I always hate to see a product slammed unfairly based on unfounded assumptions. Onan is an old established generator manufacturer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They have been building generators for over 70 years that I know about, long before Honda ever built generators. They were bought by Cummins Engine Company several years ago so they could have a generator line. I have a current production Onan 4 KW Microquiet generator. It has performed flawlessy for 3 years. It will carry my airconditioner AND my microwave both at the same time and at higher elevations in the west, where many generator engines fall off on horsepower and can't carry the load. I use Stabil in my fuel for all of my small gasoline engines. None are hard to start.
The Onan rocker start switch has 2 positions, one way runs the electric fuel pump only, to fill the carburetor. If the engine has not been run for a long time the carburetor will be empty and if you didn't prime it, it will have to crank until it fills up before the engine will start. No engine runs well on stale fuel.
If a generator set is made in China, the law says it has to so labeled. My generator name plate clearly states, "Made in the USA." We all know what the trend is today to manufacturing in China. If you stick with an old established name like Onan, their quality control will give you good product no matter where it is made. What's even more important is their availabity of service and parts all over the US and Canada for warranty and repairs.
Further the Microquiet will analyze faults in operation and display fault codes to aid in diagnosis.
Recently, at a rally where we had no commercial power we compared the noise level of my Onan to several Honda's. We thought that a pair of EU2000's in parallel at load were slightly noisier to our ears than my Onan. Many people want to compare at no load where the Honda idles and the Onan runs at 60 hz. Not the place to compare. By the way, my governor is so closely regulated that it has less than 1/2 Hz difference between no load and full load. My Onan generates a pure AC sine wave directly out of the generator like the big machines, instead of a "manufactured" one out of a DC machine.
I always hate to see a product slammed unfairly based on unfounded assumptions. Onan is an old established generator manufacturer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They have been building generators for over 70 years that I know about, long before Honda ever built generators. They were bought by Cummins Engine Company several years ago so they could have a generator line. I have a current production Onan 4 KW Microquiet generator. It has performed flawlessy for 3 years. It will carry my airconditioner AND my microwave both at the same time and at higher elevations in the west, where many generator engines fall off on horsepower and can't carry the load. I use Stabil in my fuel for all of my small gasoline engines. None are hard to start.
The Onan rocker start switch has 2 positions, one way runs the electric fuel pump only, to fill the carburetor. If the engine has not been run for a long time the carburetor will be empty and if you didn't prime it, it will have to crank until it fills up before the engine will start. No engine runs well on stale fuel.
If a generator set is made in China, the law says it has to so labeled. My generator name plate clearly states, "Made in the USA." We all know what the trend is today to manufacturing in China. If you stick with an old established name like Onan, their quality control will give you good product no matter where it is made. What's even more important is their availabity of service and parts all over the US and Canada for warranty and repairs.
Further the Microquiet will analyze faults in operation and display fault codes to aid in diagnosis.
Recently, at a rally where we had no commercial power we compared the noise level of my Onan to several Honda's. We thought that a pair of EU2000's in parallel at load were slightly noisier to our ears than my Onan. Many people want to compare at no load where the Honda idles and the Onan runs at 60 hz. Not the place to compare. By the way, my governor is so closely regulated that it has less than 1/2 Hz difference between no load and full load. My Onan generates a pure AC sine wave directly out of the generator like the big machines, instead of a "manufactured" one out of a DC machine.
Please note that the gens being discssed here are NOT the RV line that Onan makes in the US. These products are well built and have agreat reputation in the RV industry. That's why they are found on a majority of RV's in gas, LP and diesel configurations. I had a 7500 Quiet Diesel gen from Onan in my Monaco Dynasty and in ran perfectly with regular service and never let me down!
The new 'cheap' household models are not built in the US and as such, their quality and longevity of service are being questioned. These are the topic of discussion.
It tickles me a little when I hear about products made in China. I try to buy as many american made products I can and I definitely stay away from Wal-Mart. If we look around our homes and the clothes we wear, we can see why the US economy is going to hell. We need to reject all chinese manufactured goods, not just generators.
__________________
2003 Land Yacht 396XL
Blue Ox Alladin
2008 Jeep Liberty
It tickles me a little when I hear about products made in China. I try to buy as many american made products I can and I definitely stay away from Wal-Mart. If we look around our homes and the clothes we wear, we can see why the US economy is going to hell. We need to reject all chinese manufactured goods, not just generators.
OK..here goes...I about sulutely refuse to shop at WalMart..not just because they are the biggist contributor to Chinese slave lobor...(so are a lot of companys)...but because when Sam was alive He insisted on a great big sign on His stores that read ...BUY AMERICAN....Do any of you remember this? He was shovelin china stuff in the back door an taggin it American...WE have sort memories. OMG....another hijacked thread.
If I threw out all the NON us clothes in my closet....I would be nekked....I HATE IT.
Quick Links
Linear Mode
