Showing posts with label portable diesel generator reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label portable diesel generator reviews. Show all posts

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Powerhorse Portable Generator - 4000 Surge Watts, 3100 Rated Watts

Powerhorse Portable Generator - 4000 Surge Watts, 3100 Rated Watts Description

This rugged Powerhorse Portable Generator keeps your refrigerator, lights, TV and more running smoothly in the midst of a power outage. Clean power output, with less than 5% total harmonic distortion at full load, safely runs sensitive electronics. Key features like a full bank of outlets, a voltmeter and full-efficient OHV engine also make this model ideal for jobsites and outdoor projects. A FREE wheel kit completes the package. Combine these features with rigorous U.S.-based testing, dedicated customer/tech support and incredible value, and you'll own one of the most reliable generators in the industry.
  • Not for sale in California
  • Surge Watts: 4,000
  • Rated Watts: 3,100
  • Start Type: Recoil
  • Engine Displacement (cc): 208
  • Engine: Powerhorse OHV with cast iron sleeves
  • Run Time: 10 hrs. @ 1/2 load, Receptacles (qty.): 10
  • Noise Level (dB): 70
  • Fuel Type: Gasoline
  • Fuel Capacity (gal.): 4
  • Low Oil Shutdown: Yes
  • Battery Required: No
  • Battery Included: No
  • Dimensions L x W x H (in.): 28 x 20 x 23

This review is from: Powerhorse Portable Generator - 4000 Surge Watts, 3100 Rated Watts

Good product, January 9, 2012 By H. Whalen

For this low of a cost this is a very nice product.

No problems so far. Shipping was fine, no damage.

No problem with assembly.

I added the oil and gas, and it started up on the second pull.

Runs smooth and slightly quieter than my lawn mower.

The wheels are a must have feature.

Plan on spending another couple of hundred dollars on extension cords - heavy gauge, 75-100 feet long each. ( a cost I didn't budget for. )

Put a copper coated grounding rod in the ground to be safe too. They sell them at hardware stores in 8' lengths by 5/8" diameter with a point on one end.

So far so good! And I do me GOOD!, November 22, 2011 By RWQ

I researched quite extensively many brands before I bought this generator. Truthfully I was all set to buy a different brand & model and at the last minute found this on Amazon thru Northern Tool. While I would have liked to have bought a bigger generator, I felt the pricing, options, small footprint for storage, and lower fuel consumption were all a big plus in my decision to go with this model. I have not filled it with oil or fuel yet, so I can't comment on the actual performance of it right now, but intend to. As far as the product itself, it arrived early and in perfect condition and appears to be of very good quality for the money. I can't wait to try it out! Hope I don't even need it this winter, but I'm ready if I do! It should handle our emergency needs quite well. Gas Furnace motor, Fridge & Freezer, TV & computer, some lights, a microwave and a coffee pot. What else do you REALLY need in an emergency. As long as the timing of use is thought out, this little gem should be a good fit and the money saved on this smaller unit will come in handy elsewhere. Right now I couldn't be happier with this generator.........after I start it up we shall see! Amazon.com came thru again, and Yellow Freight did a GREAT job on delivery. GO TEAMSTERS!

Filled with oil and put 2 gal. of gas in it. Turned fuel on, choked it, pulled the starter rope twice and it was purring like a kitten! Extremely quiet, and everything works as it should. I'm really happy with this purchase, but yesterday found that Menard's had a Honeywell 5500 w/ elec start reg price $729 on sale for $499...........would be the better buy now and had I not already bought this unit I would have gone the Menard's route. This Powerhorse 4000 is a GREAT little generator for the $369 price tag but after adding shipping, I wish I would have waited a week and bought the Honeywell 5500 at Menard's.

Champion Power Equipment 46534 4,000 Watt 4-Cycle Gas Powered RV Ready Portable Generator With Wheel Kit (CARB Compliant)

Champion Power Equipment 46534 4,000 Watt 4-Cycle Gas Powered RV Ready Portable Generator With Wheel Kit (CARB Compliant) Description

Champion Power Equipment specializes in the design, manufacture and support of dependable, durable, and affordable portable generators, transfer pumps, pressure washers and winches. Champion offers the highest endurance and performance generators on the market today. Each generator is designed to provide a reliable and instant power supply.

Features

  •     4,000 peak watts / 3,500 running watts
  •     4.0 gallon (15L) fuel tank
  •     12 running hours at 50% Load
  •     Low oil sensor to prevent engine damage and automatic decompression for easy starting
  •     RV ready with ideal pre-wired electrical connections
This review is from: Champion Power Equipment 46534 4,000 Watt 4-Cycle Gas Powered RV Ready Portable Generator With Wheel Kit (CARB Compliant)

Preformed as Claims
, December 11, 2011 By WL (NJ)

It started easily and performed as claimed. The generator appears well built compare to others in this price range. Noise level is moderate. It would be ideal, if it has 220v outlet. I give it a 4 stars for meeting my expectation.

Works like a champ, December 11, 2011 By Daniel J. Kenny

t on a Monday afternoon and it arrived on friday. Standard shipping. Took about 15 minutes to set up. Putting oil in is a little difficult, but no big deal. Wheel kit makes it easy to move around. Puts ol and gas in and after 2nd pul started up. Great machine. A piece of me wishes I would loose power to see this machine work at it's best. Just having it gives me piece of mind.

Great generator
, December 8, 2011 By Richie

nt 46534 4,000 Watt 4-Cycle Gas Powered RV Ready Portable Generator With Wheel Kit (CARB Compliant) (Lawn & Patio)
I bought this generator during are first snow storm,we were out of power for 8 days .

Great price and shipped fast .Eazy to put together , it started on the second pull .

It ran the refridgerator ,lights small tv , heaters , computers and coffee maker.

It ran 12 hours on a full tank of gas.

Champion 3500/4000w Generator - a perfect choice!, December 7, 2011 By Dan "Dan" (Putnam County, NY)

After experiencing multiple power outages in Putnam County, NY (2 to 3 times a year), I decided it was time for a generator. After viewing many reviews and doing cost comparisons I decided to purchase the Champion 3500/4000. I figured that I would need to run my boiler for heat (1200w), refrigerator(1500w), a few lights (50w - using florescent bulbs is great), and a TV (130w - 55" LED Sony). After viewing the watt requirements and doing some quick calculations I knew I needed at least a 3,000w etc... Thus, the 3500/4000 seemed like a perfect fit. Needless to say I am extremely happy with my choice. After utilizing the generator a few times it more than paid for itself (1 refrigerator full of food loss is more than the cost of this generator). I just wish I purchased a generator a few years back!!! For under $400's I have fully protected my house from power loss. Also, being a smaller generator (the guys at home depot suggested a 6000watt + generator - it's simple just do the math and you will know what is really required) is perfect because it is also portable enough that you can throw in the back of a car.

The only added expense you will need to pick up for this generator is the Twist Cables (L5-30P to regular outlets (5-20r's - I went with a 3' split)) if you want to take advantage of the full 3500/4000w operating capabilities. The single 5-20r located on the unit can only provide up to 2000w. You will need to use either the L5-30p or RV outlets to obtain the full 4000w capabilities. Again, really the perfect choice for my needs and clearly without busting my budget. Hope you find this helpful!

Champion Gas Powered Generator, 4,000 Watt 4 cycle, November 25, 2011 By RB

This generator was purchased for emergency use only when our power goes off, which doesn't happen often but does on rare occasions. For that reason, it has not been used as yet, but we were very happy with its size & the way it started off immediately.

We weren't pleased with the way UPS delivered it by just putting it on our front porch without knocking on the door or asking where we wanted it, which required my husband to get the hand truck & moving the generator down two sets of steps, two steps each, an incline & then to the area we want it.

We also ordered a "large" cover by mistake, which is too large for this generator, but will do.

Fantastic generator at a great price, November 16, 2011 By rocklayer2

I received the generator on time and set it up folowing the quick set up guide. First drained the little bit of oil that was in the moter and then filled with 10w30 oil. Then I started the generator and it started on the second pull! It was very quite compared to my old generator. I am a contractor and sometimes need to run a 15 amp electric air compressor on jobs and my old generator couldn't handle the startup of the electic motor. The new champion generator powered it with no problem and was even able to power a 12 amp saw with the compressor running. I also purchased the 30 amp twist lock to regular plug adapter from amazon. I am super happy with the generator and would strongly recommend it to any one looking for an inexpensive but powerful generator.

SATISIFIED, November 14, 2011 By JOHN W

ITEM ARRIVED IN PERFECT CONDITION. TOOK 15 MIN TO ATTACH WHEEL CART. ITEM WAS TESTED UNDER LOAD (1500 WATT SPACE HEATER). GENERATOR WAS HOOKED UP TO HOUSE BREAKER PANEL VIA GEN TRAN TRANSFER SWITCH AND SELECTED SELECTED CIRCUITS WERE TESTED UNDER SIMULATED OUTAGE CONDITIONS. GENERATOR PERFORMED AS STATED. READY FOR A REAL OUTAGE. BE SURE TO GROUND GENERATOR FRAME, GROUNDED MINE VIA 8' GROUND ROD.

