Best Generator for the money?

[dakota99]

If it was me I would keep it. They are good reliable generators.

I have two champions, a 5kw and a 7kw. I've never had any trouble out of them. I did adjust the voltage on both as they were set a little high from the factory but that's no big deal.

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
To answer the original question about the "best generator for the money", clearly there are many choices and everybody will see the situation differently.

However, the word "best" implies that there are no better alternatives, when combined with the statement "for the money" .

So, I feel this is and easy question to answer.

Northern Tool sells a line of Honda powered generators with the world class excellent Mecc Alte generator head. This one in particular is excellent:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200467366_200467366

4

It's half the cost of a comparable Honda unit, has the same engine, and that excellent Mecc Alte generator head.



I didn't know the alternator was a good name brand unit, otherwise I would have bought that instead of a full blown Honda generator. I figured it would be easier to find parts 10 years down the road for the Honda.

 

[Best F100]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
To answer the original question about the "best generator for the money", clearly there are many choices and everybody will see the situation differently.

However, the word "best" implies that there are no better alternatives, when combined with the statement "for the money" .

So, I feel this is and easy question to answer.

Northern Tool sells a line of Honda powered generators with the world class excellent Mecc Alte generator head. This one in particular is excellent:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200467366_200467366

4

It's half the cost of a comparable Honda unit, has the same engine, and that excellent Mecc Alte generator head.















Hey Cujet,
It it quite a coincidence that you made those comments about that Meec Alte generator head. In my phone talk with the Northern Tool generator technical person, he said that is a great generator head. However, like other items you buy, their products aren't what they once were. The recent quality is not what is once was (head & shoulders over everyone else). Northern tool is said to be moving away from Meec Alte to a Changqing brush type generator head. Yeah, I know it is Chinese manufactured product. However, Northern Tool is getting better longevity out of this Chinese, brush type head, than the current Meec Alte heads. The new generators, going forward, will have the Changqing brush type generator heads. Crazy! However, they are not at the quality levels of the older Meec Alte heads you are referring.

Some of older users of generators with Meec Alte heads, reported to Northern Tools that the engine failed before the generator head. (Over 8,000 hours). However, that was back then.

It was also interesting to know that Northern Tool does "life testing" on their the generators they sell. They expect a minimum of 2000 hours out of any generator, and test up to 8,000 hours on this particular Northstar 8000 generator. They recommend using synthetic oil to extend engine longevity.

Interesting conversation, no doubt.

 

[Cujet]

Originally Posted By: Best F100

Hey Cujet,
It it quite a coincidence that you made those comments about that Meec Alte generator head. In my phone talk with the Northern Tool generator technical person, he said that is a great generator head. However, like other items you buy, their products aren't what they once were. The recent quality is not what is once was (head & shoulders over everyone else). Northern tool is said to be moving away from Meec Alte to a Changqing brush type generator head. Yeah, I know it is Chinese manufactured product. However, Northern Tool is getting better longevity out of this Chinese, brush type head, than the current Meec Alte heads. The new generators, going forward, will have the Changqing brush type generator heads. Crazy! However, they are not at the quality levels of the older Meec Alte heads you are referring.

Some of older users of generators with Meec Alte heads, reported to Northern Tools that the engine failed before the generator head. (Over 8,000 hours). However, that was back then.

It was also interesting to know that Northern Tool does "life testing" on their the generators they sell. They expect a minimum of 2000 hours out of any generator, and test up to 8,000 hours on this particular Northstar 8000 generator. They recommend using synthetic oil to extend engine longevity.

Interesting conversation, no doubt.


That's interesting info. The website picture, the answered questions on the product page, and the replacement generator head for that unit all still show the Mecc Alte head.

If I get a chance, I'll drive by the Northern store in a few days and take a look at the units for sale.

I hate to see the Chinese heads with brushes, and I'm very skeptical about the quality of the Chinese heads matching the real world capability of a true Mecc Alte head. So many Chinese heads are short a winding, just to save copper. Resulting in voltage drop under heavy loads, Ugh.

Are you 100% certain this applies to this particular unit?

 

[Best F100]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
Originally Posted By: Best F100

Hey Cujet,
It it quite a coincidence that you made those comments about that Meec Alte generator head. In my phone talk with the Northern Tool generator technical person, he said that is a great generator head. However, like other items you buy, their products aren't what they once were. The recent quality is not what is once was (head & shoulders over everyone else). Northern tool is said to be moving away from Meec Alte to a Changqing brush type generator head. Yeah, I know it is Chinese manufactured product. However, Northern Tool is getting better longevity out of this Chinese, brush type head, than the current Meec Alte heads. The new generators, going forward, will have the Changqing brush type generator heads. Crazy! However, they are not at the quality levels of the older Meec Alte heads you are referring.

Some of older users of generators with Meec Alte heads, reported to Northern Tools that the engine failed before the generator head. (Over 8,000 hours). However, that was back then.

It was also interesting to know that Northern Tool does "life testing" on their the generators they sell. They expect a minimum of 2000 hours out of any generator, and test up to 8,000 hours on this particular Northstar 8000 generator. They recommend using synthetic oil to extend engine longevity.

