Small (<3500W) inexpensive generators

[theoldwizard1]

Everyone has heard how fantastic Honda generators are, but the PRICE ! Yamaha is a close second.

WIth a few extension cords a 2000-3500W generator can run the critical things in your house. So, how about some feed back on "low end" generators.

Anyone able to get one of those HF tiny generators to last more than a year of "average" usage ? How about the larger HF generators ?

Other brands (yes, Chinese) include Champion and Boliy. Some are obviously the same with just different labels.

 

[trainer]

I have a 3000 watt champion at a camp that has about 500 hours on it now with zero issues. It was about 1/10th the price of a honda 3000ei.
It goes about 10-15 hours on a tank of gas, depending on the load. I run synthetic oil and change it once a year. Starts first pull every time.
I have it permanently installed in a small shed to keep it dry.

It runs a small hot tub, lights, tv, sattelite reciever and coffee maker at the same time with no problem.

The one it replaced was a generic chinese model that had the same engine. The generator head died after it got left out in the rain, but the engine still runs fine.

 

[bczygan]

We have a Centurion (Made by Generac) 3250 portable. Bought used for $240.

Doesn't have a drain or electric start, but works. Originally sold by Lowes.

I would buy one again.

 

[Falcon67]

We use a Champion 3500 with the race trailer. The trailer AC pulls a solid 20A when it's 95+ outside. No problems - $299 at TSC on sale. Low oil shutoff, runs for hours without issue. Starts after a couple of pulls, sometimes on the first yank. Ran it close to 30 hours last race (3 full days). Claims 74 dB, I read about 78 at 20' or so. At the track with other generators running, it's pretty dang quiet. We get maybe 6ish hours on a tank at 2/3+ load. I've never let it run dry so I don't know the limit. I use a small 2 gallon can with a safety spout to fil it running without spillage.

If we ever buy anything lager, I would go Honda because of the noise level. There is a 5500 Champ that runs in the next pit - it's quite a bit louder than ours. A 6500 at Northern with a Honda motor runs $1400 but it has about the same dB rating as our 3500, so to me it'd be worth the $$$$. If you ever take one camping, lots of camps have noise restrictions and the cheaper models won't be allowed to run.

 

[Showkey]

Everyone has heard how fantastic Honda generators are, but the PRICE ! Yamaha is a close second.
.

YUP ...........there is a good reason you heard they are fantastic. :

Parts, warranty, reliability and service can be far less than fantastic with the clones.
The risks are obvious if you need a generator .....you most likely really really need the generator to run and generate power.

Look on the back of food trucks, go to construction sites and look at power company service trucks .......then listen if they using those generators. Ask them the are using a Honda. Then maybe look at those blinking arrows on the the highway construction .........you likely will see a Honda and not a HF.

I rarely use my Onan generator on the my RV. It ***** fuel ( propane like no tomorrow, and too loud. Onan beats the cheap China stuff but it still not efficient or camp ground friendly.

The best generator in the world can be total **** if it not stored correctly........stale fuel is the number one concern for all casually used power equipment.

 

[stihlntime]

I have a Mitsubishi 4500 it's air cooled and runs quiet like a Honda. Have a Honda 6500 liquid cooled super unit. I bought one of the little HF 800 watt 4 years ago use it on the farm truck to run a drill grinder or floodlight. Not a bad little unit great for deer camp. The noise of any on the Briggs powered units is deafning. I'd shop Northern Tool. Key is running 91 octane no ethanol fuel in them. I run mine dry at the end of every use. I limit the fuel I put in to what I think my run time will be. If you have to leave fuel in it use Briggs and Stratton FUEL preservative or Lucas Ethanol treatment forget Stabil.

 

[MagicMarker]

I bought a new Mi T M Subaru that runs 4800 continuous.... Actually I haven't even started it yet to test it. My buddy works in a warehouse and they needed to make space so I got it for $350 cash. I hope it will work ok when I actually need it to work.

I thought about getting the HF 7000 watt Predator, but I figured an FHI lower wattage motor would be better in terms of quality and reliability.

 

[VictorBravo]

I ordered a 3000 Watt "ProForce" from Northern Tool 5 years ago. It was under $300.

I used it a lot for powering power tools when we first moved here, and a few times for power outages.

I start it every three months or so--fires on the first or second pull. When I'm done with it for a while, I shut off the fuel line and let it die from fuel starvation.

It's been fine and reliable, but I don't see them at Northern Tool anymore.

 

[Super Mech]

I got the HF 3200/4000 watt unit for about a year now. It works fine for me. I've used it out in the field a few times to power lights, grinders, electric impacts. Fairly quiet and always starts on the first pull.

 

[brianh]

Bought a champion 3500 in 2010 at Tractor supply on sale under 300 runs great and pretty quiet have not had issues at all

 

[Highbeam]

I own both the regular, well respected champion 3500/4000 that makes 240 volts, costs about 300$, and has a 5 gallon fuel tank as well as a new Champion inverter 3100 that makes 120 volts only, costs about 800$, and only has a 1.6 gallon gas tank but 58 db just like the Hondas.

Yes the blue and red brands make equivalent generators that cost 3-4 times as much. The inverter 3100 is freaking awesome. It is every bit as quiet as the equivalent Honda 3000 handi and the voltage regulation is superb. Oh yes, and cost, I can buy three or four champion 3100s for the price of the equivalent Honda.

