Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

So with the occasional outages living in the northeast (Buffalo) I found myself looking for a generator the last 2 days. I was able to find one left, a Westinghouse but decided I wasnt going to drop $1000 on something I didnt know was good or not. So now the storm has pasted and Im going looking for a generator for the next time. I dont know any good brands other than Honda, Yamaha & Honeywell. I see there are generators out there (Powermate/Rigid) that come with a Honda & Yamaha engine. Are those still going to be as good as a normal Honda/Yamaha? Are $800 (5000w) generators just as good as a $1700 (5000w generator)? I dont mid spending the money for something decent, but dont want to wish I bought something different later.

Will be using when power goes out (maybe once or twice a year) maybe.

-fridge
-sump pump
-furnace
-tv
-lights
-blu ray

Was looking at Honda EU 3000IS or the Yamaha EF4500i SE. Not sure the difference between one that has 120v only and one that has both 120 and 240. I also came across a PowerMate with a Honda 390 engine in it. Is the engine what makes the generator or is it more factors than that?

So its better to spend the $$ now and get a solid reliable one, than buy a $700 crapper and worry down the road?

The Honda eu3000 is a great generator , so is the Yamaha 4500ise.The Yamaha will give you 1000 more watts and 10 more amps. It also costs 1000 dollars more. The units that offer you 120 volts on one side and 120/220 on the other have more power than a generator that does not. The one 120 volt plug is usually for a camper. The 120/ 220 is for home back up to your house to run 220 volt loads. I do not know to much about Powermate generators. I do know about Northstar generators. Go to Northerntool.com there you can get a 13000 watt generator with a Honda v-twin for $2648 . If that is to much you can get a 5500 watt for $1099 with a Honda gx 270 engine. They also offer extended warranty too. You can also check out Ariens , they have a 5500 watt generator for $830.00 with a 3 year warranty with a Subaru ex engine. Their 7500 watt model goes for $1300 with a Honda gx engine. Ariens is the new kid on the block. with a 3 year warranty from them you cant go wrong.If you have access to a Powermate unit check out there warranty. Personally I would go with someone local, that way you can get parts and service if something goes wrong.Follow your heart and your wallet. If you want to chance it , you could go to Harbor Freight, you can get a 4000 watt generator with electric start for less than $400.00 with a Honda clone engine. Get it with an extended 3 year warranty. A lot of folks on u tube love them. If it fails return it.

Ctrlaltelite wrote:

The difference shows up when you try to run something that requires 220. A well pump is the first "must have" that comes to mind.

The engine is only half of it, there's the generator itself. That's the most important part. Most of us can repair or swap an engine out if it goes, but the generator is the less-familiar part, and the whole purpose for having an engine.

My wife went out last Thurs and bought a generator. Itia a Troy Bilt XP series 7 KW 10.5 KW surge. Seems ok. It has 220V or 120 V I need to get my brother (he an electrician by trade) come install a transfer witch so I don't have to run cords. Ran 12 hours straight last storm ran 2 refridgerators, 2 tvs sump pum and computer and modem.

http://www.troybilt-gen-pw.com/generators/model.cfm?id=0cc02aee00bd995072c7839a8d523dac