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Old 04-15-2018, 08:48 AM   #1
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another generator question

lots of good info here about generators I have narrowed it down to
Harbor freight 3500 for $750 and 2000 for $500 the kit to tie them together $50 for a total of 5500 watts $1300
or Briggs & Stratton 3000 for $1000 and 2200 for $569 plus the kit $65 this is a total of 5200 watts for $1635
the B&S is $335 bucks more for 300 less watts

leaning toward the B&S just because of name brand. I read good things about the Harbor freight generator but in the past I have not had good luck with anything I bought from them, maybe these new generators are better?

our 5er has 2 roof mount air conditioners and the wife does not like being hot so am thinking I need to get something big enough to run them both, not sure if it is price or what but I have found more info here about the Harbor freight than the B&S
has anyone regretted the B&S
thanks for the input
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Old 04-15-2018, 09:01 AM   #2
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Check a little further to determine if you can parallel different size generators. I know that Honda, Yamaha and Champion inverter generators must be equal output. Ie, two 1,000s or two 2,000s. You cannot mix them. For two air conditioners I think you’ll need a pair of 3,000s or two Easy Start systems ($700 for that).
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Old 04-15-2018, 09:06 AM   #3
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lots of good info here about generators I have narrowed it down to
Harbor freight 3500 for $750 and 2000 for $500 the kit to tie them together $50 for a total of 5500 watts $1300
or Briggs & Stratton 3000 for $1000 and 2200 for $569 plus the kit $65 this is a total of 5200 watts for $1635
the B&S is $335 bucks more for 300 less watts

leaning toward the B&S just because of name brand. I read good things about the Harbor freight generator but in the past I have not had good luck with anything I bought from them, maybe these new generators are better?

our 5er has 2 roof mount air conditioners and the wife does not like being hot so am thinking I need to get something big enough to run them both, not sure if it is price or what but I have found more info here about the Harbor freight than the B&S
has anyone regretted the B&S
thanks for the input
I'm no generator expert nor do I use one very often but I'm fairly sure you cannot parallel two different size and/or brands of generators.
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Old 04-15-2018, 09:06 AM   #4
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good point (thanks)
I will check
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Old 04-15-2018, 11:04 AM   #5
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I'm looking at them as well. I was talking to a sales guy at Cabelas about Champion generators and he said that they would need to be the same size to parallel them. I assume that'd be true for other brands as well.
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Old 04-15-2018, 11:21 AM   #6
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I went over to Harbor Freight and they have to be the same size. so I was about to goof up.
and it would have been the first time for me
ha ha ha ha
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Old 04-15-2018, 11:30 AM   #7
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I'm looking at them as well. I was talking to a sales guy at Cabelas about Champion generators and he said that they would need to be the same size to parallel them. I assume that'd be true for other brands as well.
While many inverter generators are designed to be used with a sister companion model when paralleling, there are parallel kits that allow you to pair non-similar size generators together, even Champion.

Spend some time on each manufacturers web site and you'll find the sales guy at Cabelas was misinformed.
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Old 04-15-2018, 02:40 PM   #8
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I think it's the bs that can combine the 3400 and 2000together.but i agree they usually need to be the same size to parallel.
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Old 04-15-2018, 03:03 PM   #9
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Check a little further to determine if you can parallel different size generators. I know that Honda, Yamaha and Champion inverter generators must be equal output. Ie, two 1,000s or two 2,000s. You cannot mix them. For two air conditioners I think you’ll need a pair of 3,000s or two Easy Start systems ($700 for that).


I read a couple of posts on different boards (an Airstream forum, maybe) that said people were successful in paralleling different sized Honda generators. Maybe Honda doesn’t bless it, but it sounds like it actually works.
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Old 04-16-2018, 09:01 AM   #10
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Westinghouse generators can be used together in different configurations.
Here is one 2K and one 2.2K in parallel:
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Old 04-16-2018, 09:54 AM   #11
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We are also considering generators.

I remember. 25 yeas ago when I wanted the new Honda outboard motor. I choose the American Evinrude. When we put our boat in the water for the year I noticed the neighbor had the Honda I coveted.

Three months later it was in the same spot. Never moved. No place to get service or parts(not today). He needed a $5 part.

There is no doubt the Honda & Yamaha has a parts/dealer network.

The others do not.

My Harbor Freight trailer had 25mm bearings. All others are 1". Not interchangeable. Break down on the road and you are stuck!

I am not part of the disposable generation.

Still puzzling over a Honda or Yamaha. Or one of the others.
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Old 04-16-2018, 12:18 PM   #12
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If you plan on camping in a nation forest or national park (or on pretty much any public land), please remember that your generator should have a USDA-qualified spark arrestor. Generators made with camping in mind will probably have one. Generators made for contractor or home use may not.
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Old 04-16-2018, 01:39 PM   #13
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If you are just trying to run your two AC's, why don't you buy the two generators but not parallel them, and re-run the wiring from one to be independently powerable? It's a bit of work to do the rewiring (probably at the converter), but you could run an extra umbilical that would power one A/C off the smaller gen, and the rest of the rig + other A/C off the larger gen. If you have enough power (shore power, etc) you could just plug the secondary A/C outlet into the rig's normal power using an outlet or something? Couple of ways you could do that.

Just an alternate option...
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Old 04-16-2018, 11:33 PM   #14
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well for the most part it looks like if you are going to connect 2 together they should be the same.
the H Freight 3500 does not have a kit to connect 2 of them together. I thought they did have and the first sales guy I talked to thought that also. It has a place to do that but as of now they do not have a kit that will do it on the 3500
so my choice now is
2-2000's plus the kit for a total of about 4000 watts for about a 1000.00
or
1-3500 for about 750.00
they did tell me if I bought 2 I could buy 1 2 year replacement plan and use it on either one of the 2000's
lots of pros and cons to having 2 units or not having 2 units.
still trying to decide but thanks to all for the good info and advise
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