2 cycle Inverter Generator

[wasanah2]

Saw this on sale at Harbor Freight for under 90 bux.  Would this work to charge a couple of golf cart batteries or is it too wimpy?

 

[Riverman]

PLEASE buy a whisper-quiet inverter generator instead of this 2-cycle chain-saw type deal.

 

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PLEASE buy a whisper-quiet inverter generator instead of this 2-cycle chain-saw type deal.

Home Depot has a quiet 4 cycle inverter generator that puts out 1000 watts for around $189 so does Sams club. Both are better machines.

 

[Riverman]

I just checked both sites... they are not on sale right now, maybe soon.

 

[Blanch]

Yes it will. I use a similar 1000 watt two stroke. I had my nice generator stolen, so I bought my cheap two stroke, I’ve been using it for two and a half years. It has been dependable and no one ever tries to steal it.


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[capt_caveman]

that one is so loud and cheaply made !!
Inverter generators are much better with a built in pure sine inverters
clean energy free of voltage spikes and drops 
 Some are under $200 its a good investment

heres one from home depot $169

I would try to find one in store not online save on shipping

https://www.homedepot.com/p/LIFAN-E...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CMbnw96a-dwCFd0CrQYdEy4DrQ

 

[jimindenver]

The 2 strokes have a large following due to their cost. They can have really bad voltage spikes and dips. You need to replace the spark plug. There is a extended break in period.

Noise wise they are a 2 stroke like a weed wacker or chain saw. The more power that is called for, the harder you squeeze on those triggers. At full power they can make quite the racket. Should you be camping alone you may not mind sitting inside your camper. Being your neighbor would suck. Then again being next to any generator sucks.

Power wise it is not clean like a inverter nor well regulated as mentioned above. Also the amount of power has to be considered. My 800 watt generator can not handle my trailers converter at full power. So how you plan on charging the batteries has to be taken in to consideration. Mine can handle my Meanwell power supply at 36 amps but the 55 amp converter will stall it.

 

[Trebor English]

Please describe your battery charger.  The generator doesn't charge batteries it only supples energy to the battery charger.  

600 watts into the charger that might have a 20% loss would leave 480 watts into the battery.  That's 40 amps at 12 volts, 33 amps at 14.4 volts.  If your battery charger is a 100 amp monster this generator  won't work.  If it's 35 amp or less it is likely fine.

The generator is a bargain at that price.  

It is not an inverter generator.  It doesn't slow down under light load.  It runs at a constant 3600 RPM.  That makes it noisier.  A plywood lean to or A frame house might be helpful.

 

[tx2sturgis]

These are noisy, as mentioned, and being a two-stroke, you have to mix oil and gasoline, but its not hard to do. They even have a little measuring cup in the tank right under the fill cap. On the other hand, you never have to change oil.

Be sure to buy 2-cycle oil that has fuel stabilizer included...

I have owned a similar one for years and yep, it works, but you'll probably want a LONG extension cord!

BTW, mine began running intermittently shortly after I bought it and I finally discovered it had a bad spark plug wire...

The quality control is hit-or-miss. If you buy one make sure to run it for awhile before you leave the area where you bought it.

 

[wasanah2]

I've dealt with 2 cycle engines before (weed whacker and chain saw).  But from EVERYONE who has had something to say about this unit, it's considered so noisy.  I don't do this to listen to machines.  I think I'll wait and pony up for a good one that's quieter.  I don't want something heavy.  I was given a heavy one and I put that thing in storage at my aunt's place.  I didn't even drag it out when the hurricane went through and we didn't have power for a week.  It was so not worth it.  I would have to make a ramp to get it in and out of my vehicle.  I think I'll just sell that thing before the next hurricane and save up for a decent one.

I saw Leader Bob's video on running an A/C on solar or a generator, and this guy has a small Sportsman generator he got for under 200 bux.  Here it is:  and my thought was maybe I could get a cheap generator that's light.  His is only 19 lbs and can run an A/C, and I don't want it for anything that electricity thirsty, but I was blown away that a small generator could run an A/C.  That's a lot of power out of a little machine.  BTW, I could not find his model generator anywhere in stock.

 

[wasanah2]

that one is so loud and cheaply made !!
Inverter generators are much better with a built in pure sine inverters
clean energy free of voltage spikes and drops 
 Some are under $200 its a good investment

heres one from home depot $169

I would try to find one in store not online save on shipping

I think I'll go look at that if my Home Depot has it.  Just to look.  I might want to get something like this before I save up for a good one.  It's the noise factor that has me bothered.  I suppose one could make a structure around it (as long as there's enough breathing room for it) to muffle some of the noise...  Has anyone tried making something like that that's 4 short collapsible walls, and then put it up around the unit?

