Any good "budget" generators out there?

Buy a Honda, or other name brand. Don't frustrate yourself with a cheapo.

 

don't cheap out on the generator, you to not want to be "THAT GUY" at the track with everyone screaming over your generator sounds. by the time you put a hillbilly muffler, longer cords, early or excessive failures, ect... you could have just bought a decent name brand quiet power generator. my .02 Ski

 

There are a couple of OK brands..no they won't compete with the absolute quietness and power output of honda/yamaha..but they will certainly get the job done dependably and quietly at 1/2 the price or less. I use a champion 2000w, it works good for warmers but if you try to run multiple fans on hot days, etc it gets a little angry and I wish I had gone with the 3100w. Ive seen a few folks with Ryobi's at the track. Many of them say that they've been dependable for several seasons and are worth getting. Search the forum, I remember this tread coming up a while back.

 

My Yamaha 5700K is quiet enough, right?
What if I let you plug an extra fan in to it?

Seriously though, mine is rated at 75db @ full load (obviously, I MIGHT get to 50%)
How quiet are your machines? The 2K ultra quiet Honda is rated at 59db.

 

The roybi seems to be ok.
I started with a cheap off brand and made a hillbilly muffler it's not horrible for day use but don't run it at night.
http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/grd/5357910354.html

Last spring I got a 2k Yamaha off craigslist great little genny other than it chugs gas running warmers all day need to fill at lunch.
The Big difference between the Yam and honda is not Red or blue....the Honda has a fuel pump and Yamaha is gravity fed.
So if you want to add a extended run fuel tank the Honda works much better.

My wife is thinking of moving up to running warmers so now I am trying to decide to sell the Yamaha and buy a bigger generator or buy another to pair them.

Ps anyone in the Grand Rapids area Sams club on 28th street has a repaired 2k Honda for $629

 

Yamaha or Honda. Or pay a few bucks to use your neighbor's quiet generator.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Honda-EU2000I-Super-Inverter-Generator/dp/B005ND19AE

 

Yea, that one, @59 db

 

Get a quiet generator or you'll have no friends and no one will let you pass on the track

But seriously. Loud generators are annoying. Cheap generators don't produce quality power. You get what you pay for. A good inverter generator like the Honda or Yamaha will be quiet. Produce good clean power that won't damage your electronics or phones and your digital tire warmers will have the best chance for a long life. Do your homework and buy smart, not cheap.

 

If its not a Honda or a Yamaha build a box to put it in.... If not you will have several garbage cans and cars parked in your pit

 

You've got all winter. I was able to get a Honda 2000 for $630 in good condition off Craigslist just last month. Use an extension like http://www.craigshunter.com/ to keep an eye on listings in your area.

 

if your just talking track days and not racing, why are you thinking you need a generator. I have one, and so far I have used it three times in 4 years.

plenty of power at Barber, Tally and Road Atlanta. I have not been to Roebling in a few years but last I was there I had power.

Jennings and the new Kentucky track are the last two times I have used my generator. And a Jennings it was only for the air conditioner. If it had just been tire warmers Jennings would have been ok. I suspect the Kentucky track will have power in 2017

Not sure about CMP or VIR.

my point, I have only needed the generator once for tire warmers, and that was the new track in Kentucky.

 

Guess it's just location dependent. I live in Chicago, and ACC generally has no to very limited power (I think they have RV hookups, but never asked), Blackhawk has very limited power, and Putnam has garages with power that tend to go fast as well. Having a generator means you have power no matter what.

 

Dont buy a yamaha youll have to replace the tranny haha

 

You are lucky in the south I really enjoyed the cheap power at little Tally.(complete silence at night)
Where I am Grattan has only 8 garages you better prepay or be there the day before if you want one.
Gingerman I think has a handful of rv hookups but its away from normal pit area.
Planning to visit Acc ,Black hawk and road a.

I may have a 2k genny forsale at some point this winter not sure I want to pair two 2k or buy a 3k

 

ACC has 1 or 2 power hookups and we're not typically allowed to use them. Blackhawk has plenty of power and I thought they just added more. There is some near medical. Next to the tower toward turn 1 on the front straight, the car ports behind the maintenance building. I think there is now power where the old tech shed was too.

 

Both have plenty of Power..... Just get there on time and don't show up at 9AM Sat expecting it....