Generators???

[Casey in Ky]

Well, I've been without power since Tuesday morning(I'm typing this at work) and have decided never again. Never really had a need for a generator, but I don't care if I never even take the thing out of the box, i just want to be prepared from now on. I'm looking at a Briggs and Stratton 5550 for $799. Are these a decent little generator?? It's got a 10hp intek, with a 7 gal tank thats suppose to run 13hours at half load. 2 20 amp 110 circuits and 1 30 amp 220 circuit. Anything better in this price range?? Kinda of a a limited budget. Is the brushless alternator the way to go? Anything else I should be looking at? A buddy just bought Generac gp6500 for the same price, its 6500 watts but I'm pretty sure its made in China and the Briggs says it's made here...suggestions are welcome.

 

[Handyman]

Try to find a gen-set with a Honda engine they run a lot quieter that the Briggs powered ones do. might cost a little more but your ears will appreciate it.

 

[bizkit]

hey look at a web site maxtool.com they got sum nice generators fairly riht on price to

 

[Gun guru]

I bought a Briggs/strn. 10HP (coleman powermate brand) for $600 a year ago. Honda generators are very good but Very expensive.

You are right a generator is a must have if you live in the rural areas, must run the well, fridge, furnace in the winter time.
I was without power for 2 days and you would have thought my wife was having a heart attack, It wasnt until the 2nd day that my wife pipes up and says "will the generator run my hair dryer" I said---Ahhh yep.......Sure. I almost got laid that night cause she could dry her hair.
If I had lots of money to spare I would get a second one to rent out.

Go to www.smallenginewarehouse.com
or home depot to get a genertor.
Small engine warehouse is south of Fort wayne Indiana.
Good luck.

 

[Anonymous-0]

If you can get one with a Honda motor. I've a lot of differnt gen. over the last 15 years used to be a logger spent more time out in the woods than at the home place. They are a little more but in the long run well worth it.

 

[JMS/.MN]

Bottom line on any generator is this...running a home or a farm... DO NOT KILL THE LINEMEN!!!! Buy the correct device to use the generator without backfeeding into the powerline. Our rural electric coop requires a transfer switch on the pole, so when I use the generator, it does not feed into the power system. Anyone using anything else, like some ideas proposed here, like shutting off the main breaker and plugging into something else- our coop will shut off that customer. And with good reason! They don"t need Darwin idiots in the system. Get the proper switch between the genset and your box. For smaller gens, Honda has always had a better engine than any Briggs. As a 30 year dairy farmer, I could justify a 25/45 KW genset, wired into the pole with the transfer switch, but you, and everyone else, needs to observe safety rules and get the proper switch between the gen and your input box. WOULD YOU WANT TO BE THE LINEMAN ON YOUR SYSTEM?

 

[tom-ky]

Casey. I am in the same situation you are in, we bought a Troybilt at Lowes. Could not find much so my choices were limited. We got a 5500 watt. Trying to run the basics.
Where are you in Ky?
We are in Butler county, near Morgantown.
Trees and limbs down every where.

 

[Casey in Ky]

I'm in East Ky, Paintsville, in Johnson County. I work for AT&T(formerly Bellsouth) and it's like nothing I've(or anybody else I work with) have ever seen here. As far as damage to our network(and the power companies), what I've seen compares to Hurricane Katrina and Rita(with exception to the very coast which was just wiped away) and I worked both storms.

We are some of the more fortunate ones though, I'd say 75% of the county has power back...both AEP and Big Sandy Rural Electric Coop really have done an incredible job here. My power came back on at 6:56 pm tonight, out since Tuesday morning.

I'm still buying a generator, probably a Briggs, 5500 to 8000 watts, unless I find a deal on Honda. I'm just gonna order one from somewhere and be patient. As far as choices, they aren't any here, as everybody is sold out. they get a new shipment, you go wait in line, and get a number, if your lucky, you might get whatever they have. I've been looking on northerntool.com and electricgeneratordirect.com, and they seem to be decent. Also been checking the recomended sights here.

 

[Casey in Ky]

. :roll:

 

[IH2444]

Tom I bought a 5550 troybuilt at lowes about 5 years ago. Boy has it been worth it this past week. I live east of Winchester.

That little thing ran non stop (except for refuleing and oil checks) for 4 days. Ysed about 10 gal per 24 hours. I ran my gas furnace, refrig, lights TV and computer on it. Could have ran a freezer too, but do not have one.

I have not used it much till this time.
I paid $650 for it about 5 yrs ago.
10 hp intek ohv.
I use stabil in the gas and synthetic oil in the crankcase and it has never taken over 2 pulls to start.

 

[toolz]

Casey- I understand the budget thing. I said the same about 10 years ago, and bought a good 8kw on wheels, with a v-twin. It did the job well, except not big enough to run the geothermal. Problem was, I worked long days, and the wife wouldn't mess with it. If we were out for a long time, I'd fill it when I left, and she would be cold when I got home. I finally bit the bullet a few years ago, and put in a 16kw stationary. Takes about 30 seconds to fire up, and not a flicker when it shuts down. There's been a few mornings that I walked into the kitchen for breakfast, and realized power was out cause I heard a little hum outside-generator was running. 300 gallons of propane hooked to it, so no worries about fuel. Probably one of the best decisions we've made. At the time, it cost around $1700 I think. A buddy has a heat/air business, so installation was free. I didn't like spending the money, but never regretted it. Just something for you to consider.

 

[Mike in Ohio]

Casey last fall when what was left of Ike came through Ohio I bought a Troy-bilt 5000 watt at lowes. I rewired my pump with a plug so I can unplug it from the house and plug it into the generator by an extension cord with the proper plugs on it. The propane furnace and water heater have 110 plugs to run the power vents an the furnace blower, I plug them into the gen. A 12 guage extension cord to the fridge and freezer, and a couple of smaller cords for a lamp or two after dark. That way the generator is seperated from the house wiring we don't overload it and no danger to anyone else. Good luck with yours, Mike

 

[buickddeere]

You must to install this.

http://www.reliancecontrols.com/ProductDetail.aspx?TWB2012DR

Extension cords are often found connected to generators that have smothered their owners with Carbon Monoxide.
Some people backfeed but they lack the understanding of the seriousness of their actions.

 

[IH2444]

It is not a must. Extension cords will be fine if sized properly and the genny is placed where CO will not go inside the living space.
Never in a garage or near a door though.

Besides you should have CO detectors anyway.

 

[DR Darren]

if yours is a coleman, i have same thing, i have had it 5 years, its great, it handles the fridge, tv, microwave, toaster oven and lights in the house.

one thing is mine cant handle when my well kicks in, it will pop the breakers on the switch over panel.

wish i had bought the next size up since i have a well

and it does run a long time on very little gas

 

[buickddeere]

Problem is too many folks don't take wind direction into consideration. And they pull the generator close to the door or window due to extension cords being on the short side.
A proper transfer switch with the generator connection being some distance away builds in a safety factor.

 

[Anonymous-0]

If you have a tractor, get a PTO generator like Winpower it will have enough KWs to run almost anything.

 

[Pair-a-dice farm]

I've got a deutz 100kw generator that runs the farm and my house. Tuesday morning it will have been running a full week. I bought a 7000 watt generator this morning for my mothers house. Off the top of my head I can't tell you what brand but it has a briggs engine that started the first pull. It cost $952. I've got a 13000 watt generator that I bought after the last ice storm in 2002. Generators are bringing a premium here in NE Ar. The news reported that my electric coop had 15000 broken poles.