Generator

[preparedsurrey]

Another vote for Briggs and Stratton as well as Honda, very robust units. Have had no luck with Wolf and Craft cheapies, one never started from new the other suffered collapsed main bearings after a couple of weeks. I do however know of someone with one of the large Aldi gennys which he says is excellent.

[DarkAngel]

I have to vote for the Honda, we have 2 suitcase generators. One that is over 5 years old and still runs great after a service and a new spark plug, though it is a little bit noisier than the newer one. It is not silent but about 40 meters from ours and you can't hear it. As mentioned previously the more stuff you try and run from it the louder it gets. We use it to charge the batteries on the boat and have a solar panel to keep them topped up where possible.

[HBP]

Your cheap genny dies ten minutes in because you did not break it in properly and ran it under full load or overload conditions without the break in.

Thats a very specific acusation without any form of proof!

My father has a cheap genny that has provided sterling work for several years, I have also seen the same model of genny die in the hands of a small engine mechanic. Both run in correctly.

Different people have different experiences.

Btw Briggs and Stratton ARE good old bits of kit too.

B&S engines are very good. I have worked on a few over the years that have done 20-30 years service and will probably do another 20! I have a 1980's 7Hp pump engine sat in the shed that I am going to turn into a 12v generator when I get some spare time.

Their recent generators I am not as confident abount. The ones I have seen for sale recently looked a bit cheaply made. I hope I am wrong as it would be a shame to ruin a good name.

[metatron]

Always go Honda for small suitcase style generators, as their the most reliable and easy to get parts for/services. Also invest in security as they are a big draw to criminals as they sell fast.

[ForgeCorvus]

My father has a cheap genny that has provided sterling work for several years, I have also seen the same model of genny die in the hands of a small engine mechanic. Both run in correctly.

Different people have different experiences.

It seems to me that you're paying for Quality Control more then anything else. I know of a similar case with brush-cutters (both bought together and treated the same, one worked well for years and the other broke down repeatedly )

Btw Briggs and Stratton ARE good old bits of kit too.

B&S engines are very good. I have worked on a few over the years that have done 20-30 years service and will probably do another 20! I have a 1980's 7Hp pump engine sat in the shed that I am going to turn into a 12v generator when I get some spare time.

Let us know how that project goes, I'm a total Luddite but I find things like that fascinating

Their recent generators I am not as confident abount. The ones I have seen for sale recently looked a bit cheaply made. I hope I am wrong as it would be a shame to ruin a good name.

Quite often the 'Beancounters' are responsible for great companies going downhill.

Reputation; years to make, minutes to break.

[DarkAngel]

Also invest in security as they are a big draw to criminals as they sell fast.

Seconded. We had a couple stolen from the Marina (not ours thankfully), stick a decent chain and padlock through the handle and chain it to something fixed and immovable. Also it might go without saying but keep your petrol cans out of sight and locked up. It may also be a good idea to check who is around when you fill the genny up. Scrotes are always on the lookout for free petrol cans to fill their nicked crossers with. The lads stealing from the Marina were located and let's say dissuaded from returning.

[Appin]

Very interesting.

I have no personal experience of this but I have seen Honda's criticised for producing a lot of radio interference even though they are producing a "clean" power supply. The radio interference does not upset delicate electronics but does mean you cannot operate a radio receiver anywhere nearby.

I understand the comments on cheap generators but price is a big limit.The cheapest Honda suitcase is £742 and then only 900W. Champion ( 1700W for £449) and Hyundai ( 950W for £372) all come in cheaper. According to one report Briggs and Stratton are made in China.

Regards

Appin

[jansman]

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/ Have a look here. They have a Honda 2.7 k gennie for £480 ( vat inc)..

[preparedsurrey]

Most 4 stroke petrol generators can be converted to run on lpg so you can use the big orange propane bottles rather than store petrol.
It's cheaper too.

[TheOldHObbit]

This thread may seem like a share holders sales pitch, but I too would vote for Honda. I have their 1KW suitcase gene and have run it for about 10 years. Never once let me down, the only thing I have ever needed, other than fuel of course, was a new pullcord. Great little machine and would not be without it at home.

http://powerequipment.honda.com/generat ... ls/eu1000i