Replies

1. 
   bobp | Jun 04, 2005 01:43am | #1

   Honda works okay but there is a delay when you pull the trigger.

1. 
   dieselpig | Jun 04, 2005 03:05am | #4

   Turn the Auto-Idle off and you won't have that delay.  You'll burn a little more gas though.

2. 
   boulderbuilder | Jun 04, 2005 02:21am | #2

   3 choices as far as I am concerned Honda, Honda or Honda.  They make a 1000, 2000 or 3000 watt model in their inverter line of generators.  dead quiet, reliable and will last forever.

   Dave

1. 
   chuckkeller | Jun 05, 2005 01:03am | #22

   Yep! Just like their motorcycles.If, at first, you fricascee, fry, fry a hen!

3. 
   dieselpig | Jun 04, 2005 03:04am | #3

   Pretty much anything with a Honda engine will serve you well.  Yamaha also makes great generators with their own engines, as good or possibly better than the Hondas.  Wacker makes a great generator, mine has a Honda engine as well.

   Look to purchase around 5500 watts.  Stay away from Coleman and Generac... pretty much anything off the shelf at HD or Lowe's will be loud and not have great re-sale value when you're finished with it.  Go to a rental place and ask if they have any of their used rentals for sale.  I got my $2500 Wacker for $1300 that way at Home Depot's rental center.  It was practically new.  Most rental centers take very good care of their equipment and follow factory service recommendation more closely than your average Joe.

   Good on ya for looking out for the framer.  He's the most important sub you'll deal with.  Probably the most handsome, suave, and charming sub you'll run into.  ;)

   Did I mention I'm a framer?  Good luck with your house!

1. 
   Gunner | Jun 04, 2005 04:37am | #9

   So I should stop eyeing that big Generac back up unit at Home Depot. It looks like a pretty good backup for running the house in an outage. What's the deal? Just not a good motor or what?

    

    

   Shout out to Andy C. Namaste my friend.

   http://www.hay98.com/

1. 
   Notchman | Jun 04, 2005 04:48am | #10

   I built a house a couple of years ago way up in the boonies.  The HO had the elect. sub install one of those Generacs; 13KW with auto transfer switch, dedicated emergency subpanel (which runs most of his house).  The motor was a propane fueled Onan, which is a damned good motor, IMHO, and the system has served him reliably through several long power outages (quite common in the canyon in which he lives).

   As I recall, the add-on cost for the generator, the panels, the pad and enclosure I built and the propane hook up was just over $5K.

   I'm not a Home Dump fan, but that generator strikes me as a pretty decent unit.

1. 
   Gunner | Jun 04, 2005 05:41am | #11

   I have just skimmed by it a couple of time. $2500 is what they want. I'll have to check on the engine. If it is an Onan in the one they offer then they are very good engines.

    

    

   Shout out to Andy C. Namaste my friend.

   http://www.hay98.com/

2. 
   dieselpig | Jun 04, 2005 06:19am | #12

   Gunner,  I guess I should have clarified.... I was referring to the Generac portable jobsite generators sold at Home Depot with the Briggs & Stratton gas engine specifically.  We went through two in 8 months a few years back when I still worked for my old boss.  Have heard similar stories from others.  I'm also a Want-Ad hawk and follow construction equipment pretty closely... the Honda and Yamaha generators retain their value much better than lesser units. 

   I have ZERO experience with the back-up unit you're referring to... but I do know that Onan makes a good engine.

1. 
   Gunner | Jun 04, 2005 06:41am | #13

   Gotcha.

    

    

   Shout out to Andy C. Namaste my friend.

   http://www.hay98.com/

4. 
   Notchman | Jun 04, 2005 03:32am | #5

   The only Dewalt tool I own is a 6 KW generator....it's an emergency back up for home (we're out in the pucker-brush) and jobsite.

   But the criteria for buying it was the Honda motor.  The Yamaha motors are equally good IMO.

   I imagine the generator component is generic, but the Dewalt is set up pretty well for a jobsite....2 20A dual GFCI recept's, a couple of 30A singles and a 30A 220.

   Handles a construction sight really well for my small crew. 

1. 
   DanteO | Jun 04, 2005 03:46am | #6

   Not to hijack the thread...

   I sent you an email a few weeks ago regarding vulkem over cement board on deck surfaces, may I contact you offline to ask a few questions?  Tremco's tech support line is awful. 

1. 
   Notchman | Jun 04, 2005 03:49am | #7

   You probably ran afoul of my Earthlink Spamblocker....it let's very little through!

   I'll shoot a message your way.

5. 
   4Lorn1 | Jun 04, 2005 04:08am | #8

   Depends.

   If you just want to run a lamp, a coffee pot, the fridge a couple times a day and a fan at night and, once the power is installed, you will never need a generator again I would look into a cheap 2400-4000w unit. It will likely be a bit loud but surrounding it with cinder blocks or digging it into a pit, an old Army trick, you can make the noise less felt.

   Honda makes a good generator. Most with a Honda or Robin engine seem to last a long time but none of these are cheap. Even the low wattage units are pretty steep. For the price of a small 1000w Honda you could buy two 3000w units. Each of which, if treated right, would get you through the three weeks and still give you a unit you can use at the farther reaches of the property for light duty. If it then blows up your not out much.

   I like the diesel units for long term power but they are quite dear. They also aren't very portable unless you make The Hulk look like a sissy.

6. 
   joeh | Jun 04, 2005 07:04am | #14

   I have a Yamaha 5200 that has been great.

   Uses about 5 gallons a long day.

   Pull start, easy start since new. It's about 4 years old, haven't used it for the last two though.

   Joe H

1. 
   FramerT | Jun 04, 2005 01:27pm | #15

   Lowes or HD sells "Troybilt"....avoid them.
   2 saws running bog it down, your framer will hate you :-).

7. 
   timkline | Jun 04, 2005 02:52pm | #16

   1. Don't buy anything less than 3500 watts.  One circular saw takes 1200-1500 watts

   2. Around here, the framer always supplies his own power.  As do all the trades on new homes.  I've never heard of the homeowner or the GC supplying generator power until the house electric comes on line.

    

   carpenter in transition

1. 
   edwardh1 | Jun 04, 2005 03:01pm | #17

   One oft he main Honda advantages is lo noise.
   Odd briggs/strat has never put on a quieter muffler or offerred one at extra cost. they must be asleep (maybe they hava a Honda)
   can't sleep near a briggs

2. 
   lisakk | Jun 04, 2005 07:37pm | #18

   Tim, we're in Seattle and the homeowner or GC supplies a temporary power pole.  We have to run a transformer box close enough first to get that temp power.  The permit to do that is going to take at least a month from when we get our building permit.  I sure wish it was up to the framer to supply his own power.  It would make my life a lot easier!

1. 
   joeh | Jun 05, 2005 03:08am | #23

   How about the Seattle Craig's list? Here's the first 3

   http://seattle.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/search?areaID=2&subAreaID=0&query=generator&cat=sss&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max

   http://seattle.craigslist.org/tls/77031265.html

   Reply to: lanabanana65@comcast.netDate: 2005-06-04, 4:37PM PDTThis is a genuine Honda top of the line generator in like new condition complete with electric start and wheel kit. If running generator for home use and you have natural gas it will run the furnace, refrigerator. allmost all the lighting needed and microwave as well computer equipment. It will NOT run electric central forced air heating. If being used for RV use it is very quiet 70DBs and will run Everything including the air conditioner. This generator sells new for 1799.00 and $1000.00 Is a bargain.Don't wait for the power to go out and pay to much

   http://seattle.craigslist.org/tls/76977428.html

   Honda generators - $150

   Reply to: anon-76977428@craigslist.orgDate: 2005-06-04, 10:17AM PDTTwo older Honda EZ5000 generators. One is complete, runs but does not generate power. One is missing the fuel tank, and I have never started it so condition is unknown. Generator could work. $150 for both.

   View Image

   http://seattle.craigslist.org/for/76963628.html

   wilco generator 5500 watts - $750

   Reply to: magictwo2000@yahoo.comDate: 2005-06-04, 8:57AM PDTgenerator wilco 5500 watts tri-fuel elect start low hours just service 750.00

8. 
   JonE | Jun 04, 2005 07:58pm | #19

   You guys are coming down hard on the non-Honda generators, but I have a Generac from HD (4500W) and it's a really nice little unit.  We had to run some heavier-than-usual loads (timber framing machinery) and it worked well.  LONG runtime too.  Yeah, it's a bit noisy, but there's an easy solution.  Build a plywood box and line it with 2" rigid foam insulation - it's like putting the generator in a doghouse.  You cut way back on the noise, and just pick the box off to refuel. 

    

1. 
   Stuart | Jun 04, 2005 10:33pm | #20

   Building a doghouse for a generator isn't a bad idea, but make sure it has adequate ventilation for combustion and cooling air.

9. 
   G80104 | Jun 04, 2005 11:25pm | #21

   Here is Our Portable Generator. Holds 80 gals of fuel. Takes a lickin but Keeps on Ticken.

10. 
    joeh | Jun 07, 2005 07:47am | #24

    So, did you buy one?

    Joe H

1. 
   lisakk | Jun 07, 2005 05:38pm | #25

   Joe,

   I'm trying to find a used one first at a rental store, since I have three weeks until I need it.  I'll buy new if I can't find one that way.