Generac 5939 GP5500 6,875 Watt 389cc OHV Portable Gas Powered Generator

We bought this Generac GP5500 as part of a deal with our electrician when he installed a transfer switch in out home.

I was impressed by the solid construction of this genset and the strong build of the frame/cage. The power generated is as advertised. It is not unduly loud either, and is held down to a reasonable sound level when the windows in the house are closed and the unit is running out in the driveway.

Anyway, I dutifully exercised this generator every month for a 15 minute run under load. It provided enough power to keep my essentials on in my home. I put about 5-6 oz. of fresh fuel with stabilizer in it for each run. After about 15 minutes under load, I switched off the load, and then ran it until the fuel ran out. I then turned off the fuel valve and put it back in the garage. I also changed the oil when it first hit 2.0 hours of run time.

After about 5 months of owning this machine, it suddenly started spewing fuel all over the ground during the monthly maintenance run. I contacted Generac for warranty service and the referred me to a local dealer. After transporting the generator to them, they had it for about a week. They said that the float in the carburetor was stuck open due to some corrosion. They claimed that this was due to bad fuel or fuel contaminated with water, or leaving the machine idle for too long without exercise. This boggled my mind since I have been very careful to prevent just this sort of issue.

Best Buy Generac 5778 XG4000 4,500 Watt 220cc OHV Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit

First of all I would like to say that I love this Generator. I bought mine from a local dealer, after reading about this new model from a popular mechanics article and award, but I think my review may be useful to others here. The setup of the generator is very easy and only took me two minutes. Generac includes your first maintenance kit with the generator (this comes in handy, I will explain later.) I got my generator about a two weeks before Wisconsin (where I live) got hit with a huge blizzard 24" of snow and 40mph winds with -5 F temps. We lost power for almost 24 hours - my wife, who was very annoyed that I bought this unit just before the holidays, changed her tune greatly when our house was the only one on the block with heat and christmas lights running. The Generator performed great the entire time. Since Generac includes the maintenance kit I didn't have to run aroud trying to figure out where to buy the oil filter as the unit needs to have oil and filter changed after the first 30 hours (break in period.)

Now to the features, this model surges to 5000 watts and is very compact and sturdy. The best feature is the built in power meter that allows you to know how loaded the generator is without having to add up the watts. Also, the power quality is very good with this unit and I had no problem running my computer or LCD tv throughout the storm. The noise level, which I expected to be very loud, was not bad at all. I had no problem standing next to the unit while talking to all my neighbors about why I still had power.

I am not too concerned about reliability because I bought a Generac because my father has had an older model portable for 13 years and my Uncle has had the same Generac Portable for almost 30!! Also, I have a Pressure washer with a Generac engine on it for 12 years and have never had a problem (lots of use too.) Plus, the unit comes with a two year warranty

Preview Generac 5800 XG8000 10,000 Watt 410cc OHV Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit

Product Features

• Professional-quality portable generator with advanced 410cc OHVI engine and full-wrap frame tubing
• Reliable 8,000-watt power supply; 10,000 surge watts
• Illuminated control panel for improved visibility; Power Bar monitors wattage usage
• 9-gallon steel fuel tank with incorporated fuel gauge; runs up to 10 hours at 50% load
• Non-CARB Compliant/Not For Sale In California

 I finally had to replace an old Generac 5500XL after about 12 years of service including a couple of weeks heavy use after Hurricane Ike. Decided on the XG8000 because I needed more steady state and starting power based on my hurricane experience, and I felt that the Generac was a good unit. One thing I liked immediately about the XG8000 is the power meter which graphically shows roughly how much steady state power you are consuming. I also liked the engine hour meter with reminders to change the oil. My old Generac had neither of these features. Also, this unit has rubber covers over the outlets, although you shouldn't be running this generator in the rain in any event. All in all, this unit seems better built than my previous Generac, and the price is great. So what's not to like?

