Posted: 11/3/2012 7:29:32 PM EDT
| I assume better than nothing. How well do they hold up? |
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There is a 20+ page thread on the two cycle 8oo watt unit in Survival Equipment. They are very well recieved and reviewed, Costs $79 at the right sale, $89 with a magazine coupon. And loud as all hell. But no one in NJ would fault you for running one at the moment. 
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There is a 20+ page thread on the two cycle 8oo watt unit in Survival Equipment. They are very well recieved and reviewed, Costs $79 at the right sale, $89 with a magazine coupon. I've had one of those for about 4 years. Use it all the time. Yeah, it won't run much, but it's very small and will run the basics. And it runs forever. Only tip? When I'm getting ready to turn it off and I know I won't be restarting it within 2-3 hours, I don't use the 'off' switch. I turn the fuel off and let it burn all the fuel out of the carb bowl. I've found this makes it start much easier the next time. |
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The little 800 watt 2-stroke is a trooper - Particularly if you can catch it on sale for 70 bucks or so.
There's a nice, long thread on it in the Survival Forums. The bigger 4-stroke HF stuff is typical low-end Chinese - Copies of decent Honda designs, but spotty implementation and customer service. If you want to go Chinese, there is nothing better out there than Champion Power Equipment - They're American-owned, they build most of their stuff to their own QC standards in their own Chinese factory, and all of their tech support people live in California and speak English as a first language. Very decent stuff, for no more money than the other Chinese brands. Lowe's, Tractor Supply and Cabella's sell a ton of CPE stuff - Also available via mail order from Home Depot, Amazon and ebay. |
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There is a 20+ page thread on the two cycle 8oo watt unit in Survival Equipment. They are very well recieved and reviewed, Costs $79 at the right sale, $89 with a magazine coupon. And loud as all hell. But no one in NJ would fault you for running one at the moment. Not true. They aren't that loud but they are only 800 Watts. |
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Current thread with archive link I have one, fires right up every spring & fall. Still havent "needed" it. Tent sale a few years ago, 20% off coupon- $63 OTD. One is still NIB. |
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Current thread with archive link I have one, fires right up every spring & fall. Still havent "needed" it. Tent sale a few years ago, 20% off coupon- $63 OTD. One is still NIB. I am thinking a bit bigger. Freezer, furnace, TV maybe |
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I have owned China made gensets of all "brands". I think most use the same engine of 6.5 hp even tho their rated differently. Most manufacturers use the same basic engine design - a copy of the Honda GX series. Most of them buy the forgings from one of several foundries - and then machine and assemble them to their own standards, using their own collection of parts. |
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They are loud. They smell. And you definitely know when a load is applied. But they aren't bad for the price. As for running a fridge, you'd have to see what the max power draw is on the fridge to see if it would work or not. Fridges can't need anymore than 1800 watts or they would be tripping the standard 15 amp breakers all the time. |
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Is it possible to run a fridge off of one? Maybe an 18 cubic foot model. New ones draw around 500 watts. I've measured several modern full-size side-by-side fridges with a Kill-A-Watt - Roughly 200 watts, after the starting surge. The power draw shown on the nameplate is a lot higher, because there are some loads aside from the compressor that run intermittently - Things like defrost heaters, interior lights, etc. The nameplate rating assumes that all of these loads operate simultaneously, and also includes a safety margin - It's an absolute worst-case rating. |
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There is a 20+ page thread on the two cycle 8oo watt unit in Survival Equipment. They are very well recieved and reviewed, Costs $79 at the right sale, $89 with a magazine coupon. I was thinking the 4000w unit I have the red 4000w unit from harbor freight. IT IS NOT LOUD. Starts easily. I have used to power a 1hp submersible pump, miter saw, small air compressor. I used it for a week building a small cabin. I wish I had bought a bigger one but it works fine for most things. |
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There is a 20+ page thread on the two cycle 8oo watt unit in Survival Equipment. They are very well recieved and reviewed, Costs $79 at the right sale, $89 with a magazine coupon. I've had one of those for about 4 years. Use it all the time. Yeah, it won't run much, but it's very small and will run the basics. And it runs forever. Only tip? When I'm getting ready to turn it off and I know I won't be restarting it within 2-3 hours, I don't use the 'off' switch. I turn the fuel off and let it burn all the fuel out of the carb bowl. I've found this makes it start much easier the next time. 2 stokes get all of their lube from the fuel mix, running it dry to stop it is not advised. YMMV. 
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There is a 20+ page thread on the two cycle 8oo watt unit in Survival Equipment. They are very well recieved and reviewed, Costs $79 at the right sale, $89 with a magazine coupon. I've had one of those for about 4 years. Use it all the time. Yeah, it won't run much, but it's very small and will run the basics. And it runs forever. Only tip? When I'm getting ready to turn it off and I know I won't be restarting it within 2-3 hours, I don't use the 'off' switch. I turn the fuel off and let it burn all the fuel out of the carb bowl. I've found this makes it start much easier the next time. 2 stokes get all of their lube from the fuel mix, running it dry to stop it is not advised. YMMV. But if its still running then it has the lube that is suspended in the fuel. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: There is a 20+ page thread on the two cycle 8oo watt unit in Survival Equipment. They are very well recieved and reviewed, Costs $79 at the right sale, $89 with a magazine coupon. I've had one of those for about 4 years. Use it all the time. Yeah, it won't run much, but it's very small and will run the basics. And it runs forever. Only tip? When I'm getting ready to turn it off and I know I won't be restarting it within 2-3 hours, I don't use the 'off' switch. I turn the fuel off and let it burn all the fuel out of the carb bowl. I've found this makes it start much easier the next time. 2 stokes get all of their lube from the fuel mix, running it dry to stop it is not advised. YMMV. But if its still running then it has the lube that is suspended in the fuel. You would think right?  |
| I looked at them and looked at a buddies came fro HF and i bought a Honeywell 5500 great little gen set, seemed to be better made. Motor is made by generic and is quiet for the size. Used it a couple of times and would buy another honewell. if i would buy a smaller one i would buy what my son n law, dad and others bought . Champion 3500-4000 peak. this one runs very quiet they have had them for years starts 1st pull. they to like my self turn off gas and let die to run gass out of carb when shutting off for a while. i dont store gass in my gen just have it there and treated. run it about every 2 months for 10 or 15 min shurt it down and its ready to go if i need it. |
| I have the 4000 watt model - it has never produced electricity. The engine runs well, and is moderately quiet (Robin-Subaru). Tried flashing the field, and installing a new voltage regulator, but no dice. Probably end up installing a new generator head on it. YMMV. |
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We had a power outage about a month ago after a large storm so I was just shopping around for small generator to keep the essentials going in the case of a power outage. Other stuff came up, so I haven't yet pulled the trigger, but I decided on the 3500 watt Champion Weekender from Cabelas. It was $289 or $319 with wheels & cover. I just looked on thier website and it's gone except for the remote start version. I imagine they are sold out due to Sandy. It looks like a better unit and a better deal the the HF generator.
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| MRGOODKAT check at tractor supply is there is on in your area. Here in southern IN they have them in stock. Sams club also had the champion gen sets last time i was there. Go to champion web site and it will tell you who handels them. I know alot of folks that have the champion and love em and had them for years. Lowes also sells champion now to. They sell troybuilt. I know 2 people that has troybuilt and had problems with them. I like my honewell but they are a bit pricey got my 5500/6875 watt for $500 on sale at Menards a couple years ago lot higher now. |
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You can also order then on line at tractor supply and have them shipped to your local store if they dont have them i stock. Champion makes several diff models with the plug setup so check out what set up is best for you.
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We had a power outage about a month ago after a large storm so I was just shopping around for small generator to keep the essentials going in the case of a power outage. Other stuff came up, so I haven't yet pulled the trigger, but I decided on the 3500 watt Champion Weekender from Cabelas. It was $289 or $319 with wheels & cover. I just looked on thier website and it's gone except for the remote start version. I imagine they are sold out due to Sandy. It looks like a better unit and a better deal the the HF generator. |
After using a generator for a few years i would recomend not getting anything any less than a 3500 watt set. best way to figure out what size to get is add up what you need to power like 4 40 watt lights =40 watts a refridgerator is usally about 700 watts when it starts up then backing to about 300 figure starting watts for things with motors like sump pumps ect. to much demand on a too small generator will result in gen set not lasting. rule of thumb is find out about how many watts you want/need then X 2. this will usally work great use less fuel because you will always find something else you want to plug in when using it. hope this helps.
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We had a power outage about a month ago after a large storm so I was just shopping around for small generator to keep the essentials going in the case of a power outage. Other stuff came up, so I haven't yet pulled the trigger, but I decided on the 3500 watt Champion Weekender from Cabelas. It was $289 or $319 with wheels & cover. I just looked on thier website and it's gone except for the remote start version. I imagine they are sold out due to Sandy. It looks like a better unit and a better deal the the HF generator. |
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There is a 20+ page thread on the two cycle 8oo watt unit in Survival Equipment. They are very well recieved and reviewed, Costs $79 at the right sale, $89 with a magazine coupon. And loud as all hell. But no one in NJ would fault you for running one at the moment. umm.. no they aren't i have 2 and you can have a normal conversation right next to both of them running. not loud at all. |