Interesting conversation, no doubt.


That's interesting info. The website picture, the answered questions on the product page, and the replacement generator head for that unit all still show the Mecc Alte head.

If I get a chance, I'll drive by the Northern store in a few days and take a look at the units for sale.

I hate to see the Chinese heads with brushes, and I'm very skeptical about the quality of the Chinese heads matching the real world capability of a true Mecc Alte head. So many Chinese heads are short a winding, just to save copper. Resulting in voltage drop under heavy loads, Ugh.

Are you 100% certain this applies to this particular unit?









That is what I was told. You may see the Meec Alte head on that particular generator, today, when you go to your local Northern Tool store. However, next year, the generator head will be replaced for quality and performance reasons with the Chinese version. I too, am skeptical about Chinese product quality - but that is what I was told. Call Northern Tool's technical support number and report back what they tell you.

 

[jhellwig]

I am going to get set up to be a dealer for Winco generators soon. They still use us made generator units for the most part. I don't know if they make their own on the little portables but they are still us made.

 

[oilchangeguy]

Just bought a 9000 watt Powerhorse from Northern Tool. Will assemble and crank it up this weekend and let you know how it runs. Price was right for 799.00 with a lot of features.

 

[Balrog006]

Originally Posted By: Kawiguy454
A Generac xl5500 here. After turning off the main power panel switch. I made a twistlock to 220 adapter so I could back-feed the power panel thru a 220 outlet in the garage to the whole house. At night i would turn off the 220 outlet and plug the fridge directly alone so when it wasnt running the gen would go down to idle and save lots of gas.

That Generac motor looks a lot like a OHV Honda and has pressurized oil system with low pressure cutoff.
Originally Posted By: Astro_Guy
Originally Posted By: Kawiguy454
A Generac xl5500 here. After turning off the main power panel switch. I made a twistlock to 220 adapter so I could back-feed the power panel thru a 220 outlet in the garage to the whole house.

This is a very, VERY bad idea! It is also illegal. It relies upon you remembering to switch off your main breaker before firing up your generator. There are two potentially bad outcomes here:

1. You electrocute a utility worker by back feeding into the grid while they are trying to restore it
2. The power comes back on while your generator is running, causing it to blow up and start a fire

You may wish to reconsider your approach for your own safety and that of others.


Kaw didn't say if he had a Main lockout or not, just that he has a 30 A twist lock backfeed. With the proper lockout there is nothing illegal there, it's a big assumption to say he's illegal when you don't know for sure.

I have a Westinghouse (General) 7500W that I backfeed into my house panel with a 30A twist lock that has a main lockout. It was all wired with the build of the home and inspected and passed code. There is no possibility of injur to anyone down the line from me with it nor double feed and cause issues.

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: Balrog006

I have a Westinghouse (General) 7500W that I backfeed into my house panel with a 30A twist lock that has a main lockout. It was all wired with the build of the home and inspected and passed code. There is no possibility of injur to anyone down the line from me with it nor double feed and cause issues.


It might be a good idea to check the main breaker. In our last house I was doing some electrical work and was lazy and flipped the main (not all breakers were labelled) and all the lights stayed on. Flipped it a few more time and they finally went out. Called the electrician out and he found that water had been getting into the cable and caused the main (and 1/2 the buss) to rot out. New line and breaker and we were all good. And no, there were no symptoms of issues other than that one time.

 

[Balrog006]

Originally Posted By: itguy08
Originally Posted By: Balrog006

I have a Westinghouse (General) 7500W that I backfeed into my house panel with a 30A twist lock that has a main lockout. It was all wired with the build of the home and inspected and passed code. There is no possibility of injur to anyone down the line from me with it nor double feed and cause issues.


It might be a good idea to check the main breaker. In our last house I was doing some electrical work and was lazy and flipped the main (not all breakers were labelled) and all the lights stayed on. Flipped it a few more time and they finally went out. Called the electrician out and he found that water had been getting into the cable and caused the main (and 1/2 the buss) to rot out. New line and breaker and we were all good. And no, there were no symptoms of issues other than that one time.


Works flawless, when switched and locked out everything downstream has juice but my upstream barn noes not.

I've had some changes done in the panel and my guy who does them is a Licensed Master Electrician.

 

[delaware74b]

I bought a 3K running Champion generator in '10 for $400 at Lowe's. I have been using it regularly for work (electrician by trade) as well as the occasional power outage for freezers and refrigerators.

I used it hard for 2 weeks straight with a continuous 2300 watt load for 7 hours per day. It used 4 gallons fuel every 2 days. The load was a pvc warmer or 'hot box'. It is a 4-foot long box with a heating element.

I never had a problem with this generator. The only thing been done is 2 oil changes and sta-bil ethanol treatment in every tank full of fuel. Turn off the fuel and run the carb dry. Always starts on first (90%) or second pull, regardless of the storage time.

 

[4WD]

Have two of those - - and only two issues:
1.) pull starter broke - $30 on eBay
2.) fuel (with stab) gelled - my bad, 2 years old ... running the other one only then ...