i bought a briggs and stratton because it was being sold by a neighbor and it was cheap (200 for a 5500/6500 watt) . thanks for the video. learning a lot from you. i used my cheap cord to run to my camper....lol
I'm in PCB and we used a 2200watt generac that we had & used during Ivan in 04 & Michael for 3 refrigerators & 2 freezers & lots of led bulbs. Unfortunately it died when I fired it up during Sally. Gonna upgrade to a full house generator. Already have the hook ups and a little concrete pad for it. I also picked up a small generac 1200 watt inverter during Prime Days for tent camping.
Living in New York we have a Westinghouse Wgen 9500 You can look up wattage amounts for your common loads. We have a well pump that pulls a good amount of juice that's why we have a larger Genny. This generator can run our house with AC in the summer and heat in the winter.
I just picked up a Westinghouse 9500DF Dual Fuel and this thing is a beast! It can run the well pump, the water heater and even the dryer. Thanks for the video. :)
Jack, My advise is this, change all your lights to led’s, and put a soft start on your ac unit. I did this exact thing and I can run my whole house, 2800 sq ft, on my 5500 gen set. The trick is the soft start on your ac unit. It allows your ac to start gradually, rather than all at once. I hope this helps. Stay safe.
We did the same thing. Changing all the incandescent lightbulbs to LED saved us about 40% on our electric bill. I installed a Hard Start Kit on our AC unit and can run our whole house easily with our Predator 9000/7250 Watt generator.
I have a new Duro-Max HYBRID XP5500EN. When I first got it I about 2 summers ago, ran it and did a break-in on it for about 10 hours using propane and changing the oil 3 times, the last change was after the break-in. Used all good oil, Lucas, etc. Then I put it away. It's been sitting indoors, dry space, constant temperature and today (This will be the end of second summer. ie: Bought it end of summer, broke it in propane only , let it sit next summer, then let it sit this summer and the end of this summer) I decided to fire it up, charge the battery, etc. I hooked it up to propane...exact same portable tank I broke it in with.... the battery still cranked it over..... but it wouldn't start on propane. I ran the battery down trying to start it. I have propane to the propane connector on the front panel. So next I guess I need to go get some starter fluid and prime the carburetor and see if it will start that way. Frustrating. Brand New, Break it in, leave it sit not hooked up to propane or gasoline in the tank and it's dead in the water.... wont start... After working just fine....
@@additudeobx FYI, make sure you don't turn on the tank valve fast. There is a safety part in there that locks up the flow if it is opened too fast. Turn off tank, remove twist connector and re do it over. Worth a try.
Another advantage to the dual fuel gen is that you can store propane way longer than gasoline. Propane is good for years, gas goes bad within weeks. I have a DuroMax Dual Fuel and it works great!
Hi Jim, do you mind telling me how long the generator will run on a full 15lb propane tank? I'm thinking about buying one but I cant find anywhere that explains that.
Wade Walker- I have a little smaller Duromax- 4400 series, and it gets about 9 hours on a barbecue-style tank. I only have sump pump, refrigerator, freezer and a couple of LED lights hooked to it, and it works quite well. I have not run a furnace or air conditioner on it. I am sure it would work OK, but you would need a new tank earlier. I keep 3 filled tanks on hand, and in Iowa, that’s enough - no tropical storms here.
Im watching this video after being with out power for 3 days in freezing temps in Texas. Never been in a black out that long in my life. I bought a generator on line for the next catastrophe . I just know this summer will give us another bizarre outage. This thing can power a window unit, which i have a spare lying around. Im already making my plan. Thanks for the info.
We were without power and water for six days in east Tx. Got down to 34 inside. We could see our breath. We really need to get a generator. It’s mind boggling the options.
Yeah you can bet your freezing A$$ that Ercot will screw us again and the farmers Almanac says it's coming again this coming winter 2022, So i am gonna pull the trigger on one of these bad boys pronto like!
A nice tip. When winter/hurricane season comes fill up 3 15 Gallon gas tanks and when your vehicle needs gas just use one of the gas cans and refill it in rotation and if you end up not using the gas just put it in your vehicle
When I had a 6500 installed on a 8 inch pad reinforced with mesh wire. Built a vented hut around it and a plug hardwired to the house breaker box. The main breaker has two settings. Pole power and generator power. That way it is impossible to back feed to the street . And consult a electrician to figure the total needed to deal with what you need. Also, the propane doesn’t go bad like common gas. I went and got a few extra grill tanks.
Just bought a DuroStar DS5500EH 5500-Watt Electric Start Dual Fuel Hybrid Portable Generator as a anniversary gift & Father's Day gift for the hubs. Your review helped me decide on which to choose as a completely green & unknowledgeable of any thing tool related wife get what her husband has been wanting for years!!! THANKS!!!
I converted over to propane after Katrina. Gasoline dried up quickly but propane was still available. Fortunately, the weather after Zeta is going to be a little cooler. Stay safe.
Don't recall the size of my gen. I want to talk safety however, I was still at the Fire Dept when we had an event that caused the electricity to be out for a week. Don't run it the house, (yes, happened), Don't run it in the garage under a 2 story house(yes, happened). Made more runs for carbon dioxide alarms going off than I care to remember and treated more than a few for CO poisoning. Make sure you have good ventilation, use common sense when placing your generator, it is spewing toxic fumes.
Love this one! I live up north and so annoyed now by these ice storms! Something you said talked me into pulling the trigger on the Wen 11000. Now I have to get the Transfer Switch installed.👍🏽
Definitely one of your best vids man. We invested in a 6500w. Worked great after Michael. Also to let people know its not a bad idea to exercise it every so often to make sure it'll work when you need it
We Have a Generac 17,500 Watt, 50 Amp genator for our food cart. It'll run the house but it is LOUD and weighs 450+ pounds. It will take a crowd to walk off with it. Uses 16 gallons of gas per 8 hours. Know that you don't have to run a big generator all day. Just long enough to get the fridge and freezer down to temperature. Use a small inverter type for lighting and such. LED lights are awesome.
Just bear in mind that for the Duromax for any model over 5500w they will strongly recommend a 40lb propane tank bc of the psi you need to keep the flow of energy consistent similar to when using gas.
I just bought the Duromax XP13000HXT Tri-Fuel generator. Had a 50-amp inlet box, interlock kit, and 3/4” natural gas quick disconnect lines installed yesterday. Waiting on my two quarts of Lucas break-in oil to be delivered and have the generator run 10 hours (two hours daily) before changing the oil out for the Mobile 1 full synthetic brand.
Duromax XP15000EH with Reliance Controls PBN50 power inlet box with Interlock Kit installed in my box. Few tips: Before the storm hits try to find the non-ethanol gasoline to run in your generator. It will not gum up the carburetor as bad. In a pinch, I will run ethanol gas if I run out of the cans and need to siphon from the cars. I usually have 10 gallons in the generator and 30 gallons in cans. I also have three vehicles that are full sitting in the driveway (if my son is home). Always turn your generator off with the fuel switch that way it runs the carburetor dry. Keep a small trickle charger on your battery when stored. Buy a battery-powered siphon kit that screws onto the gas can lid. You can take the extra gas and put in your car before it goes bad. ALWAYS make sure the main breaker is turned off prior to turning on your genset breaker. That's about all the tips I have. Good luck and God Bless.
i bought a duro max 5500 generator about 2 years ago and I used it 3 times and I love how it works i live in a 40 ft. trailer and its powers the whole trailer except the on demand hot water heater i ran it for 10hrs no problem.
