On generators

[Cornbelt]

To figure power needs, multiply volts X amps to get watts. But most generators are listed at "surge" level not continuous run. They have that in the fine print, usually on the info sticker. At Harbor Freight last week, they had a special on 1250 watt generators for $100. Not a bad, considering a Honda of equal power at Rural King lists at $700. But both are only 900 watt (nine tenths kilowatt) continuous run. On a welder, they have a "duty-cycle", which is given as a percentage. Same deal. But they are advertised according to their "surge". Duty cycle is how many minutes out of 10 you can run it on surge. Same applies to generators. But 900 watts would be 7.5 amps, or a hand drill, but a circular saw, for instance might pull 10 amps, which for this generator would be in the "surge" range. (I know a few people who have gotten one for their campers.) But even a small, cheap unit like this can make the difference between light and dark. Nine 100W bulbs is a lot of light. Other appliances can be run one at a time, depending on their power requirement, and an extension cord out the window will avoid a $500 pole disconnect by not having it hooked up to your breaker panal. The whole thing was small enough to pick up and put anywhere without making an investment in Preparation "H" Corporation; a good minimum.

[okielectrician]

Cornbelt beware of those cheap generators you get what you pay for.
If they dont tell you what brand of engine it has it usually garbage.
If you need to go cheap aleast get one with a briggs and Stratton.

[Chilachuck]

Yup. A cheap generator is a lot more expensive than one that costs 10 times as much.

[Siskiyou]

I put about 3000 hours each on two Honda generators without a problem.  They are reliable start without a problem and they are fuel efficient.  They were used in a commercial setting where failure was not acceptable.  When you look at 6000 hours of operation without a problem that is rather impressive.

I had an Onan multi fuel 4-cylinder generator which lived a long life of service.  It was expensive and not portable.  It was very fuel efficient when running on propane.

Before I ran the Honda generators I purchase a Coleman 2500-Watt generator.  It is powered by a Briggs & Stratton gas motor.  It is now about 20-years old and does not have a lot of hours on it.  It gets hauled to hunting camp.  I use stabilizer in the fuel and it has kept it ready to start on demand.  But it does not come close to comparing to the Honda’s.  The Honda’s cost a lot more but they are fuel efficient what means you haul less fuel, and store less fuel.  Generators are noisy.  The Honda is not as noisy as the Coleman.   There are many times I prefer to use gas lamps rather than the Coleman.

I am aware of one Honda going down on the job.  The guy who changed the oil failed to tighten the drain plug, and did not check the oil level for a few days.  Human failure, not mechanical failure.
If I had the Honda experience before I purchase the Coleman I would have bought Honda.

[Gun Runner]

Siskiyou, we must have bought our coleman generaters about the same time. Got mine at k-mart on sale. Mine has less than 50 hrs on it. It sits out in the yard covered year round. Also have a little cheap 750w (brand unknown) that is 2 stroke, and its a pain having to mix gas for it, and a pain getting it to start. My next is gonna be a bigger honda.

Gun Runner

[Siskiyou]

I bought my Coleman at Costco. 

For about ten years my wife, then baby #1 and #2 lived at the 5200-foot elevation.  It was a little shocking when we got hit with a heavy snow storm and lost our electricity for weeks.  We were on the end of the power grid and last to get service.  Out propane furnace had an electric motor and thermostat.  Like many couples starting out young we did not have a lot of money but I made a trip to Sears and bought a 1500 Watt generator, I think the surge was 1700 watts.  It was enough to keep the heat going, give us some light, and even keep a small B&W TV going.
 
We were without power for over eight weeks one winter.  The jackrabbits were coming in over the fence on the snow and digging down to eat the wife’s plants.

We did not have stabilizer in those days so I would add some carburetor cleaner every once and while to the gas, and when it came time to shut it down I would run the gas out of it.  When it went into storage it had fresh oil in it.  We took in on family camping trips, and deer camp around the country.  It was on the nosy side, so I had a couple hundred feet of heavy extension cord.  Normally use was for a short duration when preparing dinner or getting the kids to bed.  Having seen the disaster caused by a tipped over lantern in a tent I did not want any burned kids.  The Craftsman generator is about 42-years old now.

