Generator Reviews.

AstroTurf

AstroTurf

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I thought that this may be a handy thread for those that plan to buy or upgrade generators and could not find something similar.

Anyway, Here is mine.

Ellies FBG2800CX
126_image_1.jpg
2.8kW Petrol Generator
Engine: 4 Stroke OHV
Fuel: Unleaded
Fuel Tank: 15L
Voltage: 230V
Voltage regulation supply: AVR
Frequency: 50Hz
Power Factor: 1.0
Rated Output: 2.5kW
Maximum Output: 2.8kW
Gross weight: 45Kg's
Volt / Hour meter
Engine: 4 stroke OHV,
Rated power: 7 HP / 5.2 Kw
Idustrial size air filter
Fuel: Unleaded
AVR Automatic voltage regulated
Fuel tank: 15l
Voltage: 230V
Circuit breaker
Frequency: 50HZ
Oil alert function
Heavy duty frame
12V, 8 Amp output
Pull start
http://www.ellies.co.za/gen/2.8kW-Petrol-Generator/FBG2800CX

It comes ready to operate (Oil and tested before packaging).
I have run it now for a total of around 8 hours.
Needs oil replacement after 20 hours of use the first time then after every 50 hours, uses 15w30
It comes with a basic toolkit, spare filters and a spare spark plug as well as a basic instruction manual (starting, stopping and maintenance as well as troubleshooting).
It uses around 1.5l to 2l of petrol every 3 hours.
Manual says it runs at around 94db but I think it's slightly quieter than that (can have a conversation around it).

Things I like:

Pull start works first time every time (as long as the choke is in the right direction).

No voltage fluctuation that I can see even at full load, well, I gave it 40watt leeway (I plugged an iron(800watt), a kettle (1800watt), 2 fans (30w ea) and a lightbulb (100w) into it then turned the iron to max and turned the kettle on and off while watching the lightbulb to see what happens).
Bulb does not flicker, fans do not slow down then speed up and all household stuff fine after the test.
Also, Unlike when I am plugged into Eskom my UPS does not turn on and off (clicking, humming etc) constantly.
You can hear the load changing on the genny when turning the kettle on and off though.

Oil warning (I check it myself after each use but handy anyway, also not drinking oil like crazy, level has not dropped at all yet).
Volt/h meter


Things I dislike.

No feet on the frame (I wrapped the bottom of the frame in plastazote foam so that the frame does not wear down over time due to vibration).
I wish the choke, pull start and fuel on/off lever were all on the front but this is high hopes (don't think I have seen a generator with everything on the front at this size).
45kg +10l petrol is damned heavy but I do not want to put wheels on it in case it decides to take a ride.
if you fill the tank to the full 15l it always has a slight petrol smell to it, 13 l or less it is fine. Only reason this bugs me is because I still carry it into the house after use.
 
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Drifter said:
Price?
Click to expand...

LOL, forgot about that.
I went to Game, saw the gennie there for R4799, checked makro on my phone and found the same one on their site for R4300, game gave it to me for R4250 (they have that price beat thing) after calling makro.
 
I got mine two months ago. Only used it for about 8 hours.

Make: Schultz
Power: 5.0kw
Max power: 5.5kw
Power factor: 1.0
Price: R4 000 @ Hyper

Will post more detailed specs later.
 

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signates said:
I got mine two months ago. Only used it for about 8 hours.

Make: Schultz
Power: 5.0kw
Max power: 5.5kw
Power factor: 1.0
Price: R4 000 @ Hyper

Will post more detailed specs later.
Click to expand...


Personally, I have a huge issue with people doing things like this.... You realise that you are risking electrical fires, and melting wires right?

5500W @ 220V = 25A (max load). This is serious power, multi plugs and insulation tape and what not, is not the right way to play with this kind of power.

Your 2.5mm electrical cable, and the standard 3 prong plugs that you use to connect to that generator, is only rated to carry 20A, or 4800W. You are therefore, overloading your cabling. Your cables can get incredibly warm, and melt - causing electrical shorts (and potentially fire) anywhere in your house from that plug point, all the way through to the DB board.

For a 5500W generator, you would need to have a dedicated circuit with at least 4mm cabling (which would allow for up to 6000W of power).

