and get one of these...includes 2 cylinder conservatively rated 5KW generator
or a larger one at 10KW:
or on a trailer
A grammatical correction edit:
Tired of sifting through reviews. Looking for help here.
The only thing I know about them is that Honda makes at least one or two models.In my experience you can’t go far wrong with anything made by Honda.Also,I recall having seen Consumer Reports do at least one recent review of them.Maybe a trip to the library is in order.
Two things you need to know about buying a portable generator.
1. Figure out what size you need.
2. Buy only a Honda.
I hear that generac is good. Kohler is the bee’s knees for permanently installed ng units.
Honda makes excellent portable, gasoline units, very pricey though compared to generac et al.
About 500 rounds of .22LR per kW.
I am going to convert the largest generator that I have to propane because I'm tired of dealing with gasoline and the Sta-Bil fuel stabilizer thing.
I have 25 of the 20 pound propane bottles that I bought at yard sales full and in storage. The propane can be used from any number of 'doomsday' situations too.
I have a Predator from Harbor Freight that has serviced my needs well for several years. I’ve run it considerably in my work shop to keep the electricity bills down on those projects requiring extensive use of tablesaw, compound miter saw, radial saw, and router tables.
I’ve seen some bad reviews on the machine, but my own experience is the one I have is great. Very easy to use. I also spent the $25.00 for the wheel kit, which makes it quite portable.
I has a Generac that was pretty decent. They are pretty common. It had wheels and a big overhead tank that would hold a lot. It had a Tecumseh engine though that I wished had been another brand, I loaned it out (to my Dad) and it sat and carb got gunked up by the new gas. and would no longer start. It got stolen by some sketchy construction workers that I hired, so I am looking for a new one too.
My advice is that whatever you buy, maintain the gas. Use Stabil or equivalent if you leave it sit for more than a month. The new ethanol reformulated gas is crap. It deteriorates very quickly. Some dealers won’t warrant for anything gas related anymore. The days of storing gas for long periods is gone. Almost like the government doesn’t want you to. Like they want you dependent and not prepared. But that is a whole different topic.....
for what it worth.
I was a facilities guy for a bank and we had a 50KW Cummins put in.
The service guy told me for home say away from Generac.
He said his company loved them because they are always servicing them.
For portable he recommended Honda and for fuel Propane.Not sure if port use Propane but I do know there are no carbs(ethanol) to deal with.
From a trained professional Mechanic.....HONDA
The Generac we have has been quite reliable in New England winters (and soon to get another workout). It’s not a portable model, tho’, so I’m not completely answering your question but as a brand it’s been dependable...
My friend easily fixes the generator part all the time.
I think the Honda is likely to be one of the better ones but one piece of advice.... ask to see it run before you buy it. Many people have been astonished at how noisy these things can be. There are some quiet ones and some noisy ones.... a few years ago I got a Coleman Powermate for a good price (smaller than what you are looking for) but in my opinion, it is unacceptably noisy. It’s not like one uses is all the time if it was just purchased for emergencies so perhaps it doesn’t matter... however, there are those times when it would be nice to have it quieter such as when camping.
Honda, hands down.
Will cost a little more, but they always start.
You might consider a bigger diesel unit. Some used ones can be found at:
http://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.AdvSearchResultsNew&searchPg=Category&additionalParams=true&sortOption=ad&timing=BySimple&timingType=&category=153
You might find something there that is close enough to pick up. You might not. But occasionally, you see a deal. And they are industrial grade and diesel doesn’t deteriorate as fast as gas.
Propane is the way to go! burns clean doesn’t go bad and
can also hook up a grill for cooking.
Gasoline needs to be changed every 6 months even then
I’d suggest having a spare carburetor. Dirt can get into places that you can’t get out, and rebuilding carbs is an art.
Most gas generators won’t hold even 24 hours worth of gas.
And, storing gas in cans is very dangerous.
MOST IMPORTANTLY NEVER USE ANY TYPE OF GENERATOR WITH OUT
HAVING CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS IN THE BEDROOMS!
and get one of these...includes 2 cylinder conservatively rated 5KW generator
or a larger one at 10KW:
or on a trailer
If you’re in an area where the entire electric system is in danger of being down (gas pumps included) consider a solar generator
Although Honda makes excellent products, they are pricey. I have had ongoing experience with a Generac unit for over ten years. As long as you do regular maintenance and use good fuel, it won’t fail you. I suggest that you be sure the model you purchase has a fuel cutoff valve. This is important in keeping it easy to start in the long run. Use a good gasoline, mixed with a good additive to keep the gas from breaking down. My preference is Pri-G. Start the generator and run it for a few minutes every month, turn off the fuel valve and let it run dry and stop. While it’s running plug in something and give it a little load to meet. Change the oil every six month if it is not being used much. When it is used for an extended run, as in a power outage overnight, etc, change the oil after the event, so the next one will find you ready with fresh oil, if it has to run a long time. Keep the fuel tank mostly full to avoid condensation. When not in use, cover the unit to keep it from gathering dust and dirt from grass mowing and other activity around it. Each year examine the air filter, fuel and oil filter to change as necessary. The worst thing is sitting and not being used for a year. It needs to run to keep the engine loose, and lubricated, to keep the magnetic field active and to avoid stagnant fuel gelling in the lines and carb. Follow these suggestions and it will give years of service and crank on less than three pulls every time.
There are several good ones. Generac is big and others.
The generator’s Sine Wave is of great importance if you are running electronics. Almost everything now is electronic or has a computer in it.
An Inverter is the best but cost’s 50-70% more. Some generators can be tested and adjusted to produce the cycle’s necessary. Just be sure you unplug everything prior to putting your house on the generator. Turning off isn’t good enough. I had a honda 3000w and it worked out in winter because I had GAS heat and only the fan was required. Your average hair dryer takes 2000w and the garbage disposer caused a brief brownout. You really have to take charge and follow the rules. The ladies of the house were somewhat non-plussed.