Recommendation for small generator .
- Thread starter nomas
- Start date
I Got a cheap Firman from Costco. It works. I just needed it for emergencies to run the refrigerator and maybe some lights. It works fine.
I know someone with a Generac GP2200i and have borrowed it. They are about $400 to $500 new. It's decently quiet and gets very good fuel economy. He's put a lot of hours on it and the only problem so far is there is something that causes the starter cord to wear and fray right below the handle as it runs.
My Dad has a champion, 2200W or close to that, basically its one 15 amp outlet. Initially it would start his RV trailer AC unit but not anymore, other than that it's done well. They had a power outage in their neighborhood for 5 days this summer, and it got passed around between them and 3 neighbors to run their fridge's and freezers for a few hours each day. It wouldn't start 2 or 3 at once, but everyone learned to plug them in one at a time and it did probably 50 hrs that week without a problem.
It seems pretty decent really and at 50-60lbs its easy to move and he's got a couple hundred hours on it now.
The inverters don't really like to start big motors, so depending on what your running, you might need to get a 3k one or yamaha makes a 3k one with a boost feature to start RV AC units.
I've had a yamaha EF3000iSE for nearly 20 years now and I expect it to go for another 20+, so if you are young enough, it might pay to get a honda or yamaha. Also I see yamaha still sells my generator, so I guess they got it right, and parts will be available for a while!
It seems pretty decent really and at 50-60lbs its easy to move and he's got a couple hundred hours on it now.
The inverters don't really like to start big motors, so depending on what your running, you might need to get a 3k one or yamaha makes a 3k one with a boost feature to start RV AC units.
I've had a yamaha EF3000iSE for nearly 20 years now and I expect it to go for another 20+, so if you are young enough, it might pay to get a honda or yamaha. Also I see yamaha still sells my generator, so I guess they got it right, and parts will be available for a while!
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Try this link. My price is $424.12 but Amazon varies prices by customer.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B443F25P
This listing says model 7108. On the Generac site, the GP2200i is now known as the model 7117 but it looks like the same machine.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B443F25P
This listing says model 7108. On the Generac site, the GP2200i is now known as the model 7117 but it looks like the same machine.
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Is Wen any good? Walmart and Amazon has this. Walmart is cheaper, don't know if its the same.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/WEN-RV-R...e-Inverter-Generator-CARB-Compliant/925228040
https://www.walmart.com/ip/WEN-RV-R...e-Inverter-Generator-CARB-Compliant/925228040
I think most of the suitcase generators produce less than 2000W continuous. Almost all of them peak at 1800W. Including the above Wen. Furthermore, few of the non Honda units are stone reliable. Most have issues with breaking pull ropes. Some have issues making reliable power and cut out.
Are you 100% sure you need "clean power". Most items run just fine on a normal, single cylinder, 3600 RPM, portable generator.
I do have a Honda EU2000 and it's pretty cool. However, it is not more fuel efficient under full load than a conventional generator would be. It's claim to fame is that it uses very little fuel when under low load conditions, as it idles down. And of course, that it is so quiet.
Consider a 3500W conventional open frame gen, like the Champion units. They can easily make 2000W cont. The deal with a backup generator is that it must be reliable. It really is hard to beat a simple engine driving a simple mechanical generator head.
Are you 100% sure you need "clean power". Most items run just fine on a normal, single cylinder, 3600 RPM, portable generator.
I do have a Honda EU2000 and it's pretty cool. However, it is not more fuel efficient under full load than a conventional generator would be. It's claim to fame is that it uses very little fuel when under low load conditions, as it idles down. And of course, that it is so quiet.
Consider a 3500W conventional open frame gen, like the Champion units. They can easily make 2000W cont. The deal with a backup generator is that it must be reliable. It really is hard to beat a simple engine driving a simple mechanical generator head.
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I just bought one, and I did a deep dive before I did.
First thing - measure the surge current of things you want to run. For example I have a portable AC that uses about 1000W when running - but to start it pulls over 17.5A briefly or closer to 2200 watts. Make sure you get something that can handle your surge load.
Once you have the loads download the user manual and find out the max allowable power in the "eco" mode. There isn't much point in getting a inverter type if you can't run it in eco mode, and most of the suitcase generators have very low eco mode power. I was looking at a WEN suitcase generator and it was I think 2500W peak, but max in echo was 750 watts. So in my case, if I wanted to run my AC unit It would be running full out constantly at 3600 RPM, and never idle down negating the point of the inverter in general.
