Generac Attack
Written: Jul 30 '00 (Updated Aug 09 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Quiet, foolproof, reliable operation
Cons: Out powered by cheaper competition, wheels may attract thieves
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| Mark_A.'s Full Review: Generac Generator 3500 Lw-1313 |
Note: This review dwells mainly on the use of this generator as a stand-by power unit. I cannot rate the unit for use as a remote power source (construction site, etc.), for lack of practical experience, my impression is that it would excel at that duty as well.
A stand-by power generator is truly a luxury item. On what other machine would you spend hundreds of dollars just so you can store the thing in the garage, waiting for its moment of utility? The idea of keeping the ship afloat while the grid is down, however, is a seductive one for most homeowners in Hurricane Alley. After riding out hurricane Opal on the Gulf Coast in 1995 and losing the contents of my icebox, I decided that I would purchase a stand-by generator. OK, so it took me five years, but I finally did it. The best advice I can give about a stand-by generator is to have it before you need it, trying to buy one when a storm is looming does not put you in a good position. I have seen people in this position buy a lower quality generator because that was all that was available, I have seen others buy the top of the line generator, even though it was more (feature and money wise) than they needed, because that was all that was left. The little ones seem to go quicker than the big ones when Bertha looms off of the coast. The time to shop for a stand-by generator is now, when you don't need it. I purchased a Generac LW 1313 3500W, I offer you a description of the machine and why I bought it.
You didn't buy the Honda? Don't get me wrong, Honda makes some very fine generators, but have you seen the prices on these things? Yikes, the price for a 2500W Honda generator is over a thousand dollars! The spare parts will max out your gold card, also. Besides, I'm not convinced that the Hondas reign supreme in this market segment. They are good, but are they that good? If they are, then perhaps they are worth the extra jingle. For a guy who might use a generator a couple of times a year, save for emergency use, I couldn't rationalize the expense. On that same note, I couldn't buy the bargain basement generator with a side valve engine. It must be said, however, that I could have bought a Coleman Powermate 5000W or a Deblivis 5000W, both with overhead valve Briggs and Stratton Vanguard engines for the same price I paid for my Generac, which only offers 3500W. I chose the Generac, and here's why:
Generac Reputation: Walk behind a hospital, fire department or a police station any where in the country, and look at what brand of stand-by generators many of them are equipped with. You'll be surprised at the number of Generacs. Generac is in the generator business, and their products reflect that.
Features: This Generac has features found on much higher priced generators. It has a 12v DC battery charging outlet. It has two 120v standard outlets, it has one 120v 20a locking plug outlet, and it has one 240v 20 amp outlet for hooking the unit up to a power panel. It has an idle control (selectable on/off) to match engine speed to energy demand. Its powerplant is a super efficient and quiet Generac proprietary 6.5 HP OHV engine with full oil pressurization and low oil alarm and shutoff. Most other models feature an engine built by a contracted manufacturer, the Generac features a Generac engine perfectly mated to its alternator. It has a high capacity fuel tank of four gallons that will keep the machine running for up to 14 hours at fifty percent load (so you don't need to store 50 gallons of fuel). This machine also has an automotive type cartridge oil filter, as well as a no nonsense air filter, features that tell you that it was engineered to last a long time. The frame is welded, rectangular tubed steel that seems very sturdy. One of the best features of this particular machine is the portability kit that comes standard. This kit includes a handle and two eight inch semi-pneumatic wheels that make this 137 pounder mobile. It is a one man job to move this rig around. Given the weight of the unit, it has a relatively small footprint, a salient difference between it and the Coleman 5000. Add $50 to the price of the Coleman and you can buy some wheels and a handle for it.
Performance: The Generac LW 1313 3500W will energize my icebox, a television and some lights. It does not offer sufficient electricity to run my air conditioner. This is where I was wavering on whether or not to buy the Coleman 5000W instead. As I did some further research, I figured out that a Coleman would probably not run my air conditioner, either. The wattage figure I was using did not include my central fan motor, which gobbles an impressive 1300W. That was the clincher for me. I knew the Generac would out run the Coleman by years, and I knew I liked its smaller size, but I thought I wanted more watts. I'm happy with the Generac, I am confident in its quality and performance. I'm glad I bought it instead of the Powermate. Besides, it offers features I may even use outside of emergency use that the Coleman did not offer (12v DC battery charging). Did I mention the Generac is Fun to start? It starts about halfway through the first pull. Noise? There is some noise associated with running this generator, but it is minimal. It is nothing near approaching the sound pressure levels of side valve engined generators that would be fine for the farm or construction site, but not something you would want to run all night in a residential neighborhood. This particular Generac is also quiet and small enough to do duty as a recreational unit. Two people can easily hoist it into the bed of a pick-up truck.
Be prepared!: Thankfully, the Y2K thing has passed, and people who can really use a stand-by power generator can once again afford them. This Generac generator is sure to offer thousands of hours of faithful, quiet service at about half the price of similarly equipped Hondas. My next move is to equip my house's electrical service input breaker box with a stand-by power plug-in and load distributor (installed by a certified electrician, of course). This would make hooking up the unit to particular circuits in the home a snap. If you plan something similar, just be sure to isolate your home from the grid to inhibit your generator from energizing the wires that serve your home, causing a potential danger for power company employees.
Good luck on your generator, and good shopping!
Update Aug 09: I ordered a part for my 18 year old Snapper lawn mower (older than previously believed) from a local small engine repair service. I was surprised to see three generators in there for repair, two Colemans and a Deblivis. I wanted to ask the guy what was wrong with them, but he was right out of Apocalypse Now. As Robert Plant sang "hhhhmmmm, but it makes you wonder".
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Mark_A.
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 - Top 500 |
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Member: Mark A
Location: Schauerberg, Germany
Reviews written: 117
Trusted by: 74 members
About Me:
The time will come when we are no more, so let's just eat some BBQ...
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