Nice generator, November 13, 2011 By Gwyneth G. Hannaford "3500+ book owner and gr... (Kittery, ME USA)
(REAL NAME)

I was able to pick mine up from someone near by who underestimated their needs so we will be set for the next (too frequent) outage. Good manual but missing some needed info in the parts list: no part number for the oil drain plug or the plastic dip stick. These are two parts that can get lost or for the dip stick can break. In fact the manual exploded diagram has no parts listed for the engine, except the engine. We could not find this info on Champions web site either. Other than that excellent manual Champion.

Follow up. An email answer from Champion tech support provided the necessary part numbers and schematic for the engine. I would recommend everyone ask for these pages.

Well worth it. Pleasantly surprised!
, November 8, 2011 By NJ Devs "Jersey Johnny" (VA USA)

Unit fired right up. Powered all items in my 31.5ft travel trailer with no problem. I did not power the AC and M-wave simultaneously as I would not expect to do that during normal usage. The electric water heater, fridge, and AC all ran with no issues. The unit does drop some RPM when AC turns on but quickly recovers. Originally thought it was loud but for 375.00 .... cmon....lets be real. Very surprised that its not really that loud at all. Cant hear it from inside the house and its no louder than the AC unit of an adjacent trailer. Put it this way, with my trailers AC unit running, I cant hear it and its right outside my trailer. Very happy! Glad I bought it.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Yamaha EF3000iSE 3,000 Watt 171cc OHV 4-Stroke Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator With Electric Start (CARB Compliant)

Yamaha EF3000iSE 3,000 Watt 171cc OHV 4-Stroke Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator With Electric Start (CARB Compliant) Description

Inverter System with Pulse Width Modulation - Industry-leading system that produces higher-quality and cleaner electricity. Results in pure sine wave as clean or cleaner than commercial power and can operate products with built in microcomputers. Noise Block Acoustically designed sound reduction system - The full enclosure is made of sound absorbing material used in key locations inside the enclosure along with newly designed muffler and molded fan produce unbeatable noise reduction. Smart Throttle Load Sensing Throttle Control - Automatically adjusts engine speed to precisely match load, resulting in greater fuel efficiency and noise reduction. Oil Watch Warning System - Automatically shuts off before oil level is low and cannot be re-started until oil is added. Prevents engine damage and costly repairs while enhancing long-term durability. OHV 171cc Engine (Overhead Valve) - Offers increased reliability, low oil consumption, noise-reducing operation and increased peace of mind. Long Run Time - Runs Continuously for up to 20.5 hours without refueling (at 1/4 rated load with "Economy Control" function on. 12 Volt DC Output (Battery Charging Cables Included) - Recharge 12 volt batteries for RV, auto, marine, aircraft, etc. Exclusive Dual Coil Alternator Stator - Reduces noise, fuel consumption and engine wear by running at lower engine speed. Centralized Control Panel - Control Panel enables easy access to controls. Electric Starter - Effortless starting and easy operation.


Features
  •     3,000 Watt Maximum AC Output/2,800 Watt Rated AC Output
  •     Inverter system with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) control
  •     Smart Throttle Load Sensing Throttle Control
  •     Electric Start
  •     CARB Compliant
The EF3000iSE and its inverter system features Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), delivering clean power so you can use it confidently for powering computers, solid-state appliances with built-in computer functions or microcomputer-controlled power tools. Other features include Noise Block Acoustically designed sound reduction system, Smart Throttle and Economy Control electrical governor for improved fuel economy and reduces sound levels. The EF3000iSE is ideal for around the home or at a campsite. 2-year limited warranty.

This review is from: Yamaha EF3000iSE 3,000 Watt 171cc OHV 4-Stroke Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator With Electric Start (CARB Compliant)
Yamaha EF3000iSE very nice compared to others, January 17, 2012 By atrox13

Pro:
1. Electric start works every time. 2 or 3 cranks it starts.
2. Very quite.
3. Nice fit and finish.
4. The gas gauge is nice.
5. The power is very clean and runs computers with no problem.
6. I like the fuel turn off valve. You can drain all the fuel from the carb. by just turning off the fuel and letting engine run out of fuel. I hope this helps keep the carb. from gumming up.

Con:
1. The wheels are fixed and do not swivel. This means you have to pick it up to change directions and roll it. This is a very heavy machine.
2. This thing still uses still uses a manual choke in 2012. Geez!
3. Like most generators filling the oil after a change is difficult and you have to pour oil in and try to not overfill. Not easy and messy. I would love to have a glass site gauge to check oil instead of opening the panel and dipstick.
4. The rubber pad under the oil drain plug is very hard to put back after an oil change.

Nitpicks:
1. At this premium price a hour meter and tachometer should be standard equipment.

Things to be aware of:
1. You have to fill the battery with acid when you receive the machine. The provided acid filler works well.
2. You will have to buy a special cable or socket converted to use the twist lock 30 amp socket. I paid $37 for a 25 ft 30 amp cable with 3 outlets.
3. There is no lock fixture or hole. So to secure it with a cable or chain you need to loop through the machine handles and that could chip the paint.

Misc:
I had intended to convert this generator to tri-fuel using a kit from US Carburation. They list it on their site and also sell the same Yamaha generators they convert for you. I ordered the kit but they said that the company had changed the design and it would no longer work. Very disappointing for disaster preparation.

Recommendation:
I still like the generator compared others because it is so low noise and fuel efficient in econo mode. I would recommend this for camping, home or rv use.

This review is from: Yamaha EF3000iSE 3,000 Watt 171cc OHV 4-Stroke Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator With Electric Start (CARB Compliant)

always reliable, October 5, 2011 By jmc

i own 17 of these one for each room at my house in Carmel Ca. and they work great. im planing on buying 10 more as back ups. you just never know when youll need more power. im going to ask my pilot if we should have one in my private jet. why not?

Proven, January 20, 2011 By Convinced
We use the product on an RV every year. It's power saver feature insures the unit will run all night keeping you warm or cool (if you remember to turn it on). Easy electric starts definately a plus in regards to children/family helping set everything up. In camping situations, everyone around you will be in awe of how quiet this runs. It is pricey but worth it. Must say I am curious about the higher power unit available now, but so far have never needed any more power. If you are looking for quality and dependability, this is your generator. We have been using this for 6+ years without complaint.

Yamaha EF3000iSE 3,000 Watt Generator
, December 12, 2010 By GBSrdh (LHP FL)

I highly recommend this product. I got this generator after Hurricanes Frances & Jeanne hit our state, knocked out our power for 10 days.
The first generator I got out of desperation, it was hot and we lost a refrigerator full of food...this generator was horribly loud & I knew it would be a matter of time before the neighbors complained. Thankfully I was able to sell it the following day and I immediately ordered 2- Yamaha 3000 generators, I own a duplex so the neighbor had to get one too.

Wow, what a huge difference! Even with 2 generators going at once it was much quieter than my vacuum cleaner. I was able to connect my refrigerator, TV, a standing lamp and a window AC (5,000watt) unit for nighttime use. When Jeanne hit everyone in Lighthouse Point FL seemed to have purchased those ear busting generators!

Needless to say I am very happy and pleased with my Yamaha generators. When Wilma hit in 2005 we were out of power for nearly 2 weeks and those generators came in handy. On a full tank (energy save switch on) they will last through the night 7-8 hrs. I would shut them down for the morning, refill the tanks and have them on in the afternoon.

You get what you pay for and these are excellent generators, very quiet, great for hurricane season and for camping, any outdoor events where you need power, it will do the job. Maintenance is easy, just like maintaining the engine of a car, you have to do the same with a generator. Change the oil/filter/spark plug and follow storage protocol.

