tailgating generator wattage?

[Piscataway]

So the group is taking the next step in tailgating and looking to bring a genny to the games.

We would love to get the Honda eu2000i but that isn't in the budget. We are thinking of the Smarter Tools brand powered by a Yamaha motor. Rated the same as the Honda but slightly quieter. $600 at Costco. Anyone have experience with this brand?

I have access to a free harbor freight 900 watt 2cycle. But I don't know if this is big enough for our needs.

So mostly we will be using it for TV before and after the game. Maybe a coffeemaker for early mornings and charging the phones and maybe speakers or lights.

Has anyone used a harbor freight model and if so what did you think.

Anyway I am so looking forward to the upcoming season and can't wait for the first tailgate.

 

[RUBlueLot]

Just sold our EU2000i. It was fantastic only regret was not getting a bigger one to start. So we are getting the EU3000... Go big - You can never have to much power.

 

[Piscataway]

Just sold our EU2000i. It was fantastic only regret was not getting a bigger one to start. So we are getting the EU3000... Go big - You can never have to much power.

how much did you sell the eu2000 for? What are you powering that you need that much wattage?

 

[SouthJerseyRU]

We use the cheapo harbor freight one. I'm pretty sure its the 900 Watt one, not sure of the model, it's owned by someone else in our group. We power a receiver with 2 speakers, a TV, a powered antenna, keep our phones charged, sometimes power a crockpot. It's lasted 4 years so far.

Bottom line unless you are running a fridge and a washing machine out of your tailgate 900 Watts should be fine.

 

[Piscataway]

Thanks SouthJerseyRU. I think 900 watts will be fine but I wanted to make sure. Do you have any problems with the TV as the cheapo one is not an inverter type?

 

[WhiteBus]

How much do you plan on using it for? I have a Honda 1000. Never needed more juice. I run 2 TVs, radio, lights in the RV, water pump for bathroom. None of that uses major wattage. Don't know why you would need more. Paying more for something you don't need is a waste of big $

 

[RUskoolie]

Whatever you buy, do NOT be that guy who brings the loud genny to the tailgate. I agree with 900-1000 watts being completely fine.

 

[RU Golfer]

i have the honda 2000, works great and is quiet too

 

[LOU-RU85]

So the group is taking the next step in tailgating and looking to bring a genny to the games.

We would love to get the Honda eu2000i but that isn't in the budget. We are thinking of the Smarter Tools brand powered by a Yamaha motor. Rated the same as the Honda but slightly quieter. $600 at Costco. Anyone have experience with this brand?

I have access to a free harbor freight 900 watt 2cycle. But I don't know if this is big enough for our needs.

So mostly we will be using it for TV before and after the game. Maybe a coffeemaker for early mornings and charging the phones and maybe speakers or lights.

Has anyone used a harbor freight model and if so what did you think.

Anyway I am so looking forward to the upcoming season and can't wait for the first tailgate.

I have the Yamaha and it works great. We drive a TV, satellite receiver and other various items with no problem.

 

[Ridge 22]

The nice thing about the inverters is that they are really quiet compared to a regular generator. 2000 watts is more than plenty for your needs. Since portability and noise should be 2 primary objectives, I wouldn't recommend going bigger than you need to, as both suffer as you go up in size.

 

[zwick99]

So the group is taking the next step in tailgating and looking to bring a genny to the games.

We would love to get the Honda eu2000i but that isn't in the budget. We are thinking of the Smarter Tools brand powered by a Yamaha motor. Rated the same as the Honda but slightly quieter. $600 at Costco. Anyone have experience with this brand?

I have access to a free harbor freight 900 watt 2cycle. But I don't know if this is big enough for our needs.

So mostly we will be using it for TV before and after the game. Maybe a coffeemaker for early mornings and charging the phones and maybe speakers or lights.

Has anyone used a harbor freight model and if so what did you think.

Anyway I am so looking forward to the upcoming season and can't wait for the first tailgate.

What do you plan on running. I have 3000W(maybe 3500) for work and it would run just about anythign at a tailgate. I think 2500 would do fine at most tailgates.

I would want a 3 gal tank. Some of the cheap brands have tiny tanks. Filling a tank every hour is annoying.

 

[WhiteBus]

What do you plan on running. I have 3000W(maybe 3500) for work and it would run just about anythign at a tailgate. I think 2500 would do fine at most tailgates.

I would want a 3 gal tank. Some of the cheap brands have tiny tanks. Filling a tank every hour is annoying.

Every hour? 3 gal tank? This is for tailgating not a construction site or a home generator. My Honda goes 6 hours on 3/4 of a gallon

 

[jason21psu]

The only load that I could see being an issue is your coffee maker. As a example a 10 cup maker I found online was rated at 1400W. So just check what that draws. Flat screen TV's and similar electronics draw minimal power (<100W). I guess if you have an high power home stereo system that could be an issue too. I generally use two wireless JBL flips for music and they are good enough for tailgating.

