Harbor Freight tailgator generator

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PepNYC

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Anyone have one of those 900 watt tailgator generators from Harbor Freight? I hear good things about it. I wouldn't need a lot of power. Just enough for a few LED lights, phone charging and a small fridge in the garage. I've seen some people put a lot more on those. I'm thinking of picking one up and for $109 with a coupon I don't think they're too shabby.
 
Heard nothing but good things about them, they're even recommended over the really low watt sportsman inverter generators.
 
Diablos said:
Heard nothing but good things about them, they're even recommended over the really low watt sportsman inverter generators.
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91db vs 56db...I think 60db is generally considered the high end for "quiet" sites.
 
PepNYC said:
Anyone have one of those 900 watt tailgator generators from Harbor Freight? I hear good things about it. I wouldn't need a lot of power. Just enough for a few LED lights, phone charging and a small fridge in the garage. I've seen some people put a lot more on those. I'm thinking of picking one up and for $109 with a coupon I don't think they're too shabby.
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$110?
Link please
 
Thank you, i searched 'hf coupon database' and didnt see an app with that logo
Looks like what I did download is the same though, like I can see the ad for the 109 generator.
Which is tempting to have around just in case
 
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I know your not looking to spend that much money but they also have their 2Kw Inverter Generator on sale ... yeah it’s 4X the price but it is dang quiet and over twice the operating load. I have it’s Honda equivalent (I paid $1,000 for) and I have hauled that thing everywhere from camping to fence work. It has even done hurricane duty (refrigerator along with a lamp and fan) for 3 days in Orientation. That 900w is peak power ... 700w continuous ... the mini-frig’s compressor kicking on could be a problem and running with much else on might be pushing it. I know it 4X the price but you can get some good use out of this ...image.jpg ... and not worry about burning it out plus it way damn quieter.
 
NCFubar said:
I know your not looking to spend that much money but they also have their 2Kw Inverter Generator on sale ... yeah it’s 4X the price but it is dang quiet and over twice the operating load. I have it’s Honda equivalent (I paid $1,000 for) and I have hauled that thing everywhere from camping to fence work. It has even done hurricane duty (refrigerator along with a lamp and fan) for 3 days in Orientation. That 900w is peak power ... 700w continuous ... the mini-frig’s compressor kicking on could be a problem and running with much else on might be pushing it. I know it 4X the price but you can get some good use out of this ...View attachment 210947 ... and not worry about burning it out plus it way damn quieter.
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Another $20 off from that price:

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Twice the power, over twice the run time, MUCH quieter. I have two of the 3500W variants.
 
Who would like to have a Mossy Oak 1200/900 that's been used ONCE for 45 minutes and is back in the box for 75.00?? I just happen to have one sitting in the shop, in the way.....
 
Bailey Boat said:
Who would like to have a Mossy Oak 1200/900 that's been used ONCE for 45 minutes and is back in the box for 75.00?? I just happen to have one sitting in the shop, in the way.....
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Id like more information on it BB
Im very interested
 
HMP said:
Id like more information on it BB
Im very interested
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I purchased this unit when I was in a bind for 120 volts while working on a Dove field in a remote location. It was used for about 30 to 45 minutes, fuel turned off, carb ran dry and put back in the box. Been sitting in the shop ever since. I paid 124.99 plus tax and thought I would just keep it but have since gotten another Honda 2000i.

generator.JPG
 
Bailey Boat said:
I purchased this unit when I was in a bind for 120 volts while working on a Dove field in a remote location. It was used for about 30 to 45 minutes, fuel turned off, carb ran dry and put back in the box. Been sitting in the shop ever since. I paid 124.99 plus tax and thought I would just keep it but have since gotten another Honda 2000i.

View attachment 211073
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Is it the same style as the one originally posted here? or more like the Honda style (plastic casing)?

Are you getting up to Salisbury much these days?
 
HMP said:
Is it the same style as the one originally posted here? or more like the Honda style (plastic casing)?

Are you getting up to Salisbury much these days?
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same style as the HF.... I'll be in Salisbury Sat and Sunday at the gun club.....
 