Got to have a generator these days. Texas would probably agree with me. I personally own 2. Both are firman. My little one is just a 1200 watt gas operated. I use it for a 2 or 3 power outage to run fridge and TV. My big one is propane or gasoline. Its 9400 watts. Use it for long term power outages. It'll run anything I need. Entire house if necessary. Thanks and God bless. We'll need his blessing more now than ever. 🇺🇸
Hi Yak. I really enjoyed your video. I went all out and bought the Duro Max Hybrid Elite XP10000EH. I caught it on sale a couple of years ago at Lowe's for $860.00 . I won't be a victim of a failing power grid or be at the mercy of the power company when the power fails. It will run my whole 1,400 sg ft. home, central air and heat included, and I also bought a 500 gallon propane tank. Great shelf life. One of the best investments that I have ever made.
What did you use for a regulator on your 500 gal tank? The owners manual just says "at least 3psi". Will it run off mu 1st stage regulator on my 500 gal tank which is I believe 10psi max.
Dont forget when you stock up on fuel, I personally put it in my truck if I dont use it in 3 months and refill my gas cans so it stays fresh. Today's ethonal gas dont stay good for long. If you can get recreational 90 gas it does cost a bit more but has no ethonal and lasts a lot longer
When I looked up hooking up a portable generator to a house, camper, etc., you’re supposed to ground it with a minimum 8 foot grounding rod. My owners’ manual talks about this too.
Jack, I live in South Arkansas, hurricance, thunderstorms, tornadoes and ice storms. I bought a WEN dual fuel 11,000 directly from WEN, no sales taxes, free shipping,. runs my whole house, expect for the hot water heater. I use mini splits to heat and cool.
THE BEAST RULES!!! I also noticed premium fuel lasts longer and gives you more power. Dual fuel is the best option, and use a LICENSED ELECTRICIAN... GLAD YOU GUYS ARE SAFE I shut our unit off at night and it is chained and I flatten the tires on purpose to make it harder to steal.
Got caught without in 2005 in hurricane Rita so started planning ahead. I get 35 gallons of gas in 5 gallon cans in June and treat it with stabilizer. Keep it in the shed, not in the garage! I also keep several quarts of oil. Most generators will go 100 hrs for oil change after the initial break- in. I also have an A/C window unit. I like the idea of a cut-over box. I backfeed through my welder plug, but you need to be very careful. Make sure main breaker is off first so you don’t feed onto the grid. Also double check after the generator is running that your meter isn’t running or there’s still no voltage on the utility company side of the main. An electrician friend told me that main breakers have been known to fail. Also need to make sure generator is off and disconnected before turning the main on when power is restored. Your generator won’t be in phase with the power company, and guess who wins that battle? I have a Yamaha 3000 that I also use with the camper. More expensive, but much quieter. It runs the window A/C, refrigerator, freezer, lights, fans, and one other big thing at a time ( microwave, coffee maker, hair dryer, etc.). Used it this year for both hurricanes Laura and Delta. It works well. A little bigger one would be good, but on the flip side, I just used about 7 gallons of gas a day. One other tip. Move the generator to high ground as part of hurricane prep. Harvey flooded my shed and old generator. Thankfully, the house didn’t flood. Be prepared!
Living along the upper Texas Gulf Coast, your video was both informative and entertaining. You convinced me to purchase a DuroMax XP13000HX for our house. I know, it's probably overkill, but I'm hoping if I install a soft-start kit on my central air unit, that this generator will let us run the AC at night while we sleep. If not, we'll get a couple of window units. Anyway, again, thanks for the awesome video and belated congratulations on your nuptials. She's lovely! Take care because hurricane season is getting ready to heat up. Deuces🤘🏻
Hey Mr motley I got a tip for you I use my little welding trailer with a generator a lot here on the farm and my welding trailer is not fancy it's a generator with a MIG welder hook to it it's not one in big combo units and I found running synthetic oil specifically Royal purple I use 5w15 I can get 200 hours plus hours before I have to change the oil of mine
Cool video...I have a whole house generator from Generac w a transfer switch.Automatically turns itself on when there's a power failure.....yall stay safe
I live wright outside of Pittsburgh, I have Duro Max Hybrid XP1200EH. I LOVE IT. Only had to use it once but worth it's weight in gold. I can run the HOLE HOUSE including A/C with this. We be moving to Florida in 2 years and I'll be taking it with me.
@@katherinegeorge2400 I did not installed a transfer switch. What I did was install the 50amp outlet on the side of the house and a 50 amp breaker in the fuse box. So yes it's back feeding but I make sure the main breaker is off.
My older Generac 5000 is loud enough to wake the dead, it’s run two refrigerators lights and TVs no problem. I am going to modify it so I can start it with my drill and run it on propane and gas.
I have the DuroMax 12000EH and I added a natural gas regulator so I could hook it up to my natural gas meter, (didn’t want to be filling up with gasoline or changing propane bottles all the time). The biggest expense was the purchase of 75ft of 1-1/4” hoses and quick disconnects. I couldn’t run the line underground because I had so many other lines in the yard that I was afraid to cut while trenching, so alas the rollup hoses. Anyway, ran the generator for the recommended 5 hrs using gasoline and then hooked up the natural gas hoses and voila, started almost instantly. So far haven’t had the opportunity to run it in an emergency situation but expect it to do fine. Highly recommend this unit. My 2 cents.
Great informative video. We bought our first ever generator, a few months ago, because of a five day power outage in our area. We never lost power, but some of our relatives, that live near by, did. We have a Predator 9000/7250 that I installed a Tri-Fuel kit. It now runs on gasoline, natural gas and propane. I installed a manual 10 circuit 30 amp Transfer switch and added a gas line to hook up to the generator. Natural Gas is what our generator will be running on primarily. We have 15 Gallons of gas and two 20 lbs propane tanks too. I've learned from people like you, to be wise and pick your fuel source that is easily available in time of emergency. Take care and be bless.
I have the Beast Duro Max 12,000 duel fuel and only run it off of propane. I turn everything on in the house except the stove. It also runs my 3-ton heat pump with a Micro Air Easy Start 368 Soft Starter kit. Mine is set up in the far end of my garage with the exhaust hard piped to the outside for co2-control and a tractor muffler to control noise. I also have a co2 monitor in the garage mounted low to the floor as that is where co settles. I bought a small AC voltage monitor that is wired into the breaker box on the power company side of the main that sends out a loud noise to let me know if the AC power has come back on. I use the Generator Interlock Kit to control power flow. All of this was purchased through Amazon including the Beast Generator. I have 6, 5lb cylinders and two 100 lb cylinders. The 100 lb bottles were bought at Lowes new for $100.00 a piece.
I just got my Duro Max 2days ago. Exact one you have. Bought an extension cord (100 feet) but need the extra oil. Great video. Stay safe and God bless you.
5:40 Instead of propane, why didn't you tap into your house's natural gas line? That's what we do here near Houston. 5-20 kW genies attached to a bank of 12.6 volt auto batteries to "smooth" the current voltage. Plus, your generator doesn't need to continually run. Just whenever you have a steady or high load, or the batteries start dropping voltage.
My mother-in-law just sent me the exact one, had no idea it as coming so I had to turn to TH-cam for information on it. Good informative video. Thanks.
I have the 1200 Duro Max Hybrid and bought a conversion kit to have it run off my natural gas line so when I crank it up I don’t have to worry about having to add fuel to it.
I live about 5 minutes away from you. I have a 5500 and it will power a 210 window unit ac, lights, tvs, wifi, lights and a fan. Definitely worth the money
I have a small 2kw Inverter just to run my wife's CPAP and to charge sensitive electronics. We usually don't go long without power. But I have been looking at a dual fuel for the same reasons mentioned.
Champion dual fuel 10k start up 8k continuous, pretty nice, not gonna lie 🤷 Brother has a Miller welder generator that will run the heat and air conditioning and the whole house and then some, definitely sends juice back up the power lines if you don't take precautions.
