Generator recommendation

Folks, I am looking for a 4500-65000 watts portable generator, electric start if possible.  Any recommendation on brand/model and things that I need to watch out for?  Thanks in advance!

I have a Honda inverter generator rated at 7kw.  Very quiet and starts with a key ignition.  It's not cheap though and I got one that runs on propane as well.  Hooks up to my home propane tank and can run weeks without refueling.  I figured now is not the time to scrimp.  When I need AC or electric to survive, I want to know I have the best. 

I have a Honda inverter generator rated at 7kw.  Very quiet and starts with a key ignition.  It's not cheap though and I got one that runs on propane as well.  Hooks up to my home propane tank and can run weeks without refueling.  I figured now is not the time to scrimp.  When I need AC or electric to survive, I want to know I have the best.

have you used the propane one enough to say if you like it better than the Honda?

I don’t have a portable but I do have a Briggs & Stratton standby propane generator (about 7.5kW, as I recall). We’ve had it for more than 10 years and it’s still going strong. It powers everything except a couple of 220 circuits (electric range and clothes dryer) that we can do without in a pinch. It’s connected to a 300+ gallon tank, so it can run forever.

We have power outages regularly—longest was 4 days, but multi-day is not uncommon. It automatically runs a 20 minute exercise cycle each week, and it’s wired to an automatic transfer switch, so it’ll fire up and switch over whenever the power goes out.

I installed it, and the automatic transfer switch myself. The wiring part is not for the faint of heart, but with some careful planning it’s not too bad. The only maintenance I’ve ever done is to change the oil and air filter annually, and I replaced the voltage regulator a couple years ago (super easy).

We’ll probably replace it next year, only because I want to move it to a new location, and newer units are soooooo much quieter.

Anyways, you might want to consider going non-portable. If you can do most of the install work yourself, the cost is not that bad.

I hate to push Chinese products sold through Harbor Freight but I did buy a 7000 watt run wattage with 8,700 watt surge capacity to back up a 20 year old 6,000 Honda. I trust the Honda more but the Predator at less than $600.00 bucks is a good buy. Ran for 5 hours a couple of weeks ago and runs quieter than the older Honda. Now for the caveat. I purchased it a year ago without the extended warranty and ran it every month without a load to keep it up to speed so to speak but when it was time to use for real I started it and it backfired. Usually not a big deal but the back pressure pushed against the carb butterfly and broke the cheap plastic pin the butterfly pivots on so it was running on full choke and couldn't be used. Took a couple days to figure out the problem and do a non conventional fix. Worked great after that. You can buy a battery for electric start but I just pull the cord a couple times and it takes off. 9 hour run time on a tank of gas

I have a Honda inverter generator rated at 7kw.  Very quiet and starts with a key ignition.  It's not cheap though and I got one that runs on propane as well.  Hooks up to my home propane tank and can run weeks without refueling.  I figured now is not the time to scrimp.  When I need AC or electric to survive, I want to know I have the best.

have you used the propane one enough to say if you like it better than the Honda?

It's one and the same generator; the Honda runs on propane, natural gas and gasoline.  A little less power on propane as there's less BTU's per gallon compared to gasoline, but it works just fine, runs extremely clean and the oil never gets dirty. 

I was steered towards NorthStar (by northern tool ) by a Honda mechanic.
With our well and water system I needed a one with honking big surge wattage.
The northstar products use honda motors but domestic assembly.
I had a good experience and couldn't be happier with the generator after 4 years of regular winter use. It came in handy for the rolling outages last year as well.

I was able to purchase the transfer switch along with the generator, and it took a couple of days to install it so that it runs the whole house. I added a wheel kit, but after three years dry rot killed the tires so I added a set of never flat tires which have worked great.

I want to pass along a little info.  I normally will test run my generator for about 30 minutes every other month.  Two reasons;
1. It keeps the process on how to switch from AC Mains to AC Generator.  I have solar and there are additional steps I need to consider so I don't damage either my solar design or the generator. 
2. It makes sure everything does work.  From the battery to the fuel to any mechanical issues.  Last month my test showed a failure to start.  Turned out a mouse found it's way into the generator, which is stored covered, and chewed some wiring.  I repaired the wiring and I placed a couple sticky traps to protect those wire areas. 

Since I run my generator on propane, I do not need to worry about old fuel.  Gas can not be stored indefinitely, especially the stuff here in California with ethanol.  Follow your manual or look up how to properly store a generator that uses gasoline.  Usually this involves a fuel preservative additive as well as cycling the fuel through the system.  Some require draining fuel from the system for proper storage. 

As Jerry says, run generators monthly also lawn tractors and other gas engines and use Stabil or some other gas preservative. Nothing like congealed gas in needle valves to ruin one's day. If one has propane or natural gas then get a machine that will use it if your budget allows. If it doesn't, gas generators work and the initial cost is less.

Hondas are quiet.

Jerry knows his stuff and when he doesn't then he finds out.  Listen to what he says and you will be fine.

 I normally store 10 gallons of fuel at a time, and cycle it through our vehicles every month-plus. I'm using two 5 gal NATO approved fuel cans.
I keep Stabil on hand for some applications, but I do drain the generator every spring prior to storage, then add tad of fuel for the bi-monthly test runs of 10-15 min.
I found having a good fuel siphon helps a lot in reducing spills when fueling/draining.

Just my two cents, but my generator has electric start with a remote.  That makes it really nice on cold mornings not having to walk all the way out to start it.

I normally store 10 gallons of fuel at a time, and cycle it through our vehicles every month-plus. I'm using two 5 gal NATO approved fuel cans.
I keep Stabil on hand for some applications, but I do drain the generator every spring prior to storage, then add tad of fuel for the bi-monthly test runs of 10-15 min.
I found having a good fuel siphon helps a lot in reducing spills when fueling/draining.

What fuel siphon do you use?

I have two. The first one I got works great but was slow due to a small ID hose, so I picked one that is basically this:
https://www.amazon.com/Plumbers-Siphon-Pro-Universal-Extender/dp/B014LEQC98/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=fuel+siphon&qid=1599698122&sr=8-6

The larger hose diameter really speeds up the transfer. I like simple stuff so I've stayed with the manual ones, but there are a bunch of types out there
After all this fire stuff, I may end up reworking my system but so far the 10+ gallons of fuel in two steel NATO cans and the siphon have worked well to fill and drain the Gennie, as well as cycle the fuel into our vehicles before it spoils.

The main flaw I found in this is that it requires me to have in-out privileges to pick up fuel every other day so in this case had we stayed at the house I would have needed to scrounge fuel from the vehicles (which can be difficult on late model cars) or from the neighborhood (which can be difficult due to getting shot at). In the crisis I would have pulled fuel from the cars eventually, but it is a hassle on the Subie and pickup. My old farm beater is a piece of cake to siphon from , but it only has a few gallons in it at any given time.

On the list is to get another steel container so I can store more fuel safely. I'm probably going with one or two 8x10 containers depending on what we can afford.

one last thing I learned today is that the plastic fuel cans due indeed melt in wildfire heat and the fuel vapor does ignite. Saw the remains firsthand. Also ammunition stored in a shipping container can get hot enough to discharge.