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HMP said:
Would a surge protector prevent that?
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No, surge protectors help in the case of massive fluctuations upward. They don’t do anything to stabilize and minimize the normal or moderate voltage fluctuations upward and downward. This is what higher end power filters do, often used for sensitive electronics and high end home theater. It’s much cheaper to just buy an inverter gen if this is a concern.
 
SPST said:
If you are going to be using your generator to charge phones, computers or other electronic devices you need to get an inverter generator. A regular generator can fry those devices because they can surge power whereas an inverter sends the power in an even line. This is the generator that I just got.
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HMP said:
Would a surge protector prevent that?
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Possible workaround? Use it to charge a power bank of some sort and then charge the electronics off of that. I have quite a few of those laying around.
 
Ikarus1 said:
No but a $50 APC Uninterruptible power supply will. Certainly cheaper than a $1000 Inverter Generator, and it will give you a little time to refill the gas tank without interrupting AC
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You beat me to it, look for a full sine wave UPS, most low end units are modified sine wave, square wave and not good for motors or some electronics.
I have several APC Smart UPS 600 series, they are full sine wave and you don't need a battery in them for them to filter the generator power. I have a Generac I2000 inverter model, it works well, got it refurbished but it looked new in box when opened. Also have a 8.5KW Generac to run the heat and a/c if needed. With fiber internet and IP phone, the interface and wifi modem are all on 12V DC wall adapters so easy to power them with a battery by using a DC cord or splice quick connects in line with the wall adapter cord.
 
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Button Pusher said:
You beat me to it, look for a full sine wave UPS, most low end units are modified sine wave, square wave and not good for motors or some electronics.
I have several APC Smart UPS 600 series, they are full sine wave and you don't need a battery in them for them to filter the generator power. I have a Generac I2000 inverter model, it works well, got it refurbished but it looked new in box when opened. Also have a 8.5KW Generac to run the heat and a/c if needed. With fiber internet and IP phone, the interface and wifi modem are all on 12V DC wall adapters so easy to power them with a battery by using a DC cord or splice quick connects in line with the wall adapter cord.
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Yeah the SmartUPS 450 is around $50 on Amazon and has stepped sine wave filtering but its good enough to charge a phone or run a laptop since both of those come with regulates adapters in the charger
 
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Ikarus1 said:
Yeah the SmartUPS 450 is around $50 on Amazon and has stepped sine wave filtering but its good enough to charge a phone or run a laptop since both of those come with regulates adapters in the charger
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Yes, also used Smart UPS models on ebay without the batteries and at ham radio 'hamfests' aka flea markets. Most important is over and under line voltage when you are on a generator, I run a larger model for our amateur radio field day event so my equipment will not get damaged.
 
Well, I couldn't resist. After all this talk about this lil guy I had to go get one. $117 with the tax. After I got it I immediately went to the auto parts store to get a new NGK plug because the Chinese "Torch" branded plug in there is supposed to be garbage. Crazy thing is the plug that's in it is a Torch F7TC and the manual says it takes an F5TC. :confused: (NGK BP7ES and BP5ES respectively) So...what the heck do I put in it? 5 or 7? I know the higher the number the cooler the plug but I have no idea what difference that makes. Any suggestions? Maybe split the difference and put a BP6ES in it. :D
 
Ihave messaged BB back, I will have to bow out on his awesome deal.
Good luck to whoever picks it up, you've gotten a good score

And shame that I was looking forward to putting a face with a name.
 
PepNYC said:
Well, I couldn't resist. After all this talk about this lil guy I had to go get one. $117 with the tax. After I got it I immediately went to the auto parts store to get a new NGK plug because the Chinese "Torch" branded plug in there is supposed to be garbage. Crazy thing is the plug that's in it is a Torch F7TC and the manual says it takes an F5TC. :confused: (NGK BP7ES and BP5ES respectively) So...what the heck do I put in it? 5 or 7? I know the higher the number the cooler the plug but I have no idea what difference that makes. Any suggestions? Maybe split the difference and put a BP6ES in it. :D
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Colder plugs help prevent predetonation, wont hurt to run it.
 
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