We have 3 generators at our house. Started off with a Generac 5500XL. Bought that in like 1992/3 or so. Power used to go out all the time at our house. It is loud & heavy. Used it camping once, in the middle of nowhere at an atv campgrounds. They came & told us to shut it off, too loud. So, then we started looking at the quiet Honda EU2000i. Great reviews & the quietest on the market then. A few years later, we bought 2 of them. I saved $200 each, got 2 free covers, a parallel power kit @ 1/2 price (of $199) & 2 free 8 amp 12v charging cords. I just lucked out that i had the cash when the sale was on. We love them. They start always, but so does my Generac. We still have them all. All run great. The 2 honda's & the parallel power kit runs our Camper A/C no problem. I do turn the A/C off when using the toaster or microwave though.
Advise: what ever you do buy, make SURE you can get parts. Buy some extra carburetor's if you plan to keep them a good long time.
20 years after buying my Generac 5500XL, the ethanol destroyed the carburetor (even with Sta-Bil every year). Literally pitted the metal so bad, it would not work. So I called the toll free 1-800 #. What i got was "I'm sorry sir, we no longer make parts for that model." I asked if a $1200 Generator is now considered throw away ? "Well sir, it IS 20+ yrs old, I think you have gotten your moneys worth !" I said yeah, but it has only been running for maybe 3-4 weeks total over it's life. So, I ended up finding a store that had some in stock. I ordered 3 of them. So, now i have a new one on it & 2 brand new spares. I will be looking for some carbs for my Honda's soon, before they are no longer avail. .
Also, these are avail for longer run times:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...enerator-accessories+generator-fuel-extenders
Generac has just come out with a 2000 watt small, quiet Generator that beat out the Honda EU2000i.
In an emergency, when no one else has power, but you do, you will find "friends" you never knew you had. I ALWAYS lock mine up, when using them or not, always locked. You will find yourself giving lessons on generators, to neighbors who think you can just plug anything into a generator. And why my small generators can't power my house & 2-4 neighbors houses too. I have had to explain to mine that my generators are only big enough to power our stuff, when they come knocking with an extension cord in their hand. I have told them, if you need to get warm, your welcome to come in & get warm, but thats it. I even had one ask me what I would do if someone tried to steal my generator. The smile on his face changed when i pointed to my 12 gauge & looked him straight in the eyes & said "I would shoot you dead." Sometimes, in an emergency, it is best to wait as long as you can before you run one. When you do run it, keep it locked. I had to run the Honda numerous times. I would start it up, run the fridge till it shut off, then run the freezer till it shut off, then the furnace till it shut off. Then bring it in the house till i needed to run it again, then take it back outside & lock it up. Even in the Buffalo winters, once every 3-4 hrs is sufficient to keep things from spoiling & from getting too cold in the house. If you have a freezer full of food & the power goes out, the generator will pay for itself the first time you use it.