Excellent Generator, October 30, 2010 By Bill (Fort Wayne, IN)

I am very happy with this generator, does everything I hoped for, and more. The hardest part was installing the battery, made me nervous filling battery with acid. But, following the instructions it went without a hitch. I thought they forgot to include the battery strap since it was not on the battery when I took it out of generator. But, I found it lying in the battery compartment way in the back. So check if you do not see yours, it is a rubber strap. Adding the oil is a little tricky, I bought a funnel that twist around for the job. The motor wants to RUN..... after gassing up I hardly pulled the cord and it took off. I let it run for 30 minutes to charge the battery. I shut it off, and restarted it using battery power, again it took off like a shot. In the mean time I installed a transfer switch on my furnace, a couple days later. Testing the generator on the furnace I hooked up the generator, again it took off like a shot. It ran my furnace with no labor what so ever. I am ready for the ice and snow this time. Last winter I was without power 4 days, no heat no lights, no fun. Oh, yes it is a little heavy, I can lift one end, but not the whole thing, but it is on wheels, so I can move it around my garage no problem. Kind of wish the smaller wheels would swivel, then I would not have to lift and move one end, to steer it around. Yes, it is expensive, but quiet and runs smooth and worth every penny. EF3000ISE

Yamaha 3000 Inverter/Generator, September 11, 2010 By John M. Lane "Feaquent Flyer" (Alaska)
(REAL NAME)

Have it for a month now...what a great machine!
(of course there wasn't free shipping for me) I still would have bought it.
Quiet, economical and its blue!
The electric start works great for my older parents.
I wish it was a 30 amp plug instead of a 25 amp, but it works where I need it to work.
Now our camp neighbors have some piece and quiet while we still have power to spare.

Plenty of power, May 18, 2010 By Mark Rivard
(REAL NAME)

I purchased this generator from a local camper dealer about 3 years ago so we could camp in the parking lot at our kids colleges. The electric start is a nice feature and if I was to buy another one I would get it with the remote START/STOP feature. I found a place that I can order it to add to mine. There is enough power to run one AC, any lights you want, TV, water pump all at the same time. Fuel consumption is very low. I haven't clocked the hours per tank, but we take it to a state part in Connecticut where there is no power at all and can get through 3 or 4 days on a tank full. There is also a option to add a propane fuel supply. This is also one of the quietest generators I have heard in the campgrounds. You can stand right beside the unit and have a normal conversation. I wish Yamaha would make a model to install in my 5er so I didn't have to load it into the truck. It's a bit heavy so I am going to add a hoist to my garage to help with the loading now that the kids are no longer at home.

Champion Power Equipment 46534 4,000 Watt 4-Cycle Gas Powered RV Ready Portable Generator With Wheel Kit (CARB Compliant)

Champion Power Equipment 46534 4,000 Watt 4-Cycle Gas Powered RV Ready Portable Generator With Wheel Kit (CARB Compliant) Description

Champion Power Equipment specializes in the design, manufacture and support of dependable, durable, and affordable portable generators, transfer pumps, pressure washers and winches. Champion offers the highest endurance and performance generators on the market today. Each generator is designed to provide a reliable and instant power supply.

Features

  •     4,000 peak watts / 3,500 running watts
  •     4.0 gallon (15L) fuel tank
  •     12 running hours at 50% Load
  •     Low oil sensor to prevent engine damage and automatic decompression for easy starting
  •     RV ready with ideal pre-wired electrical connections

This review is from: Champion Power Equipment 46534 4,000 Watt 4-Cycle Gas Powered RV Ready Portable Generator With Wheel Kit (CARB Compliant)

Preformed as Claims, December 11, 2011 By WL (NJ)

It started easily and performed as claimed. The generator appears well built compare to others in this price range. Noise level is moderate. It would be ideal, if it has 220v outlet. I give it a 4 stars for meeting my expectation.

Works like a champ
, December 11, 2011 By Daniel J. Kenny

Nice looking machine. Ordered it on a Monday afternoon and it arrived on friday. Standard shipping. Took about 15 minutes to set up. Putting oil in is a little difficult, but no big deal. Wheel kit makes it easy to move around. Puts ol and gas in and after 2nd pul started up. Great machine. A piece of me wishes I would loose power to see this machine work at it's best. Just having it gives me piece of mind.

Great generator, December 8, 2011 By Richie

bought this generator during are first snow storm,we were out of power for 8 days .
Great price and shipped fast .Eazy to put together , it started on the second pull .
It ran the refridgerator ,lights small tv , heaters , computers and coffee maker.
It ran 12 hours on a full tank of gas.

Champion 3500/4000w Generator - a perfect choice!, December 7, 2011 By Dan "Dan" (Putnam County, NY)

After experiencing multiple power outages in Putnam County, NY (2 to 3 times a year), I decided it was time for a generator. After viewing many reviews and doing cost comparisons I decided to purchase the Champion 3500/4000. I figured that I would need to run my boiler for heat (1200w), refrigerator(1500w), a few lights (50w - using florescent bulbs is great), and a TV (130w - 55" LED Sony). After viewing the watt requirements and doing some quick calculations I knew I needed at least a 3,000w etc... Thus, the 3500/4000 seemed like a perfect fit. Needless to say I am extremely happy with my choice. After utilizing the generator a few times it more than paid for itself (1 refrigerator full of food loss is more than the cost of this generator). I just wish I purchased a generator a few years back!!! For under $400's I have fully protected my house from power loss. Also, being a smaller generator (the guys at home depot suggested a 6000watt + generator - it's simple just do the math and you will know what is really required) is perfect because it is also portable enough that you can throw in the back of a car.

The only added expense you will need to pick up for this generator is the Twist Cables (L5-30P to regular outlets (5-20r's - I went with a 3' split)) if you want to take advantage of the full 3500/4000w operating capabilities. The single 5-20r located on the unit can only provide up to 2000w. You will need to use either the L5-30p or RV outlets to obtain the full 4000w capabilities. Again, really the perfect choice for my needs and clearly without busting my budget. Hope you find this helpful!

Champion Gas Powered Generator, 4,000 Watt 4 cycle, November 25, 2011 By RB

This generator was purchased for emergency use only when our power goes off, which doesn't happen often but does on rare occasions. For that reason, it has not been used as yet, but we were very happy with its size & the way it started off immediately.

We weren't pleased with the way UPS delivered it by just putting it on our front porch without knocking on the door or asking where we wanted it, which required my husband to get the hand truck & moving the generator down two sets of steps, two steps each, an incline & then to the area we want it.

We also ordered a "large" cover by mistake, which is too large for this generator, but will do.

Fantastic generator at a great price, November 16, 2011 By rocklayer2

I received the generator on time and set it up folowing the quick set up guide. First drained the little bit of oil that was in the moter and then filled with 10w30 oil. Then I started the generator and it started on the second pull! It was very quite compared to my old generator. I am a contractor and sometimes need to run a 15 amp electric air compressor on jobs and my old generator couldn't handle the startup of the electic motor. The new champion generator powered it with no problem and was even able to power a 12 amp saw with the compressor running. I also purchased the 30 amp twist lock to regular plug adapter from amazon. I am super happy with the generator and would strongly recommend it to any one looking for an inexpensive but powerful generator.

SATISIFIED, November 14, 2011 By JOHN W

ITEM ARRIVED IN PERFECT CONDITION. TOOK 15 MIN TO ATTACH WHEEL CART. ITEM WAS TESTED UNDER LOAD (1500 WATT SPACE HEATER). GENERATOR WAS HOOKED UP TO HOUSE BREAKER PANEL VIA GEN TRAN TRANSFER SWITCH AND SELECTED SELECTED CIRCUITS WERE TESTED UNDER SIMULATED OUTAGE CONDITIONS. GENERATOR PERFORMED AS STATED. READY FOR A REAL OUTAGE. BE SURE TO GROUND GENERATOR FRAME, GROUNDED MINE VIA 8' GROUND ROD.

Nice generator, November 13, 2011 By Gwyneth G. Hannaford "3500+ book owner and gr... (Kittery, ME USA)
(REAL NAME)

I was able to pick mine up from someone near by who underestimated their needs so we will be set for the next (too frequent) outage. Good manual but missing some needed info in the parts list: no part number for the oil drain plug or the plastic dip stick. These are two parts that can get lost or for the dip stick can break. In fact the manual exploded diagram has no parts listed for the engine, except the engine. We could not find this info on Champions web site either. Other than that excellent manual Champion.

Follow up. An email answer from Champion tech support provided the necessary part numbers and schematic for the engine. I would recommend everyone ask for these pages.

Well worth it. Pleasantly surprised!, November 8, 2011 By NJ Devs "Jersey Johnny" (VA USA)

Unit fired right up. Powered all items in my 31.5ft travel trailer with no problem. I did not power the AC and M-wave simultaneously as I would not expect to do that during normal usage. The electric water heater, fridge, and AC all ran with no issues. The unit does drop some RPM when AC turns on but quickly recovers. Originally thought it was loud but for 375.00 .... cmon....lets be real. Very surprised that its not really that loud at all. Cant hear it from inside the house and its no louder than the AC unit of an adjacent trailer. Put it this way, with my trailers AC unit running, I cant hear it and its right outside my trailer. Very happy! Glad I bought it.

So Far So Good, November 3, 2011 By MadJoe (Littleton, MA)

I received the generator on Tuesday, and unboxed it immediately, but didn't have a chance to get it put together and tested until Wednesday night. Initial impressions were good. It's an attractive unit, and appears to be built well. My only regret is that there's no 220VAC output, but for the price that's certainly not a complaint. One thing I noticed was that it had a very strong odor coming from it that I attributed to some sort of oil, or other petroleum based product that was likely used as either a solvent or to protect surfaces from corrosion during storage/shipment. Luckily it was only in my mud room overnight, and the kitchen didn't start to smell before I got it assembled and out to the garage.

The unit put together fairly easy, but the "quick start" guide was not as thorough as it could have been, so a little mechanical aptitude will help in getting it assembled with just the quick start. Otherwise, I would think the owners manual would have more detailed instructions, but haven't confirmed that. Once assembled, I checked the oil reservoir and found that it was empty (unlike some other reviewers) so I filled it with 1oz Mystery oil, and 19oz 10W30 dino oil. It overflowed a small amount, but I was smart enough to be outside when I filled it, so a quick wipe up of the generator and I was ready good to go. I took a minute to do a thorough look over of the unit, and inspect the wiring, etc.. It is well built for this price point. Everything was tight, and in excellent condition. I installed the spark arrestor, put a few ounces of fuel in it and gave the pull start a tug. It took a few pulls, but it finally came to life. It's a little louder than I would have preferred, but again, at this price point it really isn't a complaint. My only true complaint would be that the muffler is terminated in a way to allow for the spark arrestor to be installed, so I can't slip an extender pipe over it and vent it outside the garage for use. I'll just have to build a small shed for it, I guess.

Satisfied customer, November 1, 2011 By Bob K "Bob" (Ma.)

I live in New England and bought this generator in January of this year. We were having the worse winter I'd ever seen and figured it would only be a matter of time before it would come in handy. Never had to put it to the test until 3 days ago (10/29/11) when a freak snow storm knocked out power all over the east coast. 90% of my city was without electricity. I ran this generator for three days, sixteen consecutive hours each day. I never expected to need a generator for this length of time and was worried that it may not hold up. Fortunately it worked flawlessly. I was running a wood pellet stove, a few lights, coffee maker, toaster, and other small items. I didn't push it to its limit but for what I needed it for in an emergency situation it worked perfectly. The nicest thing about this item is its price as compared to other brands. That, along with all the other positive ratings, is what led me to give this one a shot. Fuel consumption was about two gallons after ten hours. I don't know if thats good or bad compared to other brands but I knew I could sleep through the night without it running out of fuel. One other positive note, when the generator arrived the air filter housing cover was broken in shipping. I called Champion and spoke with a customer service agent who immediately sent me out a new cover, no questions asked. Recieved the part in a couple of days. If you're looking for a good price and a dependable unit this may be the one for you.

Nice little generator, November 1, 2011 By zippy

Bought this generator after Irene left us without power for a few days. Starts easily second or third pull. Average noise about 70db (slightly quieter than lawn mower (72-75db). Powerful for size: I ran 2 full size refrigerators, 1st floor lights 4 x 60 watt, a coffee maker (about 30 min), electric for my steam boiler (heat), basement lights 3 x 60 watts, sony dvd player, samsung 32" lcd tv. Ran all of above for 10 hours on 3.5 gallons of gas. Pretty fuel efficient. My neighbor had a generac 6500 that used ~9 gallons doing the same tasks. I Hooked this unit up via reliance controls 31404b transfer switch and a 30 amp rv to bare wire cord.

Good Unit for the price, October 29, 2011 By Michael S. Naggar "Mike" (Temecula)
(REAL NAME)

The unit was delivered on time and the box was undamaged. It was pretty easy to assemble the wheel kit. Put some oil and file in it but failed to start. There was a wire not connected in the front. None of the instructions indicated what the wire was for. I connected the two wires and she started up. Unit is a bit loud but I figure thats what your going to get if you want a 4000 watt unit. For the price I think this is a good unit. I hooked it up to my air compressor and it work fine. So now I have a generator in an emergency. I just hope it performs when I really need it. No way to tell until the time comes.

Stop looking you have found the perfect generator, October 22, 2011 By Ted Fulton "Ted" (Malibu)
(REAL NAME)

I researched generators for days (actually weeks) and decided on this one. It was a good choice. I bought it for $399 from Amazon (before they lowered the price) At the current lower price it's a screaming good deal. It was delivered undamaged in a timely fashion, it started on the first pull and worked perfectly, absolutely zero issues. It was fairly quiet compared to others I have used. For the money and wattage rating you will not find a better generator. If you are not sure how many watts you need, google "Sears generator worksheet" (without the quotes). The worksheet will help you decide how big a generator you need. This generator however, beat everything Sears sold hands down. Lastly, do not buy the Coleman Cable 01912 25-Foot 10/3 Generator Power Cord with L5-30P Plug and 3-Outlets to go with this generator. The L5-30P plug does not fit this generator. (Yes, I bought the cord and had to spend 22 bucks to buy the correct plug to make it work) Lowes or Home depot have 30amp cords that will work with this generator.

This is the One!, October 18, 2011 By J

I never write reviews BUT I could not keep silent about this one! PLEASE dont waste your money on EVEN Honda! I have had and used every major brand and there is nothing beter than this unit PERIOD....

It will get you through at a fraction of the cost, October 9, 2011 By ryan j frantz
I got this for hurricane Irene, and it lasted us 8 days without power. I ran a fridge, tv, ps3, cable box, computer, router, lamps, and a window AC unit on less than 5 gallons of fuel a day. It doesn't have the juice to run an oven, water heater, well pump (at least I couldn't figure how to hook it up to the pump), or washer/drier, but it will get you through if you're prepared. I would recommend this to anyone who is worried about providing for their family in an emergency and is on a budget.

So far, So Good!, September 24, 2011 By kjones

Our Champion 4,000 watt generator arrived in the nick of time-the day before hurricane Irene. The generator started up was easy to assemble, started up right away, and powered our massive refrigerator, a computer or TV, a lamp, and a fan. Also, the fuel economy was better for us than estimated in the manual. We recommended it to friends and family.

Westinghouse WH7000E 8,500 Watt 420cc Gas Powered Portable Generator With Electric Start

Westinghouse WH7000E 8,500 Watt 420cc Gas Powered Portable Generator With Electric Start Description

Model WH7000E electric start generator includes the Westinghouse, 420 cc, OHV engine, designed for power and durability with oversized muffler and catalyst for quiet operation. Unit also includes one-touch electric start in addition to EZ start, color-coded starting controls and customer service at 1-855-WH-HELP-1 (944-3571). Easy to operate with simplified power control center and a 3-year limited warranty. Includes never-flat tires, battery for electric start, high-leverage handles, tool kit, first liter of oil and funnel to get you up nd running fast.

Features
  •     8500 starting watts / 7000 running watts
  •     Westinghouse cast iron sleeved 420cc engine
  •     Voltage regulating vr system and noise reduction pulse flo muffler
  •     Includes 3-year warranty, battery, wheel kit, oil, funnel, and assembly tools
  •     Ez-start color coded touch points

This review is from: Westinghouse WH7000E 8,500 Watt 420cc Gas Powered Portable Generator With Electric Start


This thing rocks! I hope the power goes out!, January 10, 2012 By Andrew Kitzberger (New Ulm, MN United States)

I have been searching and hunting all over for the most bang for your buckI didn't get this from amazon, but brand new from a small engine shop as someone traded it in, never used, not even oil in it on a snowblower.... I filled it with gas and oil at the shop and wham!--popped right off and began to purr. Over the next couple of weeks I have used it to power a circ saw, miter saw and a couple compressors at the same time and it doesn't even flinch. It's even pretty quite as far as larger generators go. I had some questions about the generator, needed a manual and such and emailed the company and in about 2 hours I was talking with a sales rep and had my questions answered. I can't saw enough good things about this generator and westinghouse thus far.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

DuroMax XP8500E-CA 8,500 Watt 16 HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit And Electric Start (CARB Compliant)

DuroMax XP8500E-CA 8,500 Watt 16 HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit And Electric Start (CARB Compliant) Description

Safeguard your family as well as provide portable power for work and play with the CARB compliant DuroMax XP8500E-CA gas-powered generator, which features a 16.0-horsepower air-cooled OHV engine that cranks out 7,000 constant running watts of power (and a peak of 8,500 watts; learn more about wattage needs below). It includes both a standard recoil start as well as an easy electric start.

This rugged workhorse is ideal for the jobsite where powering saws, drills, and other equipment is critical, but you can also depend on it for emergencies at home--insuring your essential appliances are running smoothly, reliably, and without interruption. It's EPA approved, and is also safe to use in U.S. National Parks thanks to the super quiet exhaust with spark arrestor.

The XP8500E includes four 120-volt, 20-amp standard household outlets to supply power to all of your appliances as well as a powerful 120/240-volt, 30-amp twist lock outlet for high-powered tools. A 12-volt DC output with leads functions as a charger for batteries and other rechargeable devices. Overloads are never a problem with its dual 15-amp circuit breaker. A volt meter allows you to monitor your generator's output range at all times, and the battery charge indicator light lets you know when the generator's starter battery is charging.

