suggestions for a Generator

I bought this one ....

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-6...nerator-with-Yamaha-MZ360-RD906814P/203183985

Have had all sorts of issues with cheap generators not performing when I need them to. Paid a premium for this one based on a neighbor's experience. Have used it a few times for 6 hour outages; none longer yet. Hopefully the $$ is worth it. Runs more than just the tank though.

The other thing to keep in mind is that since you wont run any portable 24/7, you also need some way to circulate the tank at night when the generator is off. That's why I also have a couple of the ETM battery backup units.

I also make sure to have at least 3 days worth of gas on hand (use fuel stabilizer) once the winter approaches. If it doesn't get used by the end of Spring it goes into the car.
 
I purchased a Honda 3000 watt generator, enough to cover the tank, refrigerator and furnace. 1000 watts would have been fine for my tank, but I would have had a lot of explaining to do to my wife if the generator was keeping the tank running while the refrigerator and heater (winter time outage) were off!
 
Hubby and I have a Honda EU 7000 electric start with an inverter -
we figured that's enough power to keep our 90 gallon going for a while! Sucks up the gas like nobody's business, though.
Course now that we have it our power hasn't flickered ONCE in the four years since we purchased it! LOL!
 
monkeysee1 said:
Hubby and I have a Honda EU 7000 electric start with an inverter -
we figured that's enough power to keep our 90 gallon going for a while! Sucks up the gas like nobody's business, though.
Course now that we have it our power hasn't flickered ONCE in the four years since we purchased it! LOL!
Click to expand...

That thing is sexy.
 
thegrun said:
I purchased a Honda 3000 watt generator, enough to cover the tank, refrigerator and furnace. 1000 watts would have been fine for my tank, but I would have had a lot of explaining to do to my wife if the generator was keeping the tank running while the refrigerator and heater (winter time outage) were off!
Click to expand...
How do they work. You just have to add gas every 10 hrs or so?
 
monkeysee1 said:
Hubby and I have a Honda EU 7000 electric start with an inverter -
we figured that's enough power to keep our 90 gallon going for a while! Sucks up the gas like nobody's business, though.
Course now that we have it our power hasn't flickered ONCE in the four years since we purchased it! LOL!
Click to expand...

That's a great thing right?
 
JMorris271 said:
How do they work. You just have to add gas every 10 hrs or so?
Click to expand...

Yes with gas generators all you do is add gas to keep it going...
Its a gas engine that turns and creates electricity.. plain and simple..

You can also get fancy and have transfer switches,etc.. hooked up to your electrical panel so when the power goes out it starts and automatically switches the desired loads (fish room/kitchen-fridge) over to the generator so even if you aren't home you are protected..
 
We have a Powermate/Coleman 5000 watt generator. We got it after Hurricane Charlie back in '04. It has worked through a handful of power outages due to thunderstorms and lightning strikes. I pulled it out last week as Irma was closing in. The plastic tank had cracked so I patched it and ran it for 20 minutes. Filled it with fuel and evacuated. After Irma we came home and it fired right up, but only ran for 20 minutes and died. It would restart by then die in 5 minutes. Turns out the carb jets were dirty (maintenance) and the float bowl is plastic and the 'snaps' where the float clips in broke (Florida heat and UV that eats plastic).

Now I'm looking for better. Oh, and I'll do better maintenance... I promise!

We are even looking into a whole house propane generator with a new circuit breaker box and automatic switch over to generator when the power goes out!
 
I have a Coleman/Powermate 6200 watt powered by a Subaru Robin Engine. A good engine is very important. Try to get a Honda, Yamaha or Subaru. My gen is about 5 years old and has been running 24/7 for 6 days without a problem. Uses about 5 gal in 14 hours. Starts with one pull. When the power is restored I will drain the gas, change the oil and it will be good as new.

