Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Before I ask my question, are they on-topic for this forum?

If they are, I'll come back and edit it into this post. If not, can anyone recommend another place?


Edit, the next day: Thanks, I'll post my Q below!

For what it's worth: We have a 5K Generac (6250 peak), and it did the job.  However, perhaps because we upgraded our well pump to 1/2 HP, we get very visible brownouts whenever the pump starts.  We use it to power the pump, the heating system (forced hot water by oil), refrigerator, microwave, smoke detectors, and one set of outlets (lights and computers).  It's not the entire house, but it's enough to keep us comfortable.  Because of the brownouts, we're looking at upgrading the generator.   Given that the generator ought to last at least ten years, I'd consider spending an extra couple of hundred to get one with more than 5KW. 

For what it's worth:  Ace Hardware carries B&S generators, though you may need to order it online and get it shipped to a nearby store.  The 6200w model, with battery start, runs $1K.

snowmachine wrote:
Check out the reviews from Camping Life.

http://www.campinglife.com/output.cfm?ID=1112113

Good info, GaryBy, Thanks!

Also FWIW, I'd check the amp draw & voltage drop when that well pump starts, as too low a voltage could damage something in the house (some motors will overheat), and too much of a draw could hurt the genny - but if you're not tripping a breaker it may not be too much current. If they're on different breakers on the genny you could draw too much without tripping any breaker. Don't forget that as voltage drops, some electrics will draw more current to obtain/maintain constant power, which only makes it worse.

I had borrowed a 5K Coleman once during a power failure here and it ran my well and furnace OK, but I never checked them at the same time the refrigerator was running. That's why I'm looking for something just a bit bigger, those 3 are the necessities, anything else is a luxury. When I first powered the house up with it - after 28 hours with no power - I shut down the breaker for the furnace and well. Once the refrigerator was up and running and the sump pump finished, I powered on the well, waited till the well pump shut down and finally put on the furnace. Furnace last because I knew there would be an oil burner and 3 circ pumps running at once - the other 2 were used later.

Paul7 wrote:
Thanks! Actually this article had started out my research. Just curious if anyone had any of these models here.

I think I am going to go with the Honda. I need to do some startup wattage testing on my refrigerator and freezer to ensure it will be able to power them at least individually. I noticed I can get it with a LP gas conversion as well.

I picked up one of these inexpensive wattage meters.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882715001

Bill_H wrote:
My recollection is that the boiler (oil burner + 2 circulating pumps) didn't seem to cause as much as a dip as the microwave, and certainly not the refrigerator.  Since we weren't running the generator 24 hours, the refrigerator really wanted to be running whenever it had power.  After a couple of days of just adapting to life without external power, I wound up toggling things at the transfer panel to reduce the chance of problems.  Fortunately, our well pump usage is fairly predictable.

Now if only we had had the deep freeze right after the ice storm.  Then I could have emptied the freezer and stored it all outside.