The exclusive DuroMax RV Switch (voltage selector) allows you to get maximum power from each of the 120-volt receptacles as well as choose between operating the generator at both 120 and 240 volts simultaneously, or at 120 only with full power.

With the electric start, it's as simple to get this generator going as turning on your car. And if the battery isn't fully charged, you can use the single-pull recoil cord to start the generator.

The XP8500E features a heavy duty steel frame roll cage with four-point fully isolated motor mounts for smooth and quiet operation. This generator is also easily portable thanks to the wheel kit with a flip-up, stow-away handle. The 10-1/2-inch all-terrain, never flat tires offer the flexibility and looks of a pneumatic tire without the rigidity of a solid tire--improving the mobility across both soft ground and hard surfaces.

You'll get up to 8 hours of run time (at 50 percent) from a 7-gallon tank of fuel. Other features include a super-quiet muffler, an advanced automatic voltage regulator (AVR) system and a low oil protection system which automatically shuts the generator off to protect it from any damage should it run out of oil. It's backed by a one-year limited warranty.

Features
  •     8500 Watt Surge/7000 Watt Continuous
  •     7 Gallon Gas Tank/8 Hour Run Time
  •     Electric Key Start/Includes Battery
  •     EPA And CARB Approved
  •     Automatic Low Oil Shut Off

This review is from: DuroMax XP8500E-CA 8,500 Watt 16 HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit And Electric Start (CARB Compliant)

Duromax XP8500E, December 12, 2011 By Donald Gisewhite Jr. (New Jersey)
(REAL NAME)

Great item, have used severals times because of power outages. The keyed starting makes this generator very simple to use, handles my 2 refridgerators, 2 furnaces,a well pump,a few recepticales and some lighting very easily. Have had 3 friends buy this unit after seeing mine. Spend the extra money and put in a transfer switch.

DuroMaxXP8500-CA, December 6, 2011 By Thom45

After hiving endured icestorms and early season snowstorms with resulkting power outages I decided it was time to purchase a generator. Following extensive research and head scratching I decided on the DuroMax 8500 with electric start. I had this delivered at work so I would have an easy way of off loading. The unit arrived early, which was no problem. I brought it home still in the shipping box and did not unpack it until the weekend. It was quite easy to assemble and after filling it with the recommended oil I decided to start it. I only used a small amount of gas and opened the shut-off to start it. It was then that I discovered that the gas line had a large slit in it.For something of this nature it wasn't worth sending back, so my son and I spent the next 2 or 3 hours taking it apart, finding a replacement line, and then putting it back together, So much for the inspection that was done at the factory. This spoiled what otherwise appears to be a good solid generator...

The one to get of this current capacity......, March 5, 2011 By Darthvagrant (Planet Earth)

This is one of the best (if not THE best) Chinese generators on the market. (To wit: "DuroMax")
The quality is good for a Chinese product, but more importantly it is (or at least mine was) sourced from a U.S. distributor that had outstanding tech. support IN THE USA. The 12V DC circuit is unregulated, but the instructions allude to this 12V DC being used to charge car (etc) batteries and NOT using it directly. No big deal, the 12V DC separate circuit to keep the (included, sealed) start battery up is apparently regulated so as to not ruin the start battery. The 110/220 AC is not spot on for 60HZ, but runs about 62-63HZ or so. No big deal on this either, could probably be corrected to 60HZ with a reduction in engine RPM to 3600....if possible. I haven't gone there as that's not a problem with my use.(See "addenda") Has a handy "idle down" when no load is imposed on the generator. Goes to complete (engine speed) idle when no load, but comes alive with even a ¼ watt load or less; very sensitive, which is good. The packaging was superb, damage highly unlikely. Not a Honda, it's moderately noisy, but does have an adequately large muffler. Handy fuel level on tank, not truly accurate (full scale), but certainly better than nothing. The only issue I was obliged to correct was a slight modification to the rt. handle which would not stack down properly due to inteference with the muffler. Again though, no big deal and not a totally essential 'mod.'.
.
Addenda 11-28-11: I located an (engine) speed adjustment screw and turning it resulted in a spot on adjustment of +/- 60HZ. To keep it spot on 60HZ I would suspect additional slight adjustments would be called for depending on load. This correct my ONLY complaint (and a slight one) on this generator.
.
Amazon is just a tad higher in $$ than another source, but still well in line with free shipping.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

DuroMax Elite MX4500 4,500 Watt 7 HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit

DuroMax Elite MX4500 4,500 Watt 7 HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit Description

Great for camping, RVs, sporting events, home back-up power, job sites, and more, the top-of-the-line DuroMax Elite MX4500 gas-powered generator has a 7.0-horsepower air-cooled, 4-stroke engine with a recoil start that cranks out 3,500 constant running watts of power (and a peak of 4,500 watts; learn more about wattage needs below). This generator is EPA approved with a rating of 69 dBA for quiet operation thanks to its super-quiet muffler, and it's also safe to use in U.S. National Parks thanks to the super quiet exhaust with spark arrestor.

The MX4500 features a heavy duty steel frame roll cage with four-point fully isolated motor mounts for smooth and quiet operation. This generator is also easily portable thanks to the wheel kit with large, all-terrain knobby tires that will never deflate and a flip-up, stow-away handle. You'll get up to 8 hours of run time (at 50 percent) from a 4-gallon tank of fuel.

The fully loaded power panel features the main controls, including RV switch, engine shutoff switch, volt meter, and circuit breaker. It offers two 120-volt, 20-amp, 3-prong outlets and one 120/240-volt, 30-amp twist-lock outlet (all NEMA Certified).

Your Generator Needs

To determine whether a generator is appropriate for your needs, you need to first add up the wattage of tools, appliances, and motors you want to run at the same time. Then select a generator with the running wattage rating to match or exceed the total load.

Keep in mind that tools and appliances with electric motors require additional surge wattage at startup that can be double or triple the normal running wattage requirement. Look at the surge watts required and make sure you choose a generator with enough additional wattage to start them. (And remember that you're typically not starting more than half of the items at the same time.)

Features
  •     Durable 7.0 HP, Air-Cooled Engine with Low-Oil Shut-Off.
  •     Output: 4500 Watts Max / 3500 Watts Rated
  •     Automatic Idle Control
  •     2 - 120vAC 20A 3-Prong Outlets / 1 - 120/240vAC 30A Twist Lock / 1 - 12v DC Battery Charging Outlet.
  •     Non-CARB Compliant/Not For Sale In California

DuroMax Elite series generators are the top of the line. The MX4500 features an E-Z Recoil Start 7 HP DuroMax motor that cranks out 4500 Peak and 3500 Constant watts of Power. This Generator is great for Camping, RVs, Home Back-Up Power, Job Sites and wherever power is needed. The DuroMax Motor is air cooled and also has a low oil shutoff sensor to prevent motor burn out. A new design feature on this unit is the Automatic Idle Control designed to maintain RPMs under varying loads to maximize fuel efficiency while minimizing noise output. The 4 gallon gas tank provides a runtime of 8 hours at a 50% load. These units are EPA approved with a rating of 69 dBA for quiet operation and are also safe to use in U.S. National Parks thanks to the super quiet exhaust with spark arrestor. The main face of the 4500 Elite Series Generator is the fully loaded Power Panel which features the main controls of the generator from the RV switch, engine shutoff switch, volt meter, and circuit breaker. Also on the Power Panel is the (2) 120 Volt 20 Amp 3 Prong Outlets and (1) 120/240 Volt 30 Amp Twist Lock NEMA Certified outlets. Heavy duty steel frame and fully isolated steel roll cage protect the generator from accidental bumps into equipment. 4-Point engine mounts help the generator reduce vibration and allow for smooth and quiet operation. Portability is this generators middle name with flip-up stow away handles and large solid filled knobby style tires that will never deflate and leave you in a rut. DuroMax Elite Series Generators all carry a 1 Year Factory Warranty so if for any reason your generator gives you problems simply let us know and we will do our best to make it right. As always all MaxTool offers it 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee standard on every item we sell.

This review is from: DuroMax Elite MX4500 4,500 Watt 7 HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit

Happy so far, November 29, 2011 By gjet72

My DuroMax was delivered when promised. It was packed very well and was a breeze to assemble. I added the oil and gas and fired her up. This generator is the quietest I've ever run. I haven't had to put it to the test yet but it is comforting to know that I have it waiting in the wings.

