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squirrel
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2011 05:20
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harbor frt has a 800 rated watt 900 max. watt portable generator for 109. reg 149 I was wondering if anyone has used this and what your thoughts are.thinking maybe getting it for our cabin to power lights frig and a water pump from time to time not sure if it'll work or how loud it'll be.
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Anonymous
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2011 07:13
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I bought one once to use mostly for charging a 12 volt battery.The built in breaker would trip out after a minuit of charging.I thought it was defective so I took it back and got another one.Did the same thing.took it back also.It started and ran nice but you have to mix the gas with 2 cycle oil and with that,it made it smokey and fumey.(like a chain saw)If the wind wasn't blowing,you would fumeagate yourself!Was pretty noisy too.
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turkeyhunter
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2011 07:15
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i saw one of the harbo freight ones at a yard sale, last fall. The guys was asking 50 for it, sait he bought it used and and it was not what he wanted.Look at a pawn shops for a used Honda one---the quitest and best for the $$$$. A local pawn shop had a honda , for 100 bucks last month.
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bushbunkie
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2011 11:52
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I wanted a Honda 2000 Quiet "Campground rated generator", but couldn't afford to put the $1600. - $1800 towards it.
You pay more for the quiet - rated ones...you don't want to destroy your piece and quiet :)
Settled for a KING 2000 WATT...same decibel rating, etc. as the HONDA and have been happy with it so far...no problem operating all night in -25C...powers all my tools, compressor...indoor electric heater, lights, ...has gas saving mode,etc.
The KING 2000 cost me $580.00 new and has been great so far.
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hattie
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2011 13:20
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We had experienced using our generator during a power outage and it was noisy! We had it on the porch but had an extension cord running into the house which meant the door was open a bit - not good in the winter.
When we had our addition put on, Hubby insisted that the electrician put in an electrical box on the porch for our generator. Hubby thinks it contains an RV connector. Basically it has a male, 3 prong plug under a cover that you can plug an extension cord in and run the other end of the cord into the generator. This is wired in the walls to an outlet inside the utility room (that we have marked for generator only). This outlet only works with the generator. The generator is not connected to the house electrical system in any way.
Now, if the power goes out, we turn on the generator on the porch, plug it into the special wall outlet there, CLOSE THE DOOR *S* and then we can use the special outlet in the utility room to plug things into. It makes things much quieter and no loss of heat with the door open. We have a small generator that is only good for running the fridge or freezer (not at the same time) during a long power outage.
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squirrel
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2011 13:30
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Thanks for the info it really helps when you talk to people that have done what you thinking I will look into the KING 2000 and the pawn shops we have a coleman generator that we use to work our tools but the noise is unreal and like you say destroys the peace an quiet
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Swifty
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# Posted: 19 Mar 2011 13:06
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I bought the Harbor Freight 800 watt generator (frequently on sale from $89-$129) for a couple of months now for my isolated 10x12 shack. With a piece of plywood (a foot away from the generator, between the generator and the shack) and a 100ft extension cord, the sound is pretty minimal (still hear the creek, wind, birds, over the hum). I've alternately powered drill, work light, very small heater (when propane Buddy Heater wasn't quite enough), fan, coffee pot, and microwave at different times and haven't been disappointed. Most days it is unused (because it DOES take away from nature), but it is a super nice, super convenient luxury to use sparingly. Gas usage is minimal (1 gallon of 50:1 will last for hours), so it sure beats a more powerful, noisier, costlier, heavier, larger model.
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Borrego
Member
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# Posted: 19 Mar 2011 19:06
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Anyone used a solar generator?
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hebegbz
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# Posted: 19 Mar 2011 21:46
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You have 300 hour generators and you have 3000 hour generators.
There's not much in between.
Figure out which is right for you.
If you go with the HFT genset you will probably regret it.
If the motor doesn't fail the generator will. That said, I admit that I have lots of their products, just not complicated electrical/mechanical ones.
Anything with a B&S will usually be a 300 hour unit. Noisy and vibrate a lot.
Honda & Yamaha units usually go for around 3000 hours. Better motor and better generator. Quieter, and smoother.
You really get what you pay for with gensets.
