Portable generator question

[Slapper]

Anyone have one they can recommend? I have a Dek 5650 that is just a disaster (carburetor gets clogged all the time, the starting coil breaks easily, etc). I’m thinking about a DuraMax 12000. It’s $999 right now and it’s got very good reviews. Use is residential for a 1900 square foot house.

Any recommendations?

[Hulkotron]

Most getbiggers can only help you if your house is at least 7500 square feet.

[robcguns]

Most getbiggers can only help you if your house is at least 7500 square feet.

Hahahaha.

I have the duramax 10000 and it works great, no issues really.

[Thin Lizzy]

Anyone have one they can recommend? I have a Dek 5650 that is just a disaster (carburetor gets clogged all the time, the starting coil breaks easily, etc). I’m thinking about a DuraMax 12000. It’s $999 right now and it’s got very good reviews. Use is residential for a 1900 square foot house.

Any recommendations?

My GF has a Generac back up generator. No problems so far. They make portables:


https://generatormart.com/products/generac-iq3500-3500-watt-gasoline-powered-electric-start-portable-inverter-generator-with-powerrush-technology-50-state-csa

[Walter Sobchak]

Anyone have one they can recommend? I have a Dek 5650 that is just a disaster (carburetor gets clogged all the time, the starting coil breaks easily, etc). I’m thinking about a DuraMax 12000. It’s $999 right now and it’s got very good reviews. Use is residential for a 1900 square foot house.

Any recommendations?

$999 seems like a good price for a 12000/9500 portable generator.

Is that “Duromax” powered by Honda?

I have a number of the Honda portable models and they are bullet proof reliable and will run for years without very little maintenance. One thing about a 12000 sized generator is to check on the size and weight if you need to move it around or put it in a vehicle to transport it.

[Sissysquats]

I have a generac It’s just used when the power is out and to run the fridge a few lights and wifi/router. 7500 size I think. Decide how much you need to power then size accordingly

[visualizeperfection]

My house came equipped with electricity built right in. Sucks the peasants have to bother with generators.

[Dokey111]

I bought a Duramax 10000 Dual Fuel a few years ago.  I never used it until this year I brought it out for hurricane season.  The motor ran fine but it wasn't generating electricity (!).  Tried everything and finally took it to a Northern Tool which is supposed to be a service center.  They said the innards were ruined but couldn't explain why or how.  Contacted Duramax but of course it was out of warranty.  Total waste of $ and never figured out what was wrong with it.

Ended up buying a WEN 11000 dual fuel and so far it works the way it's supposed to.

[Walter Sobchak]

My house came equipped with electricity built right in. Sucks the peasants have to bother with generators.

VisualizeErections bragging about his interstate off ramp tent…

[Coach is Back!]

https://4patriots.com/

[IroNat]

If you have a gasoline generator you need to do a few things to keep it running.

1) Use reasonably fresh gas (not over 3 months old).
2) Run it twice a month for 5-10 minutes.
3) Turn the gas line shutoff valve off and run it dry after every use.  If it lacks a gas line shutoff valve then install one.

[Dokey111]

If you have a gasoline generator you need to do a few things to keep it running.

1) Use reasonably fresh gas (not over 3 months old).
2) Run it twice a month for 5-10 minutes.
3) Turn the gas line shutoff valve off and run it dry after every use.  If it lacks a gas line shutoff valve then install one.

Much easier to use propane

[visualizeperfection]

VisualizeErections bragging about his interstate off ramp tent…

WantingForcock exposing that he lives in a flyover state that has “interstates” and not freeways.

[ProudVirgin69]

WantingForcock exposing that he lives in a flyover state that has “interstates” and not freeways.

All of the 48 contiguous US states have interstate highways.  Hell, even Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico have highways that are considered part of the US Interstate Highway System

[visualizeperfection]

All of the 48 contiguous US states have interstate highways.  Hell, even Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico have highways that are considered part of the US Interstate Highway System

Well that may be true, only shithole states refer to them as such.

[Lartinos]

I don’t have one because I leave Florida for the summer and stay in New York where I probably won’t need it.

Someone in a FB group I’m in in Florida bought a Generac before the hurricane last year and never got to use it because flood water destroyed it.
I don’t believe it was under their warranty.

[Tapeworm]

If you have a gasoline generator you need to do a few things to keep it running.

1) Use reasonably fresh gas (not over 3 months old).
2) Run it twice a month for 5-10 minutes.
3) Turn the gas line shutoff valve off and run it dry after every use.  If it lacks a gas line shutoff valve then install one.

Good advice. Just clean the carb and use fresh fuel. Ensure the filter is clean first time.

If you have to pull start it so hard you're breaking it then the valve gaps are probably out of spec.

Small engines are pretty basic. Air, fuel, spark, and valve gaps. There's probably nothing wrong you can't fix very cheap.

[sync pulse]

If you can afford it...Get an "Inverter Model".

• 1) They generate a higher quality AC Waveform.
• 2) When the load gets smaller, the engine can throttle back to save fuel, but the Alternating Currents remains in spec.

[obsidian]

If you can afford it...Get an "Inverter Model".

• 1) They generate a higher quality AC Waveform.
• 2) When the load gets smaller, the engine can throttle back to save fuel, but the Alternating Currents remains in spec.

If you are running the AC off the generator the AC Waveform will be higher quality with a constant 120V if you're in the US. That's because the engine has to work to provide enough power. This assumes the generator is powerful enough and you feed into the house in a way where the air conditioning can also run off the generator. I back-feed into the house via a 4-prong welding receptacle with a 60A breaker and everything has power. I use a suicide cable. Only do this if you know what you're doing because it can kill you and is illegal, but many people do it. It's basically a cable with a male plug on both ends.

I use it like this:

1. Turn off main house panel breaker so it is disconnected from the grid.
2. With the generator off, I plug the suicide cable into the generator and welding receptacle.
3. I turn off the breaker of the welding receptacle. I also turn off the subpanel where the breaker is housed.
4. Turn on the generator and let it run for about 30 seconds to settle in.
5. Flip the welding receptacle breaker so the generator back feeds into the sub panel.
6. Flip the subpanel breaker so it back feeds into the house panel.

The house now has power everywhere. I have a whole house surge protector installed and computers run off UPS backups. Note though that the UPS backups will go on battery when the generator has limited load on it because it won't be a clean power supply. If you add an air conditioner load to the generator the UPS backups will accept the power supplied by the generator because the voltage will remain stable at 120V. You can also get Online (Double Conversion) UPS backups that won't have issues with generator power but they cost a lot and are noisy because they have fans that run 24/7 even when connected to the grid.

https://www.backupbatterypower.com/collections/online-double-conversion

[obsidian]

Anyone have one they can recommend? I have a Dek 5650 that is just a disaster (carburetor gets clogged all the time, the starting coil breaks easily, etc). I’m thinking about a DuraMax 12000. It’s $999 right now and it’s got very good reviews. Use is residential for a 1900 square foot house.

Any recommendations?

I've had a portable gas Generac 8000/10000 for many years and have had zero issues with it through multiple outages. I do keep it clean and change the oil, filters, etc. as recommended. Also, add a gas stabilizer. It is recommended to turn off the gas before you turn off the generator so it can run the remaining gas out of the fuel line. I've not done that in the past but did not have clogging issues. I might do it next time I test the generator.

[Humble Narcissist]

Much easier to use propane

Call Hank Hill for good service and price.