The suitcase ones are quieter (enclosed) but I read some issues with them getting hot if run with heavy loads. Since I live in the deep south and wanted a little more current in Eco mode anyway, I got a open frame WEN - 4000 Watt peak, 3500 Watts running, and I believe 2400 Watts in eco mode - going from memory. At the time it was the cheapest generator of any type on Amazon at
The suitcase generators are all mostly copies of a Yamaha design. The frame types are mostly copies of Honda designs. So you can really buy a Yamaha, a Honda, or a Chinese copy. The Chinese copies are 1/3 the cost. Everything I read said if your going to use it regularly, get a Honda or Yamaha. If your getting a copy, even though they look the same the QC isn't - most recommended Champion (3 year warranty) or WEN (2 year warranty). The WEN was pretty distant 2nd in the reviews but was still pretty good and better than most other brands - if you can actually believe reviews anymore.
I bought the WEN. It was $200 less than the Champion, and mine is pretty much for emergency use only, so I figured it was good enough.
Edit - almost forgot - if you don't already have you need to budget for some good extension cords and good jerry can's - and possibly spare parts. I am sort of OCD on spare parts - I have a coil, carb, recoil starter, spark plug and fuel line in my "spare parts" stash, even though the thing is brand new. I figured I would buy the parts now while there available and cheap. I think everything was like $75.
First thing - measure the surge current of things you want to run. For example I have a portable AC that uses about 1000W when running - but to start it pulls over 17.5A briefly or closer to 2200 watts. Make sure you get something that can handle your surge load.
Once you have the loads download the user manual and find out the max allowable power in the "eco" mode. There isn't much point in getting a inverter type if you can't run it in eco mode, and most of the suitcase generators have very low eco mode power. I was looking at a WEN suitcase generator and it was I think 2500W peak, but max in echo was 750 watts. So in my case, if I wanted to run my AC unit It would be running full out constantly at 3600 RPM, and never idle down negating the point of the inverter in general.
The suitcase ones are quieter (enclosed) but I read some issues with them getting hot if run with heavy loads. Since I live in the deep south and wanted a little more current in Eco mode anyway, I got a open frame WEN - 4000 Watt peak, 3500 Watts running, and I believe 2400 Watts in eco mode - going from memory. At the time it was the cheapest generator of any type on Amazon at
The suitcase generators are all mostly copies of a Yamaha design. The frame types are mostly copies of Honda designs. So you can really buy a Yamaha, a Honda, or a Chinese copy. The Chinese copies are 1/3 the cost. Everything I read said if your going to use it regularly, get a Honda or Yamaha. If your getting a copy, even though they look the same the QC isn't - most recommended Champion (3 year warranty) or WEN (2 year warranty). The WEN was pretty distant 2nd in the reviews but was still pretty good and better than most other brands - if you can actually believe reviews anymore.
I bought the WEN. It was $200 less than the Champion, and mine is pretty much for emergency use only, so I figured it was good enough.
Edit - almost forgot - if you don't already have you need to budget for some good extension cords and good jerry can's - and possibly spare parts. I am sort of OCD on spare parts - I have a coil, carb, recoil starter, spark plug and fuel line in my "spare parts" stash, even though the thing is brand new. I figured I would buy the parts now while there available and cheap. I think everything was like $75.
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It's been good when I need to use it otherwise I pull it out every few months and give it a run. It has never used any other fuel than Vpracing C9 fuel storage or otherwise sits few months 1pull every time runs like a song. I just keep it stored in the box in the barn.
I've got the smallest Wen 1250 watt inverter model (56125) and it has worked when I need it and as long as I need it. No problems out of it. Change the oil every 20-30 hours and I replaced the plug with an NGK when I bought it.
I've been thinking of picking up another slightly larger model and using both of them to power the RV when we need it.
I've been thinking of picking up another slightly larger model and using both of them to power the RV when we need it.
I bought my Wen specifically to take to softball tournaments to run fans (Softball in the south in the summer is HOT), I'd set up with the exhaust pointing away from most of the crowd and never had a complaint about noise. I'd run the thing from 9-10am to after sunset.
I’ve had great luck with my Wen. It runs my RV when camping at the races. I have a Wen 56380I with over 500 hours on it. Absolutely no trouble at all. It weighs 100 pounds so I can lift it off my bumper carrier on my trailer.
Just my $0.02
I have a champion 2000, Among others. Flawless. HF 3 months warranty, champion 3 years.
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