Got lucky, found the 13,000EH at Lowes for half price. Someone had ordered it online then returned it to store. 0 hours run on it. Fired right up when i got home powers everything and central AC.
I have the Champion 9000/7500 dual fuel generator. Did the break-in 8 hr run (propane.... haven't run gas thru it yet) then changed the oil. Didn't need it for 3 yrs. First time I used it (only twice so far), I realized I didn't really have the correct size/amount of extension cords. Good to go now, but am seriously considering getting an electrician to wire my breaker box
I purchased a 10000 watt duel fuel Champion Generator from HomeDepot an bought a 120 gallon up rite propane tank off of Craig's list last year an it will run everything in my house except the hot water heater. Also pulls my well pump with no problem. Duel fuel an electric start is the only way to go.
During Sally we couldnt get our generator running, though it was tested last winter. So in addition getting it fixed we invested in a couple of lithium ion powered solar generators Bluetti and Rockpals. The nice thing is they are quiet and the can be kept safely in the house.
Only use real gas...ethanol is bad for most small engines! 100% gasoline, non-ethanol for every engine smaller than your car! Store it with no gas in it unless you use it regularly. Once a month or so, pour in just enough gas for it to crank and run, mine's about a pint and a half if I tip the generator up on one end a little, and crank it. Let it run all the gas completely out, then store it again until next month. My generator is a 5500 watt Brand X made by Champion, and gets run pretty regularly, is 15+ years old, and will almost always be running on the first or second pull (battery for the electric start kept dying, so I tossed it.)
You should build a reinforced concrete "shed" for your genie. A slab, 2 walls, an access panel and a roof. The concrete will eat the engines heat, and you duct the exhaust out the side through a muffler and blast diffuser. Simple.
Run a Honda EU2000,best on the market. Will run 12 hours on a gallon of gas. Your correct that it will only run the fridge, tv and a few led lights. Creativity required, but the fridge can be rotated with your microwave etc ... Doesn't need to be plugged in all the time, it'll be fine for 8-12 hours, then plug it in till the compressor shuts off. Also highly recommend using boat gas and put stabil gas treatment in it. One other thing, your right about a transfer switch for your electrical service . Have a qualified licensed electrician install it. An electrical backfeed into the service could kill a lineman upstream. And you will be held accountable. The utility transformer on the pole /ground works both directions . Anyway ,my 2 bits from a former Alaskan off gridder. Good vid Yak
I completely agree with this. I have a 5k generator that can power my well pump and a small 2k (surge) inverter type small generator. The small one sips gas - one 5 gallon can could last a week depending on load, whereas it lasts about 8 hours on the big one. I also keep a window a/c unit in the garage that can be put into my bedroom window to keep the room cool from generator power. I plug the refrigerator in every 3-4 hours or so for an hour to keep the food cool and swap it with the microwave to cook dinner unless I am using the BBQ grill or gas stove outside. I keep Stabil in my gas as well. The smaller generator is way quieter too. I have an adapter to hook a 6 gallon boat tank to it so I don't have to refill the 1.2 gallon tank more often.
Briggs and Stratton 5500 with transfer switch and Gentent. Heavy gage chain to lock it. Live in the New England. Enough to power our oil furnace, refrigerator internet, and all the lights.
Lol good advice, people forget about hard times , especially in Texas thanks for the video just ordered the same generator , it was 18% off at the Home Depot 😎
I am all the way in N. Georgia. Zeta got us good! Lost 10 huge trees and was without power for 4 days. Just went and bought this one. Thanks for all the info!
Depending on where you live, make sure you can secure the generator from grab and go thieves. I still remember during the quebec ice storm people were in their homes, power went off and by the time they went to check the generator it was gone
@@jspinosa50 yes and no Unless you met very strict self defense law parameters, you are more likely to be charged than some low life breaking and entering/ stealing
We are like Rafael, below. Living in South Texas and just went through days without power and single digit temps. Now researching generators to mitigate the misery next time. We know there will be a next time. Really appreciate the information and also enjoyed your entertaining presentation. Thanks!
I live in Pensacola too and went through Sally as well. I just got a great deal on a DuraMax XP12000EH on Amazon Prime day! The DuraMax XP12000EH is a beast, looking at the reviews I've found. I'm also getting a transfer switch installed soon so I'll be ready next time. Thanks for sharing neighbor!
Great, realistic review. My DuroMax XP4850HX arrives in 2 days, and I am so excited. I was just nailed by Winter Storm Uri here in Houston, TX. I never again want to be at the mercy of an energy provider. I think the answer is a generator like DuroMax, but also solar. Solar is very expensive, and might be the answer if I had not stocked up gas/propane or used up what I have. Right now, I can't get gas (for my car, even). I haven't been looking for propane. But solar might be a worthwhile backup to cover me in a pinch. Thank you for this awesome review!
Great video, Unfortunately, Generator came with my wife when I got married and she neglected the maintenance, so basically got a hunk of junk in the garage.. Doesn't start. so please do maintenance on your generators, even if you are not needing to use it.. PMCS that bad boy.. The Dual fuel is intriguing though as I have a natural gas hook up..
I use a really old 2nd hand Coleman Powermate 5000 Watt Generator with the old school 10 HP Tecumseh Engine on it. I rebuilt the carburetor, replaced the needed rubber vibration feet to the frame that mount to the engine and stator and custom built a wheel kit with 10 inch wheels making it more portable where it was just riding on top of movers dolly before with 4 really small wheels -ughh right? But, what do you expect for $45.00 !? Anyway, I've hooked up a toggle type 30 Amp electric box to connect /disconnect the generator with that I back feed into my main panel with breakers so I can use it when needed in emergencies (I cut off the main 1st even during a power outage when using the generator this way). Runs my 220 Volt water well, 220 Volt whole house AC as well as the 110 Volt other stuff - fridge/ freezer, chest freezer, lights etc no problem...only thing is I do NOT try to run everything at the same time especially the AC and Water well Pump, that way you should be good to go with a smaller generator unit as long as you can get 220 out of your generator and use it judiciously...calculate the wattage needed and then you will know. Had a 5 day power interruption recently due to high winds knocking over giant trees into the wires up here in Ohio, all good. Stay Safe. Oh, BTW, Great Video & Entertaining too. Keep beer well stocked, except for that BudTrannyBeer :)
Best hurricane advice I've heard in a long time. Bigger is better and do not wait until the last minute, weathermen are often times wrong. Not always their fault, it's a hurricane, very unpredictable. Thnks, very helpful from H-town.
I stumble into you video, since we have been having power shut offs by the power company due to high winds and fire danger. I finally decided to get a generator.. two or three days without power is a killer, never again. I will go to the big unit Duro Max. 12000, and Yes, I was one of those when the power went out I was at Home Depot trying to buy generators, but I decided to wait and do the research prior getting something just because. I will see If I can do, natural gas.. if its not too expensive. will see. I was laughing so hard as I do the same things you do, Stuck up on meat and beer and gas tanks. lol.. Anyways good video.
Great video we had a storm 10-10-2018 without power for 13 days bought a 7500 generator it would run the well and hot water heater but not the AC now I have a plug in the garage so I can just plug in and start the generator l like the plug outside like you have Norm we live in South West ga
any generator over 5500 watts you need a 10GA cable for 240v 30Amp receptacle , 12.000watt to 15,000watt you need 6GA Cable for the 240v 50amp receptacle
Last month got the wen 4750 starting watts- 3750 running watts generator.geting ready to get the wen 6000 starting watts- 5000 running watts generator.