Worked perfectly during the Great Snow Storm of October 2011, November 25, 2011 By John Pratt "Human Being" (Wethersfield, CT United States)
(REAL NAME)

I ordered this generator right after Hurricane Irene. It took a few weeks to ship (as listed on the site), but came quickly via UPS once it did ship. It was wheeled right into my garage, where I took it out, assembled the wheels, and filled it with oil. The generator was just light enough for me to lift it and flip it around during assembly. Good thing, because the wheel instructions were horrible. The parts described didn't match what was in the box and the instructions were worse than useless. However, having assembled more than my share of stuff I did better looking at the picture on the box and test fitting everything before tightening all the bolts. The folding handles are very convenient and make it easy to wheel the thing around the yard. I filled it with oil the Friday before the big storm hit - royal pain. Be sure to get a long, curved, thin, flute funnel since the oil fill hole is basically horizontal under the outlets, and use exactly the 20 fluid ounces indicated. I ended up overfilling the oil a bit using a homemade funnel and it blew some extra out the air filter during use. Because of the very poor wheel instructions and badly positioned oil fill hole, I would really give it a 4.5, but it worked so well I didn't feel a 4 was fair.

During the storm, we lost power for 4 full days. My test run of the generator was day one, and it ran perfectly all 4 days. I decided to wheel it to my front porch (really covered steps) and run the two cords under the storm door (which closed fully) and into the house (the main door had a .5 inch gap which we covered with a blanket due to the cold as well as any exhaust issues). The exhaust port between the folding handles was pointed away from the house and we had no issues with the exhaust. When starting it, I flipped all the switches and levers, one pull on the starter cord, and brrroooom! Couldn't be easier. For noise, it was only slightly louder than normal speech, which matches the specs of 69 db. Much quieter than the neighbors' generators. I bought a 100 foot 12 gauge heavy duty contractor cord to run all the way to the basement for the furnace/sump pump. Well worth the $90. I used a 50 foot 14 gauge extension cord for the upstairs appliances and devices.

The gas filler is fairly wide which helped prevent spilling but it is low relative to a full gas can's spout so I made a mess the first time. Keep paper towels tucked under the cage rails on top. The fuel level gauge on top of the tank is great and was easily visible from inside the house through the door sidelites (very convenient at 10 PM and freezing cold). I used 2 gallons per day running around 8 hours per day. I did not use fuel stabilizer until after the storm when I added it to the tank, drained the gas out, and ran it dry. The little cap you remove to drain the gas is better then unclipping a fuel line but much slower to drain.

I selected this wattage due to a desire to balance capacity with fuel use. Given the gas station lines and occassional nastiness of people, it was a wise decision. A larger generator would not have provided enough juice to run our electric stove or dryer on top of everything else, but we still had everything important including the furnace for heat (gas with 3 electric zone pumps - I switched the furnace hardline for an outlet after Irene), sump pump (not needed this time but also with an outlet right next to the furnace), refrigerator, chargers for phones/devices and my 18 volt tool batteries (gotta love big bright flashlights in a blackout), and our home theater with big HDTV!!! We watched movies every night in style! For cooking, we swapped the fridge line for the microwave, broiler oven, or pancake griddle as needed. I also have the disposal and dishwasher wired with plugs, so we could run them as needed, too (some neighbors had rotting food in the disposal - yuck). The fridge compressor and pancake griddle caused the most load on the generator, so expect a well pump to behave the same (we have pressure fed city water). The only thing we need to buy for next time is a two-burner counter top electric stove for boiling water.

The generator is now tucked away in my shed for next time. I used the box as a cover, so I can stack light things on top of it. Two people can easily carry it if the wheels are unusable - i.e. snowblow a path to the shed and carry it out. Now that I am finishing the basement I don't want the sump to overflow because the pump can't run, so this purchase was really an investment that is better than insurance since you can use it to *prevent* problems. It really is piece of mind.

Good generator, misleading description, November 20, 2011 By Steve B. (Brooklyn, NY)

This review is from: DuroMax Elite MX4500 4,500 Watt 7 HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit
I purchased this generator during a week long power outage so that we'd be prepared for the next one. Amazon was backordered for 1-3 months but it showed up on my doorstep in 2 days so I got to use it for 3 full days during the outage. I Love Amazon!

It's decent generator but the description is very misleading. At the time of purchase it was advertised to have Automatic Idle Control which typically means that the generator will idle itself down to conserve gas if there's no load. This feature is typically only available on high end generators so I was super excited to have it on this one. DuroMax does NOT have AIC, if you read their long description on the MaxTool site this will become obvious. According to MaxTool the only differences between the MX4500 and more common XP4400 are: color (red vs. blue), an extra 100 peak watts (useless), new frame design, and new packaging. Basically, they're identical so buy whichever is cheaper at the time.

The generator arrived in good condition and it took me about 1 hour to read the instructions, put on the wheel kit, add oil (600ml), add gas, and fire it up. There was the usual confusion regarding the choke -- open/close on the generator vs. on/off in the manual. Choke should ON for start up then moved to OFF.
The generator ran wonderfully for 72 straight hours. I changed the oil once after 5 hours then every 20-25 hours after that. I was able to run the furnace fan (600W), sump pump (500w), fridge (150W), deep freezer (50W), lights (100W), aquarium equipment (200W), neighbor's space heater (1300W) and a plasma TV (200W) for a short while...all at the same time! The generator rarely showed any signs of strain although some appliances did. Make sure you have high quality (read: low guage) extension cords and you balance the load equally.

Voltage was 120-125V and 61-63 Hz depending on load...I'm not happy about the Hertz being above 60. I'm not sure if there's an idle screw that can be adjusted. I emailed tech support but received no response. I do not recommend running any electronics off this generator. My UPS, TV, and Computer were not happy with the power cleanliness.

Noise was about average compared to the dozens of other generators running in my neighborhood. There's some annoying rattling from the pins that hold wheels and handles, but I can live with that.

If you want this generator to last make sure to follow the aggressive maintenance schedule that's outlined in manual. Some competitors claim you can go 50-100 hours per oil change, I wouldn't do it on a cheap engine like this without an oil filter.

To summarize, this generator is far from perfect. I would've liked cleaner power, more 120V outlets, and less messy oil changes. It's plenty powerful to run all necessities during an emergency and the price is hard to beat. You'll need to spend 3-5x to get comparable power out of a Briggs or a Honda. I'd give it 5 stars but must ding 1 star for the false advertising.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

DuroMax XP8500E 8,500 Watt 16 HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit And Electric Start

DuroMax XP8500E 8,500 Watt 16 HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit And Electric Start Description

Safeguard your family as well as provide portable power for work and play with the DuroMax XP8500E gas-powered generator, which features a 16.0-horsepower air-cooled OHV engine that cranks out 7,000 constant running watts of power (and a peak of 8,500 watts; learn more about wattage needs below). It includes both a standard recoil start as well as an easy electric start.

This rugged workhorse is ideal for the jobsite where powering saws, drills, and other equipment is critical, but you can also depend on it for emergencies at home--insuring your essential appliances are running smoothly, reliably, and without interruption. It's EPA approved, and is also safe to use in U.S. National Parks thanks to the super quiet exhaust with spark arrestor.


The XP8500E includes four 120-volt, 20-amp standard household outlets to supply power to all of your appliances as well as a powerful 120/240-volt, 30-amp twist lock outlet for high-powered tools. A 12-volt DC output with leads functions as a charger for batteries and other rechargeable devices. Overloads are never a problem with its dual 15-amp circuit breaker. A volt meter allows you to monitor your generator's output range at all times, and the battery charge indicator light lets you know when the generator's starter battery is charging.

The exclusive DuroMax RV Switch (voltage selector) allows you to get maximum power from each of the 120-volt receptacles as well as choose between operating the generator at both 120 and 240 volts simultaneously, or at 120 only with full power.

With the electric start, it's as simple to get this generator going as turning on your car. And if the battery isn't fully charged, you can use the single-pull recoil cord to start the generator.

The XP8500E features a heavy duty steel frame roll cage with four-point fully isolated motor mounts for smooth and quiet operation. This generator is also easily portable thanks to the wheel kit with a flip-up, stow-away handle. The 10-1/2-inch all-terrain, never flat tires offer the flexibility and looks of a pneumatic tire without the rigidity of a solid tire--improving the mobility across both soft ground and hard surfaces.

You'll get up to 8 hours of run time (at 50 percent) from a 7-gallon tank of fuel. Other features include a super-quiet muffler, an advanced automatic voltage regulator (AVR) system and a low oil protection system which automatically shuts the generator off to protect it from any damage should it run out of oil. It's backed by a one-year limited warranty.

This review is from: DuroMax XP8500E 8,500 Watt 16 HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit And Electric Start

Bad Part Covered - Worked as Expected Otherwise, November 14, 2011 By C. G. Smith (CT USA)
(REAL NAME)

Bought this generator during the Hurricane that hit the east coast in August. Luckily I did as we had a suprise snow storm that hit CT in October! Now when I tested the generator when I bought it, I ran it with load for a few hours and it worked fine. During the snowstorm when I ran it, eventually it did spring a slow oil leak due to a bad gasket/cap. Very frustrating obviously during an 8 day power outage (thank you CLP - sarcasm for CT folks). In any case my patch job held the leak back and other than that the generator has worked as expected. I called Maxtool and they did ship me the parts required at no cost, however as other's noted they do ask for the shipping which I agree is inappropriate during the warranty period, but it was a few bucks so not too bad. It was however USPS which means 5-7 business days, they could not offer my alternative shipping like FedEx, soooo again a negative.

