I'm learning from reading on the OB that it's an important distinction.

I've gathered that you need an inverter generator (but not a regular generator) to safely backup the power in your home. Someone please correct me if that's wrong.

With that in mind:
1. What can I look for when shopping for a generator to be confident that I'm looking at an inverter generator?
2. Would it matter if it's not an inverter if it were hooked up to my breaker box vs directly hooked up to electronics or appliances? Is this not recommended for any reason?
3. Is 7Kw really the biggest portable inverter generator you can buy?

I'm basically trying to determine what my options are for how to safely power as much of the things in my home as possible during an outage. My house is about 4k sq ft and I have 3 HVAC systems. I'll spend whatever it costs, but want to be confident I'm doing what makes the most sense for what I'm spending.

Or for $200 you just do whole home surge protection and double up for electronics. Has worked just fine for me at the house and for years on job sites.

I'm not aware of an inverter big enough for whole home even run in tandem. And if there was one, it would be the same cost as a much larger standby Generac.

AgLA06 said:

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Or for $200 you just do whole home surge protection and double up for electronics. Has worked just fine for me at the house and for years on job sites.

I'm not aware of an inverter big enough for whole home even run in tandem. And if there was one, it would be the same cost as a much larger standby Generac.

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I think I'm coming to the realization that it would cost more than twice what a standby whole home unit would cost. It looks like the biggest inverter isn't half the size of a 22Kw generac, and costs a couple hundred dollars more (for the generator itself), which doesn't make sense to me. Feels like I'm missing something.

Does whole home surge protection just shut everything off safely before anything costly happens? Is this a viable option with a regular generator?

you could get a cheaper generator and then a line conditioner to clean up the power some for more sensitive stuff like electronics. but it still won't be as good as an inverter generator

Inverters - cleaner power for electronics and sensitive items. More expensive. Quieter. More fuel efficient, I believe.

I have no idea if this matters from a practical standpoint.

I have both kinds. An expensive inverter and a cheap traditional kind. The inverter is a 2000w. The traditional is a 3000/4000 peak. I would use my inverter to run TV and computer, and the traditional one to run fridge, portable AC, etc.

What would y'all choose between generac, champion, or harbor freight predator inverter generators? I'd go Honda, but the 3000w is more than double the price of the 3600w of the other brands.

another option is two of the Honda 2200s, hooked in sync.

Even the Honda 2200 is $200-300 more than the other brand 3600w models. I'm always a believer in Honda engines, but that's way too proud of your stuff

El_duderino said:

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What would y'all choose between generac, champion, or harbor freight predator inverter generators? I'd go Honda, but the 3000w is more than double the price of the 3600w of the other brands.

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I think if you are going to use the generator a lot, in terms of predator vs. honda, go with the honda. If warranty matters, go with the Honda.

For more rare use, where cost is important, I'd go with the Predator.

That's based on my reading of this.

https://www.consumerreports.org/inverter-generators/harbor-freight-predator-62353-vs-honda-eu2000it1a1-recreational-inverter-generator/

Thanks. It'll be for Rv use mainly and for the fridge/freezer at home if needed in an outage.

If you need a generator for the fridge, you are going to need more than 2000w. Because of the extra watts required when the motor starts.

My Honda generator, I've had for about 14 years. I've used it very infrequently. Power goes out, I pull it out of the garage, and I think to myself, man I should have drained the gas from 1 year ago, but I forgot. And thing still works. This past week, it wouldn't start. I dumped the old gas out, put new gas in, and it started right away.

Emergencies - you want Toyotas. Not Saabs. Not Peugots. Not Chryslers.

Doesn't underestimate the value of the generator being quiet if you are RV'ing, or any other time for that matter.

My solution was buying this Honda a long time ago, and more recently adding the Durostar 4000. I paid $232 for it, on sale. Didn't use it for 5 years, worked first pull this week. The Durostar will run my fridge when things are really bad. The Honda is the quiet lean machine. I have no idea how reliable the Durostar will be over time. But I probably will barely use it.

I'm going to drain both generators this weekend. Maybe add stabil before I drain them.

The honda has a procedure for draining the carb, which I have never done.

