List Price: $2,199.00
Sale Price: $2,038.00
Today's Bonus: 7% Off
Purchased this generator last year after Irene to replace a 25 year old Craftsman (Onan) generator. Got it's first real workout during Sandy. Performed flawlessly. Getting it on a flat level surface was a challange (due the sensativity of the low oil sensor)because of the terrain. But other than that, I threw the entire house at this thing including a pump, shop vac and dehumidifiers and blowers.
I chose this machine because of the "True Power" (Clean Power) feature. I have a High Efficiency furnace(processor controlled), flat screen TV's and computers to run. After Irene I had heard quite a few horror stories about folks with generators who fried Flat screen TV's and in one case a $2000 refrigerator with touch screen controls, mainly because of the white noise that a generator gives off. The XP series delivers power that is almost as clean as that which you get off the pole.
It's bad points... The supplied battery charger which fried the battery when left constantly plugged in. $45 for a new battery, and $24 for a "Battery Tender Jr" a must for all electric start generators. Generac omitted to mention that you couldn't leave it plugged in 24X7X365 Cooked that battery Dry....
http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352943795&sr=8-1&keywords=battery+tender
The machine is heavy. 186 lbs when empty, add another 64 lbs when full. Not something the relatives will want to borrow and put in the back of the Subaru.
It had a 100% duty cycle, although I would start mine at 6 AM.(morning coffee) run it till about noon to get the fridge and freezer back down to temp. Start it back up at 5 PM and go until about 10 or 11. Not that the machine couldn't handle it. But after awhile the noise does get to you and I tried to be considerate of the neighbors. It's quieter than my old Craftsman (but it's no Honda either).
Should you buy this over an XG series if you can afford it.... Yes. The insurance deductible for fried appliances justifies the difference. Otherwise go for the XG series. Same durability minus the clean power. My next upgrade will be to a 14KW Natl Gas standby unit.
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I have always been a fan of another upscale manufacturer but have backed off as late with their high prices and lack of features. Not so with my first time purchase and experience with this Generac. Everything from packaging, setup, operation and maintenance has been very well thought out. This unit is even much quieter than expected, still a tad noisy but better than most I have used.I have intentionally run this unit many hours since purchase and find the power to be very stable and noise free, electrically speaking. This item was money well spent for me.
Really 4.5 stars reduced from 5 for noise. It is a gas motor after all and noise reduction does add a large cost factor.
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