I'm looking to install an automatic emergency generator. A couple of electricians I talked to say just go to Home Depot or Lowes and get one and they'd install it. Save ya money. Uh huh. Frankly, I haven't had much luck with things purchased from either store.
HD has the Guardian.
Lowes has the Centurion
These are the same machine made by Generac.
I've done a search through the forums here and round-about and there seems to be a consensus in the mentions I could find that these machines aren't that great. I particularly don't like the charger not being a float charger. Too many stories of exploding batteries, rubber parts dry rot and rust for my taste.
Is anyone using a residential Kohler or Onan? Is there something better? I want the instant-on feature cuz I work more than 50 miles from home and the family isn't tech savvy. Plus if no one's home, the basement might flood, depending on the season...
I was gonna go look at both this weekend or next but I hate facing sales weasels unarmed.
Any advice? I don't need much more than 8 or 12 kW to run the house so can't really afford or justify an industrial unit. No AC or big draw items. Just the fridge, freezer, stove, furnace and the gawdam sump pump, all of which cycle.
<sorry for the long post>
