Re: Best generator?
I've got a Honda EU2000 generator which I have used since 2003 through three different hurricanes. In one case, we were without power for seven days, so it got a good workout. It ran the refrigerator, microwave, lights, TV, computers, my home office, etc. with no problem. For awhile, it was running my neighbor's refrigerator as well as our household load.
When the generator is being used, we just go about life as usual and run anything we want (except the electric oven). It is more than sufficient for 4 people in our 2300sf house. I connect it directly to the house main panel through a transfer switch, which eliminates the use of extension cords.
The advantages: it is very quiet, it only weighs 46 pounds so it is easy to move, and it really sips the gas. I keep careful records and under our typical loads, it will run for 8-10 hours on one gallon of gas. This is more important than you might think--7 days without power would be a HUGE amount of gas on a typical 5000watt unit. During our seven day power outage, I used just over 10 gallons of gas. (Just guessing, but those large unit might use 10 gallons per DAY!) I would turn the unit off at night and sometimes during the day for 3-4 hours.
Did I say it was quiet? It is so quiet, that if I walk 50 feet out to the road, I cannot hear it run. None of my neighbors can hear it. One of my neighbors has a large typical generator. He lives one street over from me. I can hear his generator running all the way from my house. It is LOUD! I feel sorry for the people who live close to him.
I paid $825 for my unit. As previously mentioned, you could buy two for $1700 and connect them in series. Although I don't know why a typical house would need more power than one unit can provide. It takes care of all our needs and I highly recommend the Honda EU2000.
Even if it doesn't meet your stated criteria. :nana: