/out/ - Outdoors » Thread #586856

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Anonymous Sat 05 Sep 2015 22:51:48 No.586856 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By:

Hey /out/, I'm looking for some direction.

I would like to purchase a small generator with inverter. I would love to get something like the Honda EU2000i, but I don't have $1,000 just laying around. What I wanted to know is what other options would you guys suggest?

I was looking at an off brand like the WEN 56200i, but for the price would I be better off with a old Honda like the EX650? I'm having a hard time finding good comparisons. Thanks!

Mule

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Mule Sun 06 Sep 2015 00:38:46 No.586918 Report

Quoted By: >>587037

How much power do you need? The 2kW units are a lot more common, but if you're concerned about price/weight/size, there's smaller units (700-1000 watts) that are also a little cheaper.

I have an older Generac ix2000... overall I like it, and I got a screaming deal on two of them.
Did tear them both down and rebuild them, clean them up, check everything over. I have had my good one fail on me once, wouldn't run right (sputtered, wouldn't idle, throttle hunting). Got it home, dried everything out, and it's never done that again... think it got some water in a connector (it was running in the bed of a pickup, wet/gloopy snow-rain falling). Other one I think needs a stator coil (Inverter and most of the electronics seem to be fine, just haven't had the motivation to swap parts back and forth to find the bad one).

If you have some skills/knowledge/tools, can troubleshoot electronics and small engines, then the chinese/off-brands are a great value.

If you want something you just throw in the truck and pull the starter rope a time or two, run a tank of gas or two through it, then throw it back in the corner of the garage when you get home... might be worth shelling out the $$ for a Honda/Yamaha. They're expensive because they're built a lot better and don't need as much maintenance.

I would go with a newer model... better technology all around (electrical and mechanical), engine's probably going to be in better shape, more fuel efficient, quieter, etc etc etc. It looks like Generac's got an upgrade out (IQ2000), might be able to find a good deal on an IX2000. (or IX1600).

Mule

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Mule Sun 06 Sep 2015 00:50:54 No.586926 Report

Quoted By: >>587037

Whatever you get, I'd recommend installing a dirt bike hour meter on it (they're about $20). That'll give you a good idea of runtime, and you can plan oil changes/service better.
>pic related

Keep up on oil changes. Generac recommends 100 hours, I do them 50-60ish. If you don't put 50-60 hours on it in a year, change it yearly (Old oil turns acidic and can damage seals).
Clean the air filter regularly.
Change spark plug yearly.

If you can get 91E0, I'd use that. Small engines don't like E10 ethanol fuels.
If you're up at elevation (10k+ ft), I've had better luck running lower octane fuel. Usually take a jerry can of 85E10 just for the generator.

Let the gen warm up for a few minutes before you plug anything into it, and don't plug in all your loads at once.
When you're shutting it down, same thing, unplug/power down all your loads, unplug everything from the generator, and let it idle unloaded for a few minutes before shutting it off.
It's 120 volts like utility power, but it's not utility power. Do have to do some things differently because of that.

I rarely use mine in the summer, but still fire it up every 6-8 weeks just to keep everything lubed. Let it warm up, plug a 600W light into it, let it run for 5mins or so, unplug it and let it cool down, then shut it off.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 06 Sep 2015 04:39:00 No.587037 Report

Quoted By: >>587062

>>586918
>How much power?
I was looking into probably the 1000/2000watt category. Something I can run a toaster or small microwave on so long as nothing else is running.

>If you have some skills/knowledge/tools off brands are a great value.
Yes I am decently handy. I'm just concerned about the electronics in modern equipment. Yes, portable generators from the 90's had basic control circuits, but I just don't want unit to fail because of a faulty 'overload' issue that doesn't really exist.

>>586926
> I'd recommend installing a dirt bike hour meter on it.
Rodger.

>If you can get 91E0, I'd use that. Small engines don't like E10 ethanol fuels.
I can't get non-ethanol fuels in my area (for a decent price), but I am well versed in the storage and handling of seasonal equipment when it comes to ethanol fuels. I frequently use StaBil Marine for my ethenol mixed fuel storage.

>91E0
I'm guessing you mean 91 octane at sea-level? Is that really required? Seems like over kill and if anything the extra octane may cause build up due to unburnt fuel..

>Let the gen warm up
I let my car warm up in the summer time before I put it in drive. No worries.

Mule

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Mule Sun 06 Sep 2015 06:10:28 No.587062 Report

Quoted By:

>>587037
>toaster
Go 2kW then. Those fuckers take a ton of juice. Don't have anything else hooked up to it either.

>faulty 'overload' issue
Most inverters have problems with inductive loads... motors and coils. As weird as it sounds, putting a 100W incandescent bulb on the gen will help it run those motors/coils a little better - makes the total load less reactive.
Again, a Honda/Yamaha's going to pump out the rated wattage. The chinese stuff can be hit of miss. I've never had my ix2000 overload and I've powered two sled trailers at the same time (about 80 amps of total 12v battery charging, couple laptop/radio chargers, projector, TV).

>extra octane may cause build up due to unburnt fuel
Yea, that's why I often run lower octane through it. At my house (5400) it's fine on 91E0, in the mountains (10k+) it starts to puke.
Sled's got a 11-something gallon tank I'll burn most of in a good day of riding, truck's happier with the higher octane when I've got a trailer behind it. So I've usually got a significant quantity of 91-octane with me. Or on longer trips, I may burn the gallon in the generator plus the 5gal jug of 85E10, so it's 91 and pukey or no generator at all.
There's a place ~15 miles from my house that has 91E0 at the pump... they get a lot of business from me in the winter. I should talk to them about a sponsorship...

>warm up
I mention that because a lot of people don't. To them, a generator's the portable version of what comes out of the wall in their house. And it's not.... Sounds like you get it, but not everyone else does.

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