Has anyone any experience of the cheap "import"generators that you can buy from those online auction sites?

As an example see eBay item 7581702802

I don't want to power a building site but I also don't want to buy a pile of poo!!

Any thoughts?

Ta
Col

we bought a very cheap one for work, cant really comment on it though as we havent used it recently. For a while we were refurbing ruined houses, its not needed now really as its mostly kitchens we do now. I remember it stopped working for a bit when the apprentice tried to power a transformer off it, and drew double the power output! ISTR it fixed itself though.

You can get them a hell of a lot cheaper than that one on ebay, but then again, its got quite a decent output. Have you worked out exactly what power you need?

as joel says, check the power output - a lot of the cheap ones are only 700w or so.

Also, the sound might be a bit more than a quality 4 stroke unit - many cheap ones are two stroke. Beware comparison of db levels - make sure they are made at the same distances

atb

steve

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/cat.jsp?cId=100310&ts=04736

http://www.northerntooluk.com/product/default.asp?catId=14&subCatId=104

ATB

Simon

Just so people have an idea of what I have been looking at, the example I quoted earlier reads;
THIS IS A BRAND NEW 13 HP 5KVA (5.5 KVA MAX) POWERHOUSE GENERATOR. IT DOES 12V, 110V AND 230V,

ELECTRIC START!

Price is £299 buy it now!

Just a tip if anyone buys a generator, I find with mine it tends to stand unused for long periods , when I try to start from cold I have had to use easistart or drain and put in fresh due to the fuel deterioration. It has a Honda engine and is less than 18months old, with fresh fuel it starts no bother . Could be a pain if only used in emergency!

Makro are doing one for £39.99 +vat, on special this week,

have you tried putting fuel stabiliser in your genny?, works for me on my lawn mower/Bike etc.


just checked its a 850W
Ray

[Edited on 21/1/06 by rayward]

Iv'e never heard of fuel stabiliser, where would I get some?

fuel stabiliser is just an additive that stops the fuel going off, bought mine from the local motorcycle shop few quid abottle iirc.

Ray

That genny listed is very similar to the 1 I picked up up for a friend, when I saw the bigger ones, they also had I poped down the bank and got the extra out to pay for it, I think I got a 7kva one in the end, and it doesn't get off tick over when welding with a bloomin big welder

Jason

a house ring main is about 7kva (30a) so thats got pretty good capacity


atb

steve