I don't have ready access to ethanol free gas.

My neighbor has a 10,000kw Honda and he never got it started. He last ran it 1 year ago and the carb is most likely gummed up. If you're not starting and running the generator regularly, what's the point of owning one? His family slept in their van two nights in a row...

I would read your shut down procedure for the generator but at the very least, kill the fuel switch and let it run out of gas. If it has worked for me, it can work for a lot of people.

El_duderino said:

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Thanks. It'll be for Rv use mainly and for the fridge/freezer at home if needed in an outage.

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When we tailgated Aggie games, we had 2 Honda 2200s with a parallel kit and it ran the whole camper, including AC.

I'll say this, I've had 1 of them at my house since Harvey and took it to my FILs Hester morning (it was winterized when I got it and I haven't needed to use it) and it started 3rd pull.

ttha_aggie_09 said:

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My neighbor has a 10,000kw Honda and he never got it started. He last ran it 1 year ago and the carb is most likely gummed up. If you're not starting and running the generator regularly, what's the point of owning one? His family slept in their van two nights in a row...

I would read your shut down procedure for the generator but at the very least, kill the fuel switch and let it run out of gas. If it has worked for me, it can work for a lot of people.

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what can I say? Life gets busy, you get lazy, you forget. That's why the more idiot proof it is, the better.

I'm not trying to criticize anyone, just pointing out the fact that a generator is meant for emergency use. Upkeep on it is pretty critical...

I live a really busy life and have kids doing crap every weekend or am hunting/fishing something every weekend. Doesn't mean I can't take some time to pull the generator out of the garage, start it, run it for 15 mins, kill fuel, and then return it to the garage.

If my neighbors Honda messed up after 1 year, I am not sure they make a much better "idiot proof" generator...

Have two Black Max 8750 generators with Honda GX 390 13hp engine on them. Have had both since '08 i think. Have never done anything with either other than shut off fuel valve and let it run till it dies. Have kept fuel in for over 3 years with a stabilizer, and still nothing more than a couple pulls and they both start right up. They run back thru breaker box and power whole house. Other than changing oil and air filter, all that is needed to keep these machines running for dang near forever is running all fuel out of the system before you push it back into the dark corner of your garage/shed, until they are needed again. Yeah they are a little on the loud side, but they have worked their asses off thru several hurricanes/storms, and now an arctic blast like we haven't seen in decades.

I have owned a MMD, Model NGK-4300H construction generator since either H. Rita or Ike, can't remember which. 8 HP Honda engine. They no longer make them but they were widely used by contractors when power wasn't available on job sites. Bought it at Red Tailed Rental. If it has 48 hours run time on it I'd be surprised. I took it to Rick Watson a couple of years ago and had him check it out since there was a little fuel in the tank. He told me to ALWAYs run with premium fuel and I would have no problems. He emptied the little fuel that was in the tank and said it started right up and it has for me when tested.

It isn't easy to just pull out at 150#. Anyone know of a universal wheel kit for these things?

I have asked about using it with my RV and was told to check and beware of an open ground which would throw a code on the EMS surge protector I use. Tom Sokol has some good info and a website for this if anyone is interested. Generator Neutral Bonding

I'll likely buy an inverter soon to have to use with the RV.

Yeah our Rv is 15k btu AC so I think I'd need 2 Honda 2200 units or a 3600w of another brand

Someone has probably said this but worth repeating - No matter how lazy/busy you are the most important thing to do with a new generator is follow the break-in procedure to the letter. It usually includes running the generator for X hours at some % load (usually around 50% load) then change the oil, and may have you repeat X hours/oil change. After that do the oil changes per the manual and always check the oil level every time you have to refill it with fuel or every 8 hours.

No matter if it is a high $$ Honda or cheap knock off, those procedures are there for a reason. We use a ton of portables at my company and if one fails early we find 100% the crew didn't do break-in, and almost every time one dies I check the oil and it is a little low the oil looks like black sludge. Break them in, do the prescribed oil changes, be smart with the fuel (use only No Ethylene gas and/or use stabilizer), and run them empty before storage - they will be reliable and long lasting.

FYI, heard good things about Win

I like Champion.

