I fired mine up today for the first time. Started it at the entrance to my garage with, of course, the garage door wide open. My wife was in the house and never heard it running.
Just bought this Generator yesterday. If you're a Harbor freight member you should have received a 25% off coupon for any 1 item in the store and it's good through the 17th. I saved $550 dollars. Awsome deal.
MRI Denver. That is where you will find the magnetic oil dipstick that is a perfect fit for this Predator 9500 generator. Get one early, just in case. Bought my 9500 last year for home and trailer. Got the plug installed and swapped appropriate breakers ( with help from my licensed electrician friend, not just highly recommended -a must ! ) and laminated "step by step" instructions for the family. Runs the entire home without a hiccup. Bought a set of ramps $90 ( also at Harbor Freight ) -for loading it into the truck when needed for the travel trailer. Yes, it weighs quite a bit -so have help for loading if possible. Extremely happy with this generator.
I absolutely love this generator! It powers up my entire house (Central AC included) with the ESC on! It speeds up for a second when the AC kicks on, but then it goes back down. I love it! Thank you for the video and thank you for calling it an ESC vs "ECO Mode". Huge difference between the two. Great Video!
@@BrightthgirB hi there, my AC is a 4 ton, running watts is 2500watts, LRA 65amps at start up, 11 running. My WH runs at 3700watts 13/14amps running. This Generator is a beast to say the least, it’s no wonder Harbor Freight raised the price.
@@franklin051579Hello Frank, Your LRA is 65amps? Isn't that way over the 9500w the max starting power? I'm getting 43amp on my central AC unit, but not sure if it will work. So I haven't bought one yet. Thanks for any input!
If you would be so kind as to recreate all content on youtube with your succinct and informative style I'd genuinely appreciate it. Your ability to convey information is apparently super rare.
I just bought a Champion 100520 because my local HF didn’t have them in stock and had no ETA. I want this genny and I could unload the champion and pick this up. The thing that makes me love this gen is the ability to parallel! 15k+ watts in a portable form factor will power our house awesomely!
I have a 15500 Generac Portable, it's awesome to turn on every light in the house and put the AC on 70 during a power outage, what isn't nice is the 100 gallons of gas that generator will need to run for less than a week. Trying to invest in a duel fuel system with propane, 100 pound propane tanks are less expensive than gasoline.
I've had the 3500 inverter/ generator for 2yrs now mounted on the front of my rv . I've deleted the generator and it is so much better. Just be sure and change the oil when you get one . I changed mine at 3hr, 6 hr and 10 hrs or until I don't see any metal flakes in the oil.
Thanks for explaining what the inverter feature is, the most I got in the past was that it was safer for electronics, but not why. the RPM needed for present use makes me glad I opted for, and paid more, for the inverter Predator
common usage of the term "inverter generator" vs "generator" today is odd to me. Both produce AC. However, the "inverter generator" produces a pure sine wave AC, whereas the "generator" version produces a hybrid or approximation of a sine wave. Your household current is pure sine wave, It goes alternatively at 60 times per second (which is US standard). and it does it smoothly. The hybrid current jumps up and down, not smoothly, but only approximates the sine wave AC. That's why the inverter is better for sensitive electronics, especially medical devices. But the hybrid generator is ok for motors and tools, but I wouldn't use a hybrid (regular generator) if I was peering my CPAP device.
I have the 3500 watt one for our off grid camper. It runs all the time when we are there. I really like it so I can just imagine this bigger one being just as nice to own. I might ditch my "construction" style one for the house and pickup one of these.
Thanks for the quick look!! Other info, weighs (not surprisingly) about 260-270 lbs. A heavy lift into/out of back of truck if you help a friend out of power. Still, 7600W seems likely to easily run a home heating system plus in a winter power outage!! Thanks again!
Cool, this looks pretty good! This generator would be great for grid replacement for our home. We were told by many people that gasoline is cleaner and better for the environment than coal from the powerplant, so this generator looks to be the solution to it.
