Bought a generator off a tractor trailer......

[Schmoe]

Alright, I'm over the price shock, give it to me straight. We had the ice storm from #ell last Thursday. Power went out around 1300 that day. Nothing the next day and the local power company said don't expect it until tuesday or wednesday at the latest. Of course, all hotels are booked up and the ones that weren't, well let's just say they were more of a "rent by the hour" kind of place, so that ain't happening. Nearest place was Oklahoma City, so figure 100 bucks a day plus food, it wouldn't take much to add up to 750 bucks, what I paid for the generator.
Tractor trailer pulled up in Chickasha, had three differnt models of generators. I ended up getting the "hooch". It's an American Camper 6500 surge, 5500 watt normal operating power. 13 HP engine, 4 120V outlets, one 240 outlet, one red/black DC post with meters, 7 gallon gas tank, wheeled and movable lift bars and electric start. OHV engine, regular gas, no oil filter but has a oil drain (as opposed to tipping it over on the side....like we've never done THAT before!!!) Looked at the engine sticker...manufactured in 12/07, CARB and EPA certified, Chong manufacturer....so made in China. Couldn't get a manufacture information off the generator itself. Supposedly, it's the transitor type....what ever that means.
SOOOOOOOOO, did I just screw up? It ran like a scalded dog for three days straight. One gallon of gas every 3 hours. I did some research, company called world wide liquidators out of Spring Hill Kansas. From what I gathered and looking at the pictures, this is a Coleman Powermate. They went belly up around March of last year and I'm guessing these guys bought them out. What kind of life expactancy am I looking at? 200 hours? 100? I feel sick to my stomach after I realize what I did, but it did work and I had heat, deep freezer and lights on in the house, not to mention a happy wife. But still, that 750 was a sting to the wallet.
Lay it on me brethren........good/bad/indiffernt...want to know what to expect.

 

[tig1]

Hey! you paid a little over but not much. Feel good about the purchase. You have the power you need when you needed it and that's important. I think it's a great buy. You done good.

 

[Schmoe]

Well, that was 750 including tax, sticker price was 699.

 

[L_Sludger]

Since you've already bought it, why do you want us to validate your purchase decision? Just use it and enjoy it!

 

[Gary Allan]

He just wanted to know how much it cost for the limited supply and tremendous demand for this type item. Seems like he weighed the alternatives fairly well and paid for a good chunk of it in avoided costs.

 

[bepperb]

You did fine. A high duty cycle generator that size would have been thousands.

 

[mrsilv04]

Is yours like this one here?

http://ottumwa.craigslist.org/for/1563430557.html

For the type of use that you're going to give it, you did fine.

Just keep clean oil in it, keep the gas treated, and run it wide open under load for an hour or so a couple of times a year... and all will be good.

Also, completely change out the gas in it once a year. Even Stabil has its limits. Change the oil at the same time.

You're going to use it occasionally at best. If you were using this thing on a daily basis on a construction site, then you might be in for a problem.

 

[Nick R]

It will be fine, it's a honda clone engine, iron sleeve, you'll be fine. Just remember change the oil in it every 40 hours or so of (continuous) operation, or every year. Use Quaker State Q-HP 10w30 and run with confidence.

 

[javacontour]

I don't think you did bad at all considering the circumstances. About four years ago, I bought an generator with similar, but less, a bit smaller B&S engine. I paid $525 tax included and after the Sams Club was overstocked and had them marked down after the rush weeks before due to weather similar to what you experienced.

So I think you did well. You might have paid a c-note more than if you were able to shop around, but you got to stay in your home, and you knew you kept your food and your place safe.

 

[Schmoe]

mrsilv....that's it EXACTLY. I did look around at prices and that's what started this whole thing with my "the glass is ALWAYS half empty" mindset. I saw a lot of generators of similar size costing a lot more, so I wondered if I got the cheap-o supreme model. Looks as though it was an OK deal. Thanks. Feel a lot better. I was no way prepared to buy a generator at the spur of the moment. I mean, I had no idea as to what type, size, engine make, etc. etc. I mean, I'm standing there looking at a truck load of generators and people are buying them like crazy and I wasn't going to get caught up in the hype without information. But, no time. With food, a 6 year old, grouchy wife, and no place to really go, I just took a leap of faith. Like I said, I picked the largest one they had with the "larger is bigger" mentality and glad I did. Got to run all the necessity stuff and then some. Everybody was happy. Thanks for the information. It is strictly emergency use and ocassionally out at the lake, I don't do "camping" per se....

