I almost didn't buy this because of the negative comments about the noise it makes. Fortunately, I ignored them. Here's my experience.I ran the engine in under no-load on a gallon of fuel. It made an inoffensive burbling noise. All during this time you could stand 6 feet away from it and carry on a conversation at normal speech volume. At 100 yards distant it was inaudible, unless the breeze was blowing directly from it to you.If you're the kind that runs an i/c engine indoors then it would be louder because of the echo effect, but if you are that kind of person you would be better off worrying about your life expectancy in that situation.If you run it under heavy load it would be noisier. Any i/c engine run flat out is noisy. It would also wear out a lot faster than if you run it under moderate load.

To those who complain about oil dripping from the exhaust: your mixture is too rich, has too much oil in it. This engine requires a 40:1 mixture. To 1 US gallon of 89 or higher octane gasoline add exactly 6.4 tablespoons of 2-stroke oil. To run the engine in you can use a slightly richer mix. I used 7 tablespoons oil to 1 gallon. The engine did not smoke, no oil dripped from the muffler, but afterwards there was a little black (carbon) deposit on the spark plug.Use oil that is labeled for 2-stroke engines. Such is a synthetic oil that does not burn. Standard lubricating oil burns and will rapidly build up a heavy carbon deposit on your plug (foul the plug). If you must use lubricating oil use 30 weight oil that is labeled NON-detergent. The detergents in standard oils produce heavy fouling of the spark plug, and you will probably have to clean the plug every time you use the generator


Product DescriptionAPG3004A

This ultra-light generator is ideal for camping or emergency use. Not for sale in California. Rated Watts 850, Battery Included No, Battery Required No, Low Oil Shutdown Yes, Engine Displacement cc 63, HP 2.4, Dimensions L x W x H in. 15.35 x 12.80 x 13.39, Surge Watts 1,000, Receptacles qty. 1, Start Type Recoil, Engine 2-stroke, Fuel Capacity gal. 1.2, Fuel Type Gasoline. 12V DC outlet


Features:
  • 1.5 Horse Power 71cc
  • Low Noise
  • 1000 Watts Peak, 850 watts rated
  • Rated voltage 115V/60Hz, 10amp
  • 12 Volt DC output
  • Integrated 12 volt, 15 peak amp DC, trickle charge, battery charger complete with cables

I purchased this generator right after hurricane Irene. After hurricane Irene had damaged power lines in my neighborhood and being without power for 4 days I relied on my car battery to power lamps in my home using a power converter which included battery clamps. I decided to buy a generator as using a car battery during power outages can only go so far. Enter hurricane Sandy, I lost power again for 7 days where my new generator came into play to be used for the first time. I never operated or owned a generator before so I thought listing my experience here on Amazon in detail will help others like me.I ordered this generator after the last season of hurricanes and storms in Northeast USA. My house is in a flood prone area and I wasn't going to go through another entire hurricane season with sleepless nights. My old generator stopped working last year so I knew I was in the market for a new one.

I paid $299 for this generator off of Amazon and another $39 for the wheel kit (DuroStar DS4000S-WK Wheel Kit for DS4000S). As of writing this review, the generator is down to $289.00. Either way, I would have paid $350 for this unit!

The packaging was great. There was no damage to the unit during shipping. My biggest complaint about packaging is that some oil seemed to seep out of the unit and onto the box so I had to be careful when opening it up. I ended up having to wipe the units frame down with a rag to dry it off. The unit does not ship with oil, but someone must have put oil in it at one point to test it out because there was a lot of oil in the box. One other note, be sure to remove the shipping mounting bracket! The easiest way to do this is to use the provided tool and loosen the nuts and bolts while the unit is sitting level.