I have three "off-grid" shipping container cabins at my farm that I power with Champion inverter gennys. They're pretty damn good at their job and quiet enough. Wish the fuel tanks we a little bigger on cold nights.

I have a dual fuel Champion portable genny at the house. It's loud but works pretty damn well also. I used it to build the house and also use it to power the house in outages.

I have an older Coleman portable genny that I really dislike and cussed at a lot until the aforementioned Champion came to live here.

BMo said:

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FYI, heard good things about Win

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I have a 2000W version that I pulled out for the first time during this and it ran great. Started on 2nd pull

El_duderino said:

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Yeah our Rv is 15k btu AC so I think I'd need 2 Honda 2200 units or a 3600w of another brand

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Oh yeah, you'd need 2 of them and the parallel kit. There are other options out there, but if you're wanting to power a RV with one, I'd highly suggest one that is quiet, because you're not always going to be able to put them far away. We went with the Hondas due to them being the best in the category at the time, and we were tired of the noise from the traditional generator.

We also had this so we never had to fuel up. Just topped it off on the way and it was good to go the whole weekend.

https://www.amazon.com/IPI-Industries-Breeze-Extended-Generator/dp/B003BURT3C/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=honda+generator+extended+run+kit&qid=1613748107&sr=8-2

AgTech88 said:

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No matter if it is a high $$ Honda or cheap knock off, those procedures are there for a reason. We use a ton of portables at my company and if one fails early we find 100% the crew didn't do break-in, and almost every time one dies I check the oil and it is a little low the oil looks like black sludge. Break them in, do the prescribed oil changes, be smart with the fuel (use only No Ethylene gas and/or use stabilizer), and run them empty before storage - they will be reliable and long lasting.

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This. I don't understand why you would keep fuel in it if you're not using it often. Just too much that can go wrong by the time you need it. I'll go over to my FILs this afternoon and grab the one I loaned him, and tomorrow, I'll drain the gas and follow Honda's winterization instructions to get the fuel out. When I took it over to him, it had been sitting since my dad let me borrow it for Harvey, and it started after a couple of pulls and ran perfect.

As to the OP- I stuck with inverter for the reasons mentioned.

Bought the Harbor Freight Predator 2000 last week, I recommend it. We were without power about 50hrs. Easy start, easy to operate, relatively quiet, runs forever on a gallon of gas at low loads (10hrs), inexpensive. Ran intermittently a small space heater, tankless gas water heater (while water pressure lasted), pipe heat tape, tv and Wi-Fi. In hindsight probably opt for the Predator 3500 for added flexibility of using refrigerator for a future camper.

9 times out of 10, I would lose power here due to a hurricane and want cooling instead of heat. A portable inverter generator like this isn't going to run a 220v AC system (though I've read of some creative engineering to accomplish this that I doubt meets code). But what I did learn, only too late, is even my generator could have powered my whole home Trane XV80 gas furnace as it draws only 1200watts. I will be looking at a interlock kit in the future.

I have to say, I've learned a lot from this. We inherited a Dewalt DG4300 when my folks installed a Generac on their home. It's been at my house the last few years but we've never actually ran it during an emergency. I keep the tank dry and fire it up twice a year and let it run dry. Of course reading the difference in generator types, I looked it up and it's a jobsite generator and not an inverter type.

My plan, that out of laziness and denial, was to have an electrician install a cutout so it could power the house (select circuits) and now I realize it should not be used for sensitive electronics. I think I may just use it for the house, but not power circuits that will have electronics on them and just buy a smaller Honda EU3000 for the TV/PC's/Phones.

If you want a portable, then the you give up central AC and/or electric heat right off the bat - that's an immediate trade-off. Ditch those, and a sub $1000 inverter model can back up your kitchen & gas furnace pretty easily.

I wanted a Predator but they are sold out everywhere, so I ordered a Wen off Amazon - shipping next week.

Home Depot has an interesting option available


8,750/7,000-Watt Dual Fuel Digital Inverter Generator with 50 Amp RV Outlet, USB Port and 4 GFCI 120-Volt Outlets for $1250


Couldn't find many reviews so may be too good to be true.