Good backup power at a reasonable price
Written: Feb 16 '09
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Efficient. Not overly expensive. Reliable. Long run times.
Cons: Loud for residential use. Can be hard to start.
The Bottom Line: An over-rated engine should provide a good life span and efficient running. On sale, this is a good buy.
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| live4java's Full Review: Electric Eyeware Cummins Onan 5000 Watt Electric S... |
Since I have what amounts to a pocket datacenter in my house, and suffer from annoyingly frequent power failures, getting a generator seemed like a better solution to my power problems than a massive (and expensive!) UPS. Considering I found the Cummins Onan Homesite 6500 on sale through Costco for under $700 shipped, with the accessory wheel kit, the price difference was more than worth it.
I went with a large "portable" rather than a fixed installation mostly because even with frequent outages it was hard to justify the multi-thousand dollar cost of a permanent installation. Mine lives outside in an enclosure I built for about $150, including ventilation and a couple of fans so it runs cool.
I had been shopping for a while when the Costo coupon book had this unit for fully $300 less than anywhere else, so cost was the ultimate decision maker.
The Details:
The engine is a 389cc air cooled single cylinder, rated at 13HP, built in China to Onan's specs. The generator is rated at 5000W continuous output with a maximum of 5500. No idea why they call the model the "6500".
There are multiple output options for either 120 or 240 volts AC, including both normal plugs and twist locks for connecting to a transfer switch. There is a 12VDC output as well, plus a separate circuit for charging the starter battery.
Fuel capacity is 6.5 gallons, with a specified run time of 9 hours at rated load. I've seen higher specified run times for other generators, but that's usually at a 50% load rating.
Rated sound level is 76db, which is probably too loud for a residential neighborhood without an enclosure.
The Good:
First, the Cummins Onan technical support department is fantastic. When I was researching this genset, I gave them a call to ask some technical question. I was straight up saying that I didn't own one but was looking to buy. The tech support rep answered all my questions and then some. Friendly. Well informed. Their tech support guy ultimately sold me on this generator.
The generator is well built. While the components are made in China, they are made to Onan's specifications and the quality control is good. As with anything else, you get what you pay for and Cummins Onan seems to be paying for quality parts.
Power delivery has been good in my experience. I suspect most buyers will be contractors or construction folks who need site power rather than someone using it for Residential backup as I do. For power tools and such, stable power isn't that important. For computers though, it helps to have good steady output and this generator has delivered for me.
The electric start is convenient. Just remember to keep the battery charged! Unfortunately, the battery is something you'll need to get from a local supplier because the generator doesn't come with one.
The Bad:
My only real complaint with this generator is how loud it runs. By the numbers 76db doesn't seem that loud, but when this thing is chugging away in your back yard all your neighbors will know it! I was able to modify an inexpensive 'garden tool storage cabinet' with insulation, ventilation, and an exhaust port, for about $150. That quieted it enough so the neighbors don't notice and you can hold a conversation just inside the house from it.
One issue that's probably specific to how I use mine is that it can be difficult to start if left idle too long. Mine lives in an outdoor enclosure and getting outside to run it every few weeks just to keep it exercised is a pain and I often wait too long between starts. That usually means a dead battery and relying on the pull starter, which can be a chore if it's cold or the fuel is a bit old - which it probably is by then.
During a 14 hour power failure earlier this week (C'mon, PG&E, this is the Bay Area, not rural Yolo County!) I had some difficulty starting it with a dead battery. However, restarting it a few hours into the outage after refueling, it fired right up on the electric start.
The Conclusion:
There are a lot of generators in this segment and most of them are roughly equal at any given price point. Without the sale price at Costco I would probably have spent a bit more and gotten a Honda or Yamaha that didn't need an enclosure to make it quiet enough for home use.
Onan technical support is excellent though, and these days even the Honda and Yamaha power products are manufactured in China.
While your mileage may vary (as with anything) I;ve had good luck with mine. It's provided strong stable power for hours at a time with no complaints. If you can get it at a good price, I can't see you going wrong with this unit.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
live4java
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Member: Mike
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Reviews written: 32
Trusted by: 0 members
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