Generac vs Honda generators

[Prem]

Those are toys.

How about something like this:

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=25377&start=855

[lrrowe]

Yeah man!

[tnriverluver]

On the Champions you need to give them about 1/2 to 3/4 choke every time you start them. Even if you just shut it off for a minute it will need to be choked to restart. Every Chinese engine I have ever owned is like that.

[shepoutside]

Love, and have no problems with my Honda.

[Prem]

NICE!

[lrrowe]

Bob

[lrrowe]

Well, I lived out of a tarp hunt camp last week with temps getting down to 23 degrees in the mountains of Western VA. For what I wanted to use it for, the Champion 1400 generator worked just as it should. I did not run much; a light, led string light and an adjustable quartz heater which could reach 1500 watts but I never got it up that high.



The good:
While I did not set the heater up to 1500 watts, it worked great.
Started almost every time on second pull. The few times it took three pulls were on the 23 degree mornings.
Was good on gas. Got two nights and a morning or two out of one tank. Nights were about 3 hours and mornings, 1 hour. I did not run it at night/ Just slept in the cold (but I was very hot dressed in sweats, two sleeping bags and a quilt).

The not so good:
Was not quiet enough to get away with running it in a crowed public campground. While not bad, it is no Honda.
Not the generator's fault, but I wish it was a larger unit so I could get away with a bigger heater, future lighting preferences and maybe some other appliances.

What next:
I am going to consider the $599 Champion inverter generator which is advertised at 53 dba. Why not a Honda? Because if I like the Champion Inverter Unit, I can get two for slightly more then one Honda 2000 watt unit.

[jwhite]

One of the main things I like about my Honda 2000 is the extended run gas tank I bought off ebay I can run the generator on high for 24 hours before I refill the tank.
I also like that I don't have to turn it off just refill the tank.
In the summer I will run it all weekend and only refill it once a day.
I camped with a buddy that had a large generator and he was refilling it every 4-5 hours he had to go to town the next day to get more gas > ?
You can also run them on LP gas but I don't really need to go that way.

[lrrowe]

Thanks jwhite,

I appreciate your input. Good reviews on Honda like this one from you only make the buy decisions harder.
Bob

[jwhite]

I was just about to buy one on ebay when I said to myself look on craigslist and sure enough a guy had 2 and had sold 1 the day before or I would have bought both. I paid 650.00 and didn't even try to offer him less but I should have ?
What I like about craigslist was I went and met the guy and he cranked it up and I watched it run for 10-15 minutes before I bought it, something you can't do on ebay.
It pays to look around for a month or 2 and check other cities close by.

[bdosborn]

Good review. I have a Yamaha 1000W but I've been thinking I might want a bigger generator. I'll look at the Champion inverter model when I get ready to buy.

Bruce

[GerryS]

Yamaha was my choice. Quiet, and uses a chain instead of a belt for timing. The only problem I have with all generators made today (except home brews with the ST head) is they use a lot of solid state, so an EMP or bad Solar Flare could, theoretically, give you problems later. Although, in either of those events fuel is your big problem....

I'm a little cautious of used...what did they use it for, how many hours, was its oil changed properly? My generator is an emergency use item, not a convenience. I want to know it will work, rather than hope it will.

[lrrowe]

Thanks Bruce,
I will for sure digest your review of the inverter model should you get one before I make the next buy decision. I think I have my 1400 W Champion sold already as my neighbor would like it to have just in case the power goes out. He would only use it for his salt water aquarium as he has a fortune in the fish. I did advise him to do the simple math and calculate the wattage of the components, especially the heaters.

GerryS, I too have a larger unit, 10000 watts, just sitting there for emergencies.

Bob

[lrrowe]

While I still believe the Honda (or to some the Yamaha) is(are) the Cadillacs for this size and style Generator, I find this report interesting. Yes I know that it really is not that thorough or even technically detailed, this article is interesting. Just stirring up the mud!

http://ezinearticles.com/?2000-Watt-Inv ... id=6850543

It is enough to have me still wait on that report on the Champion in this forum sometime.

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Anybody have any experience with the Honda 3,000 & the elec start
For $1,999?