CHEAP Generator review

[Badgersmilk]

I've owned a few generators over the last few years, and have learned a few basic facts.  More power means more noise.  More power means more fuel used no matter what load you put on the generator.  And in most normal conditions our family rarely uses more than a few hundred watts power at any given time (fridge - 150watts, 60" tv - 200watts, microwave 1000, washing machine 60-700 depending on cycle).  The exceptions are of course our 220 volt water heater, 220 volt cloths dryer, central A/C and furnace.  Running them isn't an option with this little geny, but in all honesty, their not needed to get by in an emergency in SC..  I can heat / purify small amounts of water with the microwave.

Sooo,  head for you local Autozone!  I've been shopping around online for a while and can't even come close to the price Autozone has on this little thing ($80 Bucks!).  When shopping, forget the rating you see on chinese generators.  I saw this same generator with different paint colors rated at anywhere between 900, and 1400 watts max load!  I tested mine with a "Kilawatt" meter, and a hair dryer to provide an adjustable load.  At 110 watts, and 240 watts, it barely changes idle sound at all.  At 480 watts you hear it come under a little load.  At 810, and 1110 watts it sounds like it's got a normal working load, and at 1476 watts it ran fine for about 20 seconds, then quickly bogged down and puttered before I shut off the hair dryer.  Those numbers are just what I was able to get by changing settings on a 1875 watt hair dryer (1476 was at full power, never did get a "1875 watt" load out of it).

After watching a few youtube videos, and reading other peoples reviews on similar generators, I picked up two NGK plugs (#7333) and changed out the Chinese plug before I even tried to start this the first time.  They also recommended the chaff guard you see on the spark plug wire, and that buyers should check torque on EVERY nut, bolt, and screw (I DID find a few needing adjustment).  I also used the three prong plug provided with the geny to make the red ground cable in the pics (you need to ground ANY generator to an earth ground before running them or risk electrocution.)

For my break in and testing run I used a 32 to 1 oil ratio.  First time I tried, the geny started on the sixth pull with the choke on.  After that, even with an hour cool down it started on the first pull every time without the choke.  


It's actually running with an 1110 watt load in this pic..  Never saw even a trace of smoke from the exhaust during the entire break in (kinda unusual for a 2 stroke).

Voltage varied between 115VAC, and 117VAC depending on load.  Hz ranged from 60.2, to 62.3 depending on load.  Once the load was applied the readings held VERY steady, they only fluctuated when I changed the wattage load on the geny.  If wanted, there is a governor adjustment screw on the right side of the geny that allows fine tuning of voltage and Hz.  I didn't see a need to change anything with this particular unit.

Most important thing about this geny?  It'll run 8.5 hours at a 400 watt load on ONE GALLON OF GAS!  Run time drops to 6.5 hrs per gallon at full load.  It has a 1.2 gallon tank.  I filled it 1/3 full and ran it till empty for testing / break in.  Got about 3 hours on it.

YES, it's louder than a 4 stroke.  Not a LOT though.  You have to raise your voice to have a conversation standing directly over it.  And if it's outside your glass door, you'll know if its running or not in the house.  But can hear a tv over it at normal volume.  Our 3,000 watt chinese 4 stroke IS quieter overall.  But uses MUCH more fuel. Our "Wheelhouse" brand 5500 watt 4 stroke is twice as loud as this little 1,000 watt unit, and SWILLS the gas!

It's cheap, but fills a need!

[Bic]

Excellent informaton Badgersmilk! and written so that even I, with only a meagre knowledge of electrics, could understand it. I suspect that my water well pump uses a little more juice than a hair dryer and I've been thinking about getting a dedicated generator for it for some time now - thanks for the reminder,


MP 

[Badgersmilk]

A couple important things I forgot to mention.  

A LOT of the reviews I read on Chinese generators mention that they don't produce quite as much power as rated.  Or just don't run well.  I think people are seeing this because their running 87 octane gas.  In one SMALL place in the manual it mentions that this (and all Chinese motors in my experience) needs high octane fuel (90+).  I've seen this make a BIG difference in my kids chinese made scooter.  And found the same problem in it's documentation.  If you don't read VERY CLOSELY you'll breeze right over the octane requirement in fine print.

