Need to Buy a Generator - This One?

[Tallinthesaddle]

I am in the markert for a portable generator. 5,000 Watts and up. I do not plan to run my house with it, but various appliances and a 1.5 horse submergible pump.
Here is one I have been looking at:

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?par ... &cId=PDIO1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Troy-Bilt 6000 Running Watts Portable Generator
Item #: 96812 | Model #: 30475
$699.00

There are probably others out there. Let me know if you have any other ideas or cons on this one.

[puma guy]

I am in the markert for a portable generator. 5,000 Watts and up. I do not plan to run my house with it, but various appliances and a 1.5 horse submergible pump.
Here is one I have been looking at:

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?par ... &cId=PDIO1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Troy-Bilt 6000 Running Watts Portable Generator
Item #: 96812 | Model #: 30475
$699.00

There are probably others out there. Let me know if you have any other ideas or cons on this one.

I've been using generators since the mid-80's and started with Coleman Powermates extended run with I/C Briggs and Stratton engines. I still have one that is as reliable as ever. I also have Suziki, Generac, Kawasaki and Honda. They are all reliable. No experience with Troy-Bilt but they've been around for years so that should tell you something. The main thing I would consider is availabilty of parts for the engine. Kohler, Tecumseh, Honda, B&S all have parts available. The generator end is usually cost prohibitive for repairs unless it's minor, i.e. brushes, capacitors. If you are not limited by cost I would consider a Honda. My Honda is the most fuel efficient of the bunch, by a long shot. With gas prices as high as the sky it's sorta pay me now or pay me later. The 5000 Honda I use runs two refrigerators, two A/C (5M and 9M) an intermitent water pump, lights and TV for our deer camp. We also use a toaster, coffee maker and small microwave. As long as they don't all try to start simultaneously we usually don't trip breakers.

[rwg3]

I second the Honda recommendation. I currently have a Generac and have used it in construction projects in remote locations. It has worked very well but it is beastly on gas usage. If you decide to shop for a Honda I recommend that you shop them at a Honda power equipment store. There were some Honda labeled units available through Sam's or Costco (I dont remember which) that did not have the same heavy duty engine in it. It was much cheaper to buy of them, then the pro store model, but they had a fair number of complaints and returns. As in all things (especially tools) you get what you pay for.

[AEA]

+3 Honda

[MegaWatt]

While on a much larger scale, as my name suggests I'm in the generator business. (34 years) I actually own this Troy-Bilt. It is a Briggs & Stratton generator that Troy-Bilt puts their name on. So does Sears/Craftsman and a few others. In my opinion it's a hearty machine and does what I ask of it. Parts are readily available however I've not had to replace anything yet. I have it configured to plug into my distribution panel and I can run practically my whole house on it. I can actually start my central 3.5T AC as long as I start it first with no other load on the generator and also run two refrigerators after that. But with all that running it uses a lot of fuel. I tried it more as a test.

When sizing a generator you have to decide what you plan to use it for. If you want to run everything in your house like business as usual, you need a little bigger set which costs more initially and it's also expensive to feed it. The rating of the generator is the maximum output of the unit so you really wouldn't want to fully load it to it's max because it won't last as long. It would be like driving your car at 100 MPH all the time. About 80% of it's max rating would be a rule of thumb. My intention is to run the basic necessities like refrigerator/freezer, lights, TV and maybe a window AC. If you want to carry on life as usual, maybe consider a natural gas fueled engine. But then the portability goes away. (can't take it to the deer lease) and you have to make sure you have enough gas to run it. If you don't it's expensive to run new pipes, regulator, etc. Propane works too but when a hurricane comes by and there is no power anywhere, it's a little easier to get gasoline, even if you have to siphon it out of your car. If you run out of propane you have to wait for Hank Hill to deliver it and you're at their mercy.
My field of expertise is in very large diesel and natural gas powered sets so my experience with small stuff like these is limited but Hondas are good and they make one that's super quiet but pricey. Generacs are everywhere and offer a wide variety of sets and accessories.

That's my 2 cents, for what it's worth.

[JeepGuy79]

I have a 8k and I can run most the house with it. I can't run the A/C's of course. But I can use both units in heat since they use gas. Couple fridges, freezer, septic pumps and sprinklers, lights, tv, wireless internet, fans. I just have to tell my idiot gf to turn off lights when she isn't in a room otherwise it throws a breaker on the generator. Otherwise its pretty good. I wired a 220 outlet and powerbox (forget what it is called so the lineman can't get shocked or get me sued if someone else shocks him down the street) in the garage so I can just plug it in and it will stay dry and run.

I would suggest you buy the largest kw you can justify. I wish I had a 20kw auto switching unit that ran on natural gas but that isn't in the cards. Plus the house is only 3k sq ft.

I am also for the honda. best small engines on the market. That troy bilt is nice tho. I bet it would be fine.

[chuckybrown]

My advice: Go as big as you can possibly afford. You'll wish you did. I have a Briggs & Stratton 13,500/8,000 generator. After hurricane Ike left us, I was on of only a handful of houses in my area with lights and a/c. My freezer and refrigerator were overflowing keeping the neighbors stuff cold.

You can hook up any generator easily and safely to your home via an interlock kit: http://www.interlockkit.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; About $150, and install it yourself.

One of the keys to powering the home running on a generator is actually UNPLUGGING what you don't want on. You'd be surprised at the power pull of things that you think are off, but really aren't. Satellite TV boxes, Plasma TV's, etc.

And, if you have those CFL's, you're really in business.

