I originally thought I'd go for a "whole house" solution but when I realized the cost I got serious and started to figure out what we really needed. After all, the power doesn't go out *that* often. We run a small business out of the house and the internet (which is also our phone) is our lifeline, so we needed to keep going at least 4 computers, monitors and peripheral equipment, routers, wifi, charging stations, etc. Of course, we wanted to power the refrigerator and freezer, heat, some lights and "quality of life" items like a hair dryer and coffee pot (Reliance has a good list of loads in its transfer switch owners manual). 5,550 watts looked about right -somewhat less than I would have guessed.
Having settled on a size, it became just an issue of price/features. We liked this unit because it was well priced and had electric start (ever try to start a gasoline engine in the freezing cold?). It turned out to be smaller than I expected, and better looking. Setup was a breeze -just put on the wheels, handles for maneuvering, fill `er up with the provided oil, connect the provided battery, and add some gasoline. Started right away.
I also installed a Reliance 50 amp transfer switch and outlet which gave me 8 circuits to play with. Installation was a snap, well within the abilities of anyone reasonably handy, though if you have *any* doubts you should consult an electrician. We've only had one outage since installation and everything worked as expected, running all except the boiler, which wasn't called for. The watt gauges on the transfer switch indicated we were well within limits, and the generator supplied peak loads no problem. The generator -like most -is a little noisy. You could spend *a lot* more for a quiet Honda, but, how often does the power go out? Overall, a solid unit that should meet most needs at a reasonable cost.
I bought this generator following the "Snowtober" storm that hit New England and knocked my power out for 3 days. I went with this model due to the electric start and 3-year warranty. First impressions were good; the generator comes well-packed in a nice box. Assembly is minimal, consisting only of attaching the wheels, legs, and handles; then for prep, you put in the motor oil (included) and attach the battery (included). Honeywell also includes a battery charger, a nice touch which wasn't mentioned in the description. Once it's all together, it looks good, is nicely finished, and feels sturdy; the materials used seem high-quality. The electric start works well; I've started it up once every few weeks since I got it, it fires right up every time. There are nice clear instructions in a placard attached to the gas tank, as well as a laminated card that comes attached to the frame, which are both nice touches.
The one concern I have with mine is that the engine speed surges (speeding up and slowing down) when not under load; I don't know if this is normal or not. It seems to do it less when there is a load connected. I can see the governor spring moving when this happens. But it seems to work ok... I had the generator connected to the house via a transfer switch, and everything connected was working (fridge, furnace, well pump, lights).
I'm a little disappointed that at this price point it doesn't include an auto-throttle feature, which means it only runs at one engine speed no matter what the load; competing generators with this feature can slow down the engine when the load is lower, resulting in less noise and fuel consumption.
There is a fairly big, beefy-looking muffler, but it's still loud. It seemed about as loud as a friend's 10-year-old Honda generator, so I guess the noise level is good... for a generator anyway.
Buy Honeywell 5500E-6037 5,500 Watt 389cc OHV Portable Gas Powered Generator with Electric Start Now
Push the button and it starts every time. I recently converted it to Tri-Fuel which makes this generator even more versatile. It runs on gas and natural gas. Haven't tried it on propane yet. Buyers should also know that this is a Generac generator. It does have a larger chassis than the 5500 generacs do, but it's the same 389 engine. Which runs great.
Read Best Reviews of Honeywell 5500E-6037 5,500 Watt 389cc OHV Portable Gas Powered Generator with Electric Start Here
The beauty of this inverter is that it powers 2 to 3 electronic items at once and attaches to a car battery without using a car lighter. I have owned mine for 9 months to a year, loved it, and bought another. I use it for emergency power in my car, and for temporary power outages in the house (we have them every 3 weeks or so). I use a spare car battery to power it. This inverter can power a laptop or computer and monitor, or the tv and satellite power (and a lamp). It has two outlets and a usb to plug into.
