Looking at portable generators

[Belchos]

I am looking at Northern Tool's 13kw gas powered portable generator. I will use it to plug into my house and run the house in power out "emergencies," and to put in the back of one of the pickups to run a welder in remote areas. Usually use a 240 stick welder, but am taking a welding class at JC and my get more sophisticated. ???

Has anyone had experience with these Northern Tool generators? It has a Honda 20 hp engine.

Thanks.









Belchos

Redding, CA

1992 bombed

2004 "stock"

 

[Grizzly]

I have an Onan Cummins 13 hp 6500 model for sale. Electric or pull start. Developes 5500 watts. Will fit between the 5er receiver and tailgate of a long bed. Brand new, still sealed in original shipping container. I purchased it to use with a used 5th wheel, however we bought a new 5er with a built-in Onan generator. PM me if interested.

 

[Dieselnut59]

I am looking at Northern Tool's 13kw gas powered portable generator. I will use it to plug into my house and run the house in power out "emergencies," and to put in the back of one of the pickups to run a welder in remote areas. Usually use a 240 stick welder, but am taking a welding class at JC and my get more sophisticated. ???

Has anyone had experience with these Northern Tool generators? It has a Honda 20 hp engine.

Thanks.









Belchos

Redding, CA

1992 bombed

2004 "stock"

I was considering buying a generator, but I stick true with my beliefs and buy anything I can in the diesel powered version so I was considering the 10,000 watt models with the Kubota engine. I needed a portable welder and a generator to run the house and well in the event of power failure. I bought my Miller welder/10,500 watt generator for less than a stand-alone generator of the same size! It was around $7500 and I LOVE it!

 

[Belchos]

Man, you are going to love the direct injection Mercedes Benz autos coming.

 

[Dieselnut59]

I have heard about BMW's diesels coming to USA next year and that is exciting news. I am not crazy about a V engine like the Mercedes 3. 0L V-6 diesel. I prefer the BMW inline 6's. What is the direct injection Mercedes you mention? I was under the assumption that all the "common rail" diesels are direct injection?

 

[midlife crisis]

On a related note... I bought a Craftsman for the same reasons. But I am on the fence about how I am going to wire it in when the lights do go out. How do you plan to plug it in when you need it to power the house?

 

[nickleinonen]

On a related note... I bought a Craftsman for the same reasons. But I am on the fence about how I am going to wire it in when the lights do go out. How do you plan to plug it in when you need it to power the house?

i've got a cheap gas generator that works for powering my house in emergencies. the way mine is done isn't very safe, but if done in proper sequence, works well. .



my garage has a 30a 220 plug for my compressor. during power outage, i can go to the main panel and open the breaker. this kills all power coming in from the street. then i can use the extension cord i made up with male connectors on both ends [one with the standard 30a dryer plug, one with the twist lock 30a 220v plug] plug one into the compressors receptacle, and plug the other into the generator. fire the gen up and once it is at operating speed, throw the switch on the gen to power the home.



if you go this route, while it works, it leaves you exposed to getting shocked if you have the cord plugged in while power is at either end since both ends are male.



the only thing i need to change is to step up to a heavier cable between the plugs. . i used what i had around last power outage and it isn't heavy gauge enough, but works. . [i want some #8 3 wire]

 

[midlife crisis]

Yep- thats kinda what I thought. . but of course the guy sitting on my other shoulder says not to go with a "hot" male plug set-up. Next thing I worry about is the house's main feeding back out to the street.

I have been toying with a similar switch to marine-ABYC... . only one source possible at a time.

Thanks for the response-

 

[KevinSmith]

I am looking at Northern Tool's 13kw gas powered portable generator. I will use it to plug into my house and run the house in power out "emergencies," and to put in the back of one of the pickups to run a welder in remote areas. Usually use a 240 stick welder, but am taking a welding class at JC and my get more sophisticated. ???

Has anyone had experience with these Northern Tool generators? It has a Honda 20 hp engine.

Thanks.



Hey if you really need a welder/ generator consider just getting a portable welder. The generator on Northerns website looks pretty good as a generator but im not sure its going to do the job for welding. Keep in mind the extra load when you strike an arc and the line loss some people experiance. You might find a nice used portable welder for sale at one of the local welding stores or pawnshop {and dont forget Craigslist}. What ever you descide good luck.

 

[JVackiner]

On a related note... I bought a Craftsman for the same reasons. But I am on the fence about how I am going to wire it in when the lights do go out. How do you plan to plug it in when you need it to power the house?

I am on rural power and asked a lineman about how I should hook mine up. He told me that for $50 they would come out and provide and wire in another breaker box that I can plug my generator in to. With a throw of the lever I will either be on REA or my generator. One thing to keep in mind is that when the power goes out, there will be linemen working on the lines and you do not want to risk sending power out from your generator. This is for the safety of the linemen and you do not want to take any shortcuts here!

 

[Grizzly]

I have an Onan Cummins 13 hp 6500 model for sale. Electric or pull start. Developes 5500 watts. Will fit between the 5er receiver and tailgate of a long bed. Brand new, still sealed in original shipping container. I purchased it to use with a used 5th wheel, however we bought a new 5er with a built-in Onan generator. PM me if interested.

Thank you for all the PM's and interest in my generator. I sold it last week.