Also, this little thing is the first geny I've seen that produces 12 volt power.  It has a weird shaped plug (I intend to replace) that's rated at 10 amps / 12VDC.  Reviews on youtube say it works well for charging car batteries...  I've yet to check mine to even see if it worked.

Bic, I'd guess you'll need at 3,000 watt geny.  Most 3/4 hp motors use about 1800 watts at 120 volts.  And 1HP motors are around 2400 watts at 120 volts.  The chinese 4 cycle 3,000 watt we had till recently held up really well, and you could speak in a normal voice directly over it (really quite!).  I know I for one always think.  "If a 3,000 watt geny is good, I want 5,000!"    In a power outage gasoline can become REALLY hard to find.  The gas stations are out of power to!  And can't run their pumps.  Something that never occurred to me until I had to deal with it.    That's how I learned to buy as small a geny as you can get by with.  Less fuel needed to run it!

[ratcatcher55]

Thanks for the review.

[alfsauve]

Thanks for the octane rating.   I'm not a big fan of 2-stroke engines but I have a couple that I put up with.  At those prices though it makes it worth while as a "just-in-case".

[Sponsor]

[twyacht]

Good info,.... but remember the Power Equation:

Watts divided by volts = Amps. (Amps are what run things.)

1000 / 120 = 8.333333 amps....( not that much ).

Load management is critical when considering load capacity. But any generator is great if the power goes out and one can keep the fridge, and or other critical items (cell phones, lights, etc,....) going.

2 strokes like high rpm's and clean fuel.... thanks for the info.

[rojawe]

Thanks for the review and most people use a cheap power cord and that will cause trouble. We lost our electricity for several days and the Power and light guys came by and stated I was the only one he had seen using a 10 ga cord.

[twyacht]

Thanks for the review and most people use a cheap power cord and that will cause trouble. We lost our electricity for several days and the Power and light guys came by and stated I was the only one he had seen using a 10 ga cord.

Very good reminder, 16g standard ext cords, ......through a 6 gang power strip,....running a fridge/micro/phone charger/etc,... add up..

We run 14g to 15 amps.  16g to no more than 10. Cheap cords "made in China" aren't worth the risk under load.

Point being,...if needed, feel your cord,...if it's warm,.....its straining.... beef up the cord.

It's worth it.

[alfsauve]

What's spec, at least in theatre's, for extention cords is SOOW cable  (that's a rubber exterior, resistant to oil and water with a breakdown rating of 600v).    It's available at the big box stores.  My HD carries it but they don't list it on their big display board.   You have to talk the clerk into revolving the wire carousel until you find it.    SOW cable would be acceptable in a home/emergency situation, though not as resistant to liquids.   You can even use the Junior grade SJOOW/SJOW, just be aware that the insulation (outer covering) isn't as tough.   But any of these cables are miles ahead of consumer extension cords.

Cheapest to make them yourself.   12g SOOW runs around $1 a foot and the plug and receptacle around $10 ea.  Just remember there is a right and wrong end for the plug and receptacle based on the twist of the wire.   [HINT:  If you have to cross one wire under another to connect it, you have the wrong end.]

The problem with using 10guage SOOW or even JSOOW s that the wire won't fit into many of the Edison (U.S. standard) plugs and receptacles.  Even with 12guage the insulation on SOOW  is a tight fit in the shell.    Go for the better (more expensive) plugs and receptacles.   I prefer to order mine from a theatre supply house (Barbazon or Norcostco or Mutual Hardware) that are made by Bates.

[Badgersmilk]

Houses (at least in all the states I've lived in) use 14ga for most outlets, lighting, standard 15 amp circuit breakers.  12ga for a 20 amp breaker (outlets in garages, outdoors).  The 2hp generator is rated at less than 10 amps, so a 14ga extension cord would actually be fine.  Just keep away from the ones that are ridiculous in length.  As they will mess up the Hz. you get at the other end of the cord.  I THINK the recommended max length for any extension cord is 18'...  ?