Is the 900W rating the surge power or the continuous power rating of the generator? Surge is usually about 2x the continuous rating so take that into account as needed too.

Edit - Oh if your going to connect a flat screen TV I'd recommend some type of power filter on a non inverter generator. The simple solution is to use a small computer UPS. Pre-charge it at home so you don't waste genny power charging it at the tailgate.

 

[needmorecowbell]

We use the cheapo harbor freight one. I'm pretty sure its the 900 Watt one, not sure of the model, it's owned by someone else in our group. We power a receiver with 2 speakers, a TV, a powered antenna, keep our phones charged, sometimes power a crockpot. It's lasted 4 years so far.

Bottom line unless you are running a fridge and a washing machine out of your tailgate 900 Watts should be fine.

We have the same one. Got it for $99 and it runs everything we need.

 

[RU205]

I have the Honda eu2000i. Works great and it's highly recommended.

 

[zwick99]

Every hour? 3 gal tank? This is for tailgating not a construction site or a home generator. My Honda goes 6 hours on 3/4 of a gallon

It depends what he is running.

 

[RU4Real]

We have the same one. Got it for $99 and it runs everything we need.

That unit isn't an inverter/generator, it has a 2-cycle engine and is comparatively very loud. Harbor Freight does, however, sell a 2200/2500 watt inverter unit, similar to the Honda eu2000i, for $499.

 

[WhiteBus]

It depends what he is running.

At a tailgate what is he running that uses major wattage constantly? TVs, satellite, radio, lights all are low watt users.

 

[MYHATINTHERING]

you will be more than fine with the harbor freight genny. It will fun 5 hours on a full tank and run all that you need

 

[Piscataway]

The only load that I could see being an issue is your coffee maker. As a example a 10 cup maker I found online was rated at 1400W. So just check what that draws. Flat screen TV's and similar electronics draw minimal power (<100W). I guess if you have an high power home stereo system that could be an issue too. I generally use two wireless JBL flips for music and they are good enough for tailgating.

Is the 900W rating the surge power or the continuous power rating of the generator? Surge is usually about 2x the continuous rating so take that into account as needed too.

Edit - Oh if your going to connect a flat screen TV I'd recommend some type of power filter on a non inverter generator. The simple solution is to use a small computer UPS. Pre-charge it at home so you don't waste genny power charging it at the tailgate.

Jason, It is an 800 run/900 max unit

We have the same one. Got it for $99 and it runs everything we need.

do you have any problems with the TV? I dont want to ruin a cheapo flat screen with a cheapo genny.

 

[needmorecowbell]

Jason, It is an 800 run/900 max unit



do you have any problems with the TV? I dont want to ruin a cheapo flat screen with a cheapo genny.

Not at all. Typical LCD tvs use less than 100 watts. I have a 32 inch LCD I bring to the games and it uses 45 watts.

 

[Piscataway]

Not at all. Typical LCD tvs use less than 100 watts. I have a 32 inch LCD I bring to the games and it uses 45 watts.

I'm not talking from a wattage standpoint but because it isn't an inverter and therefore has a choppy output it could mess up the electronics. I'm just parroting stuff I read on the interwebs.

 

[RUBlueLot]

how much did you sell the eu2000 for? What are you powering that you need that much wattage?

Sold it for $750. Go on Craigslist - there are used ones. We run sound system / variety of appliances / incredible wavy arm wacky guy we bought at an overstocked emporium and a meat bucket cooker.

 

[jreinsdorf]

Lotta good info ITT.

 

[Piscataway]

Sold it for $750. Go on Craigslist - there are used ones. We run sound system / variety of appliances / incredible wavy arm wacky guy we bought at an overstocked emporium and a meat bucket cooker.

What is a 'meat bucket cooker'?

 

[ruhudsonfan]

You can find the draw on the items you want to run online.

As someone who basically lived off a generator for a year at a time, your primary concern is peak draw when you flip things on an off--not running draw. Nearly every electronic device has a peak draw when it comes online and then drops back down to its running draw.

And things that get really hot (like a coffee pot) really fast or things that spin up to max power quickly (like a circular saw as a non relevant example) can blow the breaker on an underpowered generator.

That said, TVs, receivers, crock pots, etc are relatively low peak draw AND low running draw.

I would err on the side of not wanting to upgrade too soon and shoot for the 2,000 watt models. Also gives you a Plan B/C for your home in the event of a power outage.

and a 3 gallon tank is crazy talk. Any unit using a Honda or Yamaha engine is gonna sip gas.

Change the oil and air filter frequently on whichever unit you go with you.

 

[Knight_Light]

Would your refrigerator be running during your tailgate? If so, start sprinting now, you just might catch up with it.*

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Those looking to keep something cool on a hot day, in a very low-tech way, consider this...

life hack: using flower pots, sand and water to refrigerate