over the US that sell them and keep parts in stock. If you buy a big box store generator, where are you going to go when you need something for it? It could be something as simple as a carb gasket kit.

^^^ I agree with what he said and I'd stick with a Honda powered unit where parts are easy to find.

Your other issue will be fuel storage. With a generator, you'll need a strategy for safely storing fuel and ensuring it's always fresh. There are many generator owners that find out their generator won't start when they're needed because the old fuel has gone stale and gummed up the carb.

It's not fun to rebuild a carb under candlelight when you're home is encased with ice.

I would have no problem buying a store brand like Ridgid but I'd want a mainstream engine like B&S or Honda.

You might want to have a look in Costco. They used to sell about a 7500 watt Honeywell generator with a Honda engine at a very good price.

 

[lineman88]

Think about this before you make your final decision: 10 years down the road when something happens and you need to get a part for your generator, where are you going to go? If you have a Honda, Generac, Briggs & Stratton, or Yamaha there are power equipment shops all over the US that sell them and keep parts in stock. If you buy a big box store generator, where are you going to go when you need something for it? It could be something as simple as a carb gasket kit.

That is exactly my concern and the reason I'm avoiding a cheap knock off brand. I may be wrong but I think with Ridgid and a Subaru commercial engine, parts would be around but who knows companies came and go and even established companies sometimes don't support products after extended period of time. Your point is well taken.

 

[lineman88]

Fuel storage is always an issue and you have to start and maintain these units. I keep a couple of 5 gal containers in the shed with stabilizer in them for snow blower etc and try to rotate them. I guess I could always siphon some out of the truck.

 

[maruscmn]

I picked up this tri-fuel Powerland last year and have been very happy.
http://www.powerlandonline.com/c=Tu...E/Gas-Generator-10000-w-portable-on-sale.html
I just like haveing the flexability of the three fuels. plus it is very easy to store propane.

 

[LSU]

I have 2 gasoline generators. One is used at a remote site. It sits up for long period of times and then is in constant use for days at a time.

In the last 15 years, I've probally bought and "used up" about 4 generators.

Second generator sits at job site "mothballed" until it is needed.

Others may disagree but here is what I suggest.

I'd recommend buying from a long established dealer. Might cost more in the short run but I've discovered that long term you have a much better chance of getting replacment parts.

I buy a lot of stuff at Lowe's. I'm not a big box hater but if you need a part for an engine or a generator - odds are Lowe's are not going to have it (especially 3 years later).

I'm a fan of Stihl products. I buy them from a local Stihl dealer and I've started buying my Honda and Briggs powered generators from this guy. He's got a good repair shop and he carries parts.

I'd suggest you get a good engine. Honda, Briggs, etc. One you can work on, one you can get parts for.

Most of my problems with generators have been with the engines, not the actual generator parts.

I use a fuel additive and follow good storage proceedings. If I'm going to let it lay up for a while, I run it dry, set it up for storage. (if you believe that . . .) seriously, sometimes I don't mothball it as well as I should but I find that having the fuel stab in the gasoline helps. I'd also try to find real gasoline, not gasoline with alcohol to run it on.

Finally, I've not used an electric start generator but would like to have one.

 

[theoldwizard1]

First, Generac portable generators are built by Briggs & Stratton. B&S also builds for other companies (Craftsman, Troy-Bilt, etc.). The point is, all of these have a huge parts distribution network, and because of this, I would make one of these my first choice.

Honda would be my 2nd choice, but make certain it is a Honda brand generator, not just Honda engine.

I would put the Ridgid/Subaru as my 3rd choice. They are still "the new kid on the block".


Having said all this, I don't know why ANYONE would buy a new generator ! There are dozens of them for sale on CraigsList ALL of the time ! Most have been lightly used and can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of a new one. Both my BIL and myself have bought used B&S units in your size range for under $400. They looks like new and starts on the first or second pull.

Last is a couple of simple tips.

• Use your favorite brand of gasoline stabilizer.
• Start your generator every couple of months and put a load on it.
• Run the carb dry when shutting down.
• Drain and replace the gas once a year.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Finally, I've not used an electric start generator but would like to have one.

My BIL insisted he had to have electric start. In the end, he bought one with pull start !

One trick he showed me is the following starting procedure:

• Turn fuel supply on.
• With master switch off, slowly pull the start cord thru one compression cycle, twice.
• Turn switch on.
• Pull cord, slowly and steadily.