Powering a house with a gasoline generator is the least environmentally friendly way to power a house. And it will cost significantly more than being connected to the grid.
@@smiller225 -- You are right about that. On grid is around 12 cents pre KW and I would hazard a guess that running a generator like this for true off grid use would cost you over 10 times that much per KW.
One thing they missed is a 50amp plug. This guy has plenty of power to run most any RV with 2 a/cs. Most of us have to run 2 generators and tie them together with a splitter.
Cann't find the 2400W Version, There are 1400, 2000 and 35000 versions. The Predator 2000 spec sheet shows 66dBA and the Honda EU2200 spec sheet shows 57dBA. Not sure which generators you are comparing but the Honda seems to be considerably quieter.
Just make sure to remove the spark arrestor if where ever you go doesn’t require it cause the predator run pretty dirty. Or you can clean it once in awhile. I just removed mine. I also have a Honda EU 7000. If you have the money Honda will be better but predator will do just fine. Have my 3500 for 6 years now starts when i need it.
@@AlaskaWild where you exhaust tip is at there a mesh screen. It stop unwanted spark from coming out. If you clean that regularly than you have nothing to worry about but if your generator start shaking and saying overload that mean it’s clogged. I removed mine and it never have a problem.
Might be the perfect machine when I upgrade my current Briggs Storm Responder 8550/5550 generator. Less noise and greater fuel efficiency would be a welcome addition.
Interesting you mention this! The manual that came with it talks about a digital screen that shows watts / amps. The manual that is posted online does not. I wonder if this was an intended feature that never made it into the final product, or maybe a future thought.
I managed to snag one of these recently. Yes if Harbor Freight can manage to eventually offer one with the multi-function hour meter that shows wattage load for a reasonable price upgrade I'm sure there would be a demand for it.
@@1D10CRACY Strange…I have the 3500 and the hour meter has a button that allows you to toggle through various metrics including wattage, amps, etc. Might want to double check and make sure your not missing something.
Harbor freight makes nice generators, I have the 3500 W inverter, love it, however, getting parts is very difficult, my fuel valve was bypassing, wasn't leaking to the outside, but every time I would try to drain the carburetor the fuel will just keep flowing, harbor freight sent me a new fuel valve, but it took over 11 months to get it. These generators might be number one, if you could just go to your local harbor freight and find a section in the store that sold nothing but parts for there generators, that would be excellent.
I live in an area where we can lose power for floods, fires, earthquakes and locusts. Okay, no locusts but certainly for all of the rest. We may get lucky and go a year or two or three with no power loss but after that long, the gas will have gone bad. I was so hoping you would say that there was a natural gas conversion for this machine. Alas, there doesn't seem to be. I'm sure some people won't think of this when they purchase an emergency generator. When they lose power, they will fire it up and in a few minutes their carburetor will gunk up and they will again be without power. To me it is the most important feature I need to meet an emergency. I need a machine that runs on fuel that won't go bad.
I kind of am in a similar situation. I use to run my older generator for a few hours every 3 months and kept the gas cycled. But you are very correct, it's difficult with today's gas that goes bad in less than a year. I did find this video showing a conversion kit to propane and natural gas. ua-cam.com/video/wXk7vBQSzXo/v-deo.html
@@1D10CRACY Oh Wow !! That's stunning and a game changer. Someone at Harbor Freight should be fired for not making this a selling point. I think a lot more people will buy this for emergency total power loss that regular running for camping or outside working. And gas for fuel is useless for that purpose. Thanks ...
There is an aftermarket natural gas conversion kit available for this generator. I haven't bought this generator yet, so I can't comment on the actual conversation. But you can find instruction video here: ua-cam.com/video/wXk7vBQSzXo/v-deo.html
I have one of the Hondas and it's a nice generator but way overprices! Also, mine has less than 10 hours on it and always stored inside and the last time I tried to start it the starter locked up!
