Generator inverters

[whitetrash1]

I know Honda is king here with Yamaha a close second but does anyone have any experience with others? Hyundai, generac, ect

Trying to seeing if there is a decent option a little more budget friendly.

 

[rice rocket]

I've self-debated about this for a while too, and admitted to myself I should just get the Honda when I get one. Being that Eu2000is sell used for only a few bucks less than new, when I want to step up to another generator or just sell it, I can recoup 95% of my cost. Net investment over however many years will a few bucks.

 

[wait4me]

I have the ryobi 2,200 watt from Home Depot. It gets very light use, but so far I've been quite happy with it.

 

[willf650]

I have a Honeywell one and would never buy one again.

I think the Honeywell generators were absorbed by generac. I don't believe the Honeywell ones and the generac ones are the same.


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[whitetrash1]

I have a Honeywell one and would never buy one again.

I think the Honeywell generators were absorbed by generac. I don't believe the Honeywell ones and the generac ones are the same.


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So are you unhappy with your unit or would never need another one?

 

[Fugio]

I have a Honda with a 5hp engine, not one of the little red briefcases. It's HORRIBLE! Oh yeah, it works fine and wasn't too expensive, but it's so LOUD you can hear it a mile away. It's as loud as my 50hp John Deere tractor!

Next one I get will be a small QUIET model. Either a Honda or that new little Generac IQ2000. Depends on which one I can get a remote for easier.

 

[brveagle]

I have a champion 2k watt generator inverter. Love it. Use it for my motorcycle trackday racing. My only advice is to buy bigger than you think you need.

 

[guy48065]

'Splain this to me--a quality name-brand 2000W inverter costs $800-2000 but 2000W inverter-generators (that includes a gas engine & alternator) are often cheaper. Something ain't right about those generators.

 

[honcho]

I have a japanese built Mitsubishi 1000w unit. I bought it used and it is exceptionally quiet and sips fuel. Unfortunately, it is too small for many uses. If doing it over, I'd just bite the bullet and buy a Honda or Yamaha for the long haul.

 

[theoldwizard1]

'Splain this to me--a quality name-brand 2000W inverter costs $800-2000 but 2000W inverter-generators (that includes a gas engine & alternator) are often cheaper. Something ain't right about those generators.

You can now buy a 2000W "continuous" sine-wave inverter for under $600 and I expect these price to drop (Google is running a contest with a $!m first prize).

EG Micro (a Chinese company) is now marketing an ICs (EG8010) that along with a couple other of the shelf ICs make up about 75% of what is required to make an inverter. The only thing you need is some drive transistors, high frequency transformer(s) some caps and coils for filtering and you are almost done. The only thing left is some kind of microprocessor and software to take care of all the "exceptions" (input voltage too low/high, temperature too high, etc, etc)

 

[theoldwizard1]

I would seriously look at Champion inverter generators.

 

[Showkey]

I know Honda is king here with Yamaha a close second but does anyone have any experience with others? Hyundai, generac, ect

Trying to seeing if there is a decent option a little more budget friendly.

My neighbor's often wanted to borrow my Honda when the Honeywell/ Generac would not start or when it did start the rpm hunted so bad the voltage dropped.

Amazon reviews pretty much cover the off brands.

 

[willf650]

So are you unhappy with your unit or would never need another one?

I would never buy a Honeywell one again because I don't like it. It's a ***** to start. The pull string is on the bottom of the unit which makes it hard to use. I have physically hurt my self with the handle trying to start it. When you go to pull it the motor moves inside the casing which makes the choke lever pop out of the slot in the casing that exposes the handle. This means you have to remove a cover and put the choke handle back through the slot to use it as it supposed to, i.e. with the cover on

The one time I really needed it it couldn't run anything I needed it to. Namely a freezer. To run the freezer I would physically have to take the cover off of the generator and subsequently rev up the engine by hand to get it to not stall when the freezer started.

My friend has a Honda of the same rating and it will allow the ac to start in his rv which I would guess is probably a little more load than a freezer.

Like I said the one time I truly needed a generator I had to go out and buy another one. The Honeywell has not been used since.


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[honcho]

Remember, inverter generator or not, the essential components are mechanical: An engine and a rotating alternator. Honda has a well deserved reputation for their small engines (as does Yamaha) and they clearly use high quality bearing and other components in their alternators, resulting in excellent reliability and longevity.

On the inverter side of things, it still takes quality electronics and assembly to build a reliable piece of equipment. Since both Honda and Yamaha have such a huge share of the worldwide market for inverter generators, they both have good parts support which is sbomething that is often sadly lacking with many other lesser brands.

