Best generator to buy

[Dane Brickman]

Depends on what you want to do with it. If you are just looking for a
small emergency generator to run the fridge and furnace, then pretty much
any generator of the right size is fine for that. If you are planning on
putting
in stationary hardwired in generator with a transfer panel, then I'd avoid the
generacs. Either one of the Honda inverter units or an 1800 RPM generator
will give you many years of good service. You still have to maintain them.
Change the oil, filters, fresh fuel twice a year, run it an hour each month and
so on.

Aren't the Honda units on the small side?
The only thing I know about the Generac brand is that I see it written on
the side of a big ol' unit outside a TV station that never went off the air
even though my city lost power for 11 days, so how bad can they be?

 

[Wes O]

Hey! From Virginia....you know...the place where Isabel visited.....

Generators are popular here since this experience.....but I had been
considering getting one before Isabel after 4 power losses in 5 years.

I'm trying to figure out which would be the best to buy....Generac vs Honda
vs Briggs and Stratton.......Any suggestions? Is Generac considered better
than Honda?

Locals say the Honda engine is best but I don't get much response when I ask
about Generac. I am probably looking to install a stationary unit I can
hook up to Natural Gas which I have easy access to at my home.

Thanks, Wes O

 

[Dane Brickman]

Honda sells all sizes. The large fixed generators, say 20kw and up, they
are all pretty much equal in quality. Go there based on your local service
organization. The low end Generacs ( under 10kw in size ) are cheaply
made and the service plan isn't worth the paper it's printed on. Basically,
any generator other than the Honda inverter based units that costs less than
$1k are short term generators, good only for a couple hundred hours of
operation, and that is with good maintenance.

Does that apply to "powered by Honda" also... these jobs where various
outlets hang their own "heads" on a Honda engine?
Most of the complaints I see in these newsgroups seem to center around the
power plant.... I can't remember anyone complaining about the "generator"
itself.

 

[Zathera]

Hey! From Virginia....you know...the place where Isabel visited.....

Generators are popular here since this experience.....but I had been
considering getting one before Isabel after 4 power losses in 5 years.

I'm trying to figure out which would be the best to buy....Generac vs Honda
vs Briggs and Stratton.......Any suggestions? Is Generac considered better
than Honda?

Locals say the Honda engine is best but I don't get much response when I ask
about Generac. I am probably looking to install a stationary unit I can
hook up to Natural Gas which I have easy access to at my home.

Thanks, Wes O

I do not have anything good to say about generac. My old BS motor keeps
chugging along. I have heard horror stories about the new BS motors but do
not know first hand.

Honda, Yamaha, kohler, multiquip, Cat are all the ones I have used and
abused. All of them with normal maintenance took the punishment well. You
probably want to consider propane or NG. Less fuel problems though the
output is a tad lower. Consider Amsoil for your sump. I have had great luck
with it. I change my truck every 7500 miles now. Check with the local
rental places. The rental yard might be considering rotating their
equipment. These units may have a better maintenance schedule than one you
pick up else where.

Check with your serving utility, city, or county and get the regs for a
stationary set. There might be laws/rules that would be a surprise. Most
gensets reduce the out put for a critical silencer, muffler as well. The
generac units I have looked on line are 80 db. I am sure my neighbors would
really appreciate that over a period of time. NOT

Good luck with your choice.

 

[Dale Farmer]

Hey! From Virginia....you know...the place where Isabel visited.....

Generators are popular here since this experience.....but I had been
considering getting one before Isabel after 4 power losses in 5 years.

I'm trying to figure out which would be the best to buy....Generac vs Honda
vs Briggs and Stratton.......Any suggestions? Is Generac considered better
than Honda?

Locals say the Honda engine is best but I don't get much response when I ask
about Generac. I am probably looking to install a stationary unit I can
hook up to Natural Gas which I have easy access to at my home.

Thanks, Wes O

Depends on what you want to do with it. If you are just looking for a
small emergency generator to run the fridge and furnace, then pretty much
any generator of the right size is fine for that. If you are planning on
putting
in stationary hardwired in generator with a transfer panel, then I'd avoid the
generacs. Either one of the Honda inverter units or an 1800 RPM generator
will give you many years of good service. You still have to maintain them.
Change the oil, filters, fresh fuel twice a year, run it an hour each month and
so on.

--Dale

 

[Dale Farmer]

Aren't the Honda units on the small side?
The only thing I know about the Generac brand is that I see it written on
the side of a big ol' unit outside a TV station that never went off the air
even though my city lost power for 11 days, so how bad can they be?

Honda sells all sizes. The large fixed generators, say 20kw and up, they
are all pretty much equal in quality. Go there based on your local service
organization. The low end Generacs ( under 10kw in size ) are cheaply
made and the service plan isn't worth the paper it's printed on. Basically,
any generator other than the Honda inverter based units that costs less than
$1k are short term generators, good only for a couple hundred hours of
operation, and that is with good maintenance.

--Dale

 

[Howard Epstein]

Most definitely Honda of the brands you specified.

But the type of generator now defined by the manufactures makes a big
difference. Are you looking for an automatic transfer switch (i.e. - generator
automatically comes on whenever power goes down) or a manual transfer switch.

I have a Generac that was converted to natural gas/propane. I saved by buying
the conversion kit off the web and having a third party install it. The local
dealer wanted $850 at the time for the conversion and it cost me around $230. I
have it installed in one of the Rubbermaid sheds sold a Home Depot on the side
of my house with a manual transfer switch inside the house. I open the shed up
when I run it. Mine is a 5.5 KW electric start model.

I will tell you for the hassle I went through I am sorry I did not order a
generator with an automatic transfer switch, its own shelter, that automatically
exercises itself. The latter is important for maintaining the field of a
generator and should be done a regular intervals. I have to regularly start my
generator and supply a load to maintain the field.

The best generators believe it or not are not the ones you mentioned. A Kohler
or Onan Generator with a cast iron or cast iron cylinder sleeve engine is noted
for reliability if the oil is pressurized. Do not buy an Aluminum Block non
sleeved engine. As a side note not all Kohlers or Onans use cast iron or
sleeved engines, ASK the dealer and review the literature.

A good Kohler or Onan are the generators preferred a remote microwave and cell
sites.

Regards,

Howard Epstein