At the time I purchased the Craftsman a neighbor had a 2-cycle generator from McCulloch.  It was a beast to get started.  You needed a gym member ship to build up the arms to get it going.

I bought the Coleman because it was new and rated at a higher wattage which is a consideration when using a generator at elevation.  The user can expect a loss of power as elevation increases.  I gave the first generator to my father-in-law.  He lives at about 1200-1400 foot elevation and the smaller unit works great for him.

We lost our power here a few years ago and the neighbors were lining up for coffee after they heard me start up the Coleman.

[SHOOTALL]

On a welder duty cycle on all i have used ( quite a few over the years ) is based on one hour . IE; 50% would equal 30 min. out of an hour at 100% output. Not many welders or generators run at 100% .
If you use a portable generator and run lights and heaters , things that don't regulate well plug in a drill motor and let it run while using the generator . It will help keep the generator from hunting .

[handi243]

i had a idea of using a vw diesel engine to turn 2 gen. motors and running it from WVO any ideas?

[Cornbelt]

Interesting comments about Hondas from people who take care of their equipment. My only experience w/Hondas was seeing what happens to them on pipe line construction jobs; not quite a fair test. I believe they could tear up an anvil in a sandpile with enough rubber hammers, but the company kept buying them, so I wasn't sure what to make of them. The small one that looked so portable turned out to be a 2-stroke, which I'd hate to smell for very long, and if it went ka-put, I'd probably have to send it to Peking for repairs. What I got was an unused second-hand with a Briggs engine. Not too small, not too big, but I can load it myself and it will run the air conditioner.

[SHOOTALL]

We had about 30 Honda gen. in service . The engine is good but if and when the electrics need work , junk it .

[Travis Morgan]

I bought my Coleman at Costco. 

For about ten years my wife, then baby #1 and #2 lived at the 5200-foot elevation.  It was a little shocking when we got hit with a heavy snow storm and lost our electricity for weeks.  We were on the end of the power grid and last to get service.  Out propane furnace had an electric motor and thermostat.  Like many couples starting out young we did not have a lot of money but I made a trip to Sears and bought a 1500 Watt generator, I think the surge was 1700 watts.  It was enough to keep the heat going, give us some light, and even keep a small B&W TV going.
 
We were without power for over eight weeks one winter. 

     So, baby #3 came along about June, huh?  (Gotta keep warm somehow!)

[Travis Morgan]

i had a idea of using a vw diesel engine to turn 2 gen. motors and running it from WVO any ideas?

You better have two fuel tanks, one for diesel and a preheater for the WVO.

[Drilling Man]

i had a idea of using a vw diesel engine to turn 2 gen. motors and running it from WVO any ideas?

You better have two fuel tanks, one for diesel and a preheater for the WVO.

  Also, it's going to be an undertaking to get a governor that is sensitive enough, and works properly to keep the gensets at the "right" rpm...

  Anyway, i've had numerous gensets over the years, the crapsman i had, the armature went bad, and Sears didn't have one spare part for my set.  I ended up taking it to Onan, who made it for Sears, where i learned that Sears bought ALL those models for cash, and didn't buy any major parts to keep them going.  Onan wanted $600.00 to make up an armature, so of course i scrapped it.  (they also charged me $60.00 to tell me it was junk!!)

  The Coleman had problems over speeding once in a while, and blowing things out!  And i worked down the list until i ended up where i am today...  I have a 2000 Honda "inverter" genset, and a Winco PTO powered 15,000 watt genset.

  The Honda is used as a portable, where ever it's needed...  Most times i use my batt booster/charger to start a piece of equipment, with the Honda powering the booster.  It also will run the fridge and a few other things if the power goes out.

  If the power "stays" out, then i pull the pto getset out of the shop with my small diesel tractor, and run it as long as i want...  It very easily powers the whole house, and you'd never even know you were on generator power.

  I "always" have a tractor ready to go, year around, so it's the perfect tool to power a genset.  It has that big fuel tank for extended run times, and it also has 200 hour oil changes!

  Anyway, that's my thoughts...

  DM