Recommendations for Portable Generators...

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Timbo

Timbo

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Joined
Jan 4, 2008
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Kill Devil Hills, NC USA.
I'm looking for a recommendation for a portable generator.

After this last episode with Irene, we've decided its time to buy a portable generator. We had very minimal damage, it could have been a lot worst had the power went out for an extended period. We have a sump pump, we also installed a supplement battery backup system since we finished our basement, it good for 5-8 hours. We definitely need the sump pump judging by how frequently it cycles when we get a good rain.

We found out that flood insurance would double our current homeowners rate...and it only covers from the 1st floor up. We have a high water table, but we don't live anywhere near a flood plain, so since the basement is not covered flood insurance is practically worthless. You can also buy a sump pump rider...but it only covers cleanup costs...not the damage.

We don't envision being in this house too much longer so we are not considering a whole house unit. Any recommendations for brand and size for a portable unit? I have no experience with portable generators, but several folks told me that Generac was a good brand.

At a minimum, we would want to power the sump pump, refrigerator and freezer, minimal lights and maybe a small TV. Thanks.
 
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I like our Honda - going on 7 years and no problems. 5000kw and you can power all that you listed and more. Do you have a gas furnace? If so, do a bypass and you'll have heat all winter long. 2 main things - stabilize the gas so it works when you need it and change the oil after you use it.
 
Ditto on the Honda!
We have a little "suitcase" 1000 watt for shows, etc. It has been bullet proof and is extremely quiet.

The bigger one isn't as quiet, but no problems.

Our neighbors have a little Yamaha. They say it is just like the Honda, except blue instead of red.
 
Definitely Honda! Two of our kids have the 2000W (?) I believe for their camping trailers and they have not a moments problem with them. We have a 5 yr old 5500W Husky generator from Home Depot and it has been trouble free also.
 
StephenM said:
I like our Honda - going on 7 years and no problems. 5000kw and you can power all that you listed and more. Do you have a gas furnace? If so, do a bypass and you'll have heat all winter long. 2 main things - stabilize the gas so it works when you need it and change the oil after you use it.
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I do have a gas furnace, but I don't know what you mean by your reference. Can you explain?
 
go big. our power just came back on today so we have been running on our generator since saturday. i wired our 5500 watt unit into my panel (which is easy) and ran the whole house. i wish it had more wattage because it wont power the central air. it did however power everything else (even my lathe). just make sure you get enough wattage to power everything in your home.
 
As you can see above lots of people buy Honda's and for good reason... DEPENDABILITY!

We carry two Honda 2000's in our RV and with the 30amp plate can hook both generators together and run the entire rig including air conditioning.

A Honda 2000 is light, around 50 lbs so can be easily carried with one hand, can be taken into the kitchen and run the refrigerator and do all your cooking or any room or basement to supply needs.

These things run forever on a tank of gas!
 
Texatdurango said:
As you can see above lots of people buy Honda's and for good reason... DEPENDABILITY!

We carry two Honda 2000's in our RV and with the 30amp plate can hook both generators together and run the entire rig including air conditioning.

A Honda 2000 is light, around 50 lbs so can be easily carried with one hand, can be taken into the kitchen and run the refrigerator and do all your cooking or any room or basement to supply needs.

These things run forever on a tank of gas!
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No hazardous fumes?
 
I am responsible for emergency response for my company and we provide our teammates with generators (if they need them) during hurricane and tornado events. We have purchased over 100 of them over the last few years and Honda is absolutely the most reliable.
 
I have a Generac 5000 as well as a Duromax 10,000 watt and love them both. The Duromax is electric start and the engine is a Honda clone. Awesome price with Free shipping.
 
Off topic, but related. . . A few notes.

If possible get gas without ethenal, and put stabalizer in.
Go to Lowes/Home Depot this week, and check the returns.

I got a 6250 watt a few years ago for 250 from lowes after Isabelle. At the time I think the new ones sold for 700 or so. I don't think the person ran a full tank of gas through it. It has sat in my shop for years, and I started it last year and ran the gas out of it. My grandmother has the same model and it ran 14 hours and still didn't run out of gas.
 
Caution!!!

JRay8 said:
go big. our power just came back on today so we have been running on our generator since saturday. i wired our 5500 watt unit into my panel (which is easy) and ran the whole house. i wish it had more wattage because it wont power the central air. it did however power everything else (even my lathe). just make sure you get enough wattage to power everything in your home.
Click to expand...

Please make sure that if you are tying into the house wiring that you are disconnected from the power grid while the generator is running. It is not nice to surprise the electric power workers with unexpected power on the grid when they are trying to restore it and can also be deadly to them. Be safe and careful!!
 
