[Teecher45]

I’ve decided it’s time for a small portable generator. Enough to keep my food from spoiling. The articles I’ve read tells me the 2000/2200 generators/inverters are enough.
The main reason I want something small is I would be running it back and forth from my house to my moms (100 yards across the hayfield).
I want something reliable, of course, but am not currently ready to shell-out Honda money.
Are there good alternatives that doesn’t coat as much as a Honda that you have experience with?
Now, I am normally a “buy once, cry once”, it’s the way I was raised. Everything on this farm is Honda, Stihl, Toyota, Kubota, etc.
Well, except for the really old Jeep driven by a really old guy.
Thanks in advance, and feel free to ask any questions!


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[Teecher45]

Thanks for all of your help guys, I appreciate it and you gave me a lot to think about.
I also watched videos most of the night and morning.
As I stated earlier, I am usually a “buy once, cry once” type.
I went with the Honda.
My bookkeeper/accountant/general decision-maker (that I’m married to) just rolled her eyes and said “merry Christmas, happy birthday, anniversary, and Father’s Day.
Lol. I’ll take it for the piece of mind.
Now the problem became finding one.
We live in W Ky and have been affected by last week’s tornados, no generators (except names I’ve never heard of) within an hour from us.
Bad timing.
I kept expanding my search radius and found one a couple of hours away. Drove to pick it up and will start the break-in process tomorrow.
The owner’s manual doesn’t mention anything about synthetic?
Suggestions?

Now (blows)…
Fuel storage concerns…
Gotta figure out how much gas I should keep on-hand.


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[Teecher45]

In my experience, Honda generators have the lowest cost of ownership. A clapped out, non running Honda is still worth half it's original price (because it can be rebuilt). And, that Honda likely has 1000's of hours and years of use on it. But I get it. A $550.00 Champion generator is pretty tempting when the Honda is $1100.00.

Here's something to think about. When the Chinese copy an engine, they copy Honda.

Cheap stuff is attractive and popular. It's the reason Harbor Freight has stores in every city. But, cheap stuff is, well, cheap.

It's the same question about guns. Why spend $600.00 for a Glock 19 when a $179.00 Hy-Point C9 will do the same job?

I found two Honda 2000 generators for sale last night on marketplace, fairly local. Both were listed for $800 and both were gone this morning when I got up.
Got my 2200 for $999, so in the end, I am glad they were gone.


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[Teecher45]

I agree w/ deltic that tandem 2 lesser generators is best bang for buck. Overall no one has a problem running a generator for 4-6hrs…it’s when power is out for 7-10days that problems begin. That’s how I approach it

I agree, if the power is out for a few hours it’s no sweat.
I approach the whole 7-10 days the same.
This little generator will be used sparingly, it’ll keep the food cold during power outages and for lights, charging phones, that type of thing. We will also use it some for hunting/camping. The house is pretty well set-up.
In 2009 we had an ice storm of a lifetime, no power for a month and no water for almost 2 weeks. When the water went we headed north to the in-laws, wife was 8 and 3/4 months pregnant. We learned from that and now have a 1,000 gallon propane tank (filled every summer). Attached to the propane is the stove/oven, wall heaters, and the water heater.
About 4 years ago (iirc) we had 2 feet of snow in a couple of days, you weren’t going to town unless you drove one of the tractors, and even if you did, there was no gas.
Now, 1 week ago today, EF-4’s tore through our area and decimated everything in it’s path.
It was as time to get a generator.
I’m tired of living through “once in a lifetime storms”.
So, why did I ultimately decided to pay $1,000 for a generator that will be used so little? I wanted one that’ll have the best chance of working when we need it the most.

Now. Under the circumstances I’ve laid out, how much fuel would you recommend I keep on-hand?
We are constantly moving/working on the farm, I won’t have an issue rotating the gas. We have ATV’s and power equipment that we use year-round.
Thanks for all of your help guys, y’all are great!


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[Teecher45]

Thanks for all of your help guys, it’s really appreciated!
Quick question, extension cords.
The plan is to buy a 12 gauge extension cord with a single outlet to power the fridge for an hour and then switch to the freezer for an hour.
The other outlet is where my question comes in.
That gives us 2 hours every 4-5 hours or so (to keep the food cold) to charge stuff. I would be using it to power the coffee maker, charge iPhones, and a lamp when it’s dark. I would also maybe need it to charge batteries for the drill, etc.
Thinking it would be 50’ in length. What gauge should I use for that?
Thanks again!


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[Teecher45]

I have had one of these for a few years, it powers my fully loaded popup camper all day long. for a fraction of the price of the overpriced honda, I went to a local shop that sells generators and we started up a honda and this one and the champion was quieter. 2000-Watt Inverter - Champion Power Equipment

Thanks. But I’ve already bought the little Honda.
We had tornadoes in our area and it made me “get my butt in gear” so to speak.
The problem was there were no generators to be found after that.
I called every Champion, Generac, Yamaha, and Honda dealer within 2 hours of us, they were all sold out. The only generators some of them had were name brands I had never heard of.
I finally found the Honda a little more than 2 hours away from us and just went and got it.


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[Teecher45]

Thats fine. 12 gauge is appropriate for the load.

Unless your fridge and freezer are ancient, you can plug both of them in at the same time no problem.

Get a triple tap 2 ft extension cord adapter, and that way you only have to run one cord into the house. You can use the other two outlets to charge your devices.

2 ft. Triple Tap 3 Outlet Extension Cord

Amazing deals on this 3-Way Grounded Power Outlet W/ 2 Ft. Cord at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Thanks bubba, I actually have a 12 gauge extension cord already purchased and a triple tap 2’ adapter, lol.
Just wasn’t sure it would power everything from one cord.
The refrigerator was just purchased last summer, it’s pretty efficient. The deep freezer is about 10 yo.
The reason I asked is my wife purchased me an extension cord for a stocking-stuffer (trying to be helpful) but it’s a 16 gauge, wasn’t sure if it was strong enough to power the coffee maker, a lamp, and charge a couple of cell phones.
I have read some where that it’s best to split the load on a generator on the 2 outlets. Thinking 1 outlet would be just fridge and freezer on 1 cord and the coffee maker/lamp/cell phones on another cord from the other outlet.
Not necessary?


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[Teecher45]

You do that on 240V generators. Half of it’s available power will be on one set of outlets ,and the other half of it’s available power will be on the opposite set of outlets.

The generator is rated for 1800 watts (15 amps) continuous, which is the limit of one receptacle. The inverters work differently than a conventional 240v generator, so no need to try and “balance” the recepticles.

Thanks bubba, I sure do appreciate it!


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