The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest gas generator

Would like to buy a generator for my garage at the cottage( hopefully I will get it built this year}Was thinking I could use the generator to power the garage. Just for lights and plugs and to use as a backup for my cottage.HF has one on sale, 8750 peak/7000 running. Is that overkill? They have a 5000 running on for 450., the 7000 is 600.The 150.00 difference isn't going to break me,Your thoughts please, guys and gals.

I have a 5000w Honda, it will power quite a bit. An electrician will tell you to add up whatever you want to run and take it from there. Are they all gas? Diesels usually are cheaper to run and the fuel won't go stale if it sits over the winter.

Go with the 7K generator- - - -I don't know of anyone who ever wished he had bought a smaller unit, but I know quite a few guys with RV generators who would love to have a couple of extra Kwatts when several appliances are running.
Jerry

I went the other direction and got a smallish one. Honda EU2000i. This is for house backup. I put in a transfer box last spring so it is easy to just plug it in then switch on whichever circuits I want to use. Luckily I haven't needed it, so can't give any report on how it works over time. It will run everything in the house except 220v stuff. I have 10 circuits so I can choose what combination of things to run. I wanted something quiet that only sipped the gas. As stated above, you have to do the math on what you want to run simultaneously.

Dennis

Check the ratings. Some of those "off-brand" generators are generous with their labels. And they are usually noisier, too!

Power out protection:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/generators
7K watt gas generator, which I run the house off of when the
power goes down, which happens often. Power a few lights, TV's,
computers and router, Sump and the well pump which is 220v.
Been out here since 2012, ran it a half dozen times for several
hours each time and haven't added or changed fuel yet.
It's a Coleman with a Briggs & Stratton Vanguard V-twin
engine and it's noisy, Honda is no doubt the quietest
but price is three times as much.
But this is a back up, not used for full time power as
it appears your looking for Dicky.
dg

I'd go for one with at least one 220v, 30amp output, especially for a garage. I've used mine several times for a temp 220v service until I could run a dedicated circuit from my panel.