I bought a 5kw watt generator the week before hurricane Ike hit, 2008. It has really come in handy. But, it was 10 degrees a couple of weeks ago and I had never tried to start it in that temp before. I pulled on that for 20 minutes before it started. Not fun. Looking to upgrade now. Thinking about the Champion 14KW whole house, or the Duramax 15KW. I would like to be able to run at least 1 of our AC unites in the summer or both heaters in the winter. I think both of these are about the same price. Then I have to get a transfer switch like you got.
u want a 10/4 wire good for 30 amps 120/240 that is two hot wires, a neutral and a ground also if u run it for 3 days at 16 hrs a day, u'd want to change oil after 50 hours.have a clean air filter and extra spark plugs. if just using gas das up car and have a siphon . longer the cord it has to b a somewhat heavier cord uthawise u can burn out fridge.
I’m here in Ny and live in a apartment,however they keep hinting it’s gonna be a cold winter you might not have power for a few days and what not so I’m planning on buying one so if power was to get knocked out we can be good for atleast a week cause ain’t no telling how long it’ll be. But as long as the kids and we can eat and have power for the phones and things. We should be ok.
I have the champion duel fuel. I live in ft. Worth tx area. It sure came in handy with the big power outage in February's big freeze. I primarily use propane. It burns cleaner. Was a pain running cords but you do what ya gotta do. Y'all take care and stay safe.
What size propane tank is that? We had the 5 gallon tank and it ran like CRAP!! And we had 2 different ones (tried both). In the period of 2 seconds it went to very low idle (to the point of dying) then to high idle. We called customer service and they said we needed to have a 20 gallon propane tank to run correctly. Not sure if it was just us… It did run GREAT in the gasoline function!
Great vid, buddy - in one way I hope you don't have to use your generator this hurricane season, but then again maybe you want a reason to run your beauty. I lived in Buffalo/Rochester NY for 25 years and we had the opposite problem - ice and snow storms where your house cools down pretty fast. Gets just as old after 3-4 days as getting shut in in humid hurricane situations. I have heard enough good things about Duro Max that I am going to spring for The Big One.
We decided to buy Duromax 12,000 watt generator because online said some reported that 8,000 watts were not enough for them. They might have assumed that 8,000 watts were sufficient to run everything including the dyer and A/C at the same time. I am not sure routing the cords will be worth the hassle just to get power.
Talking about thieves I was told my veterans if someone tries to steal a generator during power outage that generator becomes essential for your well-being so you can shoot , idk if this is Texas only
Nice video, thanks. For 30 years, we've lost power every single year from spring storms, to winter ice storms. Since I picked up the dual fuel Duramax 12000EH for a great price a year and a half ago, haven't needed it. So I don't even know how well it'll work. Not complaining, hope I'll never need it. Never gone so long W/O losing power. Kinda funny.
That's good information Jack. I still haven't sprung on that dual fuel 3200W generator yet. This next storm is supposed to hit land west of you but that close, you never know. We'll just call this storm Zeke, but it's actually Zeta. Make sure you match the Voltage and Amperage on that popup. You may have a 30amp supply outlet on that generator, just make sure it's not 240V. Keep us updated on how Yall come out through this storm, please? Plan to top off my gas tank and 5 gallons in a can. Thanks for sharing the information with us! Hunker down! 😂!
LOL- LOVED this video!! I'm drinking beer and was laughing my ass off but also know ALL TO WELL what you were going through! We live in South West Florida and had about the same shit with Irma as you guys did! Went 10 days without power but Thank Baby Jesus that we had our Generac 17500!!! Ya gotta have a Generator ANYWHERE you live people!!!
They tell you to change the oil for a reason. In a emergency you don't have time to do it. That is why you get one before hand and break in the motor so it doesn't fail you when you need it. For people that don't have one get one before hand. As far as gasoline. Have enough on hand. You need to find a way to pull fuel from a vehicle as most people have a extra car. Gas goes bad after time if you don't add a stabilizer. The other way is you can always pour it in your car and get fresh gas as long as the old one hasn't gone bad. As far as electric starters, you have to keep the battery charged and they don't last that long. They come with a pull rope but I have found it's much harder to start than those without starters. A good generator will start on the first or second pull.
You forgot to mention THD, and many people down in the comments did as well. Most generators, especially the ones on the cheap end have a high THD. In my case, I have a small 2200 peak 1800 running watts Westinghouse with an inverter build in and I can safely run my refrigerator, small/medium freezer, smart TV with game console or satellite box plus a few minor electronics. The advantage of having a small generator is that it will burn less fuel and for me that is key in an emergency. I had 15 gallons of fuel on hand when Sally came through and knocked out power in N. Pensacola, it lasted me about a week. I did turned off the generator at least twice a day for 2 to 3 hours each time.
Have the dura max 10000 wired into the house. It will run almost everything in the house but have to turn off the fridge and freeze to run the hot water.Nothing beats a hot shower when the power is out. Also have a couple smaller ones to run small stuff when the big one isn't needed. The 2000 and 3500 watt inverters from harbor freight is supposed to one of the best and quiets ones out. Also remember 2 is 1 and 1 in none. Keep your gas treated with stabilizer and try to only ruin non ethonal gas in i. keeps from gumming up the carburetor, when you don't run it every month.
Good job! I bought the 2000 predator. I can run my house some appliances. I can also run the window AC that I put in my Astro Van perfect for camping. Great video. I suggest buying the adapter 110 to 50 amp. You can find any adapter you need on Amazon. I am going to adapt my generator to run Propane. But don't tempt me to go buy big Papa Generator. Lol Back up to the back up I say.
Thanks for watching everyone! What type of generator do you use?
i bought a briggs and stratton because it was being sold by a neighbor and it was cheap (200 for a 5500/6500 watt)
. thanks for the video. learning a lot from you. i used my cheap cord to run to my camper....lol
I'm in PCB and we used a 2200watt generac that we had & used during Ivan in 04 & Michael for 3 refrigerators & 2 freezers & lots of led bulbs. Unfortunately it died when I fired it up during Sally. Gonna upgrade to a full house generator. Already have the hook ups and a little concrete pad for it. I also picked up a small generac 1200 watt inverter during Prime Days for tent camping.
Living in New York we have a Westinghouse Wgen 9500
You can look up wattage amounts for your common loads. We have a well pump that pulls a good amount of juice that's why we have a larger Genny. This generator can run our house with AC in the summer and heat in the winter.
I live in east texas, not much use for one out this way. I always say that i live in a protected bubble! All the bad stuff goes around us!
I just picked up a Westinghouse 9500DF Dual Fuel and this thing is a beast! It can run the well pump, the water heater and even the dryer. Thanks for the video. :)
Jack, My advise is this, change all your lights to led’s, and put a soft start on your ac unit. I did this exact thing and I can run my whole house, 2800 sq ft, on my 5500 gen set. The trick is the soft start on your ac unit. It allows your ac to start gradually, rather than all at once. I hope this helps. Stay safe.
Great advice!
We did the same thing. Changing all the incandescent lightbulbs to LED saved us about 40% on our electric bill. I installed a Hard Start Kit on our AC unit and can run our whole house easily with our Predator 9000/7250 Watt generator.
I have a new Duro-Max HYBRID XP5500EN. When I first got it I about 2 summers ago, ran it and did a break-in on it for about 10 hours using propane and changing the oil 3 times, the last change was after the break-in. Used all good oil, Lucas, etc.
Then I put it away. It's been sitting indoors, dry space, constant temperature and today (This will be the end of second summer. ie: Bought it end of summer, broke it in propane only , let it sit next summer, then let it sit this summer and the end of this summer) I decided to fire it up, charge the battery, etc.
I hooked it up to propane...exact same portable tank I broke it in with.... the battery still cranked it over..... but it wouldn't start on propane. I ran the battery down trying to start it. I have propane to the propane connector on the front panel. So next I guess I need to go get some starter fluid and prime the carburetor and see if it will start that way. Frustrating.
