See I have 3 neighbors that would be close enough to here any generator anyway so the noise doesn't bother me

Plus I plan on making a generator house to help with the noise anyway

Serious question

If power went down for days/weeks. Would the sound of your generator really matter when no one has power or they ran out of gas for generator?

If no one else is running a generator, you will stick out like a sore thumb when your's is running

Yep, and during the apocalypse, the hordes will show up at your house to take your preps. Your best bet is to build a ramshackle disguise around your home as well as allow your yard to become overgrown, thus making everyone believe you are poor and destitute with nothing to offer. Better black  out your windows to prevent that electric light from escaping.

I already have a noisy 3500W open frame gennie. When I update, it will be a quiet dual fuel inverter. That open frame inverter looks nice though, and still quieter than my old one by quite a bit.

Just remember that every 3dB doubles the noise. So 6 dBA might not seem like a lot, but it actually is since it's a log scale. Oddly, the Honda eu3000i is a little quieter in my experience than the eu2000i.

Lost power here many years ago.  Used a smoke and noise gen to keep the fridge, internet and TV going.  Now have inverters.  My elderly neighbor is the only one that commented, she asked to charge her phone.  Loaned her a UPS that I didn't need at that time.

Heads up....looks like a really decent rig...but i have no idea...price just dropped to $840.59 + free shipping today.

Pulsar 12000 Watt Portable Dual Fuel Propane/Gas Generator Electric Start

Wish all generators came with an hour meter, I hate having to 'redneck' an hour meter on generators.    

I have a smaller 2000 watt Champion generator and when I switch it to the gas off position, it runs for a few minutes so I'm assuming all of the gas in the carb is used.   Mine comes with a drain hose out of the carb, does this one?  If it does you can turn the switch to no gas and run it for your 10 seconds.  Then turn the screw/bolt or whatever it is to drain the gas out of the carb and see if any comes out.   ??

@Skibane

I have been looking into that too.  I think it would just be a matter of piping it in to the post-regular LPG port.  The demand regular should open more as necessary, with no need for an orifice.  You'll lose a lot of power rating though.  I really want 240 volts with at least 4kw so I can run at least a mini-split after a hurricane.

I have a little experience running my Predator 3500 on a NashFuel Trifuel kit on natural gas.  Works great but it did require 3/8" unrestricted fittings and hose to get the 3Kw output. I have not lost any power on natgas.  I have posted elsewhere in this thread photos of my Predator reading 29xx watts from the meter.  Also verified by Kill-A-Watt meter.   I used 3/8" air hose and 3/8" pressure washer quick connect fittings that have no internal valving.  It is negative pressure past the regulator, so no real danger of a leak.  Besides, natgas is lighter than air and disperses easily, unlike propane fumes that can pool.  Also, pressure washer connectors are rated at 5,000 psi.  Pretty cheap at Lowe's too.

I recently got an AiPower 2K duel fuel suitcase genny from Amazon for $449.  It runs well on propane but I cannot get it to even "Pop" on natgas.  I haven't put a lot of time into it since I use in in parallel with the Predator as a supplement, mostly for surge demand.  I suppose I could try and configure the supplied 2K regulator for natgas, but I'm not that interested in breaking down the current setup and fiddling with the process.

As it turns out, we had an outage just yesterday for about an hour and a half, and in about 5 minutes I had both running with internet, TV, and lights again.

This may have already been posted but Harbor Freight has released their new predator models.

That 9000W unit looks interesting but why do they limit the output to 30 amps on the plugs?  Why not a 50 amp output on the 240V?

50amp on 240 requires 12000w to run and it's only a 9500w peak?

doh....that was embarrassing.  

My 7500-watt has a 240V 50A plug.

That's because 7500W is 31A.

The HF unit is a 7600W unit and should have a 50A outlet, I wonder if it's internally limited to 30A or they just said "What the hell!...30A is in stock"
Probably output limited by the 30A circuit breaker.

That's why I couldn't understand why a unit with a higher wattage rating than mine didn't have 50A.

I'm gonna go way out on a limb and say that it won't support a 240v 50A (12,000W) load, regardless of what was printed on the gen.

But, go ahead and try, then report back...for science.

Can probably go full output at 120V on each leg since they are 20A outlets and breakers, but limited to 30A at 240V.

For what it’s worth, my 240 mig welder is on a 30 amp breaker in my garage and I’ve never tripped it. Still weird not to do the 50 though.

The generator was given to me for free, but I'm still not going to abuse it.

ends tomorrow



https://www.samsclub.com/p/a-ipower-enclosed-digital-inverter-generator/prod24540092?xid=plp_product_26

no electric start nothing fancy

Is this even a "budget" thread any more?

It is a hybrid thread. Everything generator and plenty of knowledgeable people.

Does anyone know if the Predator 9500 has a bonded or floating neutral? I am considering one but if I need a 3 pole transfer switch that would complicate things.

For those looking for a decent deal on a new portable generator, Walmart dot com is selling remote start Champion 3500 watt inverter generators for the same price as the non-remote start version. The model number is 200990. Their price has been fluctuating between $766 to $788 in the last couple days. Prices elsewhere for the same generator is $899 or higher.