 

[Trebor English]

I think I'll go look at that if my Home Depot has it.  Just to look.  I might want to get something like this before I save up for a good one.  It's the noise factor that has me bothered.  I suppose one could make a structure around it (as long as there's enough breathing room for it) to muffle some of the noise...  Has anyone tried making something like that that's 4 short collapsible walls, and then put it up around the unit?

I have not done it but I saw a you tube video.  He used two pieces of plywood to make an A frame house for the generator.  The plywood reflected the noise down to the ground rather than trying to absorb the noise in the plywood.  It was completely open at both ends.  He walked around it with a sound level meter with and without the house.  It made a big difference.  

Paint the plywood and you can leave it out in the rain.

The total amount of plywood was less than a full sheet cut in half.  I don't remember the dimensions.  If you make the house, even get fancy with hinges at the peak of the roof, it will help quiet the next generator.  What cuts the noise on a $89 generator will cut the noise on a kilobuck generator.

 

[jimindenver]

I saw Leader Bob's video on running an A/C on solar or a generator, and this guy has a small Sportsman generator he got for under 200 bux.  Here it is:  and my thought was maybe I could get a cheap generator that's light.  His is only 19 lbs and can run an A/C, and I don't want it for anything that electricity thirsty, but I was blown away that a small generator could run an A/C.  That's a lot of power out of a little machine.  BTW, I could not find his model generator anywhere in stock.

Somehow I recognize that guy. lol

That is the little generator I use and it has been extremely popular on the forum. So much so that when it is on sale it sells out quickly. I got mine for $152 plus tax at Home depot. Usually you can find it at Home Depot, amazon and Walmart for under $200/ Just keep checking.

 

[wasanah2]

I have not done it but I saw a you tube video.  He used two pieces of plywood to make an A frame house for the generator.  The plywood reflected the noise down to the ground rather than trying to absorb the noise in the plywood.  It was completely open at both ends.  He walked around it with a sound level meter with and without the house.  It made a big difference.  

Paint the plywood and you can leave it out in the rain.

The total amount of plywood was less than a full sheet cut in half.  I don't remember the dimensions.  If you make the house, even get fancy with hinges at the peak of the roof, it will help quiet the next generator.  What cuts the noise on a $89 generator will cut the noise on a kilobuck generator.

Thanks for the feedback on making a muffling Aframe for it.  I like the idea of it putting the noise into the ground.  Here in FL the ground is SAND and that itself is a good muffler.  So that idea sounds great.  I was just thinking of 4 collapsible square walls with an open top, but the reflecting idea is better.

Yeah I'm off the $89 generator.  I'm going to get a better one than that,  and the pure sine variety makes more sense.  I never thought you could get a generator for under a 100 bux, so it was an exciting find, but not right for me.  They had a pallet of them (the units were small), so I suspect they were planning on selling a lot of them at that price.

 

[wasanah2]

Somehow I recognize that guy. lol

That is the little generator I use and it has been extremely popular on the forum. So much so that when it is on sale it sells out quickly. I got mine for $152 plus tax at Home depot. Usually you can find it at Home Depot, amazon and Walmart for under $200/ Just keep checking.

So is that puppy quieter?   I wish they all came with dB ratios clearly marked on them.

 

[jimindenver]

Much quieter. As quiet under load as a Honda 2000. I think the idle noise is a bit higher but I never run mine to be just idling. In any event you can talk normally with it running near you.

 

[wasanah2]

Much quieter. As quiet under load as a Honda 2000. I think the idle noise is a bit higher but I never run mine to be just idling. In any event you can talk normally with it running near you.

You almost have to buy these things on recommendation because once you open it and run some gas through it, you can't take it back to the store and say, I'm returning this because it's louder than I expected.  In FL no one accepts a return on anything on a hurricane item.  LOL

I will keep looking for it.  Everyone is out of stock.

 

[becida]

PLEASE buy a whisper-quiet inverter generator instead of this 2-cycle chain-saw type deal.

What Riverman said.. PLEASE buy one that's quiet!

 

[wasanah2]

What Riverman said.. PLEASE buy one that's quiet!

And how do you know how quiet it is before you buy it?  They should have dB ratios on the box.

 

[Riverman]

Quiet inverters that I use, or have used in the past include.... Honda, Yamaha, Champion, Sportsman.

52 dB or less is what I look for.

NO generator is super quiet, but you can usually talk over the name brand inverters.

Will you hear them running while inside your car, van or RV? YES

Will others hear them running while parked 100 feet from you? YES