Opinions on Generac generators
 

Generac Generator 5000/6250

I may buy it this evening.

Are they loud?


KT

Any of them that size are going to be fairly loud.

They're tolerable for commercial work.
If you expect to use it for backup power at home, I would suggest building a muffled enclosure for sound attenuation. If the whole neighborhood is dark, your generator is going to sound REALLY loud.
If you take it to the track, your pit neighbors will hate you.

that is gonna be LOUD!!

i had some hillbillies set up deer camp next to us..they were 50 yards away. they fired up the generator and the peace and tranquility of the forest evaporated.

in an emergency that generator will alert the neighbors you are well prepared. good price tho!!
at deer camp, some ex marine guy said they would dig a pit and set the generator down into it to muffle the noise. if i had a backhoe, i would try it.

I have the briggs and Stratton version of that one. It is a little quieter than a lawn mower. The muffler seems to be alot better.

We have a 7-kilowatt Cummins Onan generator on our RV that is VERY quiet.

Get it.

When the grid goes dark, the only folks who ***** about the noise don't have generators.

I'd buy it for $375

That's half price of new.

We have a 15kw for the house as backup when the power goes out which is common up here In the woods. No neighbors so sound is not an issue but it doesn't keep me up at night in the summer. Think we've had it for 8 years now.

Thanks for the replies.

I got delayed and will try to buy it later in the week if it doesn't sell.


KT

inb4 gererator!

I have a 7000 with the BS engine and yup, it's loud but it works and I got it cheap. After Ike hit, I put it inside my shop and lowered the overhead doors but left them open about a foot and opened the 4 windows. It really helped tone it down and fumes didn't build up. The lowered doors help keep it safe from thieves too....

It will never be quiet but you can always add a larger muffler to quiet down the exhaust.

Slightly OT, but *IF* you wanted to be quiet and not rub it in to the neighbors, the quiet little Honda units are really nice... I got a 2000i, it won't do the entire house (but it does an A/c unit, a TV and the fridge handily), but I CAN leave it on at night without pissing anybody off except my dog.

Since the 3 constantly barking dogs that my neighbor has don't seem to bother them any at all, I'm sure the generator doesn't bother them either :D

I almost just put it in the title... :D


KT

**UPDATE**

I bought the generator.
Met the guy at his house.

Started first pull from cold. ran pretty good and i bought it.

Got it home, tightened up the intake manifold and changed the spark plug.
Ran even better.

Took to the track for a 3 day weekend and ran it about 18 hours a day.
Uses about 5 gallons every 10 hours.

Very loud.

Last week I added a full sized muffler off of a BMW.

Turns out, the exhaust on the generator motor has 3/4 pipe thread, so I set up a new exhaust with a union and muffler hangers welded to the chassis.
It is able to move with the motor, can be quickly disassembled for travel and the exhaust is *silent*.

The actual motor and generator motor turning is the only noise left.
Not bad at all.

The muffler was free and the pipe fitting were $20.
I spent a few minutes welding the pipe to the muffler inlet.


KT

Anybody have some info on how to connect an aux wire into the electrical panel on the house and run selected circuits during an outage?


KT

Turn main off to get off grid. Get a cable made to connect the 220 to the AC plug outside. You'll then have 220 to the panel. Single phase so all your 110 circuit will be powered to. Or simply make a cable a go buy one to plug into a 110 outlet. Main must be off and all nonessential circuits. including 220 circuits. Amperage limited in case 2. Not so much in case 1.

Thanks.

I don't have an outside 220v outlet, but I do have several 110v.

Let me see if I understand the concept.

Kill the main power in, as well as any other individual circuit to minimize the load demand?
Plug the generator into my outside outlet.
This is a 5000w generator, so it is limited.

I'd like to keep the refrigerator running, some lights, TV/SAT, some intermittent small appliances.

Is this correct?


KT