Just finished putting a Predator 459 in my golf cart to replace the Robins 295cc and what a difference! So much more power and double the speed. (a bit scary) I've seen a few others who did it and their seem to be holding up really well after 3yrs.
Awsome I’m planning to get the same one but 5000 watts for home in any emergency like power outages in some weather conditions just enough power for the refrigerator and tv and lights
Thank you for the good review. I got one of these today for a huge storm power outage. I didn't read directions so I didn't know about the electric start. Added gas and oil and it started right up the first pull. I was soo happy! Hooked up 2 refrigerators, an upright freezer, gas hot water heater, fans, electronics, microwave, rice cooker, and it ran great. It varied between 1200W- 1800W on the display. At 5 hours it had burned about 1.5 gallons of gas with ESC on. I'm glad I didn't get the 9,000 giant loud one that is the same price. I can take this guy tent camping with my 10k BTU air conditioner and not disturb neighbors. Now I need to go look at hooking up the battery on it for electric starting, though it starts with 1 pull every time so far.
It might have had problems if all the refrigerators and microwave and rice cooker kicked on at once. But we didn't have any problems during a 2 day outage with all that hooked to it.@@divindave6117
I just bought one. I keep my RV at the campground I work at Indian Rock RV park & Campground in Jackson NJ. We semi-frequently have power outages at the campground. Now that winter is upon us, I bought the generator as a backup and to use it when camping elsewhere next year. Great video, thank you for thinking of others.
I own two of these generators. The trick to not spending $900 on one is going to the Harbor Freight in the hood. People buy them to use one time and bring them back which drops the price $300. Plus every year they have a 20% off coupon on anyone items. I used mine on a returned 3500 and got the it for $480. So I was able to buy two for just over $1000 both of them were returns. I have had zero issues with one. The other someone for what ever reason unscrewed the carb inlet valve and gas went every where. Took 2 minutes to fix and no issues after that.
We were completely out of public power during the N. CA. / Oregon fire, for weeks, and when it was available, we were getting excessive voltage. I ran the 3500 and love it! It does seem to have a thirst for gasoline, but then, so what! It's very neighbor friendly sound wise. A full time Grand Design fiver here.
Phillip, I Just walked out of Harbor Freight and purchased this generator. It was $899 with no tax, for some kind of deal. I also opted out of the extended warranty. Every question I had in my mind about this generator, you answered precisely. I am also a TH-camr and live in a 16 ft camper and wanted something to run my 13,500 BTU AC. I almost pulled the trigger and bought a Honda for $3,000, but I’m very confident that the Predator 3500 Inverter is just what I needed. Your video was the first one I watched and the last one I need to watch. Thank you, my friend. God Bless, Sarasota Tim😎
Thanks dude. Very informative for my needs. Reassuring that someone else agrees the extra warranty crap is useless. If you take care of the product the way the manufacturer tells you to and follow the instructions it should work for a long time. You have to think that the manufacturers goal is to have a reliable device in order to get good word of mouth, so they can sell a ship load of these. Bad reviews seem to me to be sour apples from competitors (maybe). I just bought my 3500 $892.24 out the door on 02/22/23 When the elites shut down the power grid, I am confident I’ll be ready with this and my solar generator.
I finished watching your video. I second that Notion :) . Loved your demo on the Harbor Freight Generator. I am more convinced to get one now. Thank you for doing this video!
just to help, a microwave oven uses the same power at startup as it does during its use cycle. things with electric motors have require power sources that can handle large surge, fridge, blow motor, ac, basically anything with a large motor.
This review is great thank you. I'm in the market for a generator and I need to educate myself on them. Can you plug a commercial grade dog dryer into it while running an air conditioner?
Excellent video dude. Any idea if you can run it from an enclosed space such as where my old Onan onboard gen set runs on my Class C rv? Provided you allow for exhaust and air intake?
Looking at the 2nd of back to back severe winter storms with high wind gusts expected. We lost power for 8 hours a few days ago, likely to lose it again tomorrow. Do you think I could use this to power a small space heater, a light or two and charge a phone?