Brand New, Break it in, leave it sit not hooked up to propane or gasoline in the tank and it's dead in the water.... wont start...
After working just fine....
@@additudeobx FYI, make sure you don't turn on the tank valve fast. There is a safety part in there that locks up the flow if it is opened too fast. Turn off tank, remove twist connector and re do it over. Worth a try.
How big is your ac
Another advantage to the dual fuel gen is that you can store propane way longer than gasoline.
Propane is good for years, gas goes bad within weeks. I have a DuroMax Dual Fuel and it works great!
Hi Jim, do you mind telling me how long the generator will run on a full 15lb propane tank? I'm thinking about buying one but I cant find anywhere that explains that.
Wade Walker- I have a little smaller Duromax- 4400 series, and it gets about 9 hours on a barbecue-style tank. I only have sump pump, refrigerator, freezer and a couple of LED lights hooked to it, and it works quite well. I have not run a furnace or air conditioner on it. I am sure it would work OK, but you would need a new tank earlier. I keep 3 filled tanks on hand, and in Iowa, that’s enough - no tropical storms here.
learn how to treat your gasoline plus propane doesnt last as long burning in a Generator plus you lose power usuing propane
Non ethanol gas with stabilizer lasts two years
@@nativejuicevaporsmine sat for over 3 years and I just used all of it during hurricane 🌀 Beryl.
Im watching this video after being with out power for 3 days in freezing temps in Texas. Never been in a black out that long in my life. I bought a generator on line for the next catastrophe . I just know this summer will give us another bizarre outage. This thing can power a window unit, which i have a spare lying around. Im already making my plan. Thanks for the info.
Same
Same. Hell yeah. Live and learn.
We were without power and water for six days in east Tx. Got down to 34 inside. We could see our breath. We really need to get a generator. It’s mind boggling the options.
That Freeze was a reality check for us as well. Built a firewood rack and preparing for the worst.
Yeah you can bet your freezing A$$ that Ercot will screw us again and the farmers Almanac says it's coming again this coming winter 2022, So i am gonna pull the trigger on one of these bad boys pronto like!
A nice tip. When winter/hurricane season comes fill up 3 15 Gallon gas tanks and when your vehicle needs gas just use one of the gas cans and refill it in rotation and if you end up not using the gas just put it in your vehicle
When I had a 6500 installed on a 8 inch pad reinforced with mesh wire. Built a vented hut around it and a plug hardwired to the house breaker box. The main breaker has two settings. Pole power and generator power. That way it is impossible to back feed to the street . And consult a electrician to figure the total needed to deal with what you need.
Also, the propane doesn’t go bad like common gas. I went and got a few extra grill tanks.
Just bought a DuroStar DS5500EH 5500-Watt Electric Start Dual Fuel Hybrid Portable Generator as a anniversary gift & Father's Day gift for the hubs. Your review helped me decide on which to choose as a completely green & unknowledgeable of any thing tool related wife get what her husband has been wanting for years!!! THANKS!!!
That was funny!! I tgink he felt the way we do when we get blenders or washers for Mothers Day! made my day ❤
35kw diesel generator here. Your right, it’s so nice to be able to run the whole house. God bless.
I converted over to propane after Katrina. Gasoline dried up quickly but propane was still available. Fortunately, the weather after Zeta is going to be a little cooler. Stay safe.
Don't recall the size of my gen. I want to talk safety however, I was still at the Fire Dept when we had an event that caused the electricity to be out for a week. Don't run it the house, (yes, happened), Don't run it in the garage under a 2 story house(yes, happened). Made more runs for carbon dioxide alarms going off than I care to remember and treated more than a few for CO poisoning. Make sure you have good ventilation, use common sense when placing your generator, it is spewing toxic fumes.
Right.. People actually bringing generators inside now 🤦🏼♂️
Love this one! I live up north and so annoyed now by these ice storms! Something you said talked me into pulling the trigger on the Wen 11000. Now I have to get the Transfer Switch installed.👍🏽
Definitely one of your best vids man. We invested in a 6500w. Worked great after Michael. Also to let people know its not a bad idea to exercise it every so often to make sure it'll work when you need it
Great to hear! Test, and maintenance!
We Have a Generac 17,500 Watt, 50 Amp genator for our food cart. It'll run the house but it is LOUD and weighs 450+ pounds. It will take a crowd to walk off with it. Uses 16 gallons of gas per 8 hours. Know that you don't have to run a big generator all day. Just long enough to get the fridge and freezer down to temperature. Use a small inverter type for lighting and such. LED lights are awesome.
Just bear in mind that for the Duromax for any model over 5500w they will strongly recommend a 40lb propane tank bc of the psi you need to keep the flow of energy consistent similar to when using gas.
the size of the tank has nothing to do with the psi.
I have the duramax 13000 hybrid and have been impressed so far. Got the 50 amp kit from Amazon
I just bought the Duromax XP13000HXT Tri-Fuel generator. Had a 50-amp inlet box, interlock kit, and 3/4” natural gas quick disconnect lines installed yesterday. Waiting on my two quarts of Lucas break-in oil to be delivered and have the generator run 10 hours (two hours daily) before changing the oil out for the Mobile 1 full synthetic brand.
Duromax XP15000EH with Reliance Controls PBN50 power inlet box with Interlock Kit installed in my box. Few tips: Before the storm hits try to find the non-ethanol gasoline to run in your generator. It will not gum up the carburetor as bad. In a pinch, I will run ethanol gas if I run out of the cans and need to siphon from the cars. I usually have 10 gallons in the generator and 30 gallons in cans. I also have three vehicles that are full sitting in the driveway (if my son is home). Always turn your generator off with the fuel switch that way it runs the carburetor dry. Keep a small trickle charger on your battery when stored. Buy a battery-powered siphon kit that screws onto the gas can lid. You can take the extra gas and put in your car before it goes bad. ALWAYS make sure the main breaker is turned off prior to turning on your genset breaker. That's about all the tips I have. Good luck and God Bless.
i bought a duro max 5500 generator about 2 years ago and I used it 3 times and I love how it works i live in a 40 ft. trailer and its powers the whole trailer except the on demand hot water heater i ran it for 10hrs no problem.
Got to have a generator these days. Texas would probably agree with me. I personally own 2. Both are firman. My little one is just a 1200 watt gas operated. I use it for a 2 or 3 power outage to run fridge and TV.
My big one is propane or gasoline. Its 9400 watts. Use it for long term power outages. It'll run anything I need. Entire house if necessary. Thanks and God bless. We'll need his blessing more now than ever. 🇺🇸
Hi Yak. I really enjoyed your video. I went all out and bought the Duro Max Hybrid Elite XP10000EH. I caught it on sale a couple of years ago at Lowe's for $860.00 . I won't be a victim of a failing power grid or be at the mercy of the power company when the power fails. It will run my whole 1,400 sg ft. home, central air and heat included, and I also bought a 500 gallon propane tank. Great shelf life. One of the best investments that I have ever made.
What did you use for a regulator on your 500 gal tank? The owners manual just says "at least 3psi". Will it run off mu 1st stage regulator on my 500 gal tank which is I believe 10psi max.
Dont forget when you stock up on fuel, I personally put it in my truck if I dont use it in 3 months and refill my gas cans so it stays fresh. Today's ethonal gas dont stay good for long. If you can get recreational 90 gas it does cost a bit more but has no ethonal and lasts a lot longer
Great idea. That what I usually do. Or dump it in the law mower
Sea foam
Had house fire power out got generator in tx came in handy when power went out
When I looked up hooking up a portable generator to a house, camper, etc., you’re supposed to ground it with a minimum 8 foot grounding rod. My owners’ manual talks about this too.