The unit has one big flaw that had me tearing my hair out until I discovered the problem based on a review on another site. I could not get this unit to start no matter what I did. It would fire up, run for maybe three seconds, and die. After trying all sorts of combinations of choke (full, half, none) and even starting fluid, I was ready to give up and seek warranty service, when I decided to do a comprehensive search on Generac generator reviews that identified hard start problems. There are a number of instances of this, but only one person mentioned that they had discovered that their fuel line between the shutoff valve and fuel filter was kinked. I ran out to check my fuel line, and sure enough, it was kinked near the outlet of the fuel shutoff valve. You can't see this area very well unless you are really looking closely, but the line came off the valve at almost right angles, which only allowed a tiny trickle of fuel to get through. As soon as I fixed this the generator started immediately and ran perfectly! Generac needs to fix this problem, as there is nothing to prevent the line from moving in such a way to cause it to kink again in this same location. I restrained mine with a cable tie!

Review - Generac Cold Weather Kit - Fits 760, 992 and 999CC Engines, Model# 5947

This Generac Cold Weather Kit provides easier starting of Generac air-cooled automatic standby generators in areas where temperatures fall below 10deg F. U.S.A. Application: Cold weather kit, Compatible With: Generac air-cooled generators manufactured after April 2010, Kit Includes: Battery warmer pad and crankcase heater

Amazon now allows customers to upload product video reviews. Use a webcam or video camera to record and upload reviews to Amazon.

Best Buy Generac 5664 Maintenance Kit for 12 - 18 kW, 760/990cc Engine

 

Scheduled maintenance is a necessity for all standby generators. The Air Cooled Scheduled Maintenance kits offer all the hardware necessary to perform a complete maintenance on Generac air-cooled generators. Maintenance is recommended at every 200 hours or 2 years. If running in a dusty environment, more frequent maintenance may be required. Further maintenance details can be found in the generator owner's manual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discount Generac RTSD200A3 Nexus Smart Switch 200 Amp Service Rated Transfer Switch

Engineered with Generac's Digital Load Management (DLM) technology, the Nexus Smart Switch is the smartest transfer switch on the market. It has the ability to cycle on and off two air conditioners without adding additional components, allowing for a smaller generator to cover more circuits than when paired with a standard transfer switch.

Best Buy Generac 5747 XG8000E 10,000 Watt 410cc OHV Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit And Electric Start

First, let me make a clear distinction between Amazon and Generac. I purchased this item on 9/15/10. Amazon could not have done better both before and after the sale. Exceptional service. Generac, on the other hand, leaves much to be desired. I have not had an opportunity to use the generator yet. I won't have the necessary electrical work done for another week. But I assume that the generator will deliver as promised because I'm certain other reviewers would have said something by now. If it doesn't, I'll add to this review.

My generator was DOA. It would not turn over with the electric start in spite of charging the battery for two days. Also, it would not even "pop" with the manual starter. Four of us tried. And this is where the problem really begins. Generac's warranty policy states that portable generators must be returned to a factory authorized service center under all circumstances. In my opinion, having wheels doesn't make it portable for warranty purposes. Somehow, getting a 255 pound generator in the back of my 4 door sedan, and driving it 25 miles to the closest service center after paying over $1,200 for something that never even started leaves much to be desired. I spoke to two levels of customer service at Generac, and got the same story from both. Because of the hazardous materials in the generator (oil and gas), it can't just be returned. So you need to deal with Generac and their warranty policy. I could have someone from a authorized service center come out to work on it. But, it will cost me $100 right off the bat because Generac will not pay to have anyone come out. I don't think I should have to do this on brand-new merchandise.

I think another reviewer also found this out the hard way. So before you buy anything from Generac, just be aware of what you may need to go through if the item is defective within the waranty period. If you're one of those people who regularly haul things around in a pick-up truck or with a trailer, fine. If not, think twice.