These prices will go up as our dollar value goes down. Printing so much money and giving it away just causes inflation. That is economics 101. For that price it should be dual-fuel so you can run it off of propane. A friend purchased a Wen 1100T dual fuel generator for $ 900 through Amazon. He has it wired to plug into his house so he doesn't have to run extension cords.
Mine’s conventional, so louder, but I only run it when an emergency power out condition. It’s saved me some expensive hotel bills on several occasions. I also converted the generator to run on Propane or Nat gas, with a kit I found on line. I’ve never actually run on either of these fuels because of their lower energy content. NOTE: Should you not have a main disconnect breaker in your power panel, I do not recommend this approach at all! I also have a gas dryer, thus a 30a electrical receptacle, for which the breaker is always locked off. I ran a large cable into my laundry room, and put a matching 30a plug on it. I keep it out of sight, but when needed I can pull it through the hole in the garage wall to the receptacle by the dryer and plug it in. When the power goes off (rarely), I take the battery out of the lawn mower, install it on the generator, and roll it outside. Fuel and Start the generator to verify it’s operational. Then shut it off. Procedure to power up: 1. Assure the main incoming breaker at the power panel is off. (You would never do this if commercial,power is available anyway!) 2. Assure the 30a Power Panel breaker for the dryer Receptacle (inside) is off. 3. Plug in the cable at the dryer receptacle. 4. Double check that the power panel dryer breaker is off. 5. Plug in the Cable at the generator end. 6. Start the generator. LAST: Turn on the Dryer breaker. This feeds 30a of power into both sides of the power panel, which feeds the entire house. NEVER TURN THE INCOMING MAIN POWER BREAKER BACK ON until the generator is completely disconnected! I never know when utility power is restored without calling a neighbor. At that point, I kill the generator and connected feeds at both ends. Turn on the Main disconnect breaker LAST. Now if this sounds like a lot of effort, it is! And it’s for emergency use only!! Setup takes an hour or more depending on outside temperature. Breakdown takes about an hour. I don’t ever do it unless I expect the power to be off for some time, and it only works in the wintertime. If you are uncomfortable with any part of this procedure, have a commercial Back-up Unit professionally installed by a licensed contractor.
@@edb6783 A ham radio friend who lives in Port Lavaca, Texas bought this one. He paid about $ 950 from Amazon. I don't know what the prices are now. Here is the model number: Wen 1100T model Check it out and see what you think. I know you already have one.
Good review….I’m a firm believer that you get what you pay for and at the price point these are being sold at I have concerns about there longevity. That being said the predator seems to have all the bells and whistles you would want in a generator. I’m just a skeptic on how many hours of service these can deliver.
I use to be a firm believer in the very same concept that you get what you pay for, but today things have changed a bit. I'd like to think for the most part it is true, but there are very good examples where it simply isn't. A good example is the Harbor Freight Daytona Jacks VS SnapOn's. The 3 tons were identical except for paint color and SnapOn tried to sue Harbor Freight. It was quickly dropped when SnapOn found out HF Jacks were being made in the same factory as theirs, in China. The issue wasn't the copy, it was the simple fact SnapOn was charging $650 dollars for a red version made in China with a falsely stamped "Made in USA" on the box. HF's was yellow, at the time they were charging $200 but were stamping "Made in China" on their boxes. The whole point of the story is I am sure there were people who paid the extra $450 because of two main reasons, you get what you pay for and SnapOn is assumed a better brand. :D I really have no idea if these generators are going to be good in the long term though! I know Honda's are tried and true and with a few exceptions are pretty dang reliable. The Predator 9500 has not been out long enough to deserve a badge of honor yet, but the Predator 3500 has been out a while now and seems to have a pretty solid following! Most food trucks are either using the predator 3500 or a Honda EU4000. I suspect they are using them because they are reliable and quiet. So I guess at this point, time will tell and we really have nothing else to go by. :D
1:03 actually some generator companies do advertise their models based on the continuous running watts. Westinghouse traditional portables, for example.
