Portable Generators

[Ford850]

A local Rural King store set up a register outside in the nursery area during the busy periods this summer. They used a little Honda generator, which sat right next to the register table. It was so quiet, you couldn't hear it unless you leaned over to it. Just the normal outside noises around the store were enough to mask that quiet little thing. What makes this especially interesting is that Rural King sells several small generators, but not Honda. At least not here. But they used a Honda due to it's performance over what they sell.

 

[ultrarunner]

People are willing to pay for quality... at least enough to make it worth while.

I've got two Honda older units... one is circa 1990 and whisper quiet... it is when they came out with the 1000 watt model... enough to run my shop tools and drain machine.... seldom use it as I also have an invertor on the truck that is 1800W rated.

 

[DieselBound]

I don't have an issue with noise as my closest neighbor is probably 500' (next is maybe 700' and then others are about 1/4 mile). I run a bunch of diesel machinery in which case I'm not so concerned about noise. That said, I didn't really want a screaming generator either. I bought a used (1993) 7.5kW Onan/Cummins with a Kubota three cylinder diesel, water cooled of course (there are air-cooled diesel generators- yuck). I should really get a decibel reading off of it. Just exercised it today I load it with a couple of small heaters and a shop vac; the shop vac is louder than the generator.

If anyone out there is looking for a great, small diesel generator then I'd highly recommend an early 90s Onan/Cummins DKDFL7.5. I paid $2,500 for mine, with about 660 hrs on it: Onan 7.5DKDFL - A good fit for me? - SmokStak

For older equipment, such as gensets, Antique Engines Antique Tractors Steam Engines and Old Iron is a great site.

 

[Pettrix]

What happened to the days of getting a truck full of coal and burning it in my coal stove? Oh yeah, it caused cancer, black lung disease and deformed children being born.

There are "NO BURN DAYS" in Phoenix because the pollution levels get so bad in the winter due to wood burning fireplaces, that it causes a smog cloud that chokes out the city and damages peoples health.

Back to generators. Waiting on my Honda generator to arrive.

 

[CADplans]

This is a tractor forum,,, no one has mentioned a PTO generator,,,

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...generator-extended-2.html?highlight=generator

The Winco 10Kw looks so attractive,,, I might buy one even though I do not need it!!
(I have a 10 Kw generator in my Miller welder)

The pto generator on my mcut JD would be quieter than a 10HP Honda,,, Hmmmmm

 

[ultrarunner]

What happened to the days of getting a truck full of coal and burning it in my coal stove? Oh yeah, it caused cancer, black lung disease and deformed children being born.

There are "NO BURN DAYS" in Phoenix because the pollution levels get so bad in the winter due to wood burning fireplaces, that it causes a smog cloud that chokes out the city and damages peoples health.

Back to generators. Waiting on my Honda generator to arrive.

This is where I think more information is needed...

Wood burning covers just about everything... and it certainly can be hazzard.

The problem is multifaceted and I have had one on one discussions with regulators during the hearing phase and it was admitted that a homeowner with a EPA certified clean stove and using only properly seasoned fuel is NOT the problem.

The real issue is enforcement of those that don't so it is simply easier to go for the blanket ban when it comes to wood heat.

So the real question... is it wood burning or how wood is burned?

Plus... I have seen too many that treat wood burning as an incinerator consuming all... plastics, treated wood, etc...

I think you are going to be real happy with the Honda... which model did you decide on?

My "Big" Honda is a 5000 on wheels with the larger tank with both electric and rope start... still looks like new red paint and all the chrome... they used chrome back then...

It was pressed into service after the big earthquake that drop several of the freeways and bay bridge... kept 4 single 2300 square foot single family homes going for several days... those 10 and 12 gauge extension cords come in handy.

One of the neighbors when out and bought a 100' 10 gauge cord to hook up and gave me the cord... so it all works out.

 

[ultrarunner]

I don't have an issue with noise as my closest neighbor is probably 500' (next is maybe 700' and then others are about 1/4 mile). I run a bunch of diesel machinery in which case I'm not so concerned about noise. That said, I didn't really want a screaming generator either. I bought a used (1993) 7.5kW Onan/Cummins with a Kubota three cylinder diesel, water cooled of course (there are air-cooled diesel generators- yuck). I should really get a decibel reading off of it. Just exercised it today I load it with a couple of small heaters and a shop vac; the shop vac is louder than the generator.

If anyone out there is looking for a great, small diesel generator then I'd highly recommend an early 90s Onan/Cummins DKDFL7.5. I paid $2,500 for mine, with about 660 hrs on it: Onan 7.5DKDFL - A good fit for me? - SmokStak

For older equipment, such as gensets, Antique Engines Antique Tractors Steam Engines and Old Iron is a great site.

My uncle built a small concrete block generator shack for his off grid genset... the sound is really contained as 3/4 is built into the hillside... even the roof is poured concrete... we call it the generator bunker!

