2 New Westinghouse 9,500 Watt Generators

[SMS]

I think you're gonna' like that Champion. I got the 7500 watt from Atwoods just before the Great Halloween Ice Storm of '20 and have had zero problems with it. Electric start and dual fuel made it a no brainer. It sure makes a lot of noise, but it makes a lot of electricity, so I can forgive the noise part.

The genny came early. Wasn't expecting it until this week but it was delivered on Friday.

Very well made. Not much assembly required. Love the electric start. I feel spoiled.

She's much quieter than my old Craftsman too.

Question for folks with other lawn/power equipment with battery start, do you use any kind of battery tender? I haven't need one on my lawn tractor but I use that thing all the time. The generator is more likely to sit for longer periods so I wonder if I should use a tender.

 

[Hobbes]

My champion 3400 watt inverter generator has this 1 amp charger/maintainer on it right now.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/STANLEY-1-Amp-Automatic-Battery-Maintainer-BM1S/453321945

 

[golddigger14s]

Probably so folks will keep bringing them equipment that won't start because untreated fuel was left in them LOL. Job security.

No people brought in equipment that had used sta-bil.

 

[billt]

No people brought in equipment that had used sta-bil.

Unless more direct information is provided as to how a well proven product, that has been in widespread use for decades, is doing the exact opposite that it is designed to do, I'm not buying ANY of it. ZERO. I have personally used Sta-Bil in 5 motorcycles, 3 generators, numerous chain saws, power blowers, lawn mowers, a boat, and hedge trimmers, over a period of 6 DECADES. ALL of which performed with it perfectly. Not one single fuel system issue ever.

Now, all of a sudden, we're supposed to believe this stuff is a detriment to the exact systems it is designed to protect. And in fact, has been protecting. And not only that, but believe it with absolutely zero proof or evidence. Sorry, not happening.

 

[dancer4life]

The genny came early. Wasn't expecting it until this week but it was delivered on Friday.

Very well made. Not much assembly required. Love the electric start. I feel spoiled.

She's much quieter than my old Craftsman too.

Question for folks with other lawn/power equipment with battery start, do you use any kind of battery tender? I haven't need one on my lawn tractor but I use that thing all the time. The generator is more likely to sit for longer periods so I wonder if I should use a tender.

Probably not a bad idea. I have all my boat batteries and jet ski battery on tender trickle charger right now. If they are going to sit for a month or longer, I always hook them up to a trickle charger.

 

[SoonerP226]

Question for folks with other lawn/power equipment with battery start, do you use any kind of battery tender?

I used a Delran Battery Tender, Jr, on my truck while it was parked for a couple of months, and it did well. I bought its two-battery bigger brother for my dad to use on his tractor batteries, and the guys in the shop at work use it's even bigger brother (I think it'll handle six or eight concurrently) to maintain the batteries on multiple of our work vans while they're in storage between projects.

FWIW, the Delran Battery Tenders have done much better than the Schumacher trickle chargers I've used.

 

[dancer4life]

I have a 4 bank Tender trickle charger in my shed at the lake. I take my trolling motor batteries out of the boat and the two jet ski batteries out for the winter and keep them hooked up to the 4 bank charger all winter. I also have one installed in the back of the boat for my cranking battery. They all stay nice and charged during the winter months.

 

[dancer4life]

I just ordered this bad boy today. I ordered it from Westinghouse through Lowe's up here in Grove. That way they can hang onto it for me if I am not here. Lowe's said they should have it in 10 to 14 days.
It's going to nice not hauling my older Predator generator between here (Grand Lake) and Yukon. I'll keep the Predator in Yukon and this one here at the lake. I'm excited knowing I'm covered at both places.

 

[billt]

I just ordered this bad boy today. I ordered it from Westinghouse through Lowe's up here in Grove. That way they can hang onto it for me if I am not here. Lowe's said they should have it in 10 to 14 days.
It's going to nice not hauling my older Predator generator between here (Grand Lake) and Yukon. I'll keep the Predator in Yukon and this one here at the lake. I'm excited knowing I'm covered at both places.

You're going to love it. Setup is a snap. The wheels go on with a "snap pin". (Cotter pin you can install and remove with your fingers). The feet take 4 screws, (2 each). Plug in the battery connector. (It can only go one way, and the battery is already installed). Fill it with oil and gas, and you're ready to go.