The generator manufacturer (from what I can see) makes provisioning for two plugs on the unit - precisely so that you DO NOT carry the full 5500W through one cable, but rather split them (ideally 50/50) between two circuits, each carrying ~2700W or 12A each, which would make you compliant in terms of what your cabling can support. Your insurance will have a field day with you given what is going on in those pictures.
 
Ive got a 5.5 kva Ryobi and that bitch is noisy and drinks like a sailor.. Also have an inverter that runs basic units like tv, pc and lights for 3hrs.

Seriously considering selling the gennie as the electricity crises currently does not warrant having it.

I also have gas for cooking so no starvation. Gennies should only be considered you don't have power for 24hrs. I believe its a knee jerk reaction to get a a unit based largely on panic and fear.
 
WaxLyrical said:
Ive got a 5.5 kva Ryobi and that bitch is noisy and drinks like a sailor.. Also have an inverter that runs basic units like tv, pc and lights for 3hrs.

Seriously considering selling the gennie as the electricity crises currently does not warrant having it.

I also have gas for cooking so no starvation. Gennies should only be considered you don't have power for 24hrs. I believe its a knee jerk reaction to get a a unit based largely on panic and fear.
Click to expand...

Found your problem...
 
signates said:
I got mine two months ago. Only used it for about 8 hours.

Make: Schultz
Power: 5.0kw
Max power: 5.5kw
Power factor: 1.0
Price: R4 000 @ Hyper

Will post more detailed specs later.
Click to expand...
I have a similar looking model, branded TNF Power. Mine has a battery and key-start.
If anything the alternator is more noisy than the exhaust. Bought it 2nd hand from a colleague "who never used it" in 2012 for R1200 and it had about 2 hours running time. Regardless, I used & serviced it as if it came out of the box. The only thing I replaced was the Chinese-branded spark plug with a NGK recommended for Honda RG Engines (as this is the engine what all these copies are based on) and it has been running like a dream.
 
savage said:
Personally, I have a huge issue with people doing things like this.... You realise that you are risking electrical fires, and melting wires right?

5500W @ 220V = 25A (max load). This is serious power, multi plugs and insulation tape and what not, is not the right way to play with this kind of power.

Your 2.5mm electrical cable, and the standard 3 prong plugs that you use to connect to that generator, is only rated to carry 20A, or 4800W. You are therefore, overloading your cabling. Your cables can get incredibly warm, and melt - causing electrical shorts (and potentially fire) anywhere in your house from that plug point, all the way through to the DB board.

For a 5500W generator, you would need to have a dedicated circuit with at least 4mm cabling (which would allow for up to 6000W of power).

The generator manufacturer (from what I can see) makes provisioning for two plugs on the unit - precisely so that you DO NOT carry the full 5500W through one cable, but rather split them (ideally 50/50) between two circuits, each carrying ~2700W or 12A each, which would make you compliant in terms of what your cabling can support. Your insurance will have a field day with you given what is going on in those pictures.
Click to expand...

You do realise that not everything is shown in either of the pics.

Firstly, in the second pic, the generator is not hooked up anywhere. The plug on the right only has a timer plug with a two-way multi-plug for my pool pump and a lead in the background for my pond pump. The pool pump has its own DB and it was going to be my initial installation point for the generator.

Secondly, my generator is not hooked up with standard 2.5mm cables. I don't know the exact thickness of the cabling but it is the same thickness as the cables running from my meter to the DB. The generator came with its own plug rated for the generator. This is connected to its own circuit in the DB in the outbuilding which then runs to the DB in the main house where I have a transfer switch.

The first pic shows the generator in my garden shed. I'm still not sure where exactly I want to locate it yet on a permanent basis.

I have a dedicated DB in the shed which is basically a 6mx6m outbuilding as well as a dedicated DB in the pool pump house. I am considering either of these as permanent locations but still working on way to get the noise levels down.
 
WaxLyrical said:
Bought her 5 years ago for a song and she still does what shes supposed to.

You'll struggle to find a quiet unit that works with petrol in the same price bracket.
Click to expand...
Yea, just pulling your chain.
 
