All,

Thanks a ton for the info and recommendations.

I was committed to the following features/capabilities:

• 3,000 to 4,000 running watts
  
• Inverter type
  
• Dual fuel (propane & gasoline)
  
• A brand with a large, widely available product line (and therefore support and parts)

Value was also a very large factor as this is just to get me by for emergencies for the next 3 years (until we purchase our new home and have a whole house generator installed).

For these reasons, I purchased the Champion Power Equipment 4000-Watt Dual Fuel Open Frame Inverter Generator with optional wheel kit, L5-30P to Three 5-15R Extension Cord, and a 12' propane hose extension.

I should have all of the stuff by tomorrow and will completed the required break-ins and oil changes.

I will also be consolidating 3 of my 15# Blue Rhino LP "exchange tanks" for a 40# Worthington Cylinder (less room to store and longer run time between tanks changes). Like I said, I have a buddy with a lot of LP if needed and several places near me that can purge and fill tanks up to 100#.

Again, Thank you all. I appreciate the information and time.

quote:

Originally posted by Icabod:
We have a Craftsman 5600.
When I bought it, we set it up to run in the house circuit. I throw a breaker to shut the house off the grid. Then I throw another breaker to draw power from the generator. The generator runs outside and has a special plug on the side of the house.
I can run pretty much the entire house. This summer when the forest fire was nearby I discovered that the air conditioner drew too much power. It would try to run, then click off. As the only time we had actually run the generator was in cold weather.
In the fall, I test run it, add fresh gas and have two 5 gallon cans of gas. That’s good for three days with the generator off at night.
I had expected to run some extension cords to the refrigerator, freezer, etc. I was told it was illegal. However wiring into the house is much more efficient.

This is the way to go. I had an electrician add a 50 amp plug outside my house so i can power the entire house from the generator. I bought a generac, but that died after 2-3 years and was junk. Switched over to a Pulsar 9 or 10 kw and it can run on gasoline or propane. It’s also very quiet compared to the generac.