 

[cashishift]

First, Generac portable generators are built by Briggs & Stratton. B&S also builds for other companies (Craftsman, Troy-Bilt, etc.). The point is, all of these have a huge parts distribution network, and because of this, I would make one of these my first choice.

Honda would be my 2nd choice, but make certain it is a Honda brand generator, not just Honda engine.

I would put the Ridgid/Subaru as my 3rd choice. They are still "the new kid on the block".


Having said all this, I don't know why ANYONE would buy a new generator ! There are dozens of them for sale on CraigsList ALL of the time ! Most have been lightly used and can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of a new one. Both my BIL and myself have bought used B&S units in your size range for under $400. They looks like new and starts on the first or second pull.

Last is a couple of simple tips.

• Use your favorite brand of gasoline stabilizer.
• Start your generator every couple of months and put a load on it.
• Run the carb dry when shutting down.
• Drain and replace the gas once a year.

I guess I'd be worried I would be buying someone elses problems.. with CL.

DeWalt also offers a few generators.. Since you already have the electrical part done, have you looked into a permanent one?

Possibly a smaller diesel one?

 

[rct]

For a home standby use portable, I strongly recommend considering a tri-fuel style. (runs on gas, propane or natural gas). The new ethanol gas is harder to store and stabilize long term and unless you want to keep a huge amount of gas on hand, it gets hard to find during an outage. Had a portable generac that ran well for 10 days after an october 2006 storm in buffalo, but I was looking hard for a gas station with power about day 3-4. When I can justify it, I will switch to a tri-fuel. Propane-generators.com sells a conversion kit I am considering, the also sell new factory warranty yamaha tri-fuel portables. Also check out the Winco tri-fuel with a honda engine. That said, if you stay with straight gas the piece of mind from the Honda is probably worth it over the rigid. Honda is a good generator.

 

[woody 73]

Sears had a sale some time back and after living without power for a week my wife and I bought a small unit. The one about getting parts is correct (BUT I WILL THROW THIS IN) any business can go under just ask me! I bought my craftsman snow blower brand new and it came with a Tecumseh engine ; after all they had been making engines for a long time and now they are gone!

I don't think Honda or B&S will go under anytime soon but look for a unit that will power the items that are important to you. If the more expensive unit will do it then buy it; but if you only want to say have power for a fridge,washing machine,space heater and a few lights then go with the cheaper unit.

Most of the year/years that Generator will sit somewhere taking up your floor space and collect dust.

 

[Jagmandave]

I bought my Generac from the Depot 10 years ago after a week long outage that affected all of my neighborhood for miles around, except me and 4 other houses! It's a 12,500 surge 7,500 constant electric start with a Briggs motor, and it gets very little use, in fact I have gone two or three years without starting it up. This summer past I dug it out and the battery had finally died, I didn't think it would start, but I pulled it a couple of times and turned on the switch and boom, it ran perfectly!

I added a couple gallons of fresh gas and some stabil, then ran it for about 2 hours with a load on it - 2 box fans were all I had handy - and it ran sweet.

A couple of days later I tried it once more and again - one pull - and it was running. My only complaint is that I've always thought the exhaust was pretty loud so I'm thinking about trying to engineer a better muffler. If the power goes out again it gets really quiet and I don't want to annoy the neighbors with the constant drone of this thing. I do run the gas out of the carb when I shut it down, but I don't worry about it re-starting. The gasoline issue does concern me as I don't want to keep 5 gal cans in the shed, but like someone else posted, I guess I could always siphon some out of one of the three cars in the driveway.

I think the Subie motor is fine and I would not worry about parts availability and I don't see the point of paying twice as much for the same amount of power. That said, Honda has been doing this for a long time and I know their gensets are the quietest out there - there's something to be said for experience and support when you need it.

Oh, and I could never keep air in the damn tires, they were always going flat so I bought some solid ones from HF - half the time when I went to roll it out of the shed I couldn't move it cause the damn tires were flat!

 

[papabil]

Hi I bought a champion 9000-7000 from costco i love it so far $699.00 it also has remote start. bill

 

[theoldwizard1]

My only complaint is that I've always thought the exhaust was pretty loud so I'm thinking about trying to engineer a better muffler. If the power goes out again it gets really quiet and I don't want to annoy the neighbors with the constant drone of this thing.

Check around the 'net with Google or YouTube, you will find that many have adapted some kind of flex pipe to an automotive muffler. A better muffler is only half of the problem.

