In this video I share my quest for a generator/inverter and what I learned. I ended up with a 2018 Generac GP3000i inverter for my needs. I review what works well and cover a few shortcomings.
A good tip when dealing with sound you can build a four-sided collapsible box that's a little oversized so the generator can breathe if you like you can place some carpet inside the box and all the sound will be sent straight up into the sky you will not hear a thing most likely not even a drone some people if they're in a site long enough they just dig a hole and stick the generator down in the hole just make sure there's enough room for air to circulate around the generator so that it can breathe
Great basic video. Breaks it down simply. It shows how well it is designed or use, maintenance storage. But it should be noted this particular engine is made in China while other Generacs are made in WI. Also, Keep this maintained (as noted for oil and draining fuel) for storage and seasonal use. Do not use any ethanol gas in it, period. Thanks for the video!
I just picked up the same generator at Lowe's, but under the Craftsman name. I knew Craftsman didn't make it, so it's good to see it's a Generac. Haven't tested it out yet. Getting ready for hurricane Florence. Will report what I find. Thanks for the review - The only one I have found so far. It was listed at $849.00 in Georgia. With a 10% veterans discount it's not bad, I hope.
I popped open the Craftman's version of this and confirmed the Engine has a Generac label on it. Hopefully they didn't skimp on anything compared to the Generac itself. The only place I can find the Craftman 3000i generator is on Ebay. Even the Lowes web site does not list them. I wonder if my local Lowes, in preparation for hurricane Flowance, purchased a handful on Ebay for $639, shipped them here, and liseted for $849?
Likewise. I've been looking for a 3000w gen for my small camper so I can run the A/C as well. I seen the Craftsman at Lowes and was curious if it was rebranded. I recently bought a lawn mower from Lowes and noticed they had Craftsman branded riding mowers as well. I have found nothing in the way of video reviews from the Lowes Craftsman unit. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Thanks for the review. I'm thinking about this generator for my truck camper. I removed the Onan generator for the fourth and last time yesterday. I'm sure the Onan is a fine product but it is completely inaccessible in my camper. It is also 14 years old. I'm using the existing compartment and I think it will turn out great. The Honda is too much money and I don't normally follow the crowd on these types of things. Also the Honda is built in China now so I expect it will be on par with the rest of the crap that comes out of China. Again, Thanks for the review!
Go to Harbor Freight or better buy the Yahama. But please don't waste your money on a Genacrap. Do some real research & see what the BBB says. Then spen you hard earned money wisely. Good luck 👍
@@okramw1 I got two A-iPower SUA2000iV 2000 Watt Portable Inverter Generator and they are hands down the best generator I have ever owned. They start easy and with the dual setup cord they power my A/C with absolutely no problem. We ran them for 5 hours one night as it was so hot in the Florida keys we had no choice. We were in Bahia Honda and not one single complaint. One note is to run only ethanol free gas and drain when empty. This was the group advice on amazon and it works.
Great review. To be honest I really can't understand the weird obsession with these odd brand names they throw on equipment, really they are just nuts. This looks like an upgrade of a similar genorater I seen another guy do review on this gp outdoors guy, except he was saying thier was a problem with the oil and water mixing and causing issues. I can see this genorater seems more portable for the most part and seeing three items oporate with ease seems functional. Awesome review
I just ordered a io3500 for blackouts, for studio size in wall AC unit, 60 watt fridge, toaster oven and big screen TV with cable box, modem and router and a lamp. Q? Can I use the 30 Amp twist outlet with a 100' 10 gage cord and spider out to these appliances without damaging the appliances or tripping the breaker?? Ac and fridge are Not continuous, worried about the surge! Thank's!✌
I have 2 of these generators 3000i with parallel kit but at 4000 feet you are losing about 14% of your wattage per generator which makes it hard to run what I want to run and generac does not make a high altitude kit for this model. Is there a aftermarket high altitude kit for these generators?
During your demo, the generator went into overload (as indicated by the red light coming on) and it actually could not handle 'everything you threw at it'. This is supposed to be a warning of potential damage to the generator (specifically the inverter). If the generator does not turn off when that happens (or shortly thereafter), I would be concerned that if you were not nearby to see that it was overloading that you could damage the generator and void the warranty (meaning, you're out the $900 and buying a new one). Thoughts/Comments?
Hey David, you bring up a very good point. My intention was to push the envelop of the unit with the mock up test. The manual states the unit will trip the AC circuit overload protector if load is too great. I never reached that point and was surprised it handled all 3 loads (compressor, saw, vacuum) without stopping. But you are correct it was likely near the limit of unit. So far I have not got the overload breaker to trip but I hope it protects the unit from catastrophic overload and damage.