 

[Pettrix]

Since a generator this size weighs 200LBS. Is it OK to get a tarp and some masonry block and store the generator outdoors, wrapped in a tarp and elevated off the ground with the masonry blocks?

 

[ultrarunner]

I find in my climate a tarp tightly wrapped will trap moisture... maybe not a problem in the High Desert?

 

[Garandman]

A local Rural King store set up a register outside in the nursery area during the busy periods this summer. They used a little Honda generator, which sat right next to the register table. It was so quiet, you couldn't hear it unless you leaned over to it. //

The Honda inverter generators are really quiet and fuel efficient.

But they don't run at 240V which the OP needed for his well pump. Honda also makes regular 3600 rpm generators, but I'm not sure they are much quieter than the Briggs & Strattons, which have an extra-large exhaust.

Portable Generators for Camping and RVs '|' Briggs & Stratton

 

[Ford850]

The Honda inverter generators are really quiet and fuel efficient.

But they don't run at 240V which the OP needed for his well pump. Honda also makes regular 3600 rpm generators, but I'm not sure they are much quieter than the Briggs & Strattons, which have an extra-large exhaust.

Portable Generators for Camping and RVs '|' Briggs & Stratton

Honda makes larger inverter generators too. Here's a 5500/7000 watt model that runs at 52 - 60db. I don't see where B&S lists the noise output on theirs, so I'm not sure how that compares. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200640183_200640183

 

[ultrarunner]

The Honda inverter generators are really quiet and fuel efficient.

But they don't run at 240V which the OP needed for his well pump. Honda also makes regular 3600 rpm generators, but I'm not sure they are much quieter than the Briggs & Strattons, which have an extra-large exhaust.

Portable Generators for Camping and RVs '|' Briggs & Stratton

I believe two of the smaller Hondas can be combined to make 220v

Visited a remote alpine site where everything is packed in and they had two Inverter Hondas cabled together to make 220v... said it was much easier to carry in two small generators than one larger one.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I believe two of the smaller Hondas can be combined to make 220v

Visited a remote alpine site where everything is packed in and they had two Inverter Hondas cabled together to make 220v... said it was much easier to carry in two small generators than one larger one.

This is totally FALSE, you can combine two or even more, BUT they still will only be making 120volts...

SR

 

[dragoneggs]

This is totally FALSE, you can combine two or even more, BUT they still will only be making 120volts... SR

Correct. You double the amperage not the voltage.

 

[ultrarunner]

This is totally FALSE, you can combine two or even more, BUT they still will only be making 120volts...

SR

I should have been more complete with my post.

This was in Austria at a mountain hut... 220 voltage is the standard voltage and they had two Honda units linked together...

Honda is super expensive in Austria yet they sell well... cheaper in Germany

Technische Daten – Tragbar – Stromerzeuger – Industrie – Honda

 

[Garandman]

This is totally FALSE, you can combine two or even more, BUT they still will only be making 120volts...

SR

Yes, we have an EU2000i Companion, 2000i, and the parallel kit. This does indeed double up the wattage to 3200 continuous and 4,000 peak. It's a popular combo around here because a single EU2000i will run a heat circulation pump, fridge and a light or two. So you can shut down one at night. This minimizes fuel use to as little as 4-5 gallons a day. My buddy had a typical construction 7500 watt generator that has to run at 3600 rpm to get 120V. He would use 15-25 gallons a day. If you are up to your eyeballs in snow, or surrounded by flood waters, that ain't happening. FWIW we also bought the 12V charging cable for the EU2000i. We top off all our power equipment and motorcycles with MOGAS for the winter so we can have enough fuel for 5-8 days, as that's what people needed during Hurricane Sandy. That seems to be the worst-case scenario when you live near the coast.

The Yamaha 2000 inverter comes with charger cables and can be lnked. Yamaha also makes a fairly portable 2400 W inverter system that will run an RV AC unit. And B&S, Generac, Ryobi and others now also make 2000w inverters. 1000 w are available but can't run much.

We also had an EU3000is, which got stolen from work. All moot as OP needs 240 for well pump.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

This is a tractor forum,,, no one has mentioned a PTO generator,,,

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...generator-extended-2.html?highlight=generator

The Winco 10Kw looks so attractive,,, I might buy one even though I do not need it!!
(I have a 10 Kw generator in my Miller welder)

The pto generator on my mcut JD would be quieter than a 10HP Honda,,, Hmmmmm

If I'm going to run a generator I want something I don't have to prime to get started again. Come to think if it, I will set up dual propane tanks and a valve so I don't have to shut down to replace an empty tank. In cold weather when the tank is icing up it could mean more reliable operation too.

 

[prichard]

In theory you could put 2x 120 in series and get 240 but I wouldn't recommend unless the manufacturer had instruction on doing so.

 

[bcp]

Perhaps someone can follow up on this:

SmartPlugs' 240 Volt Parallel Kit.wmv - YouTube

Bruce

 

[prichard]

The issue is that the 2 lines need to be 180 degrees out of phase. Without some way to sync the generators I don't know how that could be accomplished.