Lastly, if you want to not worry about gasoline (which can be hard to find and expensive after a storm) install a tri-gas kit that changes out the carb so it can run on natural gas, propane, or gasoline: http://www.propane-generators.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've got a little over $2K in mine, but when you can light your home up completely, it's worth it.....

[jimlongley]

While on a much larger scale, as my name suggests I'm in the generator business. (34 years) I actually own this Troy-Bilt. It is a Briggs & Stratton generator that Troy-Bilt puts their name on. So does Sears/Craftsman and a few others. In my opinion it's a hearty machine and does what I ask of it. Parts are readily available however I've not had to replace anything yet. I have it configured to plug into my distribution panel and I can run practically my whole house on it. I can actually start my central 3.5T AC as long as I start it first with no other load on the generator and also run two refrigerators after that. But with all that running it uses a lot of fuel. I tried it more as a test.

When sizing a generator you have to decide what you plan to use it for. If you want to run everything in your house like business as usual, you need a little bigger set which costs more initially and it's also expensive to feed it. The rating of the generator is the maximum output of the unit so you really wouldn't want to fully load it to it's max because it won't last as long. It would be like driving your car at 100 MPH all the time. About 80% of it's max rating would be a rule of thumb. My intention is to run the basic necessities like refrigerator/freezer, lights, TV and maybe a window AC. If you want to carry on life as usual, maybe consider a natural gas fueled engine. But then the portability goes away. (can't take it to the deer lease) and you have to make sure you have enough gas to run it. If you don't it's expensive to run new pipes, regulator, etc. Propane works too but when a hurricane comes by and there is no power anywhere, it's a little easier to get gasoline, even if you have to siphon it out of your car. If you run out of propane you have to wait for Hank Hill to deliver it and you're at their mercy.
My field of expertise is in very large diesel and natural gas powered sets so my experience with small stuff like these is limited but Hondas are good and they make one that's super quiet but pricey. Generacs are everywhere and offer a wide variety of sets and accessories.

That's my 2 cents, for what it's worth.

Lots of generator experience as a phone man and a volunteer firefighter. Go through and figure out (in Watts) what you could possibly want to run during an extended power outage, divide that number by four, and multiply by five, and then buy the next larger unit.

I have had one in my garage for 19 years, and last year when I was invalided, I didn't PM it, and now it won't start. Time for an overhaul. OTOH, the only time in 19 years I have ever even got it out for other than routine PM, the power came back on just as I pulled the cord, and my wife came running out from the kitchen telling me how great it was that our generator brought everything back on and you couldn't even tell it was running - and she wasn't being ironic.

My previous generator was seriously undersized, best for camping in a tent undersized, and didn't survive a basement flood, so I replaced it with this one.

I also have several fire extinguishers that have never been used, and a couple of guns that have only put holes in paper and such.

[puma guy]

Here's a website that has a list of power consumption for equipment and appliances.

http://www.usa-generator.com/info/load_cht1.htm

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Some time ago I researched generators on the Honda website.

They had an extensive tutorial on generators, how to size them, and how to hook up
one to your home's system.

Check it out - it's very informative.

Honda always makes great equipment of all kinds, as attested by the Honda generator users here on the board.

SIA

[i8godzilla]

Lots of generator experience as a phone man and a volunteer firefighter. Go through and figure out (in Watts) what you could possibly want to run during an extended power outage, divide that number by four, and multiply by five, and then buy the next larger unit.


--snip--

Sometimes the power consumption is expressed in amps. To convert to watts:

Amps X Volts = Watts

BTW:
Watts/Volts = Amps
Watts/Amps = Volts

[jimlongley]

Lots of generator experience as a phone man and a volunteer firefighter. Go through and figure out (in Watts) what you could possibly want to run during an extended power outage, divide that number by four, and multiply by five, and then buy the next larger unit.


--snip--

Sometimes the power consumption is expressed in amps. To convert to watts:

Amps X Volts = Watts

BTW:
Watts/Volts = Amps
Watts/Amps = Volts

And we could really mess things up by mentioning Volt Amps and such things. Actually, power consumption cannot be expressed in Amps, that's reserved for current, and power is a combination of the force behind the current (Volts) and the current (Amps) and Watts equals Volt Amps in DC circuits only, in AC circuits, the amount of power (Watts) available can be very different from the VA.

[WildBill]

I would buy a generator that is powered by natural gas or convert it as ChuckyB suggested. Gasoline is very hard to find after a hurricane. If you store it, it can be a fire hazard. It smells if you get it on your clothes. If left too long in storage it can gum up. If left in the generator for a long time, it can also cause problems.

[MegaWatt]

Lots of generator experience as a phone man and a volunteer firefighter. Go through and figure out (in Watts) what you could possibly want to run during an extended power outage, divide that number by four, and multiply by five, and then buy the next larger unit.


--snip--

Sometimes the power consumption is expressed in amps. To convert to watts:

Amps X Volts = Watts

BTW:
Watts/Volts = Amps
Watts/Amps = Volts

Ohm's Law............ Remember, it's not just a good idea. IT'S THE LAW!

[03Lightningrocks]

If it is not too late... I would NOT buy the Troy built generator! Back when I was running around the country drag racing I bought a Troy Built and the other racers wanted to kill me. That thing was louder than any other generator in the pits. It would vibrate like the devil was in it. Piece of garbage...for a fact! The Honda generator cost a whole lot more but it won't cause hearing damage. It also will last more hours. The Honda and Troy Built are the only two brands I have had personal experience with.

I would go with a generator that has more capacity than you plan to use. I went 20% above what I thought I needed and it seemed to work well.