Best generators

[DeanBrown3D]

What generator(s) do you have, and what do you use it(them) for (home backup, travel, camping, boating, etc)?

I just sold a Honda eu2000i and awaiting a brand new eu3000i. Actually I got the first eu3000i last week but it ran so badly that I sent it back and demanded a replacement (from Mayberrys). Hope the next one will run better. Having said that, from what I've read the Hondas are really the best, and certainly the quietest and most reliable.

As a side note, is anyone running a deep well pump off one of these things? Does it struggle? No idea what HP mine is, but the neighbor says its around 200' deep.

 

[az_max]

I have a 1000w two stroke from Checker Auto I use for camping, plus a Peak jumpstart/inverter/compressor/power source for nights. I have 4 12v cfls I want to build a canopy light with. Run the generator to charge the power source and run lights until 9pm, then run silent through the night. I'm really a minimalist when camping, so I don't have a whole lot to run.

I'd love a honda suitcase generator. they're super quiet and efficient. If I had a choice for a home backup genset, I'd go with a Lister CS diesel and 10k set. It's one ton weight is a bit of a problem for moving though

 

[DeanBrown3D]

Anything I look at on youtube under Lister comes up with something out of the 1920's. Is this what you mean? (Look like they'd go on for ever though!)

 

[eburrows]

I put a 1200 watt inverter in my Disco, with external sockets, and have been very happy with that for camping and middle-of-nowhere repair jobs. It's enough to run a 1.5hp electric motor (most of the time a air compressor), so almost any hand tool will work, including a shop-vac. Very handy.

Put that big-ass V8 and alternator to work!

 

[az_max]

Anything I look at on youtube under Lister comes up with something out of the 1920's. Is this what you mean? (Look like they'd go on for ever though!)

yup, that's them. they're still widely made and used in far off countries for power and well pumps. Gravity fed fuel and thermal cooling, 650rpm and less than a quarter gallon of fuel an hour. Most have a 'cold start' feature to kill compression and let a small child hand start them. Easily adaptable to SVO or WVO.

 

[billb]

Dean

For that depth, your well pump is probably single phase, 230V, so that little genset won't do it as it outputs only 120v and 25amp max. Well pumps can draw 35-50 starting amps depending on HP

Do you know what your well pump is?

 

[DeanBrown3D]

I have no details at all about the well, only that the cable going to it is labeled with 220V. Not even sure which breaker it is on, as many of the labels are mixed up. I have turned off all the double-breakers and tomorrow hopefully I can see which one controls the well, and go from there. Looks like it is either a 60amp or a 30amp breaker.

ps I just picked up a (very) used Honda eb5000x with 240V, and hopefully that will power the well at some point, when it has to.