Generator suggestions

I can't say enough good things about the Champion 3100 or 3500 inverter generators. Mine is reliable, quiet and about 100 pounds. The electric start, remote control models sell for $950-$1250.

Since you you want to take it on the road after your house is built, you'll want something you can move as you need to, but have enough output to handle your load--especially the A/C. Sounds like it'll run a lot too in your area. First, figure out the total load, and be realistic. Running an A/C often and for long periods is hard on a portable gen. This ***Link Removed***tool is helpful and easy to use. Also, look into an inverter generator, they're more money but are quieter and put out low THD power. So can use your laptop and other electronics--a big plus while you're waiting for your house to be built.

After reading your post and reading the responses to it the bottom line is how much you want to spend, after your house how will you use or do you need that Generator,if so will it need to be mobil. Ok that said,if needed for rv use go with a 3,000w to a 3,500w unit to be moveable when going bondocking plus make it the Quiet inverter type gen. Nobody said this, but get 4 6volt G2 batteries and a pure sine 600w inverter, 2-250w solar panels with a charge controller. This would be about 1,000$ and going for solar for keeping the batteries charged and ready for evening use on lights and TV..Once built the solar can be used for the RV or the house for power backup or running the TV and lights in the familyrm of the house.. Its what I do during the winter at my house.... Good luck in your choices..

I checked the Onan OM for the 550 and here's what it said;
These are vertical-shaft, 2-bearing, belt-driven, 2-pole, revolving field generators with brushes and slip rings (Figure 6-1). Output voltage is regulated by microcontroller-based genset controller A1 (Page 5-1).

I can't figure how you can get that much THD with a true AC generator unless the controller is causing it.

(I'm going to go out on a limb here and make a suggestion to the OP - if you are having a home built, why not go ahead and have an emergency power generator sized for your home installed early, and have it wired temporarily to run your RV? If you are stating that you are having power failure now, they won't stop just because you are now living in your new home :)) - missed one of the earlier posts that made this suggestion as well - should read everything before I chime in :o.

avvidclif1 wrote:
I was looking at the 'scope picture and most look ragged on the small handheld units. I didn't notice the THD. I use a Fluke 8842 on my bench and am well aware of them. I will have to look more closely at the design of the Onan 5500 as I thought it was an AC generator but it appears to be an inverter. I know the older one I had was AC, commutator rings and all. If that's typical of the 5500 Onan needs to do a little more work.

AFAIK, all the Onan on-board gensets are straight generators, and run at a constant speed. They =do= make portable inverter-gensets, but they are portables like the Hondas. Never been able to figure out why they can't combine the 2. Seems a natural, to me. :h

Lyle

I was looking at the 'scope picture and most look ragged on the small handheld units. I didn't notice the THD. I use a Fluke 8842 on my bench and am well aware of them. I will have to look more closely at the design of the Onan 5500 as I thought it was an AC generator but it appears to be an inverter. I know the older one I had was AC, commutator rings and all. If that's typical of the 5500 Onan needs to do a little more work.

Hi avvidclif1,

You are grasping at straws. Fluke is more or less THE gold standard for meters.

Go to the thread and see the nice smooth graph from shore power and from what is thought to be a lower quality inverter generator.

You can't explain away 12% total harmonic distortion by claiming a "bad testing unit".

pianotuna wrote:

avvidclif1 wrote:
Cite the basis for that statement as a non-inverter generator puts out a pure sine wave. An inverter generator can put out a modified sine wave or a pure one depending on the design and filtering.

Hi avvidclif1,

This is from a thread on wave forms. Pretty lousy I'd say.

CJW8 wrote:
Surprisingly, my 5500 onboard Onan is the worst I have seen so far. I am posting it next. It is worse than my 2 sub $1000 Champions. I will say it is the quietest onboard generator I have ever heard.
Onan 5500 Wave:

Onan 5500 THD:

Onan 5500 Text:

Look at the meter being used. It's not an analog oscilloscope but a digitized one and not one of the best.

An AC generator puts out AC volts. An inverter generator puts out DC volts which is INVERTED to AC. It depends on the filtering in the inverter whether it is MSW or Pure.

avvidclif1 wrote:

bpounds wrote:

Make sure it is an inverter. Too many things don't run well on modified sine wave versions.

Cite the basis for that statement as a non-inverter generator puts out a pure sine wave. An inverter generator can put out a modified sine wave or a pure one depending on the design and filtering.

I guess there could be inverter generators that don't produce a good SW. I'm not well versed on that, but I think most are pretty good.

My thought was influenced by having just purchased a 300w portable inverter (not a generator), hoping to use it to watch TV while off-grid. I knew it was a MSW model, and that it was cheap. What I did not know, and don't know how to know without actually trying it, is that my LED TV does not work on MSW power. Works great on my Honda inverter generator, but that's kind of overkill just to watch some TV. Now I have to buy a $100 plus PSW inverter, because the $30 MSW doesn't work for me.