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+--- Thread: Cheapo 800 watt $100 generators available locally? (/showthread.php?tid=18446)
Cheapo 800 watt $100 generators available locally? - randomq - 06-05-2017
Anyone seen them, or any other generator sub-$200? I just need a tiny one for portable infrequent use.
RE: Cheapo 800 watt $100 generators available locally? - randomq - 06-07-2017
Thanks for the suggestions. I have a 15 amp charger I've used to charge my house batteries from my car. I wonder how much my alternator can handle!
The Walmart generator seems decent. Anyone have experience with those powermate generators?
RE: Cheapo 800 watt $100 generators available locally? - kalakoa - 06-07-2017
Cheap gas generators are crap, but you can "usually" get a few years out of them if you use ethanol-free gas and do not get them wet.
Last time I "had to have" a generator, I spent about $700 and got one with electric start. Totally worth it, even though it was way more power than I needed.
In older cars, the alternator is "probably" in the 40-60A range. There are high capacity alternators (100-140A) typically used by "car audio enthusiasts", probably more than enough to roast a small battery bank.
RE: Cheapo 800 watt $100 generators available locally? - oink - 06-07-2017
I've had one of the smaller powermate generators for 10+ years. It has quite a few hours on it with no problems. Pretty much alcohol free gas always, with a few exception out of necessity. It has run for a week or two almost not stop several times. Like many if not most of the cheaper generators it has no oil filter and a fairly small sump. If you aren't capable or conscientious enough to do a quick oil change frequently and keep after the gas situation they won't last. If you do, they will last. Even during a hurricane I'll go out in the dark and rain and shut it off and knock it over and dump the oil and refill it. After a few times it takes about 5 min. With no filter and a small sump the oil gets dirty fast. That's the trade off for a cheap generator.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
RE: Cheapo 800 watt $100 generators available locally? - Tink - 06-07-2017
Also helps if you get 30 weight "lawnmower/small gas engine" oil, that is not a multi viscosity. Check Ace or Pahoa Auto Parts.
Community begins with Aloha
RE: Cheapo 800 watt $100 generators available locally? - terracore - 06-08-2017
Buying a generator for 800 watts is overkill IMHO. I would use an inverter.
I did buy one of those cheap crappy chinese generators once and it was complete garbage. Not only was it nearly impossible to start, it didn't deliver the advertised wattage (not even close, and I'm not talking about the "peak" or startup wattage I knew it would never get close to) but it also was loud as hell and vibrated so badly the power cords actually vibrated out of the generator. Never again. It would just be a liability to get rid of.