Generac 8000W Running 10000W Peak Gasoline-Powered Generator $699.97 at Costco B&M YMMV

Wow. Looks like a good deal. Msrp 1400 dollars. So you mind putting the other item number in the post? I can't see it well from the picture. Thanks

look into an interlock kit to use with this when powering your home as a backup generator. it powers your entire panel making it much easier and useful than a manual transfer switch which will only allow you to power a handful of circuits..

any reviews on this generator from other sources? can we use natural gas as an alternative fuel source?

Quote from illtww : any reviews on this generator from other sources? can we use natural gas as an alternative fuel source?

No nat gas that I can tell. Maybe there's a kit out there that I'm not seeing. It is fuel injected which may help avoid normal carb issues from old fuel. Seems like a good price. Last year it went on sale at 799 but had a mfr rebate.

Not familiar with this model, but I have a Generac 7550EXL from 2005 and it starts on the first pull to this day.

Quote from fourml8r : look into an interlock kit to use with this when powering your home as a backup generator. it powers your entire panel making it much easier and useful than a manual transfer switch which will only allow you to power a handful of circuits..

I'm doing some hurricane prep, I never heard of interlock kit and only saw those transfer swtiches.

The problem is I want the generator in teh back yard and the circuit breaker is in the front of my house, in the garage. Can an electrician put one in the back of the house and run the wires or is that impossible?

Quote from illtww : any reviews on this generator from other sources? can we use natural gas as an alternative fuel source?

If you have natural gas,I think your best option is the big ones that are hooked up to your house and automatically kick in.

The only thing about that is you're gonna spend a ton of $$$ on gas. Even propane fueled generators burn through 3 canisters a day on basic stuff (from my research).

But if you have a Natural Gas line you can hook up , that is probably the most efficient.

We just bought the 8500efi model for 1k, this is definitely a slick deal. Some things to note about this model:
1. This model provides clean power. This is one of the only generators on the market with this high of an output that can provide clean power The cleanliness is on the level of an inverter generator. Clean power = safe for electronics of all sorts
2. To go along with number 1, this generator is one of the only clean power output generators that has a 220v output which allows for connection to a transfer switch, something inverter generators are not capable of.
3. It is loud, we are considering building some sort of pop up wood barrier to muffle the sound a bit.
4. The small battery must have a charge to be able to run the fuel injection system. Not sure why there is a pull start on these when you can't run it without the battery which also gives you the electric start. We thankfully haven't needed the generator yet in an emergency but both times I've pulled it out to run, the little battery was dead. Not sure if its just bad, or needs to stay on a trickle charger all the time, haven't had time to diagnose/figure it out yet. In my opinion this is the biggest downside to this model, but the positives outweigh.

Quote from Cobra1225 : If you have natural gas,I think your best option is the big ones that are hooked up to your house and automatically kick in. The only thing about that is you're gonna spend a ton of $$$ on gas. Even propane fueled generators burn through 3 canisters a day on basic stuff (from my research). But if you have a Natural Gas line you can hook up , that is probably the most efficient.

Propane also typically derates the power output (kW). There are pros and cons to them all. If you're going to use it all the time, gas will get $$, but that's a case where you might choose to run propane (nat gas would be the best IMHO but not available where I live)

Which Seattle area store for reference?

TIA

Looks like a great unit. 30A 240v is key. 50A is better. Max is 7200w for 30A. Only downside is gas consumption. 8 gallons at 50% load for 9.5hrs. So basically around 20 gallons a day. Could even be more if your over 50% load. Figure you need 5 days worth so 100 gallons of fuel during an outage. That is a ton of fuel to get and store. Would need 20 x 5 gallon containers or 2 x 55 gallon drums.

Quote from FtLaudDeal : Looks like a great unit. 30A 240v is key. 50A is better. Max is 7200w for 30A. Only downside is gas consumption. 8 gallons at 50% load for 9.5hrs. So basically around 20 gallons a day. Could even be more if your over 50% load. Figure you need 5 days worth so 100 gallons of fuel during an outage. That is a ton of fuel to get and store. Would need 20 x 5 gallon containers or 2 x 55 gallon drums.

Unless you have a special situation, running the generator at night is senseless. Anything in a fridge/freezer is going to be just fine (don't open them), and you'll be sleeping - what sense is there in running a generator for ..... nightlights? That's what we do, for the relatively infrequent times we do run the generator - shut it off at night. That should save about 1/3 of your fuel.

Quote from Dr. J : Unless you have a special situation, running the generator at night is senseless. Anything in a fridge/freezer is going to be just fine (don't open them), and you'll be sleeping - what sense is there in running a generator for ..... nightlights? That's what we do, for the relatively infrequent times we do run the generator - shut it off at night. That should save about 1/3 of your fuel.

I run mine at night for window shaker AC's. Can be almost 80-90 in the house. No one can sleep while sweating. Fine for a night, but after a week of not sleeping tempers start to cause a stressful house. Your point is valid though. I have smaller generators for night time use.

Quote from Cobra1225 : I'm doing some hurricane prep, I never heard of interlock kit and only saw those transfer swtiches. The problem is I want the generator in teh back yard and the circuit breaker is in the front of my house, in the garage. Can an electrician put one in the back of the house and run the wires or is that impossible?

an interlock kit is different than a transfer switch where you have a separate box to control the functions. see link below.

https://www.interlockkit.com/.

you would put the generator wherever you want it to go and put a receptacle right nearby. that receptacle runs to your electric panel. that is where the interlock kit is installed. it gives you the option of running your panel from the grid OR from the generator, but not both together, when power goes just do the following:- flip the interlock kit to generator
- turn off all circuits
- start your generator
- power on circuits you need
- everything in your panel is now energized (Built in appliances, recessed lighting, utilities like heat, or etc.).

the only very small downside is you don't know exactly when power comes back on (We look at our neighbors house to see if they have lights on). when it comes back on. shut off the generator and flip the interlock kit back to the grid.it is so easy and convenient, i can't see why you would do it any other way.