Tommy,
In December 2010, I purchased the PowerHouse PH2100PRi generator. The following is an edited version of a report on the genset I posted on 12/26/10. I hope it helps with your decision:
First impressions are the fit & finish of the plastic case is good. There are easily removable access panels for oil fill and spark plug. While I had the panels off, I noticed an absence of sound absorbing material on the removable access panels, and that the material is not at all locations on the interior of the case where it could have been installed. Lifting & moving the 70# genset is easy to do, the handle is placed for good balance when lifting. I had left the fuel cock on last night, so that I could test the remote start function today, to see if it would start with the remote without having to pump the fuel primer bulb. It would not start, despite several attempts. After pumping the primer bulb, it started right up using the remote. Additionally, there is a toggle switch that has to be in the "ON" position in order for the remote start to function. I plugged in a 25 watt incandesent light to the genset, and used the remote to start the generator. Power was supplied to the light approximatley 3 seconds after the generator started, so there must be a delay built in so that it can be started with a load plugged in, which is not what is recommended in the owners manual. Leaving the light plugged, I then turned the genset off using the remote, and the light slowly faded away as the genset rpms decreased. This could be a problem if a large load was present when the genset is turned off. As of now, I can see no real value to having a remote start, since it would be best to have the genset running when applying or removing loads. Sound levels were measured with my iPhone4 app, and please keep in mind this was in no way done with a high degree of sophistication: I placed the genset out in the open, away from the house. With the genset running in eco mode, no load, I measured 60.7 dB at 20' on the panel side, and 62 dB at the exhaust side. Running with eco off, no load, panel side was 66.4 dB, and exhaust side was 70.2 dB. I did no sound measurements with loads applied.
