Best, QUIETEST, generator

raker13

raker13

Joined
Jun 19, 2006
Messages
142
I live in the SF bayarea, we've had a few mini quakes lately. I would like your opinion on what you consider the best, economical, and QUIETEST, small home generator out there. I was thinking of the Ya*ah* EF3000iSEBC. Anyone?
 
Yamaha, Honda and Kawasaki are arguably the best. Having worked for a Cummins / Onan distributor recently, I can tell you that Onan has recently (within the last 10 months) released a small home gen with a generic "Honda" engine that undercuts the competition by a couple hundred bucks. Pretty good warranty too as I recall. Onan has always been known for good quality gens, but it was the power plant that needed help. Now they've got it with a Honda spec'd and designed motor , just built by someone else. Look for an Onan distrib. in your area. If not a gen. dealer, then check the Cummins distrib. / service centers.
 
There is some stuff going on with hydrogen generators(fuel cell) that is very promising. They make no noise, and only produce heat and water as by-products.
 
The Honda EZ2500 comes to mind. It puts out a good load, runs quiet, and can still be carried around. You could go bigger, but they seem to get heavy once they are over the 2500 watt limit. A 2000 watt unit will handle household appliances such as your water pump, furnace, fridges, micriwave ovens and TV. It will not run things like the kitchen range.

I have also seen some amazingly quiet and good looking chinese knockoffs. The only thing about these are how long do they last, and the availability of parts. Going with name brands like Yamaha, Cummins Honda and the like ensure that replacement parts are readily available.

When purchasing a generator, look for 1) load capacity continuous and peak loads, 2) fuel consumption at half load and full load,3)noise levels in dbs. Use a good extension cord such as a #12AWG for generators over 1000W. As quiet as they may be, they still make noise and noise reduction is best achieved by distancing the generator away from your camp or home.
 
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They're moaning about possible power shortages !!! Honda is by far the #1 recommendation by amateur radio people .They have very quiet units designed for running electronics ,radio, computer etc .Yamaha has similar ones.
 
I have been using a Honda EM6500 for over eight years now with no problems. It is very quiet and has both electric and recoil start. Northern Tool carries the NorthStar genertors that use a Honda engine and NorthStar alternators. I have built a couple generators for my neighbors using NorthStar alternators and so far they appear to work real well.

You also want to look for at least a modified sine wave filtered unit so you can run a microwave off of it. Most of the $500 range units put out a square wave which does not run a microwave very well. A belt driven alternator will not get rattled near as bad from the engine as a direct couple will.

If you can afford it have a grid disconnect switch put in so you can energize the whole house and not have to run extension cords and power strips all over the place. Out where I live we have many outages every fall and winter. Yesterday we had the ninth one since this fall. Our water comes from a well so w/o power we have no running water.

Even if you spend a tad bit more on a generator you will not be sorry when the power goes out. They are worth thier weight in gold.
 
Definitely look for one with an overhead valve engine, easier to start and they are much quieter.

-Yooperman
 
Honda generators, at least in the class you're looking, are pretty much regarded as the "Cadillacs" of their class. They're also relatively pricy. It used to be that a company called "Generac" made a generator that was nearly as good, but their alternators had brushes, whereas Honda's were brushless. I know my Generac has served me well. And it's damn quiet. However it looks like, since I bought mine, Generac has been borged by Briggs & Stratton. I don't know as their products are still as good as they once were. I did just call Generac and the woman I talked to said they're still making the OHVI engines at the Generac plant. *shrug*
 
What sort of prices are we talking about for these generators? When I looked about a year ago I got prices all over the place and felt like it was a Y2K scare screwing going on and didn't buy one. I'm mainly interested in the Honda's but, would consider others. Are there differences in the Honda's that a novice might not notice (base model, mid-range, premium)?

Thanks!
 
I ordered my Honda 6500 from Northern Tool for around $2600 which included shipping. I also got the wheel kit so I could get it into my shop fairly easy since it weighs around 300 Lbs. The same generator from a local small equipment shop would have been $2995 plus local sales tax.

Read as much as you can about them because there are alot of details that are important. Alot of it I learned the expensive hard way.

As for quietness if it's for your own peace that's cool but during a power outage no cops are going to investigate noise complaints from generators. If your neighbors have one they won't hear yours. If they don't they are just pissed becuase they did not have the foresight to buy one and they will need something to bitch about, most likely you.
 
Just curious why Hondas are recommended so much more than briggs and stratton? I know I have had probably a dozen B&S over the years and never had a problem except for a broken pull cord and a dirty carb.