Review Generac 6000 LP3250 3,750 Watt 212cc OHV Liquid Propane Powered Portable Generator With Tank Holder by Generac

Take the LP3250 along for outdoor events, camping or job site use, or use it around the home for projects and emergency backup. As consumers become more conscious of their green footprint, they look for ways to use less fossil fuel, but ideally not at the expense of convenience. For many applications, propane is the answer. Unlike gasoline, Liquid Propane can be stored indefinitely without deterioration, and safely transported without spillage. Propane is also readily available and is used by millions of people to fuel everything from furnaces to grills to vehicles. This means you wont need to run out to a gas station to stock up on fuel when your power goes out. Liquid propane also emits low carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons and fewer toxic pollutants than gasoline. Liquid propane is also non-toxic and biodegradable. Until now, the only options available in a portable propane generator required the propane tank to be separately carried, where it would then sit to the side of the generator while in use. The LP3250 incorporates a tank holder into the frame itself, so the propane tank sits securely out of the way. This eliminates the hassle of a stand-alone tank and the awkward fuel line that goes along with it. The LP3250 also includes your quart of oil, a wheel kit for easy portability, and a 2 year residential warranty. The propane tank is not included. This unit has two standard 5-20R 120V outlets, and one L14-20R 120/240V twist-lock outlet.

Discount Generac 5735 GP17500E 26,250 Watt 992cc OHV Portable Gas Powered Generator With Electric Start

 

The generator was easy to assemble, started right up after filling oil reservoir and fueling. I haven't had a power outage yet since getting this generator (go figure). The only drawback I've seen (so far) is the information provided on the available plug receptacles is rather weak. The 50 amp plug is located underneath the panel face where all the other plug receptacles are located. It has a wire "latch hook" to keep the plug from falling out, but no info on how to properly use it. I had difficuly locating the correct male plug with a "straight" out feature since most are 90 degrees. It would have been nice to have the male plug-end supplied with the generator. I finally found one at Grainger (cost over one hundred bucks, but it's top notch). Although the muffler assembly is impressive looking, it's not quite as quiet as I expected.

Review Generac 5793 iX2000 2,000 Watt 126cc 4-Stroke OHV Gas Powered Portable Inverter Generator

 

If you read the other reviews, you will notice that there is definitely an issue with the choke lever. After I received this generator, there was also an issue with the choke lever being broken off right out of the box. This is a nice little generator and I personally think Generac is a good brand. I have had no negative issues with the company or it's products in the past but this is certainly a KNOWN issue by now. Generac and Amazon obviously know about this choke lever problem. I think whoever buys this product on Amazon should be fairly warned before they purchase it. It can be fixed by contacting Generac or going through a local authorized dealer to repair it but this is an inconvenience and can take a substantial amount of time. If you are buying this product with plans of using it right away, I wouldn't count on it. I also think it is wrong to keep selling an item that has been proven to be defective as a brand new item. I haven't had my generator fixed yet, it is currently sitting at a local repair shop.

best buy Generac Guardian Series 5873 17,000 Watt Air-Cooled Liquid Propane/Natural Gas Powered Standby Generator With Transfer Switch (CARB Compliant)

 

After our recent tornadoes we decided the ability to have hot showers etc warranted the purchase of a portable generator. Calculated the watts we needed and we needed the top end of the portables.

Looked at several and ordered what I thought was a GP8000 however got a GP7500. Amazon adjusted the price as they will not accept anything that may contain gasoline back even unopened. Amazon now has the right one listed.

Assembly was easy attached wheels handle etc no prpblems with assembly and it fired up and ran smoothly. There is a quirk you should be aware of. The generator does not recharge the starter battery. It takes a seperate plug in charger to keep the generator's battery charged.

Alredy had the house set up to simply flip switchs and have it on generator power but before we plugged it in the house circuit I decided to plug some 110 volt tools into it to test it. My Bosch drill ran and sparked like I had never seen before so I decided to get the volt meter out. Good thing this unit was generating 170 volts. Talking about frying electronics or just about anything else in the house! HOT HOT HOT!

Contacted Generac and was told to take it to the nearest repair station which is a 180 mile round way trip for delivery and picking back up.

Loaded the beast up in the truck with my motorcycle ramp. If you do not have a pick up truck/SUV/trailer plus at least three helpful neighbors or a ramp you may have just bought an exoensive boat anchor. Delivered it to the repair station and the three techs helped unload.

