What generator to get?
- Thread starter Mutter87
- Start date
If you want clean power, you might want a generator WITH brushes (but there are also many excellent brushless designs using electronic controls), or an inverter generator that isn't highly loaded. All the inverter generators, Honda and Yamaha included, and the Chinese are a little worse, distort the waveforms at higher outputs and create more THD (total harmonic distortion).
It will also depend even more on what else you have plugged in. There are many small electric motors (including refrigerators), electronically ballasted fluorescent lights, and inductive loads that are exceptionally "noisy" electrically, meaning they put huge amounts of spurious noise/current back into the circuit. Enough that sensitive electronics are overloaded with this junk power coming back from those "noisy" devices.
So the answer is, it depends.
Asking the manufacturer won't tell you anything except that their inverter generators are better. The factors above, of other things plugged into the generator, far outweigh the power coming out of the generator itself.
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I don't think so anymore. They build their own high quality clone engines for even their large fixed units. Generac has a very mixed history of relationships with other companies (Cat), changing hands and buyouts.
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- Location
- West Quebec
Well said Sandroad.. buyer be aware...
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I'm just going to skip over the blah blah Honda, blah blah Chinese junk, blah blah and offer some experience. I bought a 5500w Champion after a 4 hour blackout at -35 with two kids under two. It ran just fine during the short outages we had in the North. Then I moved down to nor'easter country and recently went through a three day outage following post tropical Storm Arthur. The genny started after three pulls (it hadn't been started in over two years) and ran intermittently over three three days keeping my fridge cold and my kids entertained (and the coffee pot running - very important chez-moi) without a hitch. I've recently purchased a Generlink transfer switch to provide a better interface and increased selection of circuits to use in the inevitable event of future outages.
Are the big names better? I'm sure they are. Are the Canadian Tire ones worthless? I doubt it. In my case I could have lost several hundred dollars worth of food had I not had the genny so it's paid for itself. If I needed one for off the grid living I might be looking at a bigger name but I doubt this one will let me down for what I use it for.
Are the big names better? I'm sure they are. Are the Canadian Tire ones worthless? I doubt it. In my case I could have lost several hundred dollars worth of food had I not had the genny so it's paid for itself. If I needed one for off the grid living I might be looking at a bigger name but I doubt this one will let me down for what I use it for.
Absolutely correct.
This is why I use my generator to charge the battery, then draw power thru an AC inverter (zantrex true sine". This gives me a stable 117v AC output with real sine wave output, as compared to most that provide a square wave output.
A typical power bar uses metal-oxide varistors to protect against spikes like lightning hitting the power grid outside your home. They do this by shunting the power to ground (or neutral) and operate at a much higher voltage level than you would typically see under normal operating conditions. They offer no protection at levels below the operating design of the MOV. They will not protect against brownout (low voltage) conditions and do absolutely nothing to filter "dirty" power.
Just for info.
Wrong Way
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
When I need a genny, I NEED it to work. Will the Chinese stuff work? Maybe....worst case is you lose "several hundred dollars worth of food" if it doesn't. Now when you are looking at heat and water for a family of four during that three week winter power outage, the stakes go up.
THAT'S why I own Yamaha.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
True. In my case I have wood heat and a well so if my genny takes a dive I'm not doomed.
In almost every case of a generator not starting is because of old/poor gas, which you can do little about, and not draining the carb every time when it's not going to be used within the next week or two.
I noted previously our Honda engines have exactly the same problems as clone engines for starting if gas has been allowed to sit. There are far fewer problems with high quality clone engines than people will admit. It seems that some people use phrases like "it has to start every time", to justify that they spent 2-3 times as much.
And to add, Honda now manufactures their GX small engines in Thailand and China in addition to Japan. Only the cheaper GS and GC engines are manufactured in the US and Italy.
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- Location
- Ottawa, ON
I have one of these and even though it is small, it is mighty. Built a cabin with it and powered everything we needed, without fail.
(Edit) Picked mine up gently used off of Kijiji for ~$700. If you have time before needing the generator I'd start by looking around for a used one.
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Wrong Way
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
And it seems that some people use arguments like the above to justify their being cheapskates willing to settle. I said I need it to WORK, I did not say "run". Educate yourself a little....it's not ONLY the motors that make the difference, it's the sine wave generated by a QUALITY unit. Any motor can start/run, it's the quality of the electronics and the power delivered by these electronics that varies. There's a very good reason pros and government agencies don't run clones.
Jesus, Its just like the Norinco crowd spouting off against Colt and springfield owners....or the "Mastercraft Maximum" guys talking about Milwaukee/Hilti/Snap-On.
The OP *clearly* asked what the *BEST* names were....nobody on the planet will name any of your beloved Chinese clones as "best"...so I can't even figure out why you'd chime in....?
Look: If you can't afford it or can't justify it...or simply don't want it, that's fine....but those of us who buy and appreciate quality tools don't need your judgment, and definitely aren't seeking your approval.
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captain2k_ca
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lethbridge
Just purchased 2 EU2000i companion generators from a US supplier....seems they aren't sold in Canada. These seem like they will fit my needs perfectly!!
Twenty years back we had a Kubota 6500 for our hunt camp. That generator would run everything we wanted, lights, toasters x 2, coffee makers, microwaves, it would even run my 1 hp. table saw with nothing else running. The Kubota wasn't fussy on what gas you fed or how old it was. Unfortunately it was stolen. We replaced it with the same size Honda as we heard they were excellent generators. We must have got a dud as the Honda was a huge disappointment. One toaster and a bunch of lights and it would be labouring heavily under the load. It finally quit one day and a little discussion occurred with Honda. Honda ended up repairing it N/C and it has worked reasonably well since. But it won't run my table saw. And you had better feed it fresh #1 gas or it runs poorly. Not near the quality or engineering that the Kubota has. These are the only two brands of generators that I have had experience with and there was a clear difference in performance between these two name brands.
Not sure about the gas quality in our area, but must be excellent. I flash up the genny about once a month if the power has not failed and I cannot remember the last time I topped up the gas, maybe six months. Always put in premium, maybe that is the difference.
If you get a Class-C and it has a A/C. you are going to want a 3000watt minimum. Most A/C mfg. are now making Hard start capacitor kits you can buy and install so they will run off a 3000watt.
Best generators IMO are Onan ( owned by Cummins)
Best generators IMO are Onan ( owned by Cummins)