I fix such generators all the time, find they are all the same horrid things just with different names on them and a different frames. They are copies of the Honda design, the material is lesser, the tolerances are lesser, quality is lesser all round, parts are not interchangeable with a Honda.

A 5Kw will actually not be able to delivery 5Kw, need to factor in altitude loss if inland and then the power factor. Manufacturers talk of a power factor of 1.0, will never happen work on 0.8, so if its rated at 20 Ampere x 0.8 = 16 Ampere effectively.

There are some flaws with the wiring, the neutral in the alternator is not bonded to the frame and the same goes for the earth wire, this is actually very important as if something goes wrong with the generator the whole thing might become live, and it does prevent a earth leakage working correctly if you have a temporary DB with a earth leakage. The plugs on the panel are fed by a single pair of wire from the stator to one plug and then bridged to the next plug.

People are putting in change over switches, are these switches SABS approved, is the Ampere rating correct, are you looking at AC1 or AC3 rating? Are installations done according to the green book, anyone put in earth spike, what about isolators at the change over switch?

As savage says it can become a huge headache with your insurance company when things go wrong.
 
Generator Question: If I deliberately under size the generator in order to save on capital and running costs and with the intention of only running essentials, what will be the result of accidentally switching on something that demands more power than can be supplied. Will it just trip something or can it result in damage ?
 
BuckRogers said:
Generator Question: If I deliberately under size the generator in order to save on capital and running costs and with the intention of only running essentials, what will be the result of accidentally switching on something that demands more power than can be supplied. Will it just trip something or can it result in damage ?
Click to expand...

If the generator has AVR it should simply disconnect the load until you turn something off. Or perhaps trip completely. If it does not have AVR it might be give out a lower voltage, potentially damaging equipment.

Good article explaining this here --> http://portable.generatorguide.net/avr.html
 
I have a Ryobi 6900K that I bought in 2008.
Serviced it for the first time a couple weeks ago (oil and spark plug change).
This thing has never missed a beat.

The generator is modified with a 32A IP67 connector wired to the circuit breaker, neutral and earth.
I have a similar IP67 32A connector on the side of the house, and a 15m wire made up to connect them. 63 Amp SABS approved 3 pole changeover switch mounted next to the DB. So the generator is earthed to the house.
All work done by a certified wireman/electrician.
 
I researched portable gennies before settling on the Lutian LT6500ES. Goscor is the local importer, and IPS is their distributor. It is manufactured in China, but is streets ahead in quality compared to the likes of Ryobi and Ellis. It's a 6.5Kva, 25 litre tank, copper windings, digital AVR and running hour meter. The only difference from the picture below is that it didn't come with the IP44 blue plug points, but standard 3-pin. they do include 2x 25amp plugs.
Price is around R10,500

T3wBF0v8G3p3RThO3Ynxa_-RlHOkGG06Ko7RSbWGVQ-c8a8-iGyMOTS5M6udH2Uv15VcpwuPijq8f43vckTUcK5ZO7jnVyTuBDir8OirdfEo5hmqaGepxDk=w360-h360-nc
 
CodeMaster said:
I researched portable gennies before settling on the Lutian LT6500ES. Goscor is the local importer, and IPS is their distributor. It is manufactured in China, but is streets ahead in quality compared to the likes of Ryobi and Ellis. It's a 6.5Kva, 25 litre tank, copper windings, digital AVR and running hour meter. The only difference from the picture below is that it didn't come with the IP44 blue plug points, but standard 3-pin. they do include 2x 25amp plugs.
Price is around R10,500

T3wBF0v8G3p3RThO3Ynxa_-RlHOkGG06Ko7RSbWGVQ-c8a8-iGyMOTS5M6udH2Uv15VcpwuPijq8f43vckTUcK5ZO7jnVyTuBDir8OirdfEo5hmqaGepxDk=w360-h360-nc
Click to expand...

is it also based on a Honda engine?

What is warranty like, and how difficult is it to service?

otherwise it looks really nice!
 
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I have a Medupi VI "Rodentia" generator. Runs on seeds (about 200g per day), nuts and water. Costs about 20 bucks, VAT included.
Can generate up to 75 watt on a good day. Very economical and eco friendly. No real service required except for cleaning it's litter once a day.

rmf4c.gif
 
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