It has now been six weeks waiting for the unit to be repaired and all I am getting is we ordered the parts.

If you have a pick up, tie downs, a ramp, an accesible repair center and a couple of months to wait for warranty repairs then you might want to consider buying a Generac generator. If any of the previous does not apply to you then consider getting a brand that is sold in a brick and motar place so if you have a problem you could swap or get a refund for a defective unit.

One final bit of advice; before buying use a usage list to calculate how much watts you will need. Keep in mind that most transfer switchs only handle 7,500 watts if you need more power to run your basics.

Discount Generac 5943 GP7500E 9,375 Watt Generator with Electric Start

After our recent tornadoes we decided the ability to have hot showers etc warranted the purchase of a portable generator. Calculated the watts we needed and we needed the top end of the portables.

Looked at several and ordered what I thought was a GP8000 however got a GP7500. Amazon adjusted the price as they will not accept anything that may contain gasoline back even unopened. Amazon now has the right one listed.

Assembly was easy attached wheels handle etc no prpblems with assembly and it fired up and ran smoothly. There is a quirk you should be aware of. The generator does not recharge the starter battery. It takes a seperate plug in charger to keep the generator's battery charged.

Alredy had the house set up to simply flip switchs and have it on generator power but before we plugged it in the house circuit I decided to plug some 110 volt tools into it to test it. My Bosch drill ran and sparked like I had never seen before so I decided to get the volt meter out. Good thing this unit was generating 170 volts. Talking about frying electronics or just about anything else in the house! HOT HOT HOT!

Contacted Generac and was told to take it to the nearest repair station which is a 180 mile round way trip for delivery and picking back up.

Loaded the beast up in the truck with my motorcycle ramp. If you do not have a pick up truck/SUV/trailer plus at least three helpful neighbors or a ramp you may have just bought an exoensive boat anchor. Delivered

it to the repair station and the three techs helped unload.

It has now been six weeks waiting for the unit to be repaired and all I am getting is we ordered the parts.

If you have a pick up, tie downs, a ramp, an accesible repair center and a couple of months to wait for warranty repairs then you might want to consider buying a Generac generator. If any of the previous does not apply to you then consider getting a brand that is sold in a brick and motar place so if you have a problem you could swap or get a refund for a defective unit.

One final bit of advice; before buying use a usage list to calculate how much watts you will need. Keep in mind that most transfer switchs only handle 7,500 watts if you need more power to run your basics.

Review Generac Guardian Series 5875 20,000 Watt Air-Cooled Liquid Propane/Natural Gas Powered Standby Generator With Transfer Switch (CARB Compliant)

 

In May I will have had this generator installed for 2 years. I have had ZERO problems with it! Just like it is supposed to it "wakes up" every Monday morning and runs at half speed for about 12 minutes to keep everything limber. Recently, I discovered Amazon had the maintenance kit for only $13.97. It has a new air filter, oil filter and 2 spark plugs. Generac recommends changing the oil at 200 hours or 2 years whichever comes first, so my plan is to change the oil at the 2 year boundary next month.

I have had 2 complete power failures here in the country over the last 2 years. One lasted about an hour and a half. Both times the generator started in the required 10 seconds or less and the power transferred automatically. I had to laugh when I saw the power company truck drive by looking for the outage and our lights were the only ones on. Grin!! But I am a retired Electrical Engineer and I KNOW how this stuff works. This 20kw unit has practically rock solid voltage and frequency regulation. I have one of those little plug-in units called a Kill-A-Watt and the frequency counter maybe goes down to 59.9hz and up to 60.1hz occasionally, however, most of the time it stays right on 60hz. Now I will admit when the whole house air conditioner starts the generator "moans" a little bit but recovers instantly and keeps on truckin'. The only other comment that might be appropriate here is my surprise when the electric contractor that installed the unit poured the concrete pad that it sits on. I asked, "Isn't this too small". They assured me it wasn't. And since, in the past I had one of the Generac 10kw contractor units that is almost twice the size, was I surprised when I saw how small this unit was. But new technology has allowed even generators to shrink.