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Do yourself a favor and wire in a transfer switch and put the critical systems on it. Furnace, refrigerator, freezer, a few lights and outlets.

5000-6000 watts won't run your electric stove or central air, but it's nice to be able to make a cup of coffee, turn some lights on and crank up the furnace. You also won't have to deal with extension cords draped all over the place.

You'll also prevent any possible feedback into the grid lines with a transfer switch.

 

[Mr_Incredible]

Schmoe, you did what you had to do. You made a Commmand Decision, and all is well.

The next time you need the generator it's all gravy. It's just good insurance.

You done ok.

 

[FADEC]

"not to mention a happy wife"= priceless!!!
You did fine!!

 

[benjamming]

So, let's recap. $750 turned

Originally Posted By: Schmoe
grouchy wife


to

Originally Posted By: Schmoe
a happy wife

& you wonder if you do ok? My man, there are folks that have spent millions to try transform their wife from grouchy to happy.

The Walmartization of our society teaches otherwise, but initial purchase price isn't all that is to be considered. You make the best decisions you can with the information at hand. You done good.

 

[Schmoe]

Thanks again ya'll.....I do plan to get a transfer switch hooked up here pretty soon. Having extension cords all over the place and not being able to seal the doors is a pain. I'll gladly pay an electrician to get it all hooked up. After I got it, I did think about summer time then found out that if this thing would pull the AC, that's all it would do and no way have enough juice for the deep freezer and refrigerator. So, I'll just find a small window unit to keep at least the bedroom cool if needed. Appreciate all the good words!!!

 

[labman]

I fell into a much better deal than that on a nice summer day. How was the weather? If you hadn't gotten some power, would your pipes have frozen? $750 won't go very far ripping out the drywall and replacing the pipes. Even the food you may have lost would make a hole in the $750.

I have a 5000 watt Coleman. Wired into my interlock, I can run anything I want. I do need to be a little careful about what all I have on at once. I am waiting for a little warmer day to run a line to use natural gas with it. I figure with occasional use, it should last a long time.

Yes, you should go with some kind of a transfer switch. There are many ways to go. I did some extensive digging looking for something I could instal. I am not one of the very few people that should ever mess with their service wiring.

This is something I posted a couple of years ago on a site that had a real electrician giving advice. He was a big help.

Two recent extended power outages reminded me I still don't have a connection for my generator. Yeah, I managed the fridge, freezer, coffee maker, etc on some extension cords, but the pump would be nice too, and maybe next time the furnace too. So I got a 6250 watt generator for $371. I would hate to spend more than that to connect it to the house wiring legally.

Anything new or I missed? Suicide cords are out.

These are popular, in stock at Lowes, but $250 plus a bunch of wiring for a handful of circuits?
http://www.gen-tran.com/eshop/10Browse.asp?Category=MTS6-10

While I dithered, these seem to have gone up to $70. Biggest problem is they won't fit my box as is. Once I cut the notches in the plate to make it fit, it would no longer be the device that UL approved.
http://ecatalog.squared.com/pubs/Ele...1100HO0701.pdf

Even at $150 bucks, I am not sure any of their models would fit. Last year they did offer to make one that would for $250
http://www.interlockkit.com/intro2.htm

Well past the point I should instal and $130.
Amazon.com: Amazon.com: Reliance Controls 60-100 Amp Utility Switch for up to 15,000-Watt Generators #TCA1006D: Home Improvement


Whoa, quite slick, but $700?

http://www.generlink.com/about_generlink.cfm

 

[ddrumman2004]

Shoot...my wife wants a Honda generator and we all know what those things can cost!

Good thing is though is that she will be the one to buy it since she's the money maker in the household!

 

[The_Jeff]

It may not be exactly code but you could make your well pump have a regular plug on it, so you could hook it up to an extention cord if needed. Deadhead the circuit going to it with a single outlet. Might be "better" if you used a twist-lock plug for the permanence some inspector types like.

 

[tig1]

I back feed through my welder outlet to power the house. I just pop the main and it works well. I test run, with a load, my generator every year if it hasn't been used for a power failure.

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: tig1
I back feed through my welder outlet to power the house. I just pop the main and it works well. I test run, with a load, my generator every year if it hasn't been used for a power failure.


Just don't get in a hurry and forget the main, and end up hurting or killing someone from the power company...mmmm'kay?

Forgetting once is all it would take.