The Best Generator....
Frank B.
Doug Miller
>Who manufactures the best 5000 to 7000 watt home use generator?
That's rather like asking who makes the best midsize car, isn't it?
I have a Coleman 5000W generator, and I'm quite happy with it. It starts
easily, does its job without problems, runs for hours on a couple gallons of
gas, and is light enough that my teenage son and I can carry it anywhere we
need to. If there are better ones out there, I don't really care -- mine does
everything I ask of it, so "better" isn't much of a concern for me.
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
Save the baby humans - stop partial-birth abortion NOW
mark Ransley
expensive. Look at generac EXL line they come with electric start,
Pressurised oil system and oil filter , Electronic voltage stabilation,
which you need for home power use, idle contol, and excesories. Also
generac has a higher surge rating.and sells a good transfer panel
MSH
much do you want to spend?
The primary issue is the motor. The longest lasting motors by far run at
1800 rpm. The vast majority of the generators you see on the shelves run at
3600 rpm. A diesel will last longer than a gas motor but should be used for
longer-period situations.
Onan is considered among the best(gas), there are now a variety of small
diesels available from the Japanese such as Kubota. For the 'best' expect to
pay $3-5k.
Its been a few years since I was into it, but Generac is a widely sold cheap
brand. They seem to use a variety of motors. A 7kw will use a different
class of motor than a 5kw and you will pay for it. I understand Briggs &
Stratton has redesigned their motors which were notoriously bad but cheap,
compared to a Honda. Honda I am told has slightly slipped in recent years
using more plastic components. They and the other Japanese manufacturers
have developed a line that uses an inverter to convert 12v to 110v. This is
highly efficient and if they make one that size, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
It loses the generator and lots of weight but is more expensive than your
standard generic(Generac or Coleman). I have heard very good things about
the Yamaha inverter model.
I *think* 5-7000 watts requires an 8 or 10 hp motor. You should google for
motor feedback, ease of maintenance, reliability, noise, etc. The
alternative energy crowd should be up-to-date. I have a 10kw Honda that has
done well. Far bigger than I need, a 2 cyl, 600+cc motor, but the price was
right. I live off the grid and for solar backup, I have suffered through the
generic brands with the old, noisy, fussy and inefficient but cheap B&S
motors and will never, ever do it again.
MH
"Frank B." <f...@midsouth.rr.com> wrote in message
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"Frank B." <f...@midsouth.rr.com> wrote in message
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Joe
over the weekend. The entire line of Gnerac generators sold at Lowes
and the Depot are made by Briggs & Stratton. The Generac models that
Lowes sells do not have voltage regulation in them. The models that
Home Depot sells do have voltage regulation. The models that have
Generac engines will be quieter and cost more than the same model
equipped with a Briggs & Stratton engine. I started my 7000 XL last
night and was surprised how how well it ran. Very quiet compared to
other generators of its size. I turned idle control on and cycled my
1.5 HP Dust collector, and 13" surface planer on and off. The
generator doesn't skip a beat as it ramps up to the required load,
then back down as I shut the loads off.
I was shocked to learn that Lowes does not request voltage regulation
in the models they buy, but Home Depot does. I would think that a
device whose primary goal is to supply power, would have a key
component like a voltage regulator without question. Go figure.. Lowes
here (FL) has discontinued the Power Boss 8000 and has them on
clearence price now. I could have gotten it for the same cost as the
7000 XL, but then I would have to have a noisy Briggs & Statton engine
and no voltage regulation.
Joe
"MSH" <mnd@jaacom> wrote in message news:<3f2c0...@news1.prserv.net>...
Brian Elfert
>I did a little research when I bought my Generac 7000 XL at Home Depot
>over the weekend. The entire line of Gnerac generators sold at Lowes
>and the Depot are made by Briggs & Stratton. The Generac models that
Briggs & Stratton bought the portion of Generac that makes the small
portable generators.
Generac owed Briggs a bunch of money for engines and finally sold them the
portable generator division to satisfy the debt.
Brian Elfert
FreetoRV
I am a director at Generac Power Systems, and I'm glad to see that you
did research before you purchased the generator. However, I would
like to correct a few of your comments concerning Briggs and Stratton
and Generac.
In 1998, Generac Corporation sold its portable generator and pressure
washer assembly operation in Jefferson, Wisconsin to a New York based
private investment fund called Beacon International. The division was
sold simply because it was an excellent time to do so (the strong
economy in 1998 created quite a sellers market). At the time, the
Jefferson operation was highly profitable, and was NOT deeply in debt.
The new company Beacon formed was called Generac Portable Products,
Inc. They kept the Generac name due to the value of the brand. The
remaining part of Generac Corporation was changed to Generac Power
Systems, to better reflect its new focus on stationary power systems.
Beacon International borrowed heavily to finance the purchase, which
meant that the new company was very highly leveraged. Their plan was
to take the company public in an IPO in 1999/2000. However, with the
dot.com bust, economic recession, and overall bear market, the
opportunity for an IPO disappeared. Therefore, they decided to sell
the new company instead to recoup their investment. This is the
company that Briggs and Stratton bought in 2001. Briggs and Stratton
has since folded the operation into their company as the Power
Products Division.
This gets us to today. Today, Generac label pressure washers and
portable generators (under 12.5kW) ARE being made by Briggs and
Stratton. They still carry the Generac name because of the value of
the brand in the eye of the consumer, and due to the fact that the
retailers prefer it.
This gets us to your 7000XL generator. In addition to using the
Generac name, Briggs and Stratton also uses OHVI (OverHead Valve
Industrial) engines, which are manufactured by Generac Power Systems
in Whitewater, Wisconsin. The OHVI engine technology in Generac XL
series generators was not sold with the Jefferson operation. You
read that correctly, Briggs and Stratton BUYS the engine in your
generator from Generac Power Systems. The reason is that the major
retailers specify them, as they are the accepted standard for premium
power in portable generators. The Generac OHVI engines, with their
extremely long-life, low-vibration, and low fuel consumption, are what
make the XL series of generators the best value on the market.
I hope this message helps you understand exactly how Generac portable
generators came to be made by a division of Briggs and Stratton. I
would ask that you refrain from telling people that Generac sold
because some financial hardship. It is simply incorrect.
Sincerely,
Kevin Anderson
Director of Corporate Planning
Generac Power Systems, Inc.
Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Brian Elfert <bel...@visi.com> wrote in message news:<3f2ec4cb$0$164$a186...@newsreader.visi.com>...