While I have a Honda 2200i and the 2200i companion to power my camper AC, I think that if I were to do it again the Generac GP3000i would be the best choice, especially considering the price. Makes sense, right?
It can only produce 3500 watts on surge which would be the in rush current of the motors attached, with motors running not starting the run current is 2500 watts. Without having an amprobe on any single conductor no way of telling the current draw. If you could see the max current then use P/IE to calculate the power output.
You said exactly the same things about the general 2200i . I fear canned info . Especially when it’s used as a blanket over all the products under the same name and manufacturer .
Thanks for the review. However, that champion 8kw will not run properly on the 20lb tank.when you say 15 hrs, that is unloaded. If you put any significant load on it , the engine will starve for fuel and slow down because that size tank can’t provide enough BTUs to run that size generator. You will also burn out the head if you try it for long.
You don't want to tip a generator that much, any engine, those wheels will be good to "slide" it around. You will mess up the carburetor and engine if you tip it too far. Keep the generator up right as much as possible when storing or moving it.
It's a gasoline engine that dumps carbon monoxide out of the exhaust like a car. So no, it's not meant to be indoors and would require a way to exhaust the exhaust outside.
That certainly is the thinking in a time when everybody gets a trophy. I agree with your assessment of 3 stars is middle or average. There is nothing wrong with average. 5 stars is reserved for the true best of the best IMHO. I identified several 5 star products that have spoke to me ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jQRxtg5FspE.html ...Would love to hear from you and others about products that have exceeded expectations and continue to perform beyond the competition. Thanks for your thoughts.
Hey Drew. Thanks for the comment. Not sure exactly what you mean?? I rated this generator a '"C+", so not exactly a ringing endorsement for generac...lots of room from improvement. Brown outs are one of the reasons I justified getting a generator. But frankly powerless job sites and car camping/tailgating are other reasons too. Quick look at your channel and I think we've got some common interests. I'll give your videos a look. Interesting stuff!
@@DIYMark sorry didn't mean to seem harsh, I obviously can see you don't work for generac and your channel is genuine. I'll check out some of your videos too . In my experience gernerac has poor service and hires 3rd party pushy sales people that require a home assessment for their larger generators. They won't answer questions over the phone. I would not reccomend generac. You can get better generators for the money. Thanks for the review. Keep up the good videos it took me about 4 years to get a decent subscriber and view base. I subbed.
VERY critical questions to ask about ANY generator -- questions that are rarely covered by reviewers: NUMBER ONE, single most important question beyond basic performance specs: Does it have an hour meter? ANY generator, with a 4-stroke engine, that does not include an hour meter is inexcusable regardless of price. Remote control for electric start (if included)? Sine or square wave power? Total harmonic distortion? Auto-throttling depending on load? Ease of draining carburetor for long-term storage? Ease of adding, changing or draining the oil? Engine displacement? Long-term durability comparison with Honda? Accurate, dependable fuel gauge? Toolless access to the engine? VERY IMPORTANT: Availability of replacement parts?
I have one i purchased a couple years ago its a 2200 it has never been used. I start it but it never runs for longer than a minute before it turns the red light on....WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP THIS THING IS.
I do not recommend Generac I purchased the same unit and Generac has done nothing for me I’ve had problems with it since the day I got it it’s never run they won’t back the product up they won’t back up the warranty and there is no technicians close enough in my area I have to drive 120 miles and pay someone $300 just to look at it Generac is a joke I purchased the generator literally 10 minutes from where I live at a local hardware store there is no one in my area and I’m in a large city/town northern California and they have no technicians that will honor a warranty, I purchased brand new and it’s never worked I haven’t been able to even use it and Generac won’t give me the time of day. Do not buy Generac spend the money on Honda you’ll be better off I don’t and I don’t care what anyone says do not buy Generac
The company is crappy at best. I have issues with mine and they won't do a dam thing. Mine is an earlier model. Mine does not convert correctly. They tell me of two companies kinda close to me and those companies want to call back. Generac does nothing to help get this resolved. Buy a honda and have a real piece of mind if you run into problems.
Not anymore my friend. Honda's as well are having major issues with both engines and generator heads, and inverters...They are now made in China as well, and even though they charge 2 to 3 times more for the same size units, they blow up just as often now as the off brands. Read the latest stats before helping honda sell more junk....
@@1stFlyingeagle Well that part, I haven't had any problems yet with my machine yet so I can't argue that fact. But both products are now made in China, and both products have great, and terrible reviews amoungst individuals...