This is the first one I've seen on TH-cam that has the newer chassis. The parallel ports are in a different place and there's no rubber covers on the buttons.
I think there have been even more changes as well. I bought one a few days ago and my locations on all of the receptacles/monitor/parallel ports are in the same locations, but all of my buttons are rubber seal covered, the monitor button for switching between readings is on the top left of the display instead of the lower right, and the biggest change I see on mine is the battery compartment is on the left side instead of the right. His twist lock is slightly angled at about 5 oclock and mine is straight down at 6 oclock (both better than when they were at roughly 2 oclock position). Also the oil drain on mine has about a 6" hose you can run out the door and drain without going through the bottom with the oil.
I’ve had my 3500 generator for almost a year and I’ve never had to charge the battery but I also make sure to run it for about 15 minutes every other month or when not in use
Hi I like your explanation on the Predator generator & would like to know if I can run my entire house (1100sqf) with it & for how long? Thank you in advance for your response.
GREAT video! Can I assume it runs your RV 30 AMP with no issues? Your AC is good with the 3000 running amps even with your fridge or microwave running. I guess we would run the fridge on propane when boondocking so does the microwave trip the inverter/generator if you are also running the AC?
We have not had any issues. We hardly use the microwave. A great test we had with it was my in-laws generator stopped working. They were able to plug there camper into the generator to run there AC along with ours. It did it. But it was really pushing it. 😀
awesome video so the unit ran from 9-6 using the AC? Did it stop at 6am because of the gas or did it overheat or shutdown because of overload? if it was the gas can you refill and continue the AC without worrying your overloading the unit? Thankyou for your time
Its still a generator. Your correct saying that it is an inverter, but it is an inverter generator. Inverters alone convert power from DC to AC, generators alone transform mechanical energy into electrical power......... this generator does both, it generates electricity and inverts it.
Don't know a thing about amps volts or ac DC , really good rock band , I'm going hunting in the fall and want to run a small freezer if I'm successful with my hunt to transport meat home , live in Kentucky and hunting in northern Alberta Canada so it's a 3 day trip , will the 3500 do what I need , and yes it will be on in the bed of my truck while I'm traveling , I didn't want an inverter hooked to my battery
Very good and thorough review 👍🏼although I'll admit you made it look easy at first picking that Bad Boy up, but it seems on 2nd hand your thinking it might be better for 2 people if possible 🤣, I picked mine up by myself thinking it would be lightweight but 102lbs is 102lbs HA HA
Great video! Im in the process of creating a part time music room in my outdoor shed for streaming. I just need enough power to push a couple of computers, possibly a portable ac (7000 btu-115v) and a couple of lights. Would this bad boy do the job for that purpose? Thanks
I haven’t had any problems. Our sits out in the rain running. But I did take a rubber mud flap to cover the outlets from the weather. That keeps the front panel dry.
Hello , thanks for making such an informative vidoe. Im planning on using this to operate a window AC unit. Do you know if this can work and do the job. Thanks buddy.
What would you use to protect this device from an EMP or huge solar flare? Also, do you know what would work as a sound encasement? I was thinking maybe a dog igloo might work.
The dog igloo would cause the generator to shut down. It’s needs proper ventilation. Unless you modify the dog house. It’s not very loud. even putting it behind a bush deadens the sound. I have never thought of EMP or Solar flare so I can’t really say.
It will not power the whole house. You would be able to run a power cords to a few 120 volt appliances like sump pumps, refrigerators etc. in emergency’s.
Yes. This is a great generator for emergency outages when you need to plug a few things in. This model is only 110 volts. There is a bigger predator that does 240 volt.
Enjoyed the video! Thanks. (Just wished you would have let it run longer while talking and bringing the camera in closer to get a better idea how loud/quiet it really is. Plus plugged something into it that draws some current to hear how it ramps up. Thanks, though.)