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p0rtia
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2011 18:00
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Hi hebegbz,
I'm looking for a generator too, and it sounds like you the knowledge to give dependable advice. Can you please define "HFT", "genset" and "B&S"? Do you mean that cheap generators will die after 300 hours of use, and expensive ones after 3000 hours? It's all greek to me. Thanks!
Quoting: hebegbz You have 300 hour generators and you have 3000 hour generators. There's not much in between. Figure out which is right for you. If you go with the HFT genset you will probably regret it. If the motor doesn't fail the generator will. That said, I admit that I have lots of their products, just not complicated electrical/mechanical ones. Anything with a B&S will usually be a 300 hour unit. Noisy and vibrate a lot. Honda & Yamaha units usually go for around 3000 hours. Better motor and better generator. Quieter, and smoother. You really get what you pay for with gensets.
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maine_island
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# Posted: 28 Mar 2011 07:52
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i think what is meant:
HFT = Harbor Freight, supplier of the inexpensive generator in question (with an implied lifetime of 300 hours)
genset = generator set i.e. the motor & generator combined into one complete unit
B&S = Briggs & Stratton, the maker of inexpensive gasoline engines usually found on lawn mowers, go-carts, etc. (with an implied lifetime of 300 hours)
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turkeyhunter
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# Posted: 28 Mar 2011 08:05
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we used a Craftsman (sears) generator this weekend at a friends camp, to run a elect cement mixer, forgot how much i HATE a generator..............man they get on your nerves running for long periods of time.
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p0rtia
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# Posted: 28 Mar 2011 10:42
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Thanks, maine_island!
Quoting: maine_island i think what is meant: HFT = Harbor Freight, supplier of the inexpensive generator in question (with an implied lifetime of 300 hours) genset = generator set i.e. the motor & generator combined into one complete unit B&S = Briggs & Stratton, the maker of inexpensive gasoline engines usually found on lawn mowers, go-carts, etc. (with an implied lifetime of 300 hours)
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 7 May 2011 18:33
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I run my home with a large Honda EU6500is, it has electric start, super quiet and a inverter type so it doenst have to run at 3600 rpm to give me 60 cycles (2 pole type) But it retailed for $3995. I also bought a Honda EU2000i new for $899 shipped ot my door from Big Sky Power out of Great Falls MT. I use this to power up my cabin. I have it wired fully, with a small electrical fuse box (16 spaces) and I just use a "dead mans cord" to tie into the cabin system from my outdoor outlet on my porch (male plugs on each end). I had to jump across the 2 line terminal lugs to power up both halves as I was feeding it on a 110V circuit. I'd have to remove this is if used a 220 V generator. Works out great. The Honda EU2000i runs my small 6 gallon pancake compressor which runs all my power tools also, just not at the same time. It will run multiple tools at one time, but the worm drive Skil saw and the air compressor need to run alone.
Kipor now makes an almost perfect copy of the Honda EU2000i.
Also, best Honda prices I seen online are from:
http://wisesales.com/
EU2000i last time i checked was $850 shipped, no sales tax.
This was the absolute best generator I ever owned and I cant imagine life without it. It has been a god sent for building my cabin. Because of the quality, I bough the EU6500is also.
There is a little beefier model now called the EU2000 companion. It wasnt available when I got mine. Otherwise, I'd bought it instead. A few more amps is all and a 30A 110V RV plug
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common-sense
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# Posted: 9 Oct 2011 02:59
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I think you are using way too much oil mixture with the 2 cycle if you are seeing smoke. Mine runs clear and it is 50:1
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dfosson
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# Posted: 9 Oct 2011 21:12
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I put a Champion 3500 watt/4000 watt peak generator on my cabin. I bought it from Tractor Supply for $279 and got a 3 year service agreement for $30. I use it every weekend and it runs about 10-12 hours each day. I built it's own building with dual intake fans and an exhaust louvre. The building is insulated and it has a remote thermocouple so I can monitor the internal temperature while the genny is running. I guess it could fail sometime but I've already exceeded the 300 hour mark and it's still going strong. I replace the oil every 100 hours and maintain an operating log to track.
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xplorer 400
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# Posted: 13 Dec 2011 19:26
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I had owner one watt 800 they great engine and great everthing had 3 light 75 wattand tv flat 38 inch and dvd box was a great about had 43 hour right now. But i'm used 2 cycle on Lucas semi synthetic 2-cycle oil and gas 93 octane and plug spark E3.