I’ve procrastinated with buying a generator for too long even though I’ve researched them excessively. I couldn’t pass up the price for the remote start version so I finally ordered one. It will be delivered next week. I’ll update this post if they sent me the wrong one.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Champion-Power-Equipment-4500-Watt-Portable-Inverter-Generator-with-Wireless-Remote-Start/673059257

Depends on the size of the load, I’ve had more than one stumble and struggle to catch up to larger loads. If I’m going to use a larger load, I’ll usually switch the eco throttle off.

The filter capacitors on the DC input side of the inverter circuitry provide some "hold-up".

However, the AC output voltage does sag when a huge load suddenly appears.

On my 3 Champion inverter models, it'll cause things like TV sets and monitors to turn off, security camera NVRs to beep and re-boot, lights to dim, etc. - and it's very noticeable on a scope.

However, you don't see huge overvoltage swings as the engine speeds up - The inverter circuitry still does a good job of preventing voltage spikes (and regulating the line frequency), no matter what the engine is doing.

Nice score!

Great value on that one.  

Damn those new predator 9500’s look bad ass. $1700 tho. Anyone got a super coupon?

Updated on the Champion I bought in my above post. It arrived and it’s the correct model with remote start. It’s very quiet and it’s everything I hoped it to be. Walmart’s website is still showing $768 with free shipping. I think it’s a very good deal at that price and I would recommend getting one if you’re thinking about it.

Champion has a new (?) 8 KW tri-fuel model - First one I've seen that ships from the factory with the ability to run on gasoline, propane and natural gas.



Maximum continuous power:
 8 KW on gasoline
 7.2 KW on propane
 7 KW on natural gas

My buddy works for them, not in a retail capacity...

I’m patiently awaiting his annual 20% off spending spree he does every so often.

I had some huge trees removed this week which involved dropping the lines so I was without electricity a couple days.

So I got to go into hurricane mode with my predator 3500. I roll it out onto my open patio by the mudroom, which makes it easier to gas up.

I used it to power 2 freezers, fridge/freezer, tv with antenna (had to take my fiber optic cable down too) and a couple led lights and a few fans. I also have USB led bulbs which were very handy, I plugged them into a couple of power banks, those phone charging ones.

It worked great, I think it idles too low though, ecomode off isn't much faster rpms than ecomode on. I was surprised at how little wattage those things pulled. I don't think I cracked 1000. I could have sworn when I used it the last hurricane it ramped up more.

I run my big cord through the mudroom window through a piece of thick foam. One freezer is there, the others are in the kitchen which is not far. It wasn't that big of a deal to get everything hooked up. It cooled off at night so not having the AC didn't matter.

There were 6 trees in all, a huge oak and 5 huge pines, everything is pretty dusty. I checked the air filter, I have a spare foam filter but I don't have any thin oil, it didn't look bad, I put it back in for now.

When I first started it I turned ecomode off but after awhile I realized I didn't have to do that. I actually load it more when I do my monthly run.

I did overfill it with gas before I went to bed, I couldn't see well. It still ran so I guess I didn't fuck up that carbon vent chamber thingie.

I have a whopping 90 hours on it now. If I had it to do over I would get the hybrid champion. I'm almost tempted to sell the predator and do that but I have a backup wen and we don't lose electricity much.

Although I don't mind using the cords and getting all my little toys out I dislike putting everything away. I'm getting a wooden shed to go where the tree was so I'm exited about that. The 5 pines were actually growing through and into the fence, which had to come down anyway for the cranes. I have a temporary fence at the moment to keep my beagles in the yard, it will have to be partially taken up when the shed is delivered, then I will get a new section of fence.

When we first moved in we thought all the trees were nice and shady. We quickly learned differently. We cut some down ourselves and had others removed. At great expense.

A tree is a bill that your present self sends to your future self. Oh well, it's not like I planted them. We had the oak trimmed several times only to have it grow bigger and faster. It took them 4 hours to grind that stump!

Anyway, the predator pulled us through, it was almost unnoticeable that we didn't have electricity and I couldn't hear it even though it was right outside the bedroom. I think it's quieter than the wen 2k, but I also think it idles too low.

Available at Lowe's too.  If you get the military discount, costs 1188.  Regular price 1320.

Woot 2k generator for 268

Damn, I couldn't resist  

And it arrived @ 10:45am

Attached File

Anyone have experience with the HF 1800w generator?  HF near me has a used one for 181.00 I'm tempted to pick it up.

Didn't know they have a 1800.  I have the 2000/1600 Predator and it works well.  Doesn't hurt that I got it for $175 during one of their parking lot sales.

Looks like it's a new model https://www.harborfreight.com/generators-engines/generators/under-3000-watt-generators/1800-watt-gas-powered-portable-generator-with-co-secure-technology-57064.html

Pulled the trigger.  Got it home when i checked the oil level it was over filled with a bunch of oil running out when I removed the dip stick.  Also discovered air filter was missing.

Not sure if i'm going to keep it, does this engine sound right?

first part of video is of me just cranking it over with the ignition switch off, then starting it.

It's hard to tell but it does sound like a lot of noise from the internals

I'm not sure I'd keep it

have you checked if the spark plug is tight? ether way that's a loud one.

You can't tell from that video. The camera/mic is so close, sounds like we are inside it, and we are staring at a concrete floor...

If it was taken from 20 feet away at head height, we could be more likely to decide of there were odd noises. As it is, who knows...

bump