When my Honda 2000 dies I’ll be getting a open frame inverter harbor freight 4500 watt generator for my Expedite Van those are very quite and can run for 16 hrs on one tank of gas
I won't take these in my shop. Taking these apart for serious repair is a pain. Turned one away yesterday. Better get the extended warranty and plan to use it.
Just think how much less it will weigh after the cheap rings and bearings wear away and get washed out with the next oil change! You replaced a Honda with this? I hope you don't use it a whole lot.
Actually, yes I do. I replaced 2 Honda generators with these. Do the regular maintenance. Don’t get hooked on name brands anymore. Unfortunately It’s not like the good old days.
@@PhillipBridgesReviews - Project Farm did a review of the Honda EU2000i generator, including sending the oil from the first engine change off to a lab for independent testing. It came back with very low ppm for metals. He tested Chinesium generators as well...and those results came back quite a bit different. My dad's got a 20+ year old Honda quad and it still runs great. I'll stick with proven quality, if it's something I'm going to depend on in an emergency.
the video takes way too long to let us hear how quiet it is. most people arent going to wait that long to hear it. if i were you i would speed it up a bit.
Harbourfreight makes some cheap Chinese shit , however… they really are the bang for a buck. I have a predator 5500w gen set. Its a honda clone. Its the most fuel efficient and quite generator for under 400$ ive owned. 5gal every 8hrs under FULL load. I mean..come on. 76 db .
Who here is getting impressed with Harbor Freights products? Give a like.
Just finished putting a Predator 459 in my golf cart to replace the Robins 295cc and what a difference! So much more power and double the speed. (a bit scary) I've seen a few others who did it and their seem to be holding up really well after 3yrs.
would does kind of inverters work to operate a water well pump ?
Awsome I’m planning to get the same one but 5000 watts for home in any emergency like power outages in some weather conditions just enough power for the refrigerator and tv and lights
Thank you for the good review. I got one of these today for a huge storm power outage. I didn't read directions so I didn't know about the electric start. Added gas and oil and it started right up the first pull. I was soo happy! Hooked up 2 refrigerators, an upright freezer, gas hot water heater, fans, electronics, microwave, rice cooker, and it ran great. It varied between 1200W- 1800W on the display. At 5 hours it had burned about 1.5 gallons of gas with ESC on. I'm glad I didn't get the 9,000 giant loud one that is the same price. I can take this guy tent camping with my 10k BTU air conditioner and not disturb neighbors. Now I need to go look at hooking up the battery on it for electric starting, though it starts with 1 pull every time so far.
Man thanks for your comments on how much stuff you can hook up to this generator. This is exactly what I wanted to know!
It might have had problems if all the refrigerators and microwave and rice cooker kicked on at once. But we didn't have any problems during a 2 day outage with all that hooked to it.@@divindave6117
Own two of these. One runs AC unit. Zero issues. The other runs two chest freezers. Zero issues. Quiet. Perfect for my application.
how quiet is quiet?
Can you run more than the two chest freezers? I’m buying to do the same in case of power failure. Mine are 40 years old each and non energy savers.
I just bought one. I keep my RV at the campground I work at Indian Rock RV park & Campground in Jackson NJ. We semi-frequently have power outages at the campground. Now that winter is upon us, I bought the generator as a backup and to use it when camping elsewhere next year. Great video, thank you for thinking of others.
I own two of these generators. The trick to not spending $900 on one is going to the Harbor Freight in the hood. People buy them to use one time and bring them back which drops the price $300. Plus every year they have a 20% off coupon on anyone items. I used mine on a returned 3500 and got the it for $480. So I was able to buy two for just over $1000 both of them were returns. I have had zero issues with one. The other someone for what ever reason unscrewed the carb inlet valve and gas went every where. Took 2 minutes to fix and no issues after that.
I like that trick. 👍🏻
Wow! Great idea
I’m not gonna lie all my big HF tools I’ve gotten doing that trick and being a track club member saves hella money
We were completely out of public power during the N. CA. / Oregon fire, for weeks, and when it was available, we were getting excessive voltage. I ran the 3500 and love it! It does seem to have a thirst for gasoline, but then, so what! It's very neighbor friendly sound wise. A full time Grand Design fiver here.