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xplorer 400
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# Posted: 13 Dec 2011 19:31
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AC 3 Way-Power Cable-1 male plug-3 female plugs
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VC_fan
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# Posted: 24 Dec 2011 17:19
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The original question was about the HF 800 watt unit. My main generator is 2 kW and I can barely carry it the 300' back to my shack. I bought the HF one on sale for $90 and love it. I don't have lots of hours on it but I'd think most readers of this forum would admit that it's more likely to have a generator stolen than to wear one out. It obviously won't run serious tools but it's great at topping off the deep-cycle battery to run the inverter. I'd highly recommend it. It's not as quiet as the ones that cost 10X as much but it's much, much quieter and generally not as obnoxious as my larger one. And it lives at the shack - if it gets stolen I'll buy another one.
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Anonymous
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# Posted: 24 Dec 2011 21:27
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Get a real generator, Toy gensets from china are just junk. Look for older detroit gensets with 271 engine. They will run for ever, can be repaired, and just like they are will run on diesel, used oil, or veggy oil. Any gas powered genset is junk. All gas we have now goes bad in 30 to 40 days, and ruins the gas engine fuel systems. diesel engines can set for years, and still start up. Also at 18 bucks for a 5 gallon can, it would cost you 20 bucks a hour to run a gas powered genset. The older gensets used better copper and heavy windings. I have bought used GM diesel gensets for 1200 bucks. We now have a KATO 50kw genset. 4 cyclinder diesel, only burns 5 gallons in 8 hours. Will power 3 houses. Stay away from china look a like engines and china gas engines. i bought three before i got smart. all three lasted only 2 or 3 tanks of fuel and they popped.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 24 Dec 2011 21:45
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Quoting: Anonymous 50kw genset
...possibly a little overkill for the average owner-builder...
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PA_Bound
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# Posted: 25 Dec 2011 14:49
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@Anonymous- If you need a 50Kw generator for your property I think you are either on the wrong forum or, at a minimum, your idea of a cabin is diffferent than mine! Are you the same Anonymous that was "dissing" cabin kits in another posting?
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Bzzzzzt
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# Posted: 25 Dec 2011 20:38
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I was talking to my father in law this weekend who owns an RV. He has several friends who have purchased 2000-4000W gas generators from Harbor Freight tools for their RV's that are most likely Chinese and he told me that everyone who had one was very happy with the results. RV'rs that don't go to the standard parks have to generate their own electricity so it's kind of important to have something you can rely on. I'm not big on the cheapest of the cheap stuff myself, but I just wanted to pass on this on to anyone thinking in this direction that perhaps everything that comes from China is not necessarily the pile of crap that some would have you believe it was.
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camp crooked
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# Posted: 26 Dec 2011 15:57
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I work on gererators for a living and I own honda generators. I bought a 2000watt honda 6 years ago and never regret it. I can run the camp (lights micro and wifes hair dryer) all weekend with less than a gallon of gas on the "eco mode"( it just runs as fast as need for the electrical load applied). granted I dont run it 24/7 while Im there. Well worth the money
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rayyy
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# Posted: 27 Dec 2011 16:58
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I am quite pleased with the honda 2000 I bought.Havn't had much running time yet but it is very quiet compaired to my old colman.
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customrunner
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# Posted: 27 Dec 2011 20:52 - Edited by: customrunner
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I picked this one up about 4 mounths ago and I love it, runs great I have run it for 5-6 hours at a time with no problems as for noise I put it behind my storage bin when it use and find it quite quiet, (I dont plan on useing this to power my cabin as I will be running a solar setup but as a back up and for my tools)before I bought it I asked several local tool supplyers what unit would serve me best and all of them swar by this brand GENERAC portable generator - The most trusted name in home generators. 3,250 running watt. 3,750 starting watt. 4-gallon fuel tank with incorporated fuel gauge and filter neck screen. 13 1/2-hour average run time duration at half load. 196-cc overhead valve engine with cast iron cylinder sleeve. Low oil level shutdown to protect engine. 4-in. unflatable wheels and fold down handle. Large, low tone muffler for quiet operation. 4 x 20-A at 120-V receptacles. 2-year consumer warranty (1-year warranty for commercial supplies).
