Any Predator Generator reviews?
Now when my build-in Generac died and even new $350 board is not fixing it, I am researching more reasonable option. $500 inverter generator have excelent reviews and some say it runs smaller AC jus...
Forum Discussion
I have a couple comments, neither pro or con, just my personal experience...
The Pred and the Honda are look alike's but under the caninet. the Honda has a higher quality level of components. In the Pred's favor is the engine. It's a Lifan built for HF and Lifasn builds quality engines, I have 3, one on a pressure washer, one on my rear tine tiller that repaced a Honda that threw a rod and one in my gasoline powered Bobcat and they all run fine, start first or second pull (except the one in the Bobcat, it's electric start.
I owed a Yamaha 2800 I for 10 years and it's an excellent Inverter genny, but it's expensive. Yamaha holds the patent on the multi pole generator head that everyone uses (Inverter units produce DC and it's electronically rectified to AC and electronically excited to 60hz, why all the Inverter's have an 'economy' mode, you don't have to spin the head at 3600rpm like a conventional genny to make 60hz 120 volt power.
I sold the Yamaha last year for almost as much as I paid for it, Yamaha's really hold their value but at 10 years old, I was getting concerned about reliability.
After much looking around and comparing specifications, I purchased a Champion 2000 watt Inverter.
Couple reasons:
One: PRICE... You can get a Champ everyday for under 500 bucks and if you catch a sale, you can get one for close to 400 bucks.
Two: The Champ also has a Lifan motor
Three: Unlike the Honda or the Pred, the Champ is rectangular and it fits nicely in the corner of my TC. It has a double gas shutoff, one to the carb and one on the gas cap so no fumes in the TC. The Honda, the Pred and most of the other smaller inverters have a lunch box shape and it's not conducive to store it, the Champ is like a box, much easier to deal with.
Four: The Champ has parts availability here in the United States (even though it's Chinese built (so is the Honda and the Pred and all the other smaller ones built in China as well. Parts are a big thing with me, everything breaks eventually. Ever see any replacement parts for a Pred through Harbor Freight? Don't think so. It breaks, you are SOL. The Pred is a disposa-unit.
Five: The Champ can be paralleled for 4000 watts if necessaary, not a selling point with me but 4000 watts will run any RV ac.
Six: Weight. The Champ weighs about 60 pounds with fuel and oil, not exceedingly light, but it's shape and built in roll cage handles make it a breeze to handle.
I used my Champ all last year camping off grid and it performed without any issues. Always starts 1st or 2nd pull and it's stupid easy to turn over, even a child can start it. I only run it if the wife wants to use the microwave and a couple hours every day to keep my batteries charged. I can go 2 to 3 days on a tank (1 gallon), no issues.
It's extremely quiet. You cannot hear it inside the camper with it sitting next to the truck. Very happy with it.
Not dunning HF, I buy stuff there all the time but I don't buy complex stuff because they don't carry replacement parts.
The above are personal observations, take them as that.
The Pred and the Honda are look alike's but under the caninet. the Honda has a higher quality level of components. In the Pred's favor is the engine. It's a Lifan built for HF and Lifasn builds quality engines, I have 3, one on a pressure washer, one on my rear tine tiller that repaced a Honda that threw a rod and one in my gasoline powered Bobcat and they all run fine, start first or second pull (except the one in the Bobcat, it's electric start.
I owed a Yamaha 2800 I for 10 years and it's an excellent Inverter genny, but it's expensive. Yamaha holds the patent on the multi pole generator head that everyone uses (Inverter units produce DC and it's electronically rectified to AC and electronically excited to 60hz, why all the Inverter's have an 'economy' mode, you don't have to spin the head at 3600rpm like a conventional genny to make 60hz 120 volt power.
I sold the Yamaha last year for almost as much as I paid for it, Yamaha's really hold their value but at 10 years old, I was getting concerned about reliability.
After much looking around and comparing specifications, I purchased a Champion 2000 watt Inverter.
Couple reasons:
One: PRICE... You can get a Champ everyday for under 500 bucks and if you catch a sale, you can get one for close to 400 bucks.
Two: The Champ also has a Lifan motor
Three: Unlike the Honda or the Pred, the Champ is rectangular and it fits nicely in the corner of my TC. It has a double gas shutoff, one to the carb and one on the gas cap so no fumes in the TC. The Honda, the Pred and most of the other smaller inverters have a lunch box shape and it's not conducive to store it, the Champ is like a box, much easier to deal with.
Four: The Champ has parts availability here in the United States (even though it's Chinese built (so is the Honda and the Pred and all the other smaller ones built in China as well. Parts are a big thing with me, everything breaks eventually. Ever see any replacement parts for a Pred through Harbor Freight? Don't think so. It breaks, you are SOL. The Pred is a disposa-unit.
Five: The Champ can be paralleled for 4000 watts if necessaary, not a selling point with me but 4000 watts will run any RV ac.
Six: Weight. The Champ weighs about 60 pounds with fuel and oil, not exceedingly light, but it's shape and built in roll cage handles make it a breeze to handle.
I used my Champ all last year camping off grid and it performed without any issues. Always starts 1st or 2nd pull and it's stupid easy to turn over, even a child can start it. I only run it if the wife wants to use the microwave and a couple hours every day to keep my batteries charged. I can go 2 to 3 days on a tank (1 gallon), no issues.
It's extremely quiet. You cannot hear it inside the camper with it sitting next to the truck. Very happy with it.
Not dunning HF, I buy stuff there all the time but I don't buy complex stuff because they don't carry replacement parts.
The above are personal observations, take them as that.