Phillip, I Just walked out of Harbor Freight and purchased this generator. It was $899 with no tax, for some kind of deal. I also opted out of the extended warranty. Every question I had in my mind about this generator, you answered precisely. I am also a TH-camr and live in a 16 ft camper and wanted something to run my 13,500 BTU AC. I almost pulled the trigger and bought a Honda for $3,000, but I’m very confident that the Predator 3500 Inverter is just what I needed. Your video was the first one I watched and the last one I need to watch. Thank you, my friend. God Bless, Sarasota Tim😎
Thanks Tim. I am still very satisfied with this generator. Can’t beat it for the price. 👍🏻
How is your Gen/ inv doing.
Loved your demo on the Harbor Freight Generator. I am more convinced to get one now. Thank you for doing this video!
Your welcome.
Thanks dude. Very informative for my needs. Reassuring that someone else agrees the extra warranty crap is useless. If you take care of the product the way the manufacturer tells you to and follow the instructions it should work for a long time. You have to think that the manufacturers goal is to have a reliable device in order to get good word of mouth, so they can sell a ship load of these. Bad reviews seem to me to be sour apples from competitors (maybe). I just bought my 3500 $892.24 out the door on 02/22/23
When the elites shut down the power grid, I am confident I’ll be ready with this and my solar generator.
I finished watching your video. I second that Notion :) . Loved your demo on the Harbor Freight Generator. I am more convinced to get one now. Thank you for doing this video!
No problem. 👍🏻
Thanks, just bought one during "garage sale"
Great review and explanations! Thanks!
just to help, a microwave oven uses the same power at startup as it does during its use cycle. things with electric motors have require power sources that can handle large surge, fridge, blow motor, ac, basically anything with a large motor.
This review is great thank you. I'm in the market for a generator and I need to educate myself on them. Can you plug a commercial grade dog dryer into it while running an air conditioner?
Great presentation, I have one and I love it!
Excellent video dude. Any idea if you can run it from an enclosed space such as where my old Onan onboard gen set runs on my Class C rv? Provided you allow for exhaust and air intake?
Myself. I would not. But if properly ventilated like you said. It could do the job.
No extended warranty? You live on the edge. 😆 Great Review!
I even have been know to take the tag off my mattress. 🙀
Never had an extended warranty and I'm still alive!
@@Water4Mart 😝
You think it could run well with the titanium 225 stick welder from Harbor Freight?
Looking at the 2nd of back to back severe winter storms with high wind gusts expected. We lost power for 8 hours a few days ago, likely to lose it again tomorrow. Do you think I could use this to power a small space heater, a light or two and charge a phone?
As long as it’s not over 3500 watts. You will be fine. 👍🏻
Mine is ready to go with this winter storm as well
This is the first one I've seen on TH-cam that has the newer chassis. The parallel ports are in a different place and there's no rubber covers on the buttons.
I think there have been even more changes as well. I bought one a few days ago and my locations on all of the receptacles/monitor/parallel ports are in the same locations, but all of my buttons are rubber seal covered, the monitor button for switching between readings is on the top left of the display instead of the lower right, and the biggest change I see on mine is the battery compartment is on the left side instead of the right. His twist lock is slightly angled at about 5 oclock and mine is straight down at 6 oclock (both better than when they were at roughly 2 oclock position). Also the oil drain on mine has about a 6" hose you can run out the door and drain without going through the bottom with the oil.
Does the battery recharge adequately when running or do you have to plug it into the house via some kind of charger, like w my friends Champion 3500?
I’ve had my 3500 generator for almost a year and I’ve never had to charge the battery but I also make sure to run it for about 15 minutes every other month or when not in use
Question? Is this a 4 stroke like Honda generators? It doesn't say at HF's site. 2 stroke amounts to lawn mower engine.
It’s a four stroke 👍🏻
Hi I like your explanation on the Predator generator & would like to know if I can run my entire house (1100sqf) with it & for how long? Thank you in advance for your response.