When I was a kid I had a go-cart with a B&S that I put countless hours on and ran it into the ground without a problem. I even had a piece of surgical tubing zip-tied to the jet that adjusted the fuel/air and would lean it out until it would go as fast as it could so that I could beat my friend who had a 2 HP advantage.

Just curious why everyone loves them. Thanks!

Ryan
 
I have a Honda EU3000is. This is what is says on their web page:

The EU3000is maintains the impressive rating of 48 to58dB (less than that of common speech even at rated load), and it will run for up to 20 hours on a single tank of gas when used with the Eco-Throttle feature. This impressive generator provides 3000 watts of power and weighs only 134lbs. The Honda Inverter Technology makes this generator ideally suited for use with sensitive electronics (e.g., computer, fax, printer, telephone, stereo) because the generator produces a clean sine wave of energy that results in no surging. To prevent any possible damage to the unit, the Oil Alert will shut the unit off when the oil drops below a safe operating level. The available power is commonly used for the following typical electric devices:
• Full Size Micro Wave Ovens
• Larger Power Tools i.e. circular saw
• Resistive Load Kitchen Appliances (i.e. Coffee Maker, Toaster)
• Roof Top RV Air Conditioner
• Emergency Home Back up power where no 220 power is required

It is very quiet. When I lived in NE a limb fell from a tree and took out the house's powerline. I hooked up the generator. When the power company came by to look at the damage that night we were standing in the yard about ten feet away from the generator and they were looking down the street.
"Does anyone else have their power out?" They asked.

I pointed down to the generator and said that they were hearing mine. They couldn't believe it.

Like has been mentioned they are expensive but if you do any camping they are generally the only generators allowed in campgrounds.

Chad
 
My first generator had a Briggs & Stratton 8 hp engine and it was very loud and a bit of a buggar to start when cold. I even made a dual exhaust and it only helped a bit. I used that engine to build a brand new generator for one of my neighbors. They are a great workhorse engine but the 8 hp sucked more gas then my 13 hp Honda did. The Honda also has a compression bypass that made using the recoil start a whole lot easier.

My neighbors are about 800 ft away and the cannot hear it running in my shop with the window and door open.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
Just curious why Hondas are recommended so much more than briggs and stratton?
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Because Honda's engines are better-built, run more quietly, and run longer on the same amount of fuel. I'd rather a B&S than a Tecumseh, by far, but I'd take a Honda over a B&S. In fact: I paid bit extra for my 5HP Toro snow-blower to get the Suzuki (IIRC) engine as it was the better engine.

Hate to say it, but Honda gasoline-powered products in just about all categories (generators, lawn-mowers, power washers, etc.) are just about the best money can buy. As I noted earlier: A company called Generac made their own OHV engines, simlar to Honda's small engines. Generac claimed their engines were just as fuel-efficient as, and even quieter than Honda's. Generac has since been purchased by Briggs & Stratton. I called Generac yesterday and asked if they still built those OHV engines here in the U.S. Woman claimed they did.

If B&S has/had any sense, they'll keep their hands off Generac's engine-building operations. But if history is any guide: They'll destroy it. That's been the pattern here in the U.S. for the last several decades: Mediocre company beats and buys company selling superior product and destroys the superior product. Then mediocre company's products get beaten by off-shore competition, and mediocre company either goes out of business or gets bought by off-shore competition.

Odd thing is (to me, anyway), that company owners, stock-holders, employees, union "leaders," the government, and customers can't seem to see the pattern. Ah well, FoMoCo's about to fall to Toyota, and GM may follow. Maybe then everybody'll wake up. (I'm not holding my breath.)
 
B Finnigan said:
You also want to look for at least a modified sine wave filtered unit so you can run a microwave off of it. Most of the $500 range units put out a square wave which does not run a microwave very well.
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I have one such generator, and with its square wave output, standard battery chargers do not work at all either. We found out the hard way by having lights and TV, but the RV batteries never took a charge. It was an older Honda 350watt inverter generator. Because of this I avoid the inverter square wave generators.
 
A square wave output is not advertised on a cheap generator. I know alot of people that bought a cheap one and discovered all of the appliances that require sine wave.

Bufford, thanks for mentioning the charger problem also. I was not aware of that since I have never tried charging batteries off a sqaure wave generator.
That could be a big problem for some.

Most of my power equipment has a Honda engine and I agree they are very good quality and very dependable. My entire tool shed is full of either Honda or Stihl equipment. I have tried almost all of the other brands and they just don't measure up.
 
Honda's vs. The Rest

Go to a rental shop and see what engines are on all their equipment.
Low oil alert is but reason among many that it is a better engine.:thumbup:
 
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