Jack, I live in South Arkansas, hurricance, thunderstorms, tornadoes and ice storms. I bought a WEN dual fuel 11,000 directly from WEN, no sales taxes, free shipping,. runs my whole house, expect for the hot water heater. I use mini splits to heat and cool.
THE BEAST RULES!!! I also noticed premium fuel lasts longer and gives you more power. Dual fuel is the best option, and use a LICENSED ELECTRICIAN... GLAD YOU GUYS ARE SAFE I shut our unit off at night and it is chained and I flatten the tires on purpose to make it harder to steal.
Got caught without in 2005 in hurricane Rita so started planning ahead. I get 35 gallons of gas in 5 gallon cans in June and treat it with stabilizer. Keep it in the shed, not in the garage! I also keep several quarts of oil. Most generators will go 100 hrs for oil change after the initial break- in. I also have an A/C window unit. I like the idea of a cut-over box. I backfeed through my welder plug, but you need to be very careful. Make sure main breaker is off first so you don’t feed onto the grid. Also double check after the generator is running that your meter isn’t running or there’s still no voltage on the utility company side of the main. An electrician friend told me that main breakers have been known to fail. Also need to make sure generator is off and disconnected before turning the main on when power is restored. Your generator won’t be in phase with the power company, and guess who wins that battle? I have a Yamaha 3000 that I also use with the camper. More expensive, but much quieter. It runs the window A/C, refrigerator, freezer, lights, fans, and one other big thing at a time ( microwave, coffee maker, hair dryer, etc.). Used it this year for both hurricanes Laura and Delta. It works well. A little bigger one would be good, but on the flip side, I just used about 7 gallons of gas a day. One other tip. Move the generator to high ground as part of hurricane prep. Harvey flooded my shed and old generator. Thankfully, the house didn’t flood. Be prepared!
I found this vid, because I am going to buy the same one your momma in law brought you. Thanks bro!!
Living along the upper Texas Gulf Coast, your video was both informative and entertaining. You convinced me to purchase a DuroMax XP13000HX for our house. I know, it's probably overkill, but I'm hoping if I install a soft-start kit on my central air unit, that this generator will let us run the AC at night while we sleep. If not, we'll get a couple of window units. Anyway, again, thanks for the awesome video and belated congratulations on your nuptials. She's lovely! Take care because hurricane season is getting ready to heat up. Deuces🤘🏻
This should be the first video anyone watches before buying a generator - really good stuff man!
Hey Mr motley I got a tip for you I use my little welding trailer with a generator a lot here on the farm and my welding trailer is not fancy it's a generator with a MIG welder hook to it it's not one in big combo units and I found running synthetic oil specifically Royal purple I use 5w15 I can get 200 hours plus hours before I have to change the oil of mine
Awesome Luke! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the good laughs replacing your Generator with a lawn motor funny stuff. Real advice but entertaining at the same time.
Its 100% true its how most generators are stolen.
Cool video...I have a whole house generator from Generac w a transfer switch.Automatically turns itself on when there's a power failure.....yall stay safe
Lucky you. How much including the install did it cost you?
@@VictoriaNakaraKizer Ill check my records it was 15 years ago and get back w you
I live wright outside of Pittsburgh, I have Duro Max Hybrid XP1200EH. I LOVE IT. Only had to use it once but worth it's weight in gold. I can run the HOLE HOUSE including A/C with this. We be moving to Florida in 2 years and I'll be taking it with me.
Awesome! Great idea Jack!
Jack did you install a transfer switch to be able to do this? I have the same generator but haven't used it yet.
@@katherinegeorge2400 I did not installed a transfer switch. What I did was install the 50amp outlet on the side of the house and a 50 amp breaker in the fuse box. So yes it's back feeding but I make sure the main breaker is off.
My older Generac 5000 is loud enough to wake the dead, it’s run two refrigerators lights and TVs no problem. I am going to modify it so I can start it with my drill and run it on propane and gas.
I have the DuroMax 12000EH and I added a natural gas regulator so I could hook it up to my natural gas meter, (didn’t want to be filling up with gasoline or changing propane bottles all the time). The biggest expense was the purchase of 75ft of 1-1/4” hoses and quick disconnects. I couldn’t run the line underground because I had so many other lines in the yard that I was afraid to cut while trenching, so alas the rollup hoses. Anyway, ran the generator for the recommended 5 hrs using gasoline and then hooked up the natural gas hoses and voila, started almost instantly. So far haven’t had the opportunity to run it in an emergency situation but expect it to do fine. Highly recommend this unit. My 2 cents.
A few years ago I bought 2 3KW's from a guy in a van... $400 each.. but glad I have them. and 6 5 gallon cans.
Great informative video. We bought our first ever generator, a few months ago, because of a five day power outage in our area. We never lost power, but some of our relatives, that live near by, did. We have a Predator 9000/7250 that I installed a Tri-Fuel kit. It now runs on gasoline, natural gas and propane. I installed a manual 10 circuit 30 amp Transfer switch and added a gas line to hook up to the generator. Natural Gas is what our generator will be running on primarily. We have 15 Gallons of gas and two 20 lbs propane tanks too. I've learned from people like you, to be wise and pick your fuel source that is easily available in time of emergency. Take care and be bless.
u know what i like about this guy ...
he makes ya feel like hes just tryin to help u out
he say it in a funny way but what hes sayin is all true
I have the Beast Duro Max 12,000 duel fuel and only run it off of propane. I turn everything on in the house except the stove. It also runs my 3-ton heat pump with a Micro Air Easy Start 368 Soft Starter kit. Mine is set up in the far end of my garage with the exhaust hard piped to the outside for co2-control and a tractor muffler to control noise. I also have a co2 monitor in the garage mounted low to the floor as that is where co settles. I bought a small AC voltage monitor that is wired into the breaker box on the power company side of the main that sends out a loud noise to let me know if the AC power has come back on. I use the Generator Interlock Kit to control power flow. All of this was purchased through Amazon including the Beast Generator. I have 6, 5lb cylinders and two 100 lb cylinders. The 100 lb bottles were bought at Lowes new for $100.00 a piece.
I just ordered the 12,000 watt dual fuel today by Duro Max
@tyler gray i havent tried yet, but i think it will as long as nothing else like a dryer or blow dryer is running...
I just got my Duro Max 2days ago. Exact one you have. Bought an extension cord (100 feet) but need the extra oil. Great video. Stay safe and God bless you.
5:40 Instead of propane, why didn't you tap into your house's natural gas line?
That's what we do here near Houston. 5-20 kW genies attached to a bank of 12.6 volt auto batteries to "smooth" the current voltage. Plus, your generator doesn't need to continually run. Just whenever you have a steady or high load, or the batteries start dropping voltage.
My mother-in-law just sent me the exact one, had no idea it as coming so I had to turn to TH-cam for information on it. Good informative video.
Thanks.
Always make sure the boat is full!!.. Extra 53 gallons of gas and easy to pump out when needed
I have the 1200 Duro Max Hybrid and bought a conversion kit to have it run off my natural gas line so when I crank it up I don’t have to worry about having to add fuel to it.
Best crash course breakdown so far 💪🙏
I live about 5 minutes away from you. I have a 5500 and it will power a 210 window unit ac, lights, tvs, wifi, lights and a fan. Definitely worth the money
I have a small 2kw Inverter just to run my wife's CPAP and to charge sensitive electronics. We usually don't go long without power. But I have been looking at a dual fuel for the same reasons mentioned.
Champion dual fuel 10k start up 8k continuous, pretty nice, not gonna lie 🤷
Brother has a Miller welder generator that will run the heat and air conditioning and the whole house and then some, definitely sends juice back up the power lines if you don't take precautions.
