Re: More Generator stuff

Bob Giddings wrote:
On Sat, 27 Dec 2008 19:46:27 -0500, Neon John <no@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

On Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:18:30 -0600, Bob Giddings <bobg@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Wed, 24 Dec 2008 02:09:07 -0500, Neon John <no@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Continuing on this thread of small generators, particularly the ChiCom
special, I wrote up some testing that I did last night.

http://www.johndearmond.com/2008/12/24/the-generator-that-could/

Enjoy.

John
Interesting comparison. You're primary concern, though, seems to
be what it can run. And you like to stretch that category.

If it will charge my batteries, that's enough for me. That will
keep me out in the boonies indefinitely. IF it will also run the
microwave, well, that's just gravy. But it's just not that
important. Doing without a microwave doesn't irritate me near as
much as listening to a generator.

Don't get me started on motorcycles.

What I require, above all, is that it be QUIET.
I'm not sure I understand what the purpose of that post was, Bob. We all know
that you're a quiet Nazi so there's no need to keep posting that. The article
didn't even address quiet other than passing.

The purpose of my article was several fold. Mainly it was to dispel some of
the BS that has been floating around this and a couple of other newsgroups
about the cheap ChiCom generator. Another purpose was to dispel the notion
that an inverter generator is a panacea for all generator-related issues. A
third purpose was to show that a non-inverter generator is often more
appropriate. As I said in the article, inverter generators are really only
appropriate when the load is significantly less than a rated output and that
is because the inverter generator can handle no overload.

I'm glad you're happy with your $2000 non-portable generator. That same money
what about vastly more generator without the Honda brand-name, and something
just as quiet if not quieter. The Onan QuietPack 5.5kW generator that Steve
and I are so fond of. The thing is, I wasn't even addressing that class of
generator. That article only addressed small, highly portable generators that
can be thought of as "infinite extension cords".

An interesting question for you to answer is this: If you found yourself in a
winter emergency and the only heat that you had would come from a portable
heater that typically draws 1200 to 1500 W, would you rather have a nice super
quiet Honda inverter generator that couldn't do the job at all or the cheap
ChiCom generator that gracefully overloads and is capable of handling the
heater? In other words, would you rather be cold and quiet or warm and
slightly less quiet?

John

No offense meant, John. Just underlining the idea that people
can get down the road of picking a generator for price or power
and forget what's most important to them. I've spent miserable
nights next to people who didn't think that through. Power isn't
everything. What's important to me is quiet. And you've said
yourself the Chicom unit isn't as quiet as the Honda.

I haven't found anything that is. Have you? Honda has that
down.

As for cost, the Honda EU1000i didn't cost me $2000. I bought it
for $650 and sold it for $400 after a couple of years. The
3000i, which I only mentioned in passing and said was overkill,
cost me $1500. Those prices may have gone up since. If I had it
to do over again, I'd have rather bought the 2000. But that
wasn't on the market at the time.

Or maybe even just kept the 1000.

As for heat, I'll turn on my propane furnace.

Bob

I think you will find power for power the Chicom models are quite a bit heavier. A friend of mine went down that path and lost it all in just two years of use. Of course he used it a lot, but it became less able to pull the power required. finely one day it started sucking the oil out of the sump and froze up.
I will admit I have not used my two EU2000i units with the parallel kit as much as what he did, but they run like new and I have had them 3 years I think. I only run both of them paralleled when I run the A/C or microwave, but then the A/C init is a 15,000btu unit and I don't know how big the micro wave is but it really loads a single gen unit down pretty good. Best of all they weigh a fraction of what the bigger units do.

--
BILL P.
&
DOG
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Opinions needed on Portable Generators
    ... Any "contractor" type generator will drive you deaf if used over a long ... The quiet ones for residential backup power tend to be a bit pricey. ... What do you intend to power in the house? ... That little Honda made life bearable for over a week. ...
    (rec.boats)
  • Re: Opinions needed on Portable Generators
    ... Any "contractor" type generator will drive you deaf if used over a long ... The quiet ones for residential backup power tend to be a bit pricey. ... That little Honda made life bearable for over a week. ... watts), furnace motor, a couple of fans and a couple of lights ...
    (rec.boats)
  • Re: Opinions needed on Portable Generators
    ... Any "contractor" type generator will drive you deaf if used over a long ... The quiet ones for residential backup power tend to be a bit pricey. ... What do you intend to power in the house? ... That little Honda made life bearable for over a week. ...
    (rec.boats)
  • Re: Opinions needed on Portable Generators
    ... Any "contractor" type generator will drive you deaf if used over a long ... The quiet ones for residential backup power tend to be a bit pricey. ... What do you intend to power in the house? ... That little Honda made life bearable for over a week. ...
    (rec.boats)
  • Re: More Generator stuff
    ... quiet Honda inverter generator that couldn't do the job at all or the cheap ... ChiCom generator that gracefully overloads and is capable of handling the ... yourself the Chicom unit isn't as quiet as the Honda. ... As for cost, the Honda EU1000i didn't cost me $2000. ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)