Product DescriptionDS4000S panel

Durable DuroMax 7.0 Hp, air cooled OHV engine with low oil shutoff . Heavy duty steel frame with four point fully isolated motor mounts for smooth and quiet operation. Full power panel with engine shutoff switch, volt meter, circuit breaker and power outlets. (2) Fully protected 120V outlets and (1) 120V twist-lock outlet. 8 Hour run time. All steel 4.0 gal. fuel tank with ez-read gauge. Low oil shut-off protects engine. Super quiet muffler reduces engine noise. Specifications: Max AC Output: 4000 watts / Rated AC Output: 3300 watts. Current: 120V, (2) 120v 20A 3-prong outlets (Standard Household plug), (1) 120v 30A twist lock. Low oil shutoff. EPA approved engines. Super quiet exhaust w/built-in spark arrestor. EZ-Pull Recoil start. 7.0 Hp air cooled OHV engine. Fuel Tank Capacity: 4.0 gal. Decibel: 69 dBA. Run-Time: at 50-Percent Maximum Output: 8.0 hrs. Includes: Spark plug wrench? Shipping Weight: 135.00-Pounds.

  • 4000 Watt Surge/3300 watt continuous
  • 4 Gallon gas tank/8 hour run time
  • EZ-Pull recoil start
  • EPA Approved
  • Automatic low oil shut off



This generator is a good little one to have around, and is certainly a great value for the money. I can't stress that enough - the value you get for the price paid is really high. Yes, there are better/quieter/more powerful generators on the market, but none in this price range. And in an emergency extended power outage, this is golden. It has plenty of power to run the efrigerator/freezer, some fans, your phone charger, and some LED or CFL lights.I sold my little red major brand name 4 stroke generator to pocket some cash and buy this one as a back up generator. I inspected it and all seemed well as far as nuts tightened and the like. The very first time I started it, it started on about the 10th pull, and after that usually starts on the 2nd or 3rd pull. Not bad. It idles a little rough compared to the 4 stroke, but that's about normal for a 2 stroke. But when a load is put on it, it runs smooth - and sounds like my old 2 stroke outboard cruising across the lake, and this made me smile with my purchase. Also, the sound level is about the same as my old "quiet" 4 stroke generator.

What I like about this being a 2 stroke engine is that I never have to adjust valves like a 4 stroke. On my old little red 4 stroke generator, you had to practically disassemble the entire engine casing to get at the valves and the entire valve adjustment job took a couple hours - this is just impractical. Also, the DC charging cables are included free, whereas with the 4 stroke you have to pay extra for them. And I'll never have to lift the unit up and turn it on it's side to do an oil change like the 4 stroke - no oil changes ever.

The main thing to keep in mind when considering purchasing this unit is how much it will power. It will power continuously 900 watts or less. It will power 900 to 1000 watts for a short time, maybe 15 minutes before the breaker will trip, and you have to let it cool and reset it. So if you size it right, there is no problem.

Product Description

The PowerPro 1000 Watt generator is proof that good things do come in small packages. This two stroke generator delivers 900 watts of running and 1000 watts of starting power but weighs under 36 pounds. Small and portable, this generator is great for camping and tailgating as well as for your house's backup power. This rugged machine is both EPA and CARB compliant and is safe to use in any national park due to the spark arrestor. The power panel features an engine on/off switch, a 120V three-prong receptacle, a 12V DC receptacle, a volt meter and individual circuit reset buttons.

  • Weighing less than 36 pounds, equipped with a carrying handle and stabilized with 4 rubber pads, this generator is built for portability
  • Uses oil/gas mix fuel so there's no need for oil changes; The one gallon tank can run for 5 hours at half load
  • Quiet exhaust system with spark arrestor is 60dB at 22 feet and is certified for use in any national park or forest
  • 1000-Watts starting power and 900-Watts running power
  • 1-year limited warranty; CARB and EPA compliant

I purchased this generator for a camping trip to run the wants/needs (like ipod charging for the kids, hair dryer for the wife, beer cooler) and the genny ran flawless the entire time. I have been an industrial electrician for 30 years and have found that high quality tools are a necessity for work. Don't let this "off name" or "made in china" keep you from purchasing this generator. It is constructed of high quality materials, over head valves and cast iron sleeve and the generator is machined alunimum, not stamped steel. It has double rubber mounts for zero viberation. After 5 hours of contineous use at 3/4 load it used less then one gallon of fuel and the generator body was warm, not hot! It was packaged in 2 layers of very heavy cardboard and foam liner which could handle drops and extreme shipping abuse. I have put several hours on my unit with no issues. It starts easy, makes the transition from no load to full load and back again very smooth. It has the sound of quality, not a cheep sound. Also very quiet and light.