 

[guy48065]

I've been told that for a generator to start difficult loads like AC units, freezers, submersible well pumps, etc the unit must have a large inertia (flywheel and/or a heavy generator core) that will mechanically "plow through" the needed starting current. The cheap generators don't have large flywheels and will stall. My 4000W (peak) Champion stalls like I shoved a crowbar into it when I connect it to my 1800W well pump (220V/8A). I haven't tried one but I'd be very skeptical that an inverter/generator that uses a lightweight alternator instead of a heavy generator would perform better on difficult loads. This is definitely a "try before you buy" situation for me after being disappointed twice with chinese generators.

 

[redmondjp]

Motor starting is a special case for a generator - motors can draw up to 3-4 times their normal running current while starting (or more, in certain cases). Your generator has to be able to deliver that current or the motor won't start. Something to keep in mind when you buy a generator, especially if you are going to depend upon it during an emergency.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I'm not a pro by any means, but we have sold a lot of the Powerhouse generators without any complaints. They are a bit less expensive, do not last as long and are a couple of decibels louder than the Honda's and Yamaha's, but overall are a pretty nice generator.

 

[Finky198]

I have a honda 2000eu that i got a killer deal on the CL

I have to say i wouldn't trade it for the world its so quiet and well designed it always starts on the 2nd pull it very fuel efficient and its red

my next door neighbor bought an off brand model form the local hardware store and it is SO Loud and obnoxious its not even funny

If you want a quiet and reliable generator stick with a
brand name like Honda, Yamaha, or Generac

 

[Brian_WK]

Also on newer furnaces you will need good inverter sine wave with stable voltage to run. After a unexpected ice storm a few years back that knocked power out for a few days I changed at least 30 furnace control boards from cheap generators frying them. (I also heard that they took out a few big screen TV's but I don't work on those.) These boards can cost an upwards of $400 plus install. With all of the control boards in electronics now I would be very cautious of what i plug into a cheap generator.

Brian

 

[DonPowers]

Can't speak for other brands. I have the Honda EU 2000 and Kubota 6500 diesel. Power outages around here are typically 2 to 3 hours and we use the Honda to power lights, internet, pellet stove and TV. If the outage looks like it will be longer, then I fire up the diesel to run the whole house. The 2000 is only 120 volt, so if you had any 220 volt loads or running multiple things with motors Honda makes inverters up to 6500 watts.

During the winter, I keep the Honda in the entry way closet with a couple 25' cords. That way its nice and warm and will start right up when needed. Just move it outside, open the tank vent and let it run.

Nice thing about the Honda is it can run several hours an a gallon of gas, the diesel burns about a half gallon per hour.

Hondas are also maintenance friendly, easy access for changing oil and plug. Don't know how the other brands are set up.

As others have said, you get what you pay for.

 

[Slackerzinc]

I have a Honda EM5000is inverter. It's so quiet that when it's running beside my house I can't hear it! My neighbours down the road I can hear. I fill the tank and it will run for 15 hours at 1/4 load! The electric start is pretty nice. You get what you pay for in generators.

 

[whitetrash1]

Anyone have a powerhorse from northern tool? I can only find about 50 reviews but they are all good minus 1 hard to start.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I'd stick with Honda or Yamaha myself...

 

[Finky198]

Anyone have a powerhorse from northern tool? I can only find about 50 reviews but they are all good minus 1 hard to start.

Hard to start is the last feature you want in a generator
Think about it . They look pretty similar to the Honda But if I was going to spend 6-700 on a small generator I would just spend the extra 100-200 and buy the honda

Have you thought about buying a used Eu2000 they go for about 500 buck on CL around hear in excellent shape just a thought

 

[HoosierBuddy]

We use generators everyday at work to provide power on jobsites.

I figured out pretty fast that it's cheaper to just buy the Honda and forget about it.

That being said...it's different when it's your own money!

Phil

 

[whitetrash1]

Hard to start is the last feature you want in a generator
Think about it . They look pretty similar to the Honda But if I was going to spend 6-700 on a small generator I would just spend the extra 100-200 and buy the honda

Have you thought about buying a used Eu2000 they go for about 500 buck on CL around hear in excellent shape just a thought

Can't touch a used Honda under 850 here. I'd love to be able to spend the money on the Honda without a thought but it just doesn't fit my budget. I may save a little longer for one but it doesn't hurt to do some research before hand.