Opinions on lightweight portable inverter/generators

[bfacklam]

I am looking at purchasing a lightweight inverter/generator for my pickup camper. Looking at 2,000 to 2,500 watts. Mainly for coffee maker, nebulizer and recharging phones and computers. After reading many review and reviews, I have settled on either a Westinghouse IGen 2200 (46 pounds) Inverter Generator or Champion 2500 Watt Portable Generator (39 pounds). Thought about Harbor Freight Predator. Can some of you that own either of these give me any advise on which one of these would be a good purchase. Or do you own a different brand that you are happy with. Final question, do most of you purchase from big box stores, or try to find a place that will service what you purchase. Thanks for any advise.

[NamMedevac_70]

I find they are wonderful creatures to have as a backup JO if you have lots of extra room but if not well.

[Geo_Boy]

Reality Check wrote:

specta wrote:

Lantley wrote:

Even if that technique works who wants to go through that every few years

Besides, that's not being honest.

Ding Ding Ding Ding..!!!!

We have a winner. Character matters. It's not always what you do, it's often what you do when you think no one is watching.

Exactly.

[Reality_Check]

specta wrote:

Lantley wrote:

Even if that technique works who wants to go through that every few years

Besides, that's not being honest.

Ding Ding Ding Ding..!!!!

We have a winner. Character matters. It's not always what you do, it's often what you do when you think no one is watching.

[specta]

Lantley wrote:

Even if that technique works who wants to go through that every few years

Besides, that's not being honest.

[Lantley]

Bird Freak wrote:
Friend of mine bought a Harbor Freight generator with replacement warranty. never had a problem but every couple of years he takes it back and say's it dies after running a couple of hours. They give him a new one. repeat process!

Even if that technique works who wants to go through that every few years vs. simply having a reliable genset from the start.

[Bird_Freak]

Friend of mine bought a Harbor Freight generator with replacement warranty. never had a problem but every couple of years he takes it back and say's it dies after running a couple of hours. They give him a new one. repeat process!

[jimh406]

restlessways wrote:
I was reading this thread and just thought I'd chime in. 4 years ago I bought a Westinghouse 2400. POS. It was surging from day 1, and would shut down at times due to vapor lock or some other issue. I tried their tech support which was beyond useless. Some idiot reading from a manual telling me to take things apart when I didn't even have any replacement parts, etc. I ended up returning it to HD and buying a Honda 2200. I use the Honda every day in the summer not only to power my 5th wheel on my summer property, but to run power tools as well. Conservatively, I would estimate the hours to be well over 2,500 at this point. The only issues it ever had was a fuel leak from an improperly tightened screw from the factory, and a worn out pull cord which I replaced myself. I would never buy another brand.

I have my Onan builtin but after reading this site for 15 years, there is no doubt that only a Honda is in my future. Fwiw, I couldn’t even run my 9000 watt AC with a 2000 watt Cosco brand that my wife’s uncle had. I did try including turning everything off.

Watts aren’t equal to watts more importantly the starting capability is not the same with a Honda vs other brands.

Whenever I think about buying something else even much cheaper, my wife reminds me that I said I’d only buy a Honda. 😄

[restlessways]

I was reading this thread and just thought I'd chime in. 4 years ago I bought a Westinghouse 2400. POS. It was surging from day 1, and would shut down at times due to vapor lock or some other issue. I tried their tech support which was beyond useless. Some idiot reading from a manual telling me to take things apart when I didn't even have any replacement parts, etc. I ended up returning it to HD and buying a Honda 2200. I use the Honda every day in the summer not only to power my 5th wheel on my summer property, but to run power tools as well. Conservatively, I would estimate the hours to be well over 2,500 at this point. The only issues it ever had was a fuel leak from an improperly tightened screw from the factory, and a worn out pull cord which I replaced myself. I would never buy another brand.

[Lantley]

Supercharged111 wrote:
I take the dB readings with a grain of salt. Is there an industry standard in how they are measured?

I don't know that they are 100% appleas to aples comparison.
But again our ears aren't 100% equal either:@
The ratings are what they are and usually are given at a certain distance.
In the end you can take the saving of an off brand or the reliablity and paets availablity of the established brands.
I agree the marketplace has changed over the last 10 years.
The off brands like Champion have replaced brands like Kipor.
The gap between the brand names and the off brands has shortened.
But there is still a gap in quality and price.
If you rely on your genset every camping trip, name brand is the way to go.If you only use your genset occasionally or don't camp very often, taking the savings of an off brand model makes more sense.
Reliability and parts availabilty are factors that seem unimportant when purchasing, however down the road these factors can be the difference betwen having power when you need it and hauling a brick around.

[Supercharged111]

I take the dB readings with a grain of salt. Is there an industry standard in how they are measured?

[pianotuna]

NVR2L82AV8 wrote:
Numerous Campgrounds, and even National Parks, are getting real testy on Generator noise.

I just saw that Yellowstone National Park has LIMITED Generators from 8am until 8pm in Seven parks (Bay Bridge, Canyon, Fishing Bridge, Grant Village, Madison, Mammoth and Norris). There is a noise limit of 60 decibels.

I know just ONE Genny that can operate under load at that noise level.

Check out the dBA Chart at 100% Load

The Yamaha 3000 sieb is 57 db.

[JimK-NY]

bfacklam wrote:
.... Looking at 2,000 to 2,500 watts. Mainly for coffee maker, nebulizer and recharging phones and computers. ....

The first step should be to do an energy audit and reduce consumption if feasible.

There are plenty of great coffee maker options that work with water heated by your propane stove. Get rid of the electric coffee maker and the need to run a generator just to make coffee.

Power consumption for the rest of the items you mentioned should be minimal and can be done directly at 12 volts or with a very small inverter and little consumption of power. That is certainly true for charging cellphones. There are plenty of nebulizers that operate on built in batteries which can also be easily recharged with little power consumption. We have 12v chargers for out Dell laptops and power consumption is low.

You should not need a 2K or larger generator unless you also want to run a a/c unit or microwave. If you do need a larger generator, then I also recommend a Honda.

[woodworker414]

imh425
Interesting video of the 3 different generators
Thanks for sharring.

[jimh406]

jimh425 wrote:
The National Park standard is at 50 ft not 23 ft that the list has.

Just adding that FitRV tested 3 RV generators of different fuel types in motorhomes, and they all passed at 50 ft.

https://www.thefitrv.com/rv-tips/rv-generator-sound-off/

[jimh406]

The National Park standard is at 50 ft not 23 ft that the list has.