I've been wanting to buy a portable generator for many years, but it's just one of those things that always gets shoved to the back burner. Then, once a hurricane is headed this way, I again make it a priority. BUT, that's also when generators become extremely scarce and you either buy some piddly little Chinese 500-watt machine from Harbor Freight, or get told the one you REALLY want is sold out, but they should have more in after the hurricane. Granted, I've been lucky. When Irma blasted through here, I lost power for 3-1/2 days (I was one of the lucky ones, some were without power for 3-1/2 WEEKS!) Lynn's hotel (Hyatt) has two emergency generators to run their freezers and refrigerators in case of a power failure. They really don't have to worry much about power failures as the hotel is pretty much protected by a highway embankment on one side and the Convention Center on the other. They're also on the same power grid with the Center and all utilities are underground. If they should lose power, they are one of the first to get it back as the City Emergency Management Team uses the Center for their home base during any major crisis. When Irma blasted through here, the hotel loaned me one of their generators. It was brand new and had never even been started. I brought it home, gassed it up and it started on the FIRST dang pull! I thought that was impressive. It worked like a champ and ran non-stop for 3-1/2 days powering everything I needed. A large (23 cu. ft) freezer and two large (20 cu. ft) refrigerator/freezers. Also a couple of fans, a few lamps, the tv and microwave. (I'd turn off anything unneeded to use the micro just for good measure, but I'm not sure I'd have had to). Anyway, it was a Generac 5500-Watt and I was really happy with it. Once I finished with it, I ran the carb dry, drained the tank/lines and returned it.
So, I decided I need one of those puppies. I settled on a 6500-Watt Generac exactly like the hotel loaned me, other than running 1000 more watts. I shopped the heck out of it and it surprised me a bit, but I found the best deal on Amazon. They just delivered it today and there's not so much as a minor scuff on that 300-lb. box! They wheeled it right into my garage! Good job delivery people!
My new toy.
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