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

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