It looks like it's time for a new generator for our house, in case of a power outage. What is a good make for a 5,000 watt gasoline generator (Westinghouse?, Champion?). Thanks!
Rayzer007
Rayzer007
What's A Good Make To Buy For A 5,000 watt generator?
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rayzer007
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Do you need the 5K running? Do you have a well pump?
I’m partial to tethering (2) 2500. You can have full blast when needed, and not when not
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7,439 Posts
Our old Briggs powered Troy Built 13,500 starting/7550 running generator is loud and heavy. Doesn't require ear plugs like the Tecumseh powered wood chipper, but still loud.
It would be really nice to have dual fuel.
Not sure if the size you're looking at would be on wheels or not. Two that can work together would be a lot easier to move if you plan on using it/them anywhere other than at home.
It would be really nice to have dual fuel.
Not sure if the size you're looking at would be on wheels or not. Two that can work together would be a lot easier to move if you plan on using it/them anywhere other than at home.
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16,891 Posts
+ 1,0000 on the Web.
We have a Wen super quiet inverter generator and a large Champion. Last week in preparation for the Ian I brought the Wen from our storage container based on it's lower fuel consumption, as part of our preps to be able to go 3 weeks without power.
Late Wednsday night I powered it up and set it to eco- mode, which automatically adjusts the rpms for loads, so it conserves fuel.
It's a 2,350 watt unit, very compact, very quiet.
It's been running continuously since Wednesday night, powering the refrigerator, chest freezer 2 box fans, a few lamps, and a 5,000 btu window AC that we use to keep one room cool.
Thus far it has used about 8 gallons of fuel in not quite 3 days. If you know about generators you know that's crazy efficient You can't really hear it, it's easy to move around, and it sips fuel.
It has kept us comfortable, cool, and we'll fed with fresh food and cold drinks.
This is real world, real time experience in a real disaster ( we're in the Ft. Myers area) and I thought people might appreciate thereview.If you know anything about generators you know that's incredibly efficient.
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1,842 Posts
I could have purchased two of the Honda 2200 inverters for the price of my one Honda 3000 inverter. I would have had more versatility and more total power. I went with the single bigger unit for the bigger gasoline tank. The two smaller units hold a combined 1.9 gallons, while the bigger single generator holds 3.5 gallons. I wanted to be sure the generator would be able to run at least 12 hours, so it would last all night. While I haven’t had to use my current generator during an actual power outage, I would have reservations about using the eco-mode. The reduced fuel consumption of the eco-throttle is tempting, I’ll admit. The Honda owner’s manual says (in a vague way) not to use eco-mode with high wattage demands that start and stop intermittently. I would take this to include appliances with compressors. It seems to me it wouldn’t be ideal to load the generator so heavily while basically idling, and it could cause a brownout situation for the appliance which is starting. I think eco-mode is best used for things like lights, TVs, coffee makers, computers, etc…
However, the proof is in the pudding. Real world scenarios mean more than speculation.
However, the proof is in the pudding. Real world scenarios mean more than speculation.
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Thank you. I have six WEN generators including the 2350 Inverter and your experience leads me to believe that I don't regret my decision.
You are changing the oil, right?
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Fresh oil before the storm, fresh oil tomorrow or Monday; Rotella 15-40 ( which is what we use in pretty much everything)....
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I would add Non-ethanol gas, especially,if you aren't anal about draining gas and running the carburetor dry. Ethanol is a water magnet.
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I have been buying up a lot of 15W-40 (by the gallon) for no other reason than for my generators. <smile>
I am happy that you can provide power and keep y'all comfortable.
I am happy that you can provide power and keep y'all comfortable.
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30,461 Posts
I have seen a set up that uses a portable outboard motor gas tank - usually 6 gallons and using a special gas cap allows the fuel to feed from the 6 gallon tank into Honda generator.
It looked like a nice set up as long as nothing leaks!
My bladder will not let me sleep more than 4 - maybe 5 hours - so I only need enough fuel to run the generator for that long - I empty one tank and fill the other!
I ran mine on eco mode most of the time - it never seemed to have a problem.
The biggest starting load I have is my HVAC blower motor - but when I kicked the heat on I made sure I wasn't running the coffee maker or microwave.
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I change oil everyday - pick a convenient time - usually late afternoon - have everything ready - oil premeasured -
Shut the unit off - pull the oil drain plug - while oil is draining I fill up the gas tank -
After oil is drained I reinstall the plug - add new oil in and I am done.
Start it up and turn the breakers back on -
The first few times it was taking me about 10 minutes - but after a few days I was doing it in 5 minutes.
Considering it takes almost as long to just fill up with gas (but I do sometimes fill while running using a 1 gallon gas can when the tank is down more than that)
$2 - $3 worth of oil and 5 minutes of my time - I can't imagine going 4 or more days between oil changes -
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Refueling a running or hot small engine is dangerous. I used to work with a guy whose adult son died after he was severely burned refueling a hot lawnmower. The vapors spill down just like liquid would. There is LPG (like butane) in gasoline. Is saving a few minutes to cool down worth risking a trip through a burn unit? I just want y’all to be safe.
