Portable gas generators?

LarryT · Jul 27, 2001

Richard, I just bought a Honda EB3500 from a motorcycle dealer. I had to agrue pretty hard to get a decent deal. Since then, I've found the same generator at a construction tool store and a lawn and garden pro shop for about the same or less than I beat the motorcycle guy down to. I paid $1900 out the door, they originally wanted $2400 plus tax. Look in the yellow pages under generators.

Larry...

RMulkey · Jul 27, 2001

Richard,

I have had great luck with Honda generators in the past. I currently have a EB6500S Industrial model we use to power a construction site. It has run 6 hours day, every day for about a year with no issues. Just change the oil once every 40 hours of use. I paid $2400 with the battery. Be aware Honda has five product lines of generators for different uses:

1) Lightweight Product Line
2) Super Quiet Product Line
3) Economy Product Line
4) Deluxe Product Line
5) Industrial Prodcut Line.

You can get their full specs at: http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/gen.htm I went with larger model to run a 220V irrigation pump and power a welder. We will also use it for backup power for the house once we move in. The ES6500S is heavy at >200lb due to the 13hp engine with steel cylinder liners and overall heavy construction. The other product lines are lighter. The Super quiet line is intersting, but very large physically do to the sound enclosures.

As a side note we installed a 200A Manual transfer switch in the house for safety. We can always buy a bigger generator, possibly a permanet unit or PTO driven model. The power is reliable where we are moving so the backup generator is a luxury.

Hope this helps.

cowboydoc · Jul 27, 2001

RMulkey,
Thanks for the info. I just called the contractor supply here in town and they are $1750 on the 3000 watt model and $2400 on the 4500 watt model, ouch! Guess you get what you pay for though.

DocHeb · Jul 27, 2001

I've had the same idea of using another muffler for my generator. I wonder if you could use a motorcycle muffler. Compare the noise difference between a 8 hp generator and a 120 hp road bike (not one of those "ninja" testosterone open-pipe bikes). The noise:hp ratio is pretty high for the generator.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by DocHeb on 07/27/01 11:51 AM (server time).</FONT></P>

TxBilly · Jul 27, 2001

Richard
My Kubota dealer in Katy, TX has them (Roach Kubota - has a web site - roachkubota.com)
Bill

JayinNH · Jul 27, 2001

Gary,
I have a 6500 peak Generac that I pick up by myself. Even when it's full of fuel. I found that for the price Generac was a good choice. I bought mine about 4 years ago and payed just under 600 for it.The reason I bought a larger generator was to run power tools and more hungry power equipment up at camp. A small one wouldn't be able to handle the load put on it. I also use the generator for Bow fishing at night to run my 6, 500 watt halogen lights as well as the trolling motor
Jay

ccatfish · Jul 27, 2001

Ironic, I just had my generator wired to a 400-amp transfer box yesterday. I don't want to talk about what I had to pay for that, but I had to go through 4 electricians before I found one that could be trusted. Even the posters at www.electrician.com couldn't agree on how these should be wired.

Anyway, I purchased the generator earlier this year from http://www.norwall.com/. I was very impressed. The unit was a 7500 watt electric start and it shipped directly from Generac during a time of extreme shortages in my area due to ice storms. Northern had been picked clean except for a $5k diesel.

I do highly recommend the wheel kit. My 300+ pound monster would be very difficult to move without it.

The limited run time does bother me. If anyone has ideas on how to extend the run time via a separate tank or by adding some kind of siphoning system to pull from a larger source, I would like here about it. I too am occassionally away for extended periods and I don't like the idea of my wife pouring gasoline 3 times a day.

cowboydoc · Jul 27, 2001

Boy you guys are right about the Honda being the quietest. I called around on all the major brands and nobody even comes close to Honda for being quiet and at a closer range!! The quietest seems to be the EU3000 at only 49 db. The one I have now I found out is rated at 100db. That's pretty impressive. I found internet price of only $1590 so that's not too bad. Think I will be ordering one. Thanks for all the info.

pdxman · Jul 27, 2001

Richard, wait to you hear (or not hear) the Honda. When they purr like they do you'd think they aren't actually pulling their weight in watts but really are.

GlueGuy · Jul 27, 2001

CowboyDoc,

Don't know.

DocHeb,

That's one idea, but I was actually thinking of just replacing the existing non-muffler for a real auto-type muffler. The larger capacity would provide little to no back pressure, and the added packing ought to quiet it down nicely.

The only issue is adapting the smallish exhaust pipe to the car muffler. Just a little bit-o-welding....

The GlueGuy