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Best Portable Generator 7500W Review
I have a 13.5kW PTO generator for the house. On top of the generator consider the following purchases:
Stand or trailer for the generator: $ 200
Transfer switch for power: $ 110
Cable from generator to house (sufficiently sized): $150
Appropriate receptacles at each end of cable: $90
3R enclosure for electricity inlet: $40
Independent frequency and voltage meter (more later): $100
Misc supplies: $20
Labor to set it all up (5 hours @ 25/hour): $125
WOW you are up over $800.
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Best Portable Generator 7500W Review
I bought the following from Northern Tool: NorthStar PTO Generator — 13,000 Watt, 24 HP Required
The idiot gauge on this unit is hopeless. I have a standalone quality frequency / voltage meter that plugs into two receptacles (L1 and L2) inside the house. I set the tractor throttle using that to get as close to 60 Hz as possible. I can then see the quality of the power while I am using it in the house (as opposed to outside in the cold and snow where the tractor is). The idiot gauge would have me running near 68 Hz and I would be just in the "green". Don't rely on them they are guesstimates and are not properly calibrated anyway. They have to make em cheap as no one forks out for "expensive" generators so the add on components are pathetic. Speed of PTO is directly related to frequency of power generated. This fact was kindly supplied by an article Murf mentioned on a generator quality power thread some years back.
Oh forgot to include driveline from Tractor to generator ($90)
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Best Portable Generator 7500W Review
If you are buying a sizeable PTO unit get a three phase, they don't cost that much more. Mine has two 15 amp 120V outles, a 240 20 amp, and a 100 amp three phase outlet.
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Best Portable Generator 7500W Review
I do like Murph's suggestion about RV generators. Does anybody have suggestions about where to find those for sale? Do those units supply 220?
Years ago, I went the small generator route and it works for me. More than ten years ago I bought a kowasaki based 15 amp generator. It has just enough umph to run our steam boiler. As other people have pointed out, it doesn't have to run all the time, just long enough to recover from heat loss and get the interior temp a little above normal. And with big cast iron radiators and the large capacity boiler necessary for steam, our heat has a lot of momentum once it gets going. When the generator isn't running the boiler, it looks after the refrigeration.
For interior lighting, I have a slew of small LED lanterns that last for ever on batteries and now a couple with hand cranks. If I really needed it, I have a good inverter for any electronics. We already use a cookstove in the kitchen for heat and cooking all winter, so we don't need 220 for the stove.
I do wish I had a larger generator with 220, but I have never been close to worrying about the integrity of the house (freezing) during a power outage and I haven't broken the bank for my backup. It would be great to be able to have enough power to power the whole house as if I were plugged into the grid, but I haven't been able to find equipment at a price I am willing to shell out for.
It is a mimalist approach and may not be an approach for everyone, but it works for us here.
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Best Portable Generator 7500W Review
SamSpade,
Good portable generators are easy to find. They are commonly used on construction sites, and are often sold at auction upon completion of a major project.
You can also check with the local rental businesses. They often put their used equipment up for sale every so often.
My neighbor's backup system is a self-contained welder. I think he has a Lincoln welder/generator. I know Miller makes one as well. There are probably several other makes to pick from.
Since he uses his welder on the farm all the time, (it's permanently mounted in the back of his pickup) it's always ready for use when needed. His is diesel powered, which isn't a good choice when temps get down to -30. He's considering a trade for a gasoline powered welder/generator.
I see these welder/generators for sale at nearly every farm auction I attend. The downside to them is that they're big, heavy, and difficult to move around. The benefit, however, is that the engines in those things are extremely durable.
Go to proxibid.com and type "Miller Bobcat" in the search box. There are about a dozen of these currently available to the highest bidder.
Joel
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Best Portable Generator 7500W Review
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SamSpade,Good portable generators are easy to find.
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Keep in mind that bad portable generators are also easy to find  Hey, I'm just sayin'
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Best Portable Generator 7500W Review
The Welder / Generator is a good suggestion.
A big part holding me back is I wouldn't use the generator for backup very often, and I could live without it. But a welder on the other hand.. And the point that since it would get more use so it is more likely to be in working order when the time arrived is a good one.
Thanks for the suggestion.
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Best Portable Generator 7500W Review
Since I started this thread, I will add that I am only interested in new portable gas powered equipment. I'd like to spend under $2000, and the closer to $1000 the better.
Anyone use Pramac generators, they come with Honda engines which I like.
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Best Portable Generator 7500W Review
What is the scoop. Coleman's brand of generators is called "Powermate". Pramac's residential brand is called "Powermate" as well. Are these the same?
Dennis, FYI. On Coleman's website they sell a professional grade "Plus" that has Honda engines.
I bought a Coleman 5500 Watt for my renters some years back since the power goes out often in the country for a half day or so at a time. Haven't had any problems with it.
My input is Unless you use it lots, buy a cheapie like the Coleman. Keep fresh gas at hand and run it for a few minutes every couple of months under load. Put the money you saved in a safe place and keep it for your retirement or take a nice vacation.
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My input is Unless you use it lots, buy a cheapie like the Coleman.Keep fresh gas at hand and run it for a few minutes every couple of months under load.Put the money you saved in a safe place and keep it for your retirement or take a nice vacation.
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On that note I saw a Homelite 5500 at Home Depot that had a 'Yamaha' engine in it for $599.00. Great price a little less watts than I wanted, no auto low idle control, but great price and Yamaha is a good engine, the straight Yamaha gens are some of th most expensive.
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02-03-2009, 08:49 
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