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RnR
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# Posted: 28 Dec 2011 11:29
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We just got a 1200 watt Champion brand generator from Canadian tire, reg. $399, on sale for $229. It is small, roughly the size of a box of photocopier paper, weighs about 60 lbs, easily fits in the back of an SUV or trunk, not too noisy. You have to accept some noise with a generator. It starts up really easily and runs great.
If you have rechargeable batteries or rechargeable power-packs you can minimize your use of the generator by alternating the generator which charges the batteries, and then just running off the batteries until they again need to be recharged.
1200w is more than enough for using a laptop which is sometimes needed to get work done while up at the cabin, recharging batteries, lights and other small electronic devices until we figure out some kind of renewable energy system. We bought 7 stings of 35 LED christmas lights (on sale, $2 each, reg. $9.98). This is enough to string all around the walls of the cabin. Each string uses a whopping 2 watts, so lighting the whole cabin uses only 14 watts, and it really does light the whole cabin. Our re-chargeable portable power packs (Xantrex) used to be our only source of power, but they are not enough to keep a lapto going for the weekend, and they are not really holding their charges like they used to, which is to be expected from any rechargeable battery. We'd love to get new ones but Canadian Tire doesn't carry them anymore unfortunately.
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hakrjak
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# Posted: 28 Dec 2011 19:10
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If you need a reliable generator to power your cabin -- don't even think about using one of those cheapo harbor freight models. Not only are they crappy Chinese construction that will break after about 10 uses -- But they are not very efficient, and they are extremely loud.
Invest in a quality Honda or Yamaha generator, and you'll be glad you did. They are the best engineering on the market hands down, and they will last you 10+ years.
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wakeslayer
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# Posted: 30 Dec 2011 15:35
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I have a Honda EU3000 as a backup for my battery bank in the winter, and for running my well pump to fill my gravity tank. Could not possibly be happier.
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buckybuck
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# Posted: 22 Apr 2012 08:51
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I just returned from a five-day vacation at my RV in Vinton County. My RV has a propane furnace, but I discovered the first night that the battery is not up to the task of powering the furnace's blower motor the entire night when the temperature drops into the mid-20's.
So I bought a Home Depot $98 Internet special generator. It's a step-brother to the generator that Harbor Freight has on sale for $89 every other week. There are minor differences—the Home Depot Sportsman brand generator has a 12-volt outlet as well as the 120-volt outlet and is rated at 1000 maximum watts. (I suspect that difference in maximum wattage may be some technical writer's mistranslation rather than actual design difference. Also, Home Depot's website says their generator is not for sale in California, even though both Harbor Freight and the Sportsman user manual claim their generator really is CARB-compliant).
It is typical Chinese junk. I'm not going to argue that point. For those of us suffering from mid-life ennui, that may well be part of the allure—fussing with these generators reminds me of puttering around with the crappy motors in pre-1980's American cars.
I have a decent 3.5K generator but, like my elusive neighbor vc_fan wrote back in December (maybe we Vinton County forum members may finally get to meet at the Wild Turkey Festival in two weeks), that size generator is noisy, heavy, and a constant theft worry. My crappy Chinese generator sounds exactly like a cheap, plug-in 12-volt air compressor. I should be able to rig up some sort of enclosure to quiet it even more. And other than my RV's air conditioner--which I have used a grand total of two days in three years--it seems capable of powering everything I use.
In hindsight, I'd probably go with the Harbor Freight generator—the main reasons I went with the Home Depot version was its olive green paint (a little less garish than the Harbor Freight blue), the 12-volt outlet (which probably puts out too few amps to be much use for recharging batteries), and the slightly better warranty (which turns out really isn't, since it won't let you return the generator to a physical Home Depot store, while I've got a nearby Harbor Freight store that would quickly replace a defective HF generator).
I guess I'm still experimenting to see how much wattage I really require. My hypothesis is not a lot; sadly, I still have to work for a living and the vast majority of my Vinton County visits are for two or three days at most. Usually I can get by just fine by topping a battery off at home and taking it with me when I go. I'm hoping I don't need the noise and hernias associated with a 3.5K generator—admittedly, that view may change if we have a really hot summer.
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