My unit is not the one pictured, it is 1400/1800 watts not 1200/1500 as pictured, it also is 6.2 pounds heavier then described. It has the same motor, but i believe this newer version has a larger generator. It also has a fuel guage. It comes with a large full color seven step easy start guide. If you are considering purchasing this unit make sure what you expect to operate fitts into the watt range, also it is rated for 11.7 amps. Take the time to read the owners manual and follow all instructions and you should get years of trouble free service.
 

Champion Power Equipment 42436 1500-Watt Portable Generator, CARB CompliantProduct Description

Quiet, lightweight and portable; the Champion 1500W Portable Generator provides portable, quiet power for campsites, RV's, cabins and other remote locations. 1200 Watts Rated, 1500 Watts Maximum output. Champion generator can run lights, TV and refrigerator all at the same time. Great for running 1-2 power tools. Lightweight-only 56 lbs. Quiet-only 65 Dba. Powered by Champion 80cc OHV engine with cast iron sleeve will run 10 hours on a full tank of gas at 50-percent load. EPA/CARB approved for sale in 50 states. Features full durable frame, 1-120V outlet (5-20R), Overload Protection, Low Oil Sensor and Voltmeter. Dimensions: 17.7-inch (L) x 14.0-inch (W) x 14.8-inch (H). 2 Year Limited Warranty. All Champion products are cover by our Lifetime Free Technical Support and 2 Year Limited Warranty.

  • 1200 Watts Rated, 1500 Watts Maximum Output. Outlets: 1-120V Outlet
  • Powered by Champion 80cc OHV Engine with Cast Iron Sleeve; CARB-California approved
  • Runs for 10 hours on full tank of gas at 50-percent load
  • Light Weight: 56 lbs
  • 2 Year limited warranty

I've been researching portable generators for months prior to deciding on this one. Honestly, I could not be happier with my choice. The product is quality built, even though it is from China. The wheel kit was so easy to install that even a cave man could do it (sorry)! Upon arrival, I put oil and fuel in it and it started immediately. Hooked up the electric chain saw and began trimming tree limbs. The generator is easy to use and has all of the excess power that I will need for my power tools. I have a 1 acre lot, with lots of trees, and it is impossible to get power where it is needed. This unit is the answer.


XP4400E outdoorsProduct Description

Safeguard your family as well as provide portable power for work and play with the DuroMax XP4400E gas-powered generator, which features a 7.0-horsepower air-cooled OHV engine that cranks out 3,500 constant running watts of power (and a peak of 4,400 watts; learn more about wattage needs below). It includes both a standard recoil start as well as an easy electric start.

This rugged workhorse is ideal for the jobsite where powering saws, drills, and other equipment is critical, but you can also depend on it for emergencies at home--insuring your essential appliances are running smoothly, reliably, and without interruption. It's EPA approved with a rating of 69 dBA for quiet operation thanks to its super-quiet muffler, and it's also safe to use in U.S. National Parks thanks to the super quiet exhaust with spark arrestor.

The XP4400E includes two 120-volt, 20-amp standard household outlets to supply power to all of your appliances as well as a powerful 120/240-volt, 30-amp twist lock outlet for high-powered tools. A 12-volt DC output with leads functions as a charger for batteries and other rechargeable devices. Overloads are never a problem with its dual 15-amp circuit breaker. A volt meter allows you to monitor your generator's output range at all times, and the battery charge indicator light lets you know when the generator's starter battery is charging.
The exclusive DuroMax RV Switch (voltage selector) allows you to get maximum power from each of the 120-volt receptacles as well as choose between operating the generator at both 120 and 240 volts simultaneously, or at 120 only with full power.
With the electric start, it's as simple to get this generator going as turning on your car. And if the battery isn't fully charged, you can use the single-pull recoil cord to start the generator.