Thanks! That was a great review!
Can the electric start be triggered remotely by wire like from an inverter?
Not this model. But there 5000watt Predator can be started with a remote.
Does the battery power the inverter when the generator is not running?
No. Battery is only used to start the generator
Extremely helpful video! Thanks for sharing!
GREAT video! Can I assume it runs your RV 30 AMP with no issues? Your AC is good with the 3000 running amps even with your fridge or microwave running. I guess we would run the fridge on propane when boondocking so does the microwave trip the inverter/generator if you are also running the AC?
We have not had any issues. We hardly use the microwave. A great test we had with it was my in-laws generator stopped working. They were able to plug there camper into the generator to run there AC along with ours. It did it. But it was really pushing it. 😀
Does the parallel option allow single phase 240v AC ?
Only 120 volt.
Does it comes with adapter wires ?
No adapter wires.
Thanks sir 🙏🏼
awesome video so the unit ran from 9-6 using the AC? Did it stop at 6am because of the gas or did it overheat or shutdown because of overload? if it was the gas can you refill and continue the AC without worrying your overloading the unit? Thankyou for your time
It only shut down due to refill on gas.
Great video can also use probane right as gas more 119 ccs
Its still a generator. Your correct saying that it is an inverter, but it is an inverter generator. Inverters alone convert power from DC to AC, generators alone transform mechanical energy into electrical power......... this generator does both, it generates electricity and inverts it.
Hi thanks for the video one question is it safe to use a welder ?
Hey can this run a full size home fridge, 3 lamps and 2 fans at once ?
Yes that should not be a problem at all.
thanks for the review, Phillip.
Will this start immediately if I am wearing a kilt?
Depends on the color 😂
@@PhillipBridgesReviews LOL! 😀
Don't know a thing about amps volts or ac DC , really good rock band , I'm going hunting in the fall and want to run a small freezer if I'm successful with my hunt to transport meat home , live in Kentucky and hunting in northern Alberta Canada so it's a 3 day trip , will the 3500 do what I need , and yes it will be on in the bed of my truck while I'm traveling , I didn't want an inverter hooked to my battery
Yes it will easily power a freezer. 👍🏻
How long can i run a 600watt light?
Over 8 hours if on economy mode.
Very good and thorough review 👍🏼although I'll admit you made it look easy at first picking that Bad Boy up, but it seems on 2nd hand your thinking it might be better for 2 people if possible 🤣, I picked mine up by myself thinking it would be lightweight but 102lbs is 102lbs HA HA
yeah I’m use to picking up heavy stuff daily at work. I’m just use to it I guess. 😂
@@PhillipBridgesReviews makes sense and yes your pretty Big dude !! Merry Christmas
Great review. Thanks.
So any 10w 30 oil works ?
Yes
Great video! Im in the process of creating a part time music room in my outdoor shed for streaming. I just need enough power to push a couple of computers, possibly a portable ac (7000 btu-115v) and a couple of lights. Would this bad boy do the job for that purpose? Thanks
Yes this would do just fine 👍🏻.
I am standing at the store about to buy this until I realized it doesn't have GFCI outlets. Couldn't that be a problem for camping?
I haven’t had any problems. Our sits out in the rain running. But I did take a rubber mud flap to cover the outlets from the weather. That keeps the front panel dry.
Thanks for the great info!
Would this be able to power a margarita machine
as long as its not over 3500 watts
Hello , thanks for making such an informative vidoe. Im planning on using this to operate a window AC unit. Do you know if this can work and do the job. Thanks buddy.
Yes. It should work well. 👍🏻
What would you use to protect this device from an EMP or huge solar flare? Also, do you know what would work as a sound encasement? I was thinking maybe a dog igloo might work.
The dog igloo would cause the generator to shut down. It’s needs proper ventilation. Unless you modify the dog house. It’s not very loud. even putting it behind a bush deadens the sound. I have never thought of EMP or Solar flare so I can’t really say.
