Generac XG7000E Generator
I bought this generator from an Internet vendor who drop-shipped it from the factory. It arrived 4 days later with zero damage; so it was well protected. It comes with spare oil and air filters, spark plug; and two quarts of oil. It does not include a 30-amp extension cord, as some Generac generators do. The user manual is in English and Spanish.
Cons:
Machine is too loud for its intended purpose. Even during the day, with the machine in the back yard 30' away and us in the house, it's seriously annoying. At 10' away, my sound meter registers around 90 decibels. Also, during a home power outage, a generator typically needs to operate at night to keep refrigerators and freezers running. Unfortunately, if you have neighbors close by, you'll have to shut it off at night. Otherwise they would [rightfully] complain about the noise. I'd have to use earplugs to sleep, and it's my machine. The 14.5 HP Generac engine, even with an oversize muffler, is at least as loud as a lawn-mower on full throttle, and no one wants to listen to that all night. Noise would be less of an issue if the generator is used for an "event" or construction site where it could be kept far away, but everyone would rather have a quieter machine.
The 3-position off/run/start rocker-switch is a disaster waiting to happen. Most Generac portable generators seem to use this same switch design. To stop a running machine, Generac says to push the rocker switch to the left side, which is the stop position. Unfortunately, it is too easy to mistakenly push the right side of the rocker, which engages the starter. If you do that with the engine running, the starter gear will engage the spinning engine flywheel, possibly causing internal engine damage. The manual doesn't even warn you. (See Customer Images to see how I addressed this design blunder.)
In any case, a safer way to stop the machine is to close the fuel valve, which starves the engine to a stop in about a minute. This also reduces the amount of gas in the carburetor, which could gum-up over time.
The manual says the fuel tank has to be drained and removed in order to replace the battery, since the battery is hidden under the tank. One side panel also has to be removed. Even a mechanic would be frustrated with this time-consuming hassle. Draining the fuel tank is also dangerous, as gasoline is highly flammable and has toxic fumes. In fact, Generac could face a huge liability lawsuit if a customer was injured or killed trying to replace a battery. And just what does Generac expect their non-mechanically inclined customers to do; haul a 245 pound generator to a distant service center for a battery replacement? Some customers, like my wife, aren't strong enough to start a 14.5 HP engine with a pull rope, so a battery start is mandatory. Every machine will need a new battery every few years or so, which means that if you keep the generator long enough, you can't avoid this issue.. "Under the tank" was not Generac's only option. There are other places where the battery would fit just fine and also be accessible. When battery change time comes on my machine, the new battery is going to be mounted in a better location.
The hardware for the circuit breaker reset buttons and many of the screws/nuts/washers/etc. are only zinc coated steel, which can easily rust. It makes no sense to use rust-prone hardware on a machine that must be used outside. Obviously, all hardware should be non-rusting materials such as stainless steel, brass, bronze, or aluminum. Some of the hardware is standard and could be upgraded by the customer, while other hardware like that around circuit breakers, cannot.
The handle is only fair. It locks into the upright position with a single button, but while rolling the machine around, the handle-to-frame hinge connection bounces slightly. It just isn't solid. The tires are the never-flat type, but roll as if they aren't perfectly round.
There is no logical reason for this machine to have a 2-year warranty when the similar Generac XP model generators have a 3-year warranty.
Pros:
We've used our XG7000E six times as of this writing, due to electric company outages ranging from a few hours to two days. It's been a reliable machine.
The engine (entire machine actually) is made in Waukesha Wisconsin and has an automotive-type oil pump and spin-on filter. This design provides far better internal lubrication than the splash-method employed by most portable generators. As a result, engine life should be significantly lengthened. Generac claims up to 4 times longer. For replacement oil filters, search Amazon or Google Shopping on: Generac 070185B
Has a high-oil-temp and low-oil-volume automatic shutoff, to protect the engine from damage, plus a decent-sized air filter..
Assembly was simple: install wheels & front support strut; add [provided] oil, and connect battery lead to starter. I charged the battery for an hour with the included charger, even though it was factory charged. Has a charge jack to receive the charger plug. I added fuel, pulled the choke button all the way out (3/4"), turned the gas valve on, pressed the off/run/start rocker-switch to the start side, and it fired up immediately. Each time since, it starts quickly. Everything seems to work and there are no gasoline leaks or fumes from storing the machine in a closed storage room.
