469 runner
Well-known member
Looking to purchase a portable generator at least 7000 watts to use during power outages. I know most are manufactured in china these days. Any recommendations for brand? Thanks.
Recommend me a generator
- Thread starter 469 runner
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willhollin
Well-known member
Always found Honda to be good.
u118224
Well-known member
How do you plan to use it? Daily, weekly or just once in a while?
maddawg308
Banned
Military surplus 10KW diesel MEP-003A genset, made by Onan. Most sold surplus were made in the 1980s or 1990s, and most have low hours. Excellent quality, but loud as a raped banshee. Can be wired for single phase 120V as well as 3-phase. Redundant oil filtration and fuel filtration system. They are built like a tank and will last as long as one. Made in America.
You can expect to pay between $800 and $1200 for one in good shape. They weigh about 1,200 lbs, so you will need the ability to move it. Some guys buy them, pick them up with trailers and bolt them down, keeping them bolted to the trailer and making them easier to move it around your yards where you need it.
You can expect to pay between $800 and $1200 for one in good shape. They weigh about 1,200 lbs, so you will need the ability to move it. Some guys buy them, pick them up with trailers and bolt them down, keeping them bolted to the trailer and making them easier to move it around your yards where you need it.
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mayday0017
Well-known member
Honda +1
Have a Honda EU3000is for my Travel Trailer. Able to connect 2 generators in parrell to get your required watts but really do you need 7000 for a backup? They also make transfere switches which I believe will start the generator on power faluire. Small and Quiet and Fuel efficent!
Camtwo69
Well-known member
Get a Honda you won't be disappointed !
maddawg308
Banned
Just for the record - Hondas are made overseas.
BigTJ
Well-known member
bet Japan with there motocycles. LOL Couldn't resist.
maddawg308
Banned
Well, nowadays you have to specify - Toyota makes a lot of vehicles in USA, ironically. But I checked, Honda gensets are made in China.
mayday0017
Well-known member
oh and your Honda EU generators are SOOOO quiet compaired to others, you can sleep with one outside a tent if needed...
The Frisco Kid
Well-known member
Those Honda EU's are inverter generators, so make sure that you're comparing apples to apples.
7kW worth of inverter generator power would be expensive! may want to look at a small portable diesel unit (also $$$ though)
7kW worth of inverter generator power would be expensive! may want to look at a small portable diesel unit (also $$$ though)
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Unless you are more specific on what you want to run, we are all just taking wild *** guesses !
I think he said when he would use it.
I find Honda's are great but too expensive for this kind of task. I have a Briggs & Stratton generator and it has worked great during outages. I was very pleased that my wife was able to easily pull the cord to start it. I believe it is US made or at least most of it is. The nice thing about a big brand domestic is that you may be able to get parts for it down the road if needed.
That reminds me, it has been over a year sense our last outage. I better fire it up and let it run for a while.
Edit: The B&S is loud as hell but most of my neighbors have one too so no one gets too fussy.
That's not exactly true. Maybe it was on the old L head motors but with the new overhead valve motors, they are pretty low noise compared to yesteryear. I sell the B & S line and the 7K unit it not bad. It is not a nice as a honda but nowhere as bad as the old tecumseh's either.
EOC_Jason
Well-known member
Check CL... There are usually TONS of generators for sale along coastal cities. People rush out to buy them when hurricanes come, but then afterwards just have them sitting in their garage collecting dust. Eventually they decide they want to get rid of it which is when you can get a deal. Worst thing is usually rebuilding the carb (easy as pie) because they never drained out the old gas...
maddawg308
Banned
SteelSoldiers.com is loaded with info on the gensets. govliquidation is the place to go to bid on them, usually they have an auction a week all around the country for them. Some are 3KW, some are 5KW, 10KW, HUGE units beyond that, and some ones already mounted on trailers. I would HIGHLY recommend previewing the lots before bidding, or have someone close to the auction site do it for you. Sometimes there are missing parts or problems that can't be seen in the pics, so a eyes-on-site look would be much preferable.
The Hondas are, though, very quiet, I can attest to that from camping trips I've been on where friends have had them, and you can carry on a conversation next to one without raising your voice. The military ones, you can't carry on a conversation next to one without loudspeakers.
Be advised - the ratings on the military gensets are different than civilian ones. They are rated conservatively, they will run at rated spec in the worst possible conditions with crappy fuel. In optimum conditions with good fuel, the 3KW unit will put out about 4.2KW, the 5KW unit will make 7.5KW, and the 10KW unit will make 13.5KW.
RangerDaleXp
Well-known member
BD1
Well-known member
What about a welder generator ? I have a Miller 302 trailblazer. This will burn about a gallon a hour balls out. It's also 10,000 watts.