Overall for the product the run times are good, on a tank of gas they are longer than expected 10-12 hours on 50% or less load. Changing the oil every 20 hours is about standard for generators and was easy to do. Electric start works great, as well as the pull cord for starting. Would be nice if it came with covers for the outlets but that's just a nice to have. The noise level is below average so a little noisy but not too noisy as some generators I've heard.

Overall I give this product 4 stars....SO FAR. All products will have a few bad parts once in a while, manufacturing quality control (thank you China) and I got one. Once I put the new pieces in the next week I'll update if it doesn't do the job. I'd say the only thing that lost a star was the par warranty shipping service. The Maxtool people are friendly and nice, but don't expect the platinum service that you would get with a bigger generator brand (which you do pay for in the price btw)

Awesome!, November 9, 2011 By radone2

Purchased after Tropical Storm Irene. Used it for 10 days straight after Winter Storm Alfred.

This unit plugs into my main panel via a 30amp outlet. Having the ability to pick and choose what I want on is the only way to go; running extension cords on a raised ranch will not work. The fuel efficiency is as stated, even with the fuel gauge on E it ran for an hour or so after that. Biggest draw was the well and fridge; it would simply go up in RPMS for the surge and it was back to normal.

Never skipped a beat over those 10 days without power (Thanks CL&P). Shut it down to check oil every other day for an hour, but it basically ran all day and night long. The unit is a little loud, but that's to be expected. Easy to start, even with pull cord. Like the idle control and auto shutoff for low oil. For what you get for the price for something you only use once and awhile, I think its well worth the investment. To spend lots of money for a Honda, seems like a waste. Better to invest in the interlock kit for your panel or switching out the old panel to the new style.

It has performed as advertised, August 26, 2011 By Thomas

I have used this generator for 11 months now and it has performed great. There were two power outages last winter, one lasting two days, the other for 14 hrs. This generator did an outstanding job running anything in our total electric home (albeit not all at once). I followed the instructions and run it once a month, then drain the gas, and store it out of the weather. The motor starts fast with the electric start, and there are no leaks anywhere on the engine or tank as others have reported. For the money I absolutely would buy another one and recommend it to my friends.

great machine, February 1, 2011 By Craig M. Zacarelli "photographer" (wallingford,ct.)
(REAL NAME)

got mine last year and im loving it. recently used it to run a small ele chainsaw way down at the back of my property, worked great, now we are expecting to get B***h slapped b y Hurricane Irene this sunday so ill be useing this baby again most likley....living out in the country with lots of trees means power outtages are not at all uncommon. Id say, if you want this modle, get it.. I love mine, just wished it had a hitch to hook it too my tractor, its pretty heavy to push across like 3 acres on grass and field...lol

Needed a Good Generator - Fast, January 5, 2011 By Michael Pochop (McCook, Nebraska, US)

I ordered the 10000 watt 16hp generator exactly nine days before Christmas, actually needing it two days before Christmas, and hoping for a miracle. I needed the unit to power a Clark 3DS floor machine which requires 8kw steady to operate. I was scheduled to refinish a school gym floor and couldn't get ahold of a rental piece of equipment.

Speaking to the sales rep - he told me I would probably not see the unit before Christmas - I hesitated and then ordered the unit anyway. The unit was sent from California to Nebraska and was delivered in 3 working days without a rush on shipping. I was ecstatic.

I unpacked the unit and found it simple to get ready to operate. I attached 200 foot of heavy guage 30 amp cord to the generator, hooked up my 3DS and fired up the generator. After about three minutes to allow for warm up, I activated the 3DS. The generator immediately picked up to full throttle, supplying ample power to my floor machine. So the initial test went okay.

Two days later at six o'clock in the morning, at a temperature of 10 degrees F, I cranked up the machine and got ready to start on the gym floor. After a five minute warm-up; I started and ran my 3DS for almost five hours straight. I had absolutely no problems with this unit and it didn't even use a half a tank of gas at full throttle for a good four hours.

Very happy about the solid wheels - no possibility for flats. Very happy about the electric start, individual breakers, idle control, and ease of operation. The noise was about what I expected for a 16hp motor, but was quieter than a lot of Briggs motors of less hp. Overall, a well built, solid unit. I would recommend it.

Update as of January 2012. I used the above generator to refinish 8 gym floors last year. I average about 6-7 hours of running time, with about 4 to 5 hours of full throttle running time. I've had no "quirks" or bad experiences with the unit. I changed the oil after the first 10 hours of operation (old habit from working with small engines) to allow for break-in. Still running great.

Well Pleased after 1 year, October 20, 2010 By R. L. Reed "R. Reed"
(REAL NAME)

I have had the Powermax xp8500e for a little over 18 months now and replaced a Honda 4400 watt generator with it. Our power goes out often and recently ran the generator over 8 hrs due to a failure in the area. Total run time would be estimated at over 60 hours thus far. I have read the other reviews and decided to post this one. I have not experienced any problems other than the tires leaking down over time. I use it to power the entire house and just pay attention to how much and what I'm using such as cutting the hot water pump off while taking showers since I have 2 4000 watt elements in an 80 gallon tank. After showering and running the water pump I cut the hot water heater back on. The 2 refrigerators and 2 freezers as well as lights, tv/satellite are all fine during this process. Manage your consumption, use a transfer switch and inlet box, it makes things much simpler and very quick. Change the oil after the first couple of runs due to break in. Shut the gas off and let the motor run out then cut the switch off. It starts occassionally on the first pull and if not on the second just to see if it will but use the electric start. It is quiter than the 4400 watt I had and the idle down/up according to demand works great. On several occasions I've had to take it to work on construction projests, buildings where there was no power available and operated fine. I'm sorry some other folks have had problems but for the price and wattage this one has been excellent for me.

Generator, November 16, 2009 By David (Houston Texas)

Great item, have used severals times because of power outages. The keyed starting makes this generator very to use, handles my 2 refers and some lighting very easily.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

DuroMax XP10000E 10,000 Watt 16 HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit And Electric Start

DuroMax XP10000E 10,000 Watt 16 HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit And Electric Start Description

Safeguard your family as well as provide portable power for work and play with the DuroMax XP10000E gas-powered generator, which features a 16.0-horsepower air-cooled OHV engine that cranks out 8,000 constant running watts of power (and a peak of 10,000 watts; learn more about wattage needs below). It includes both a standard recoil start as well as an easy electric start.

This rugged workhorse is ideal for the jobsite where powering saws, drills, and other equipment is critical, but you can also depend on it for emergencies at home--insuring your essential appliances are running smoothly, reliably, and without interruption. It's EPA approved, and is also safe to use in U.S. National Parks thanks to the super quiet exhaust with spark arrestor.

The XP10000E's fully loaded power panel includes two 120-volt, 20-amp standard household outlets to supply power to all of your appliances as well as a powerful 120/240-volt, 30-amp twist lock outlet for high-powered tools. A 12-volt DC output with leads functions as a charger for batteries and other rechargeable devices. It also includes one 120-volt, 30-amp twist lock outlet and a 120/240-volt, 50-amp heavy duty outlet (NEMA 14-50 3-pole, 4-wire).

The exclusive DuroMax RV Switch (voltage selector) allows you to get maximum power from each of the 120-volt receptacles as well as choose between operating the generator at both 120 and 240 volts simultaneously, or at 120 only with full power.

Overloads are never a problem with its dual 33-amp circuit breaker. A volt meter allows you to monitor your generator's output range at all times, and the battery charge indicator light lets you know when the generator's starter battery is charging.

With the electric start, it's as simple to get this generator going as turning on your car. And if the battery isn't fully charged, you can use the single-pull recoil cord to start the generator.

The XP10000E features a heavy duty steel frame roll cage with four-point fully isolated motor mounts for smooth and quiet operation. This generator is also easily portable thanks to the wheel kit with a flip-up, stow-away handle. The 10-1/2-inch all-terrain, never flat tires offer the flexibility and looks of a pneumatic tire without the rigidity of a solid tire--improving the mobility across both soft ground and hard surfaces.

You'll get up to 10 hours of run time (at 50 percent) from a 8.3-gallon tank of fuel. Other features include a super-quiet muffler, an advanced automatic voltage regulator (AVR) system and a low oil protection system which automatically shuts the generator off to protect it from any damage should it run out of oil. It's backed by a one-year limited warranty.