A handy thing to do is to add a transfer switch. I have one power cord going from the gen to the switch which in turn is hard wired to 6 circuits in the house. Eliminates extension cords running all over the place. A whole house gen would be nice but a little overkill for the limited use it will get. My neighbor has one that sits in an enclosure about the size of a compact car. I think he could power the entire neighborhood. He runs it on propane.
 
IMO, Honda and Yamaha generators are top notch. You'll pay a premium for them, but both companies have a tremendous amount of experience with small engines. My family owns several Honda's. We bought one probably close to 20 ago for use on our boat (overnights offshore). It's now in my garage. I start it up twice a year, at best, and then let it run for a half hour or so, turn off the gas and let it die. Refill with gas and some fuel preserver. I change the oil and spark plug every [I don't want to admit - can I say several?] years. The dang thing just runs.

My dad forgot to run the gas out of his and the carb got clogged, which required service.
 
first, make sure you have some place OUTSIDE your house to operate it. I saw in news recently someone in Florida got hospitalized because he was running the generator inside his apartment.

I see yamaha clones everywhere. perhaps any 1600watt generator you see is a yamaha clone. harbor freight, costco, amazon sells them in $400-$499 price range.

and figure to use 50-60% the rated capacity.

I got a small generator (800w) from costco back in 2011 and never used it till 2015, and used it twice more since. Its noisy as hell, but when power is out, any running generator is better than no generator.

also, if you get a generator using 2 cycle engine, it requires mixing oil with gasoline. and gasoline is not a stable compound, so you need to add gasoline stabilizer if you are going to store gasoline for more than a month.
 
Ron Reefman said:
Now I'm looking for better. Oh, and I'll do better maintenance... I promise!
Click to expand...

Aint that the truth! Instructions to all mine said to run them weekly (I think); first one I bought I did not do that and ended up with a 'brick'. Now I've ended up running monthly just to make sure it will start when I need it to start. Also gas stabilizer very important.
 
Last edited:
d0ughb0y said:
first, make sure you have some place OUTSIDE your house to operate it. I saw in news recently someone in Florida got hospitalized because he was running the generator inside his apartment.

I see yamaha clones everywhere. perhaps any 1600watt generator you see is a yamaha clone. harbor freight, costco, amazon sells them in $400-$499 price range.

and figure to use 50-60% the rated capacity.

I got a small generator (800w) from costco back in 2011 and never used it till 2015, and used it twice more since. Its noisy as hell, but when power is out, any running generator is better than no generator.

also, if you get a generator using 2 cycle engine, it requires mixing oil with gasoline. and gasoline is not a stable compound, so you need to add gasoline stabilizer if you are going to store gasoline for more than a month.
Click to expand...

Anyone running a generator inside should be institutionalized not hospitalized. Honda is the best imo, but the commercial engine (the one with the cream colored gas tank are superior to the consumer variety). I have a buddy who has both a Honda engine on his pressure washer and a Subaru on his 10hp snow blower. He favors the Subie.

I would not want a 2 cycle for a generator. I am not sure they could stand up to continuous duty and they are smokey and gas hogs.
 
Be sure you can both lift it and protect it: during a real emergency (prolonged powerout) they are apt to theft. A heavy chain is adviseable.
We lost power for 8 days in winter. I finally cornered a generator, but realized I could not possibly lift it out of the car if the store set it in there. What I finally bought, later, was a Honda with inverter: I can carry it one-handed and it will handle house essentials. You can switch between your house fridge and your tank and your telly.
 
I have a Generac 8000 watt... Only used it once since I bought it 2 years ago...
More than what I need but extra power is a good thing...
 
actually if you check stats on generator sites Kohler small engines are THE BEST.. Above and beyond anything else.. 99% of commercial equipment from bucket trucks to chilled trailers use Kohler engines as they are designed to run without being shut off. You can also find parts and service for them anywhere..

My generator , Lawnmower ,Commercial pressure washer , and Garden tiller all have kohler engines and NEVER have had one to fail without a valid reason..

Honda would be me second chose for reliability ,Subaru then Yamaha .. Generac is one to avoid with a plague..

Do not take my word google is your friend...
 
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