I ran the inverter 3100 two weekends ago all weekend powering my 15000 btu AC unit on the RV plus the refer, charger, and lights, in 106 degree ambient temps. It never missed a beat. The only pain in the **** moving from the much louder 3500/4000 is that the inverter 3100 only runs for 4 hours when pushing the AC unit non-stop. Yes, I ran it dry a couple of times and it was remarkably predictable.

The red/blue guys have some serious competition with the Champion inverters now. I bought mine from Costco online, it is the black one that looks all pretty.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I ran the inverter 3100 two weekends ago all weekend powering my 15000 btu AC unit on the RV plus the refer, charger, and lights, in 106 degree ambient temps. It never missed a beat. The only pain in the **** moving from the much louder 3500/4000 is that the inverter 3100 only runs for 4 hours when pushing the AC unit non-stop. Yes, I ran it dry a couple of times and it was remarkably predictable.

If you are a "handy" guy, it is not that hard to hook up a remote fuel tank, like a 5 gallon gas can. There are some DIYs on YouTube, but the procedure is something like this.

• Obtain a small engine vacuum operated fuel pump and appropriate size vacuum line. $10-$20 on eBay.
• Obtain fuel line, shut off and a tee of the same size currently used inside the generator.
• The fuel pump is very light so you can tie wrap it somewhere under the hood.
• A quick way to get vacuum pulses is off of the OHV valve cover. Drill an appropriate size hole, install a grommet so that the vacuum line fits snug. You probably should install an inline filter in the vacuum line to the fuel pump.
• Tee the output of the fuel pump into the fuel line going to the carburetor AFTER the internal fuel tank shut off.
• Mount your new shut off for the external tank somewhere you can reach it.
• Run fuel line from shut off to external tank.

The real trick is only one of the valves can be open at a time. If they are both open, you run the risk of overflowing the internal tank which could cause a FIRE !



P.S. My next generator will be a Champion 3100 inverter !

 

[CJM8515]

I have an offbrand chinese pos I got for 150 bucks brand new at a swap meet. Im sure its the same generic pos 3500w that is just labeled differently time and time again. It has a DC wiring hook up to it, seems to run well and has 4 120v and 2 220v? connections, even came with a nice little kit. Has a low oil cut off, pull start only, motor looks like a copy of a honda. Run about 10 hours on a tank of gas.

We used it during hurricane sandy for like 2 solid weeks to keep the fridge and freezer going. It is not very good in respect to running well, it hiccups and chokes every once and awhile and would throw the surge protector I was using for the tv off all the time. BUT it worked and was cheap when i got it. I bought it originally cause I needed it to run some power tools at my cabin.

I have experience with honda and yamaha and they are well worth it, but $$$. Otherwise Id buy a briggs storm responder as they are actually quite good for the money. Difference is you cant hear the honda run, but the briggs or my cheapo is LOUD!

 

[Highbeam]

If you are a "handy" guy, it is not that hard to hook up a remote fuel tank, like a 5 gallon gas can. There are some DIYs on YouTube, but the procedure is something like this.

• Obtain a small engine vacuum operated fuel pump and appropriate size vacuum line. $10-$20 on eBay.
• Obtain fuel line, shut off and a tee of the same size currently used inside the generator.
• The fuel pump is very light so you can tie wrap it somewhere under the hood.
• A quick way to get vacuum pulses is off of the OHV valve cover. Drill an appropriate size hole, install a grommet so that the vacuum line fits snug. You probably should install an inline filter in the vacuum line to the fuel pump.
• Tee the output of the fuel pump into the fuel line going to the carburetor AFTER the internal fuel tank shut off.
• Mount your new shut off for the external tank somewhere you can reach it.
• Run fuel line from shut off to external tank.

The real trick is only one of the valves can be open at a time. If they are both open, you run the risk of overflowing the internal tank which could cause a FIRE !



P.S. My next generator will be a Champion 3100 inverter !

Yeah, that's a little too hokey and since the champ3100 is not open frame you would have to cut holes in the shell too. It might be fun though.

The Hondas have internal fuel pumps and an auxiliary fuel pump is very common and acceptable. The RV folks haven't figured out how to make the Champ3100 extended run yet except to use a propane conversion kit and a huge tank.

Oh and if you need AC then you need something with nearly 3000 watts. The non-handi Honda 3000 is very expensive and very heavy but the fuel tank is nice and big.

 

[ADSR]

http://www.costco.com/generators.html

 

[theoldwizard1]

Yeah, that's a little too hokey and since the champ3100 is not open frame you would have to cut holes in the shell too. It might be fun though.

Watch this video.

Installing an extended run time fuel kit for Champion 3100 Inverter Generator

 

[eddiemeddiem]

I have the champion 3500, had it for about 5 years. Always ran fine, then lately would only run on half to full choke. I bought a replacement carb on Amazon for $18, and runs fine after regoverning it.

No complaints from me, it's a great generator. Starts on a pull or two and is fairly quiet. I'll buy an extra carb to keep in the garage if I have trouble again, and I'll be way ahead of the Hondas in price over several years of power-outage operation.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LS6 Tommy]

We use a Champion 3500 with the race trailer. The trailer AC pulls a solid 20A when it's 95+ outside.

That genny must have more headroom than you think. 20A is roughly 2400W, so either that A/C unit has VERY low inrush current on startup, or your genny is pretty stout.


Tommy