I bought Mobil 1 10W-30 instead of using whatever crap oil they give you. It takes about 1-1/3rd quarts to fill it, so I just bought a 5 quart jug, because you have to change the oil again after it's broken in. They give you a nice angled funnel that swivels which really helps. I didn't even go by the "dipstick" that is attached to the filler cap. I just filled it on level ground until I couldn't get any more into it, without it running out. That comes out to the "full" mark on the silly stick.

Just a tip when you go to start it. The choke is "automatic" only one way. You have to be sure to set it to the "ON" position manually before you start. Then, when you engage the electric start, it will automatically open the choke after the starter disengages. If the unit doesn't start on the first attempt, it will reengage the starter 2 more times before stopping.... But it will open the choke after the first attempt. So if it doesn't light off on the first try, be sure to reach over, and reengage the choke before the starter kicks in again. That will save wear and tear on the battery. (The manual doesn't tell you this.)

Also, they give you a real nice plug in battery charger with it, that plugs right into a port on the "dashboard" of the unit. It has a LED that is both RED and GREEN. When you plug it in, it will show RED, (charging). When it turns GREEN, the battery is fully charged. (Again the manual doesn't tell you this, and it's not marked on the charger anywhere).

Just a tip. When I first got the unit out of the box, (the hardest part), I first plugged the battery wires together, plugged the charger in, and let it charge while I assembled everything, and put fuel and oil in it. They tend to discharge from the slow boat ride over here, and from sitting in the warehouse. By the time you get it up and ready to go, it will show green, and your battery will be fully charged. Let me know how everything goes when you get it.

P.S. Be sure to set the "RESET" buttons on the 2, double GFI 120 Volt outlets on the outlets themselves, (not the round breaker buttons), before you fire it up. I didn't and had no power coming from them until I figured it out. Also, the battery wires MUST be connected for the unit to run. Even if the battery is dead, the unit cannot be recoil started, unless the battery connectors are plugged into each other. (Not sure if the manual tells you this or not).

 

[dancer4life]

You're going to love it. Setup is a snap. The wheels go on with a "snap pin". (Cotter pin you can install and remove with your fingers). The feet take 4 screws, (2 each). Plug in the battery connector. (It can only go one way, and the battery is already installed). Fill it with oil and gas, and you're ready to go.

I bought Mobil 1 10W-30 instead of using whatever crap oil they give you. It takes about 1-1/3rd quarts to fill it, so I just bought a 5 quart jug, because you have to change the oil again after it's broken in. They give you a nice angled funnel that swivels which really helps. I didn't even go by the "dipstick" that is attached to the filler cap. I just filled it on level ground until I couldn't get any more into it, without it running out. That comes out to the "full" mark on the silly stick.

Just a tip when you go to start it. The choke is "automatic" only one way. You have to be sure to set it to the "ON" position manually before you start. Then, when you engage the electric start, it will automatically open the choke after the starter disengages. If the unit doesn't start on the first attempt, it will reengage the starter 2 more times before stopping.... But it will open the choke after the first attempt. So if it doesn't light off on the first try, be sure to reach over, and reengage the choke before the starter kicks in again. That will save wear and tear on the battery. (The manual doesn't tell you this.)

Also, they give you a real nice plug in battery charger with it, that plugs right into a port on the "dashboard" of the unit. It has a LED that is both RED and GREEN. When you plug it in, it will show RED, (charging). When it turns GREEN, the battery is fully charged. (Again the manual doesn't tell you this, and it's not marked on the charger anywhere).

Just a tip. When I first got the unit out of the box, (the hardest part), I first plugged the battery wires together, plugged the charger in, and let it charge while I assembled everything, and put fuel and oil in it. They tend to discharge from the slow boat ride over here, and from sitting in the warehouse. By the time you get it up and ready to go, it will show green, and your battery will be fully charged. Let me know how everything goes when you get it.

P.S. Be sure to set the "RESET" buttons on the 2, double GFI 120 Volt outlets on the outlets themselves, (not the round breaker buttons), before you fire it up. I didn't and had no power coming from them until I figured it out. Also, the battery wires MUST be connected for the unit to run. Even if the battery is dead, the unit cannot be recoil started, unless the battery connectors are plugged into each other. (Not sure if the manual tells you this or not).

Thank you so much for all these tips. I will follow them to the tee when it comes in.
I will let you know how everything goes.