You do have to be aware that the fumes can build up and pose a serious problem without proper ventilation. It can kill you. I have a large electric start MultiQuip 9700 with a 18hp Honda motor that my parents had to use continuously for 14 days after Hurricane Wilma.
 
navycop said:
Texatdurango said:
As you can see above lots of people buy Honda's and for good reason... DEPENDABILITY!

We carry two Honda 2000's in our RV and with the 30amp plate can hook both generators together and run the entire rig including air conditioning.

A Honda 2000 is light, around 50 lbs so can be easily carried with one hand, can be taken into the kitchen and run the refrigerator and do all your cooking or any room or basement to supply needs.

These things run forever on a tank of gas!
Click to expand...
No hazardous fumes?
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Wow, I didn't word that right did I :eek: Yes there are fumes. I would assume that anyone running a gasoline engine would think to exhaust the fumes outside.

When we lost power a few years ago I sat mine on the patio right outside our kitchen and ran a bit extension cord into the kitchen and we ran the refrigerator and used all our appliances.
 
JRay8 said:
go big. our power just came back on today so we have been running on our generator since saturday. i wired our 5500 watt unit into my panel (which is easy) and ran the whole house. i wish it had more wattage because it wont power the central air. it did however power everything else (even my lathe). just make sure you get enough wattage to power everything in your home.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a great idea. I can fix, or make alterations to just about anything around the house. I could be wrong but this sounds like a job for a professional to me. How did you go about wiring it into your panel? Thanks.
 
Wiring a generator directly into a home power distribution panel is against code. As already mentioned, it presents a potential electrocution hazard to line workers.

It can be done safely, but the homeowner has to trip the correct breakers in the proper sequence. That is not something one can count on down the road.

The correct connection includes a transfer panel.

If you didn't already know that, please let a licensed electrician do the hook-up for you.

Regards,
Eric
 
mredburn said:
You do have to be aware that the fumes can build up and pose a serious problem without proper ventilation. It can kill you. I have a large electric start MultiQuip 9700 with a 18hp Honda motor that my parents had to use continuously for 14 days after Hurricane Wilma.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Yes...I'm well aware of the dangers of CO poisoning. My challenge is where to put the unit while in operation. I don't have an outside area protected by an overhang. My thought was to put it in the garage, leaving the door partially open. I'm not familiar enough with how the exhaust is constructed on generators, but if it was possible to extend it outside the door, that would be the way to go. I certain don't want to get in a situation where there is not adequate ventilation and risk fumes seeping into the house. Home Depot or Loews should have them back in stock, I plan to go look today.
 
Sylvanite said:
Wiring a generator directly into a home power distribution panel is against code. As already mentioned, it presents a potential electrocution hazard to line workers.

It can be done safely, but the homeowner has to trip the correct breakers in the proper sequence. That is not something one can count on down the road.

The correct connection includes a transfer panel.

If you didn't already know that, please let a licensed electrician do the hook-up for you.

Regards,
Eric
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Thanks Eric,
That was my gut feeling. It just didn't sound like something that would be "easy"...at least not for me.
 
One thing a lot of people forget about is if the power is out around town and you run out of gas, how are you gonna get more gas to run the generator? Gas pumps run on electricity. If you didn't stock up on gas before the storm, you may be SOL.
I'm looking at converting my 5500 watt Stormresponder to run on propane/natural gas. I have a 500 gallon propane tank that I can rely on to run the generator.
This also eliminates the need to use stabilizer and to run the tank empty.
 
Timbo thanks for bringing up this subject. Utah is supposedly waiting for a BIG earthquake and we need to be prepared. Great idea Monty, I had no idea that the conversion could be done. We have thousands of $'s in MS med's for my wife in our fridge so I need to be able to keep it functioning.
 
Mike,
You can also buy a generator that will run on all three, gasoline/nat gas/propane, but they run 50%-100% more than a gasoline one does. You can buy a conversion kit for under $200 and convert one yourself.
 
Timbo said:
StephenM said:
I like our Honda - going on 7 years and no problems. 5000kw and you can power all that you listed and more. Do you have a gas furnace? If so, do a bypass and you'll have heat all winter long. 2 main things - stabilize the gas so it works when you need it and change the oil after you use it.
Click to expand...


I do have a gas furnace, but I don't know what you mean by your reference. Can you explain?
Click to expand...


There's a little on/off switch at the furnace. Add an outlet between the on/off switch and the furnace. When the power goes out, turn the switch to "off" and using a double ended plug (both male), plug the generator into the furnace. That will power the thermostat, blower, etc. keeping your house nice and warm. (obviously, plug the furnace end in first so you're not walking around with a hot extension cord)
The reason you turn the switch to "off" is so that there isn't power running back to the panel. If you're not sure about it, call an electrician, etc.
 
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