If you really want to quiet your generator down you need to make an insulated box. The problem with that is heat ! Most folks add a good size fan to get adequate ventilation. Holes for air also mean holes for noise to escape.

 

[Herb]

Well, I've been looking at generators since Hurricane Irene. I had a 3 hour old Miller Bobcat welder/ generator that we used for a total of 4 hours on that storm. It provided all the power I needed, but it was LOUD and it went through gas like it was being poured down a drain. This issue, along with the fact that the local gas stations were only allowing $20.00 purchases at a time ($ 4.00/ gal) meant I could only run this for 3 1/2 hours. Two weeks after the storm I sold my Miller for $200 more than I paid for it 6 years ago and started shopping for a more fuel efficient unit. I looked at the Honda 6500 invertor units at $ 4500- VERY quiet and fuel efficient for that size, but I thought that fuel availabilty could still be an issue, plus there is always the issue of long term fuel storage. With these thoughts in mind and considering the fact that my house is heated with fuel oil, I started looking at diesel units and ended up getting a really nice Kubota gl700. I think that the long term storage of fuel in diesels is far superior and I have plenty of back up from my furnace if neccessary. Now this particular unit is rated at .71 gph full load, and I don't think I'll ever be running at full load for an extended period so fuel should last a very long time.

 

[Skysurfer]

You gotta watch out when buying things like this at Costco. They have name-brand items but the model numbers are unique to Costco so when you need parts it's a major pita.

Honda powered pressure washer had a no-name pump witho no parts availability. I finally found a part number for a complete new pump assy but the price was more than I paid for the whole washer. Gave the engine to a kid for his go kart.

Wagner twin stroke piston pump paint sprayer. Failed under warranty and took it to a repair facility as directed. Tech couldn't find the right parts due to the odd model number. Calls to Wagner and waiting for shipped parts were part of the repair.

 

[airbatica]

Look for a used Onan J Series. Stout, parts are still pretty available, and will outlast any 3600RPM screamer. Fairly easy to covert them to natural gas too.

 

[theoldwizard1]

... I looked at the Honda 6500 invertor units at $ 4500- VERY quiet and fuel efficient for that size ...

Inverter generator use the least amount of fuel and, in general, are the quietest running.

Most generators run at a constant speed (typically 3600 rpm) and use a mechanical governor to maintain that speed (which is important because the output voltage and frequency depend on a constant speed). So even when there is a very light load, the still are running at 3600 rpm.

Inverter generators vary their speed depending on the load. This takes some tricky and expensive electronics. First, the electronics has to convert variable frequency and variable voltage to a constant frequency and a constant voltage. Second, when there is not enough power being generated at low rpms, it has to rev up the engine. This second part is usually done by a microprocessor.

 

[Kev442]

I was pleasantly surprised when I needed my 20 yo generator this past summer. It had sat for at least three years. I drained the carb bowl on the B&S engine, added some fresh gas and it started on about the 4th pull. It was surging slightly, so I hosed the carb and governor area with some carb cleaner and it smoothed out pretty nice.

What was nicer was 45 minutes later the power came back on after being out all night!

 

[Toymeister]

Ah, bigger is better, right? well no actually.

Let me emphaize what others have said fuel is the weak link and you need LOTS of fuel for big generators. Size in generators is like the number of tools that you have. Lots is great, it is fun! but in fact you can get by with very little to get the job done. A little power goes a long way to make your life much nicer when power is off.

I use two generators. One 1000 watt Honda inverter. It generate clean power for the TV, charges the phone and keeps the internet going along with some lights and a fan. A larger one (2500 watts) powers the fridge alternating with the freezer. With careful use of fuel 2.5 gallons a day (or less) is very possible. You probaly have a weeks worth in your gas tanks and arround the house.

Your furnace and water heater needs drive the larger units size but a small inverter type is very useful. And remember one is none and two is one!

 

[pl_silverado]

I just went thru this myself this year. House lost power during one of the hurricanes in August when I was halfway across the country for job training. Wife was at home with the little one with no power for a week until I got back. Being on a well, no power means no water, no sump pumps running either which led to me having 18 inches of water in the basement until power was restored.
Hard to survive without water, so I essentially needed a generator to run the whole house. Ended up with a Miller Trailblazer 302 efi which does just that. $4400 for a 12,000 watt generator that doubles for a welder in a pinch, was a no brainer, since we lose power occasionslly and you can never have enough welders
Theres usually 120 gallons of fuel around the house between all the cars, that outta last me a little over a week.