If we had an EMP or a solar flare big enough to knock this out there would be much bigger problems to deal with.
Is this good for 110v welder ?
I have not tested it with a Welder. It most likely would be fine.
What is that small battery for?
For the starter on the generator
Supposed to be started and stopped with the ESC switch off per the manual
I don't know much about generators but can you use it for the house
It will not power the whole house. You would be able to run a power cords to a few 120 volt appliances like sump pumps, refrigerators etc. in emergency’s.
Great review man
can you hook a 3500watt to a 2000watt to it to get 5500 watts
Only two of the same. So either 2- 2000watt or 2-3500 watt.
Is this good for emergency power outage in the winter time?
Yes. This is a great generator for emergency outages when you need to plug a few things in. This model is only 110 volts. There is a bigger predator that does 240 volt.
@@PhillipBridgesReviews thanks
Awesome video. Thank you so much. :-)
Enjoyed the video! Thanks.
(Just wished you would have let it run longer while talking and bringing the camera in closer to get a better idea how loud/quiet it really is. Plus plugged something into it that draws some current to hear how it ramps up. Thanks, though.)
Cameras aren’t very good at showcasing the noise level of a generator. They tend to be louder in videos. Just the nature of recording audio.
They are super quiet, like a Honda.
Nice review. As for replacement plan? In this case, worth it. Literally drop it off and get new machine.
Would you buy it again or a honda
I actually will be buying another one soon for work. Also, I want to see how well it works running them parallel.
Buy the Honda. There’s a reason why everyone keeps comparing to Honda, the small engine gold standard.
@@v1rotate391was.
When my Honda 2000 dies I’ll be getting a open frame inverter harbor freight 4500 watt generator for my Expedite Van those are very quite and can run for 16 hrs on one tank of gas
No such thing as a quiet open frame generator.
Is it still holding up
Yes. No problems.
Can you run it inside since it's an inverter?
No. It has exhaust. CO2
@@PhillipBridgesReviews Thanks
Can you run a portable AC with this machine?
As long as the unit is under 3500 watts you should be good 👍🏻
I won't take these in my shop. Taking these apart for serious repair is a pain. Turned one away yesterday. Better get the extended warranty and plan to use it.
A repair shop that turns away repairs. Good to know . 👍🏻
Can't wait till tesla comes out with one
The shaft lol
Just think how much less it will weigh after the cheap rings and bearings wear away and get washed out with the next oil change! You replaced a Honda with this? I hope you don't use it a whole lot.
Actually, yes I do. I replaced 2 Honda generators with these. Do the regular maintenance. Don’t get hooked on name brands anymore. Unfortunately It’s not like the good old days.
@@PhillipBridgesReviews - Project Farm did a review of the Honda EU2000i generator, including sending the oil from the first engine change off to a lab for independent testing. It came back with very low ppm for metals. He tested Chinesium generators as well...and those results came back quite a bit different. My dad's got a 20+ year old Honda quad and it still runs great. I'll stick with proven quality, if it's something I'm going to depend on in an emergency.
@@jasonbroom7147Your dad ran it for 20 years straight?! Now, THAT'S impressive. 😂
The unit comes with the unit itself. 😂 jk man thanks
Run the damn thing already!
Toolshop makes the same thing half the price
🤦♂️
Are you talking about a wheel kit? If so, do you have a link to it?
the video takes way too long to let us hear how quiet it is. most people arent going to wait that long to hear it. if i were you i would speed it up a bit.
If only TH-cam would give us a seek bar to move through the video faster. Wishful thinking, I know.
@@pinkiepie1656 nice sarcasm there. i admire your spunk lol
I usually just adjust the playback speed to either 1.5x or 2x
Harbourfreight makes some cheap Chinese shit , however… they really are the bang for a buck. I have a predator 5500w gen set. Its a honda clone. Its the most fuel efficient and quite generator for under 400$ ive owned. 5gal every 8hrs under FULL load. I mean..come on. 76 db .
*quiet, not "quite"
The shaft lol