Product Features
  •     10000 Watt Surge/8000 Watt Continuous
  •     8.3 Gallon Gas Tank
  •     Electric Key Start/Includes Battery
  •     EPA Approved
  •     Automatic Low Oil Shut Off


Your Generator Needs

To determine whether a generator is appropriate for your needs, you need to first add up the wattage of tools, appliances, and motors you want to run at the same time. Then select a generator with the running wattage rating to match or exceed the total load.

Keep in mind that tools and appliances with electric motors require additional surge wattage at startup that can be double or triple the normal running wattage requirement. Look at the surge watts required and make sure you choose a generator with enough additional wattage to start them. (And remember that you're typically not starting more than half of the items at the same time.)

This review is from: DuroMax XP10000E 10,000 Watt 16 HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit And Electric Start

duromax generator, December 11, 2011 By Anthony Hurmis (Wonder Lake, Illinois)

Fast shipment and arrived without damage, the delivery guys even placed it in my garage. The directions for assembly were simple and fast, even provided the necessary tools to do the job. Two weeks after purchase our power went out so I hooked up the power cable I had made, plugged it into the receptacle and we had full power. We had ran our AC, lights, TV, Xbox, dishwasher, and even laundry just as if we had normal power. This unit for the price has to be the best purchase I have even made. Once more I can even use it on some job sites that don't have power yet.

Should have done this long ago
, December 5, 2011 By MAA0623

In August 2011, we took a direct hit from Irene and lost power 6 days.
After researching many home generators I settled on the XP10000E as it had everything I needed
and was not as expensive as some of the name brands. The Unit arrived in November 2011 and was very
well packed. Yes, its heavy and once unboxed,and the wheel and handle kits were installed it rolls around nicely.
The toughest part of this whole job was locating the negative battery terminal and connecting it.
They dont give much room to work with and that front panel which covers the battery, doesn't look like it
comes off, it didn't for me anyway but that was the least of the problem.
Once the battery was connected, all I had to do, was add a quart of oil per the specs
and a gallon of gas so it could be tested. The electric start fired it right up and the generator ran smoothly.
Next step was to hire a professional electrician to wire it direct to the main circuit panel with a transfer switch.
What the electrican liked about this generator is that it has a 50 AMP
receptacle on it for max power and thats the one he used to plug into the house. After the technician finished
his electrical work, we fired up the generator, threw the transfer switch & in an instant, we had full power in the house.
This unit ran 2 refrigerators, 1 huge freezer, lights, TV's and some other small appliances and never slowed down or missed a beat.
For me, Its goodnight to annoying power outages forever. So better grab one now while they last.

Nice size, efficient, and LOTS of plugs!
, November 9, 2011 By CowBelly

I really like the power and flexibility of this generator - having the multiple 110 plugs (including the 30 Amp) was great during our last week long power outage as it let me use lots of cords until I was able to properly wire in the 50 Amp connector - also an option not found on other generators. Burns about 12 gallons of gas a day running nearly continuously powering 2 fridges, well, furnace, lights, computers - everything except electric hot water and my electric dryer (too much draw - had to shut down everything else to use either of them).

Instructions for connecting the battery for electric start are not clear, but the pull start was easy enough, even with the 16 HP engine.

Great choice . ., October 14, 2011 By Key West

this generator runs our entire house, with power to spare. Our electrician chose this from several brands we showed him. The shipping was ideal. We were called the day before and also an hour before delivery. We are very pleased with the Duromax XP10000e, and would recommend it for anyone who's looking for a powerful little generator.

Very good quality for cost, October 3, 2011 By R. Arvin (Baltimore, MD)
(REAL NAME)

The generator was delivered in excellent condition and the installation of the wheels and lifting handles were easy and straightforward. After charging the battery and filing with 5W30 synthetic oil and gasoline, it started up quickly and ran very quietly. Did not have the reason to put it on line but am satisfied that it will do all that I will demand from it. It compares favorably with the 10 kw Honeywell generator purchased from Amazon earlier this year. There is some commonality with the parts on these generators that I do not view as a problem but rather as simple economics of production or that they may be made by the same company. The only factor which could be improved upon would be the location of the battery as it is positioned so as to make it somewhat difficult to clip on the battery charger leads. I might add that the Honeywell generator has been put into service and performed very well in powering a 4 ton A/C. There is no reason to assume that this Duramax will operate any differently.

Duro Max 10000, September 18, 2011 By J. A. Hollingsworth

I ordered my DuroMax XP10000 from Amazon last week and it was delivered in five days. Of course, it was shipped from Max Tools in
California. Nothing wrong with that, drop shipping is done all the time. R&L was the carrier, Fast delivery, Good driver. As I live on a narrow country road & he was driving an 18 wheeler, we made arrangements to meet at a truck stop, on a larger highway. He moved it directly onto my Pick up truck. Nice, friendly Cajun fellow. Good doings R&L! The shipping weight is 280 lbs. so I unpacked and
installed the wheels & handles while it was still on my truck. I filled it with a good oil & left it until the next morning. Help arrived the next morning to unload it, Make no mistake you will need two strong persons to lift it. I thought I would have to pull start it to charge the battery, but it started at the first turn of the key. It had good voltage and was running top notch, with no load on it. I have not put a heavy load on it yet. But more bad weather will be coming up the Gulf, so I'll be ready for it.
MINOR CONCERNS: I would like to see some "local" service centers nearby, But, reviews say Max Tools is a good company and stand behind their equipment. Still----! I also wish I knew who built the engine. It looks like a Briggs & Stratton. I wonder if B&S parts will fit?
So far I like what I see!

Great Generator - A must buy, September 14, 2011 By Jim Pierce (LI, New York, US)

Here on the NE we've been slammed atleast twice a year with 4 to 6 days woth power outages. So I did my DD (overboard as most peole do) and reading hte many reveiws trying to sift thru the ones that are normal complaints and the ones that really meant anything to not buy. Hesitating about buying this generator since we all know you get what you pay for especially where other 10,000 watt generators are selling for many hundreds plus more I decided to purchase it from Fred at Max Tool in Ca.
Got it home here on the East Coast in about 5 days. Installed the two wheels, handles and level blocks, filled the oil and gas, connected the ground cable to the battery, turned on the fuel, pulled the choke, turned the key start to strat and cranked it right up. Beautiful lQQking machine that hummms very quietly especially with the Idle switched to on. I liked it so much I purchased 3 more for friends. All with the same experience of easy assembly and starting. I don't know about the other companies selling these but Tool Max also included a 50amp, 30amp and 20 amp male plug ends where all I need to do is connect a wire to them for wiring into my panel. The cover is well worth the few bucks to protect it considering the savings.
So this is a difinite YES BUY for me.

Absolutely Wonderful, August 31, 2011 By Floyd F. Thomas III (Fort Edward, NY)

I bought a DuroMax 10,000 Watt Generator from [...] Model #XP10000e a while ago and have never had to use it up until now. It is capable of 120 volt operation and or 220 volt operation.

Many people have told me that it's not possible to get simultaneous 240 & 120 from the generator but I'm here to tell you that it is possible and works extremely well.

After some trial and error I figured out that it is possible to use the single 50 Amp, 4-Pole outlet to achieve a Simultaneous 240 / 120 Volt Wiring Harness.

Wire the male 240 V / 50 Amp plug properly. Green (ground) on top pole. Red & Black (hot) go to either of the side poles. White (common) goes to the bottom pole.

220 Volt Outlet is wired without a common (white) wire. Connect the red & black wires to either side of the outlet. Also connect the green (ground) to the outlet.

Using the white wire, go to the 110 volt outlets. Make certain that you connect the outlets (look on the back of the outlet) to the common pole.

Using the black and or red (hot = 120 volts each) connect to the hot pole on the 120 volt outlets. Use ONLY one or the other per outlet or you will have 220 rather than 110.

Ground all outlets using the green or bare wire.

This is an isolated setup ( No Back-Feeding )and does not connect to any part of your home's wiring. In my case, I drilled a 3/4" hole through the wall and ran the main cable (8 gauge, 4 strand) outside making certain to leave plenty of slack to get to the generator while having enough left inside to make all my connections. I located the 1st connection (220 Volt) very close to the hole I drilled and mounted an outlet box to the wall for the A/C. Then I mounted a larger box beside it, to make my connections. From the larger box I have two smaller boxes connected using 12 gauge, 3-wire, to connect the 110 volt outlets.

Check it out and maybe you can help others that have wanted / attempted to use more of the power that it harnessed in a larger generator like this one.

I tested the setup with a 220V, 25,000 BTU A/C and several 110V items, including two shop-vacs. With everything going at the same time the voltage needle remained well within the operating range of approx. 220 Volts.

Now that Irene is upon all of us on the eastern seaboard, I'm happy that I bought this generator. Even though I have not lost electricity yet, there are 900,000 people all around the area that have.