Voltage (122.1 +/per phase) and hertz (61.6) is very close to what our power company provides (124v 59.9 hertz). Should be good enough for all but the most sensitive equipment.
It's well made. Tubular welded frame is hardened steel for strength, and it shows. There is no perceptible twisting or flexing (other than at the handle hinge) when rolling it around. That gray-colored band on all four sides of the machine is sturdy painted sheet metal.
The 9-gallon all-steel gas tank is quite solid and includes an integral, and accurate, fuel-gage. (Reviews of similar Generac generators complain that the filter-screen in the filler tube should go deeper into the tank to keep it out of the way of the gas can snout, but it seems fine to me.) I bought a couple of Justrite Type II steel 5-gallon gas cans for the generator, as the Type II's are much safer than my 40-year old Eagle Model S-5 steel gas can. Unless it's under a heavy load, my machine runs just over 13 hours on a full tank of gasoline. Add Sta-Bil Fuel Stabilizer to old gasoline in the tank, to help keep it "fresh"...
Excellent tool-less method for changing oil. A 6" rubber hose is connected to the base of the engine, with a screw-on cap. To drain the oil, remove that cap and the oil-fill-hole cap. There's plenty of room under the hose for a decent sized pan to catch the oil and it doesn't drip on the frame. Unscrew the old oil filter by hand, fill a new filter with oil, oil its rubber gasket, and screw it on by hand. Machine's oil capacity is 1.5 quarts. An LED meter displays total machine usage, to the tenth of an hour. Generac advises the 1st oil change at 30 hours and 100 hours thereafter.
The three receptacles are protected with a snap-on rubber cover for weather protection. The two dual 125v receptacles are the GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt) type. The machine has three circuits: two 120v 20 amp, each with a dual NEMA 5-20R GFCI receptacles, and one 240v 30 amp, with a single NEMA L14-30 locking receptacle.
Includes a battery charging transformer that plugs into a 120v house receptacle with the other end going to the charging jack on the unit. Generac cautions against leaving it connected longer than 48 hours as this could ruin the battery! In an e-mail exchange, a Generac Customer Support technician sent this canned advice: "I do not recommend using a battery charger continuously while not in use. I recommend charging the battery with the provided charger once every 2 weeks for no more than 48 hours.".
In my opinion, having to remember to follow that schedule for the life of the machine is a ridiculous hassle. So, when my generator is not in use, it's connected to a Battery Tender [intelligent] trickle charger. Generac also says to run the machine every two weeks to keep the carburetor from gumming up. I keep a clipboard chart to record the date when the machine is serviced; or run, which I do every two or three months, rather than every other week.
When the machine is running, the control panel's two LEDs shine on it for illumination.
Summary:
Generac could easily resolve the problems listed and except for the larger muffler and rust-proof hardware, it wouldn't even cost more. This should be expected of a quality American made machine that's more expensive than the competition. To their credit, the major things are well done (engine, alternator, frame), but other things such as that stupid rocker switch, poor battery placement, and loud muffler, should be better.
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Bought this generator brand new on Saturday.
Followed all assembly instructions and added oil and gas.
Would not start either by battery or pull-start.
Thought I would charge the battery overnight still would not start.
Looked for a twisted gas line (as I read that someone else found this to be their problem). Gas line was fine.
Finally decided to look at the spark plug.
You have to take off the side panel to access it, but it's easy just remove the four hex head screws.
As soon as the cover came off I saw what the problem was the spark plug wire was not connected to the spark plug.
Attached the wire, put the side panel on, and then it started right up.
I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS IS AN AMERICAN-MADE PRODUCT AND I HAD TO FIND AND THEN FIX AND UNFORGIVABLE MANUFACTURING ERROR.
But if it runs well and serves me through power outages, then I'll be happier but I will always have this story to tell.
Also, I called Generac at lunch today to see if I could speak to a rep to see if they could help me troubleshoot it over the phone. WHAT A WASTE OF TIME. All the rep did was give me the names of four businesses in my local area that I could call for help. This is unsatisfactory! I felt like I was stuck with a brand new generator that wouldn't start and that I would have to incur additional expense to get it running.
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Make sure you add enough gas to properly pressurize the lines when you first start the generator! I had added what I considered just enough to "test it out" and it would not start. A few other of my buddies had the same generator and mentioned that they had had the same problem, all you have to do is add gas, it then fired up on the first pull. I find the generator quiet, sounds like a lawn mower. I think some expect it to be "quiet", come on, it's a generator, not an appliance!