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I have to agree it was dumb on my part- I won’t be doing that again. Thanks for the wake up call!
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12,223 Posts
I just googled your Wen 2350 generator. It looks about the same (slightly bigger) as my AiPower SUA2000i (which I bought a pair of with the idea of paralleling them). I was kind of disappointed that one SUA2000i can't provide enough power to run our microwave oven (which claims to be a 1.58KW oven...yes, I tried removing all other loads...it just can't do it without overloading and cutting power). To use the microwave, I had to break out the second SUA2000i (which until Ian was unused) and parallel them. After Irma, I bought a 6000btu GE window unit with the idea of using it on the generators to keep one room comfortable.
Luckily, after Ian, we only had about 13h of no power, and that day after was cool enough that we didn't even have to open windows to keep the house comfortable, so that window unit is literally still NIB. All we used the generators for was the fridge, microwave, one lamp, and phone charging, and I only fired up the second generator when we wanted to use the microwave. Between the two generators and filling my Coleman dual-fuel camp stove, I emptied a 2G gas can...and the generators still have gas in their tanks. The one generator that'd been used before started out with maybe 1/4 tank of old gas.
I always add Sta-Bil to my mower/generator gas, so I've got some time, but I know I should look into either draining the fuel from their tanks or just run them out of gas.
The inverter generators are nice and quiet (for generators), but I don't know how much that matters when all your neighbors are running old-school generators
I used our Honda EU3000 last year during a 3 day power outage, just ran extension cords to window air conditioner, refrig, freezer, and had an outlet available for lights and what not.
At first I ran it on full throttle, ECO off, with the A/C running, but then experimented with using ECO throttle. Works great! No hesitation that I could tell when A/C started up, the generator immediately increased rpms.
Ended up running everything (A/C, frig, freezer) with the generator on ECO mode, ran great, no issues with appliances that I can tell, and it didn't even run full throttle! With ECO off, it just runs at full throttle rpm whether or not that is needed. I was impressed at how much the generator could run only at about 3/4 throttle.
Honda equipment is expensive, but you get what you pay for.
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I have a Aipower SUA2000i - I broke it in and then tested it to see if it would run my refrigerator and 8000 BTU window AC -I just googled your Wen 2350 generator. It looks about the same (slightly bigger) as my AiPower SUA2000i (which I bought a pair of with the idea of paralleling them). I was kind of disappointed that one SUA2000i can't provide enough power to run our microwave oven (which claims to be a 1.58KW oven...yes, I tried removing all other loads...it just can't do it without overloading and cutting power). To use the microwave, I had to break out the second SUA2000i (which until Ian was unused) and parallel them. After Irma, I bought a 6000btu GE window unit with the idea of using it on the generators to keep one room comfortable.
Luckily, after Ian, we only had about 13h of no power, and that day after was cool enough that we didn't even have to open windows to keep the house comfortable, so that window unit is literally still NIB. All we used the generators for was the fridge, microwave, one lamp, and phone charging, and I only fired up the second generator when we wanted to use the microwave. Between the two generators and filling my Coleman dual-fuel camp stove, I emptied a 2G gas can...and the generators still have gas in their tanks. The one generator that'd been used before started out with maybe 1/4 tank of old gas.
I always add Sta-Bil to my mower/generator gas, so I've got some time, but I know I should look into either draining the fuel from their tanks or just run them out of gas.
The inverter generators are nice and quiet (for generators), but I don't know how much that matters when all your neighbors are running old-school generators
It was able to do both individually - but I never tried them both at the same time.
My microwave is 1,200 watts and no extra needed for start up - the SUA2000i should run it - next time I take it out of the box I will test it.
Did you turn the eco mode off before you tested it?
I sort of bought mine on impulse - it was on sale for just under $350 tax & shipping included. I figure if all else fails I will at least have cold drinks and a little cold air -
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1,933 Posts
I bought a WEN 11000-watt dual fuel (gas or propane) with electric and
manual start that I like really well. The few times the power was out for
an extended period of time, it ran the whole house as long as you didn't
try to run the whole house if you know what I mean. Only comparison
I have is the 4500-watt Champion I previously. Much easier to use
and the dual fuel makes it easier to keep fuel for it on hand. I keep a
couple 30# propane tanks on hand. Just remember to use Teflon tape
made for gas fixtures on the connection. Heat and cold expanding
and contracting can cause the propane to leak.
Dano
manual start that I like really well. The few times the power was out for
an extended period of time, it ran the whole house as long as you didn't
try to run the whole house if you know what I mean. Only comparison
I have is the 4500-watt Champion I previously. Much easier to use
and the dual fuel makes it easier to keep fuel for it on hand. I keep a
couple 30# propane tanks on hand. Just remember to use Teflon tape
made for gas fixtures on the connection. Heat and cold expanding
and contracting can cause the propane to leak.
Dano
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12,223 Posts
Initially, no, but I did try it without eco mode. It just can't run our big microwave.
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