Got lucky, found the 13,000EH at Lowes for half price. Someone had ordered it online then returned it to store. 0 hours run on it. Fired right up when i got home powers everything and central AC.
I have the Champion 9000/7500 dual fuel generator. Did the break-in 8 hr run (propane.... haven't run gas thru it yet) then changed the oil. Didn't need it for 3 yrs.
First time I used it (only twice so far), I realized I didn't really have the correct size/amount of extension cords. Good to go now, but am seriously considering getting an electrician to wire my breaker box
I bought 9000ES northern tool Powerhorse. And just watching your videos is soo funny. THKS
I purchased a 10000 watt duel fuel Champion Generator from HomeDepot an bought a 120 gallon up rite propane tank off of Craig's list last year an it will run everything in my house except the hot water heater. Also pulls my well pump with no problem. Duel fuel an electric start is the only way to go.
During Sally we couldnt get our generator running, though it was tested last winter. So in addition getting it fixed we invested in a couple of lithium ion powered solar generators Bluetti and Rockpals. The nice thing is they are quiet and the can be kept safely in the house.
Only use real gas...ethanol is bad for most small engines! 100% gasoline, non-ethanol for every engine smaller than your car! Store it with no gas in it unless you use it regularly. Once a month or so, pour in just enough gas for it to crank and run, mine's about a pint and a half if I tip the generator up on one end a little, and crank it. Let it run all the gas completely out, then store it again until next month. My generator is a 5500 watt Brand X made by Champion, and gets run pretty regularly, is 15+ years old, and will almost always be running on the first or second pull (battery for the electric start kept dying, so I tossed it.)
Loved it! Just got one and DIY a $150 shed for it. Thanks!
You should build a reinforced concrete "shed" for your genie. A slab, 2 walls, an access panel and a roof. The concrete will eat the engines heat, and you duct the exhaust out the side through a muffler and blast diffuser. Simple.
We have a 7500 we run almost our whole house. Lifesaver!
Run a Honda EU2000,best on the market. Will run 12 hours on a gallon of gas. Your correct that it will only run the fridge, tv and a few led lights. Creativity required, but the fridge can be rotated with your microwave etc ... Doesn't need to be plugged in all the time, it'll be fine for 8-12 hours, then plug it in till the compressor shuts off.
Also highly recommend using boat gas and put stabil gas treatment in it.
One other thing, your right about a transfer switch for your electrical service . Have a qualified licensed electrician install it. An electrical backfeed into the service could kill a lineman upstream. And you will be held accountable. The utility transformer on the pole /ground works both directions . Anyway ,my 2 bits from a former Alaskan off gridder. Good vid Yak
I completely agree with this. I have a 5k generator that can power my well pump and a small 2k (surge) inverter type small generator. The small one sips gas - one 5 gallon can could last a week depending on load, whereas it lasts about 8 hours on the big one. I also keep a window a/c unit in the garage that can be put into my bedroom window to keep the room cool from generator power. I plug the refrigerator in every 3-4 hours or so for an hour to keep the food cool and swap it with the microwave to cook dinner unless I am using the BBQ grill or gas stove outside. I keep Stabil in my gas as well. The smaller generator is way quieter too. I have an adapter to hook a 6 gallon boat tank to it so I don't have to refill the 1.2 gallon tank more often.
Watching this video in style after hurricane Ida rolled through. Thanks again for all the great information.
Briggs and Stratton 5500 with transfer switch and Gentent. Heavy gage chain to lock it. Live in the New England. Enough to power our oil furnace, refrigerator internet, and all the lights.
Lol good advice, people forget about hard times , especially in Texas thanks for the video just ordered the same generator , it was 18% off at the Home Depot 😎
I am all the way in N. Georgia. Zeta got us good! Lost 10 huge trees and was without power for 4 days. Just went and bought this one. Thanks for all the info!
I'm in nega next to sc.
Depending on where you live, make sure you can secure the generator from grab and go thieves.
I still remember during the quebec ice storm people were in their homes, power went off and by the time they went to check the generator it was gone
I locked mine up with a 1/2" cable and a tough lock. And a sign. You're live on camera and I have a shotgun! RUN!
@@jspinosa50 excellent
but in canada you would be charged for the sign and threatening criminals lol
@@scottmurphy4946 You must be kidding.
@@jspinosa50 yes and no
Unless you met very strict self defense law parameters, you are more likely to be charged than some low life breaking and entering/ stealing
@@scottmurphy4946 That's sad
We are like Rafael, below. Living in South Texas and just went through days without power and single digit temps. Now researching generators to mitigate the misery next time. We know there will be a next time. Really appreciate the information and also enjoyed your entertaining presentation. Thanks!
I’m in Texas too and what we just went through was brutal so I’m on the hunt for a generator because I don’t want to be without power like that again!
I live in Pensacola too and went through Sally as well. I just got a great deal on a DuraMax XP12000EH on Amazon Prime day! The DuraMax XP12000EH is a beast, looking at the reviews I've found. I'm also getting a transfer switch installed soon so I'll be ready next time. Thanks for sharing neighbor!
Captain Yak , It's apparent that your ARMY TRAINING taught you well !
Great, realistic review. My DuroMax XP4850HX arrives in 2 days, and I am so excited. I was just nailed by Winter Storm Uri here in Houston, TX. I never again want to be at the mercy of an energy provider. I think the answer is a generator like DuroMax, but also solar. Solar is very expensive, and might be the answer if I had not stocked up gas/propane or used up what I have. Right now, I can't get gas (for my car, even). I haven't been looking for propane. But solar might be a worthwhile backup to cover me in a pinch. Thank you for this awesome review!
After sale service is a critical feature of any generator. If your generator breaks down when you need it it's a door stop!
Great video, Unfortunately, Generator came with my wife when I got married and she neglected the maintenance, so basically got a hunk of junk in the garage.. Doesn't start. so please do maintenance on your generators, even if you are not needing to use it.. PMCS that bad boy.. The Dual fuel is intriguing though as I have a natural gas hook up..
I use a really old 2nd hand Coleman Powermate 5000 Watt Generator with the old school 10 HP Tecumseh Engine on it. I rebuilt the carburetor, replaced the needed rubber vibration feet to the frame that mount to the engine and stator and custom built a wheel kit with 10 inch wheels making it more portable where it was just riding on top of movers dolly before with 4 really small wheels -ughh right? But, what do you expect for $45.00 !? Anyway, I've hooked up a toggle type 30 Amp electric box to connect /disconnect the generator with that I back feed into my main panel with breakers so I can use it when needed in emergencies (I cut off the main 1st even during a power outage when using the generator this way). Runs my 220 Volt water well, 220 Volt whole house AC as well as the 110 Volt other stuff - fridge/ freezer, chest freezer, lights etc no problem...only thing is I do NOT try to run everything at the same time especially the AC and Water well Pump, that way you should be good to go with a smaller generator unit as long as you can get 220 out of your generator and use it judiciously...calculate the wattage needed and then you will know. Had a 5 day power interruption recently due to high winds knocking over giant trees into the wires up here in Ohio, all good. Stay Safe.
Oh, BTW, Great Video & Entertaining too. Keep beer well stocked, except for that BudTrannyBeer :)
I bought a Honda 7000. Quite and works like a charm. But 4,500 bucks. Worth every penny.
Best hurricane advice I've heard in a long time. Bigger is better and do not wait until the last minute, weathermen are often times wrong. Not always their fault, it's a hurricane, very unpredictable. Thnks, very helpful from H-town.
