What generator brands to buy/avoid

nadja · #21 07/05/12, 09:50 AM

Food for thought. I live off the grid and have been for over 16 years now. My solar is great, but now , like every year, the monsoons start rolling in. More clouds then sun. So, I need to run one of my gennies. I have three, a small one, I can throw in the back of my truck as needed, a middle one about 5.5k which does most of my battery charging when needed, and my rock steady Kholer twin cast iron 7k. The Kohler was actually the cheapest., I found it at the local flea market a couple of years ago. It came out of a mans father in laws motor home and had maybe 200 hours on it. I did have to do some maintenance on it as it had been negleted for several years. I paid 200.00 for it, and about another 180.00 in complete maintenance , oil change, filter, plugs, wires, points , cleaning the carb and fuel pump etc. But for less the 400.00 investement, it is one heck of a generator. Quiet, steady and reliable like the rock of gibralter. There are deals out there, if you only take the time to look around.

Craigs list will ususally turn up one or two after looking for a couple of weeks or so, ebay, and one of the best places, is auto junk yards. Onan's are also a fairly nice set up. They are also both easily converted to propane which does not go bad.

nadja · #22 07/05/12, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruenor

Now that we have a little one in the house, I'm thinking of buying a generator. We didn't have a real need before now, other than the possibility of losing some food in the freezer. But now that our daughter is here, I'd rather have the possibility of a fan in the summer and a small heater in the winter if we lose power.

So, what generator brands do you recommend to buy or to avoid? Once I narrow down the brand, I'll decide what size that I need.

Thanks!

Here are three that you can take a look at. #3 may be a little big for you, but these are ususally bullitproof. Also, very heavy and hard to steal !

Onan Generator 5.0 BGA

HONDA POWERED GENERATOR 6500 WATTS

kohler generator diesel powered

Jim-mi · #23 07/05/12, 10:45 AM

There are a lot of knock-offs on the market.
Slap your own lable on a cheapy and peddle it cheap.........

Problem is many people buy strickly on the price tag........

That "genny" from a box store priced at $199.95 is disposable junk.

Yamaha has a 2800i that is very good (for a gas genny)

For somebody able to think 'ahead' propane and diesel are the way to go.........

nadja · #24 07/05/12, 11:08 AM

Really, most of what you buy will depend on what your attempting to do with it. For instance , if it is for power outages like right now that only last a few days or so, then possibly one of the box store cheapo type will work for you. If you are looking at more then just occasional use and more for long term, then you should be looking into the larger more reliable units. All will require some maint. though and you should be preparred for this. My Kohler requires a cartridge screw in oil filter and about 4 qts of oil to change, while my box store only needs a quart of oil every 50 or 60 hours or so, also, my Kohler gets about 1hr of run time per gallon of gas when being used hard. My box store gennies less then half of that. However, My Kohler will still be running long after I'm gone.

unioncreek · #25 07/05/12, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baldylocks

I have one of those yellow Champion generators. It's not huge or anything and won't run my entire house but it starts every time and I have had only good luck with it...

I also have one of the Champions, don't use it a lot, but it always starts and gets the job done. They are a Honda clone and will use any of the parts that a Honda does.

Bob

Old Vet · #26 07/05/12, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hears The Water

What about a solar powered generator? Has anyone had any experience with one of those? I didn't even know that such a thing existed, but my son did, of all things. I was looking at that because I am very leery of the exhaust fumes of a gas/diesel powered one I didn't know that you could use propane/natural gas to fuel a generator either. Are there any fumes from that? Forgive my ignorance I am learning so much here! I will admit that I am VERY spooked about anything that can give off fumes or exhaust since my carbon monoxide exposure. I will be checking out that link about the propane genny, here in a bit.
Thanks in advance
God bless you and yours
Deb

Propane and Natural gas is used in fork lifts in work places with out good ventilation where the fumes would be dangerous. Propane gives off fumes but not near the amount of gas or diesel engines. The gas, diesel, propane, or Natural gas generators are run out doors and the fumes go away fast. I don't know of one that can be used indoors. Mine is used out doors and the smell doesn't bother my wife and she has a objection of the gas or diesel fumes.

nadja · #27 07/05/12, 03:43 PM

Solar generators are a pure waste of good money. Generators running on propane will last indefinately if oil is changed. Propand /natural gas does not go bad. However , they lose a little power over gas. About 10% until you start climbing in elevetion, then even more.

Darren · #28 07/05/12, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stamphappy

I did a little bit of research on Lister Petter yesterday. That is one impressive machine. Nimrod, thanks for the info on the Hondo. JUst one of the many reasons I love this forum.

MidAtlantic appears to be a Lister Petter importer. The ballpark price for the 19.3 kw unit is $14,000 set up for natural gas or propane. That includes the enclosure. They are not cheap.

Midatlantic currently has a reconditioned unit: Newage 18 kW 60 cycle generator multi-voltage; Lister TR3 air-cooled diesel engine; skid mounted with enclosure; excellent condition, low hours for $7545.

The engines have the torque to drive the generators at a low speed, 1800 rpm, for greater longevity.

Reconditioned Equipment

A company in Georgia buys the Lister Petter engines and incorporates them into generators. The diesel fueled units run from $6,000 to $8,599 for the 11.5Kw to 21.5KW size units. Those are open skid mounted units w/o an enclosure. They have the units on eBay.

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