However, If I were on propane or natural gas at the house, I would have gone that route.

 

[donald73d]

I am picking up a used Winco propane generator off CL. Eliminate the old fuel problems in the carb and also fuel storage problems. Also consider what kind of power outage will it be, local or widespread. Remember San Diego last summer where 1.3M people had no power. How easy is it to find gas? Easier to find a place where I can swap a 20 lb tank of propane. How much stabilized gas are you going to have? Rotate it out every 6 months into a car?

 

[lineman88]

I called around to some generator service centers in our area. They had positive impressions of the Ridgid but also mentioned Generac as a brand to consider. Maybe that should be on my list? They are lots of dealers in our area.

They did comment that Honda makes an excellent generator but when it gets out of warranty, its very expensive to repair. Doesn't surprise me since its expensive to begin with so I'm sure the electronic parts in them are pricey.

 

[38D]

I have a Honda EU6500. One thing I don't see mentioned much here is the noise of a generator. I use mine for use at the track, but also as backup power. A less expensive generator seems great until your trying to sleep and its putting out 80 dB. The EU6500 does 59 dB, which is insanely quite. The other thing to consider is how fuel efficient it is (or isn't). The EU6500 has an eco throttle mode will run ~12 hours on 5 gals, and that's powering most of my house (gas furnace blower, well pump, TV, microwave, lights, gas stove, etc). With other equipment around, I've always got at least 15 gals on hand. So that's 2 days of power backup without needing to worry about fuel, stabilizer or anything else. In the last 4 years, I've had 3 occasions where we needed generator power for 4-6 days (ice storm, hurricane, blizzard), so this usage is based on actual experiences.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I called around to some generator service centers in our area. They had positive impressions of the Ridgid but also mentioned Generac as a brand to consider. Maybe that should be on my list? They are lots of dealers in our area.

Briggs & Stratton bought out the Generac portable generator operations a few years ago.

They did comment that Honda makes an excellent generator but when it gets out of warranty, its very expensive to repair. Doesn't surprise me since its expensive to begin with so I'm sure the electronic parts in them are pricey.

Not all Honda generators use "inverter" technology. The ones that do are expensive. The other ones are more reasonably priced and don't have pricey electronics. They are not as quiet or as fuel efficient as the inverter models.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Ah, bigger is better, right? well no actually.

Let me emphaize what others have said fuel is the weak link and you need LOTS of fuel for big generators. Size in generators is like the number of tools that you have. Lots is great, it is fun! but in fact you can get by with very little to get the job done. A little power goes a long way to make your life much nicer when power is off.

I use two generators. One 1000 watt Honda inverter. It generate clean power for the TV, charges the phone and keeps the internet going along with some lights and a fan. A larger one (2500 watts) powers the fridge alternating with the freezer. With careful use of fuel 2.5 gallons a day (or less) is very possible. You probaly have a weeks worth in your gas tanks and arround the house.

For a generator that is capable of >6KW, continuous, I would make bi/tri-fuel (gasoline/LP/NG) a mandatory option. LP is only an option IF you already have a large tank (>100 gallons). You can buy a LP/NatGas conversion kit for most small engines.

One down side of a couple of small (<3KW) generators is, they won't run any 240V items (water heaters, ventral A/C, heat pump or many water pumps). Honda now has some larger (240V) inverter generators (EM5000iS and EU6500iS). Very pricey !

The other down side to a couple of small generators, you are pretty much stuck with extension cords or a single circuit transfer switch. If you have a 240V well pump, you are out of luck.

 

[lineman88]

I agree that fuel is clearly a weak link in the gasoline powered generator scenario. But I live in a suburban area and can easily drive to Boston or Providence for gas. If I can't load up a few 6 gal containers and fill up my truck, then there are more serious problems. In a very rural area it's a different story - you need a steady source of fuel. I'm not planning for the apocalypse just a few days without power.

I'm sure I could get by with 6000 watts. I just figured the extra power might be nice to have - but the point is well taken that it will consume more fuel.

I love the Honda units but have a hard time justifying the cost for such occasional usage. Close to $3,000!

 

[JD6619A]

have my Eu2000i very solid and quiet, always use stabilizer in it and maintenance is top notch run it every 2nd month hasn't given me a lick of trouble. My engine driven welder same thing (red d arc gx200) doubles as a 4000W generator use it lots for welding and the occasional outage. Honda would be my choice. If I was considering a home backup generator I'd consider the EU series Quiet and clean power