Champion gensets are made in China. While Chinese manufactured goods have gotten better in the last 10 years, they can still be hit or miss quality-wise.

Of the chinese generators the Champion line is probably the best. I did a bunch of research on it before I bought one a couple of years ago, the usually have THD bellow %5, and are decently built, and most places I found named it as the only Chinese generator that would spend money on. I run my regularly for testing and sometime run yard tools from it to put some load on it.

 

I've only used it for real after Irene, although I was fine and never lost power, a bunch of people I knew had no power and basements full of water so I ran around with a generator in my SUV and pumps and emptied basements. Worked like a charm. I wouldn't chance electronics on it, just to be safe and the odds are that its power output would start getting dirty as it would approach its full power.

 

I also know someone living off-grid in Hawaii running their entire family needs from one of the Champion 2000w inverter generators. The alternator part gave out after 16 months of daily use for powering everything from freezer to computers to water heaters. Part was replace and they are back in business. I'd say that's damn good.

 

Don't underestimate your car either, its a giant generator. Get a couple of inverters for your car/cars and you have another source of power.

Where do you guys run your gas generators if it's raining? I'm guessing you can't just leave them out in the rain... and running the gen in the garage with the door open probably wouldn't work too well either...

Protected side of the house. Rain shouldn't be a huge factor. I am thinking of an enclosure for drifting snow this year...

I'm sure you can find some sane way to cover it, hide it under backyard table (maybe with a tarp on the table), in a shed with the door open, etc. The biggest thing is good ventilation, and dryness. You don't really want extension cord ends in the rain.

 

The other things is .. don't run it in the rain. Unless you need it to keep your sumps going and you are flooding, wait for the rain to stop, and enjoy the world by flashlight for a bit, and run it when the rain has stopped.

Where do you guys run your gas generators if it's raining? I'm guessing you can't just leave them out in the rain... and running the gen in the garage with the door open probably wouldn't work too well either...

 

I used a half sheet of plywood resting on the top with a cinder block on it. I had intended to build some kind of enclosure but never got around to it.

Unless you need it to keep your sumps going and you are flooding, wait for the rain to stop, and enjoy the world by flashlight for a bit, and run it when the rain has stopped.

Sadly, keeping the sump pump going is my main concern. During Irene, the pump and a wet vac were the only things that kept my basement from being ruined.

 

Luckily the power doesn't really go out here, but, I was always curious how people ran the gens in a situation like that where it rains for a couple days.

Thanks - I'll tell them that the generator is good.

 

Just thinking where they would run this. In the Garage with the door half open would be fine, right?

Just thinking where they would run this. In the Garage with the door half open would be fine, right?

 

If it is an attached garage HELL NO. CO poisoning is not a nice way to go. Remember that wind will likely drive air INTO the garage not out so you will be pushing your gases back into the house. If it is detached garage (or a shed) then make sure that water won't be driven on it and have some ventilation. Even in that condition when it comes time to turn it off, run in, turn it off, and run back out and let it air out for a while, don't go in there to search for some tools for 10 min while it is running.

 

Sadly, keeping the sump pump going is my main concern. During Irene, the pump and a wet vac were the only things that kept my basement from being ruined

 

You and me both.

Ah right. There is a downstairs deck that's mostly covered too - I'll talk to them about it.

I have an overhang where my fireplace is. I just place the generator over there. It get's wet but it's not a concern really. generator at work run day and night in all weather and have no issues.

I made a raised gravel area under my deck, hand built a covered box with swinging locking (padlock) doors and ventilation openings for my generator. This way it can run under my deck and be covered from the elements but still have opening for ventilation. Just have to have fun running 12g extension cords inside when I flip it on.

For Irene I used a welding machine... Left it out running in the pouring rain, it didn't care. And I'll do it again!

I'm thinking going cheap & just keeping a working junk auto in the backyard.

If there's ever a power out, I can just hook up the fridge to a high capacity inverter hooked to the auto running for hours....

The easiest way to cover a generator is to lay a sheet of plywood over in the direction to keep a bulk of the rain out of it. Generator running in the pouring rain = short life of the generator of electrocution. I also have a Miller Bobcat that I use for power on occasion and I would recommend against running it in the poring rain also.

Ken

NJKen recommended earlier a NorthStar generator by Northern Tool, and I concur. I have the 10K watt model, the gen head is made in Italy and it is powered by a 2 cylinder Honda Engine. Runs real nice. Before this new one I had an older slightly smaller NorthStar that served me well for 12 years.

 

I have learnt some things along the way, but I ain't no expert.

 

1) Though it is a 10K watt model, that is the surge watts. The actually running watts is 8k. (that is with using a 50Amp box and cord)

 

2)If you use the more common 30Amp box and cord then the surge and running watts drops to 8k / 6.5k respectively. So I will need to upgrade my inlet box and cord set to 50Amps in order to get the full advantage of this generator.

 

It took me some investigating to get this straight as this information was a little hidden. It is important regarding the amount of appliances you wish to run and averting a costly accident.

 

So, be sure to add up your running watts and surge watts carefully. Also determine if the specs for the particular generator is for a 30Amp or 50 Amp inlet box/cord.

 

3) Good idea to buy a little more in terms of the watts needed, so the generator runs easier. For instance, if you need to run 6500 total watts get a generator rated for 7500 running watts.

 

4)These portable units are really job site generators and not made to be run continuously for long periods, good reason to run for only several hours at a time, as needed.

 

5) Best to have a professional wire-in a load handler that ties into the main service panel. This makes it easy to select the circuits to be used without the risk of back feeding the grid, and also no need then, to run extension cords to appliances.

 

6)Regarding these portable types, Honda generators are the BEST, but they cost about twice the amount of similar units by other makers.

 

They have an auto idle, so they power down when the load lessens;other brands run at full speed whether under load or not.

They are more efficient, quieter, lower total harmonics, and not as affected by surge. I wish I could have afforded one, but am happy with the NorthStar.

 

 

I picked up an ETQ 7250 watt continuous generator at Costco for $650 and am installing a Square D Interlock device ($85) on my panel wired to a generator input plug and grounded to the 3' ground rod imbedded next to my meter. It will run for 11 hours on a half load. I can turn on whichever breakers I need in my regular panel. Costco is now showing Honewell 7250 watt generators with a Generac motor and there is a coupon in the current ad booklet.

 

I also have this ETQ from Costco. Ran fine for the 2 days straight I needed it for last year. It does have a low thd and is electronics friendly. I ran the well pump, heat, microwave, lights, laundry, 2 fridges, 3 xboxes with tv's, internet, all without any problems.

I have been looking for one too, but I hate having to get 6 gallons of gas every day to run it. I was thinking of a tri-fuel model )so I can run it on natural gas using my BBQ hookup. I was also told not to use NG for a propane generator. Tough to find a decent tri-fuel but found a company in ME that will convert them for you.