I stumble into you video, since we have been having power shut offs by the power company due to high winds and fire danger. I finally decided to get a generator.. two or three days without power is a killer, never again. I will go to the big unit Duro Max. 12000, and Yes, I was one of those when the power went out I was at Home Depot trying to buy generators, but I decided to wait and do the research prior getting something just because. I will see If I can do, natural gas.. if its not too expensive. will see. I was laughing so hard as I do the same things you do, Stuck up on meat and beer and gas tanks. lol.. Anyways good video.
Great video we had a storm 10-10-2018 without power for 13 days bought a 7500 generator it would run the well and hot water heater but not the AC now I have a plug in the garage so I can just plug in and start the generator l like the plug outside like you have Norm we live in South West ga
Thanks for the info. I live in Fairhope, we got our butts kicked by Sally. I know nothing about generators but plan to get one. Great video
Glad it helped Stephen!
any generator over 5500 watts you need a 10GA cable for 240v 30Amp receptacle , 12.000watt to 15,000watt you need 6GA Cable for the 240v 50amp receptacle
Last month got the wen 4750 starting watts- 3750 running watts generator.geting ready to get the wen 6000 starting watts- 5000 running watts generator.
I bought a 5kw watt generator the week before hurricane Ike hit, 2008. It has really come in handy. But, it was 10 degrees a couple of weeks ago and I had never tried to start it in that temp before. I pulled on that for 20 minutes before it started. Not fun. Looking to upgrade now. Thinking about the Champion 14KW whole house, or the Duramax 15KW. I would like to be able to run at least 1 of our AC unites in the summer or both heaters in the winter. I think both of these are about the same price. Then I have to get a transfer switch like you got.
my duro-max 5500 dual fuel is on order .Cant wait o get it.
u want a 10/4 wire good for 30 amps 120/240 that is two hot wires, a neutral and a ground
also if u run it for 3 days at 16 hrs a day, u'd want to change oil after 50 hours.have a
clean air filter and extra spark plugs. if just using gas das up car and have a siphon .
longer the cord it has to b a somewhat heavier cord uthawise u can burn out fridge.
I’m here in Ny and live in a apartment,however they keep hinting it’s gonna be a cold winter you might not have power for a few days and what not so I’m planning on buying one so if power was to get knocked out we can be good for atleast a week cause ain’t no telling how long it’ll be. But as long as the kids and we can eat and have power for the phones and things. We should be ok.
I have the champion duel fuel. I live in ft. Worth tx area. It sure came in handy with the big power outage in February's big freeze. I primarily use propane. It burns cleaner. Was a pain running cords but you do what ya gotta do. Y'all take care and stay safe.
What size propane tank is that? We had the 5 gallon tank and it ran like CRAP!! And we had 2 different ones (tried both). In the period of 2 seconds it went to very low idle (to the point of dying) then to high idle. We called customer service and they said we needed to have a 20 gallon propane tank to run correctly. Not sure if it was just us… It did run GREAT in the gasoline function!
Great video brother, One thing to remember! It never hurts to have a back up if you can afford it!
Great vid, buddy - in one way I hope you don't have to use your generator this hurricane season, but then again maybe you want a reason to run your beauty.
I lived in Buffalo/Rochester NY for 25 years and we had the opposite problem - ice and snow storms where your house cools down pretty fast. Gets just as old after 3-4 days as getting shut in in humid hurricane situations.
I have heard enough good things about Duro Max that I am going to spring for The Big One.
We decided to buy Duromax 12,000 watt generator because online said some reported that 8,000 watts were not enough for them. They might have assumed that 8,000 watts were sufficient to run everything including the dyer and A/C at the same time. I am not sure routing the cords will be worth the hassle just to get power.
I just bought the 4400. Started right up. What kind of drop chords do I need for small ac refrigerator stove and couple of lamps?
Talking about thieves I was told my veterans if someone tries to steal a generator during power outage that generator becomes essential for your well-being so you can shoot , idk if this is Texas only
Damn, we don't read owners manuals around here! New Sub just for that tidbit of god's honest truth.
Also , when it's not being used, start it once a month or so and let it run for 20 min.
Keeps the carb from gumming up.
Or Turn off the fuel and run dry.
@John rich use propane ,won't gum the carbs. If you have Dual Fuel .
Nice video, thanks. For 30 years, we've lost power every single year from spring storms, to winter ice storms. Since I picked up the dual fuel Duramax 12000EH for a great price a year and a half ago, haven't needed it. So I don't even know how well it'll work. Not complaining, hope I'll never need it. Never gone so long W/O losing power. Kinda funny.
Don't wait till the last minute to test it because these Duramax brand gens tend to have a bad wrap dependability wise!
That's good information Jack. I still haven't sprung on that dual fuel 3200W generator yet.
This next storm is supposed to hit land west of you but that close, you never know. We'll just call this storm Zeke, but it's actually Zeta.
Make sure you match the Voltage and Amperage on that popup. You may have a 30amp supply outlet on that generator, just make sure it's not 240V.
Keep us updated on how Yall come out through this storm, please?
Plan to top off my gas tank and 5 gallons in a can.
Thanks for sharing the information with us!
Hunker down! 😂!
LOL- LOVED this video!! I'm drinking beer and was laughing my ass off but also know ALL TO WELL what you were going through! We live in South West Florida and had about the same shit with Irma as you guys did! Went 10 days without power but Thank Baby Jesus that we had our Generac 17500!!! Ya gotta have a Generator ANYWHERE you live people!!!
They tell you to change the oil for a reason. In a emergency you don't have time to do it. That is why you get one before hand and break in the motor so it doesn't fail you when you need it. For people that don't have one get one before hand. As far as gasoline. Have enough on hand. You need to find a way to pull fuel from a vehicle as most people have a extra car. Gas goes bad after time if you don't add a stabilizer. The other way is you can always pour it in your car and get fresh gas as long as the old one hasn't gone bad. As far as electric starters, you have to keep the battery charged and they don't last that long. They come with a pull rope but I have found it's much harder to start than those without starters. A good generator will start on the first or second pull.
You forgot to mention THD, and many people down in the comments did as well. Most generators, especially the ones on the cheap end have a high THD. In my case, I have a small 2200 peak 1800 running watts Westinghouse with an inverter build in and I can safely run my refrigerator, small/medium freezer, smart TV with game console or satellite box plus a few minor electronics. The advantage of having a small generator is that it will burn less fuel and for me that is key in an emergency. I had 15 gallons of fuel on hand when Sally came through and knocked out power in N. Pensacola, it lasted me about a week. I did turned off the generator at least twice a day for 2 to 3 hours each time.
Have the dura max 10000 wired into the house. It will run almost everything in the house but have to turn off the fridge and freeze to run the hot water.Nothing beats a hot shower when the power is out. Also have a couple smaller ones to run small stuff when the big one isn't needed. The 2000 and 3500 watt inverters from harbor freight is supposed to one of the best and quiets ones out. Also remember 2 is 1 and 1 in none. Keep your gas treated with stabilizer and try to only ruin non ethonal gas in i. keeps from gumming up the carburetor, when you don't run it every month.
Your right. Yep always have backups.
Dude you sure made this educational video hella fun to watch.
Just always wondered about running them in the rain
More Power, More gas and more money 💰💰 if you don't have money problems..... Great 👍👍
Good job!
I bought the 2000 predator.
I can run my house some appliances. I can also run the window AC that I put in my Astro Van perfect for camping.
Great video.
I suggest buying the adapter 110 to 50 amp. You can find any adapter you need on Amazon.
I am going to adapt my generator to run Propane.
But don't tempt me to go buy big Papa Generator. Lol
Back up to the back up I say.
I have the Beast 12000 dual fuel. It powers my entire house with a four ton AC unit!
Awesome!
Do you have a transfer switch? I don't and wondering how to run heat/air without it.