We have had ours 3 weeks, only have 0.3 hours and on our 2nd one. It will start then shut off with the “Carbon Monoxide Shutoff” kicks in. We start it up outside in the driveway and it’s stored properly. For $2000, I expected it to do a little better and not have to go through 2 of them, for the same issue, in 3 weeks.
Wow that is horrible! Mine is still running good and I have a friend who has the same model with no issues either. I'll remember this, if mine has this issue I'll disconnect the carbon monoxide sensor.
@@1D10CRACY that’s what we ended up doing. We picked the first on a Sunday, Monday my husband was driving the 1.5 hours back to the closest HF that had one to exchange it. It has ran the 0.3 hours and now the same issue. We bypassed it and now it seems to be doing great!
I know with a standard generator you want just enough power to feed your stuff and no more because fuel efficiency goes way down since they're always running flat out. With an inverter like this you can get a bigger generator than you necessarily need and not waste the extra fuel because it's going to throttle down right? Or is a bigger generator always going to use more fuel even when it doesn't need it, even with an inverter?
I’ve had one for a few years now and I couldn’t be happier. Well, maybe I could be happier if Honda made their comparable offering in the same price range as the Predator 2000 but oh well. We’ve used it for our camper mostly while boondocking. It runs our AC unit and the rest of the camper except for the microwave. It’s a small 18BH camper. We also have used it for extended power outages for tv, cable router, WiFi, some lights, and fridge freezer. It’s surpassed my expectations.
Figured Id ask the question, sorry that it's two years later. If you turn the generator to 120v only, does that mean even the 4 prong outlet will only output 120v? I ask this because my camper will be plugged into the 3 prong twist but I may want to put a box in my shed and have the other 120v support it. Let me know if this sounds right? thanks!
One that big enough to power a 2 story house that’s quiet and more solar powered so that way if electricity is off for a week the generators can be charged to last with a solar panel hooked to it
Mine failed out of the box with a faulty carbon monoxide sensor malfunction. HarborFreight said they are aware of this problem and I should return it as there is no fix or parts they can provide me.
Can you disable the CO sensor? I want to put this in my generator shed I am building. I would be afraid it would be tripping if left in the shed. Thanks
I know it’s been a long time but could you please give me a quick update on how it’s holding up? I would like to get one but I am some what skeptical on how well it holds up over time. Tia
This looks awesome. The ONLY THING I wish this had, is the ability to run on propane. I'd love to hook this up to a 500 gallon propane tank. Having to have bottles of fuel is terrible. I've never figured out a solution where you don't land up having your car (when you transport it from the gas station) or your body (even if a drop gets on you, you smell like gas) smelling like gas.
So maybe I could ask for your help here ... when we built, we had planned on getting a Generac whole-house generator but they are just prohibitively expensive. And Generac requires you use their people and all their bells & whistles which are a few thousand each etc. it's just not happening - but what is very important to me ... This does "240" right? Because my well-pump is on 240 , and to me, there is no point in getting (another, we have a small regular one) generator that doesn't run the well-pump ... Water is the second most-essential item in the sustainment of human life, other than oxygen, and that doesn't even take into account sanitation, hygiene , cooking, cleaning, etc. So while this generator looks great, just wanted to make sure it would run that 240 Well Pump? Thanks brother!
Its pretty equal to Honda..... I have Honda Ei's How does it compare in the long run though? obviously if you use it more *putting the hours on will this make the difference between 5 years and 15? I intend on buying one of these shortly, back feeding 240V and powering the whole panel (*im a industrial tech. I know the risks... trust me I wont fry my local linemen) Im more concerned how its going to last compaired to my honda eu's in parallel
I no longer own it, but it is still working just fine. I gave it to my Nephew over the winter when his family had a major power outage. He ran his whole house on it for 3 or 4 days without any issues and has used it on and off since.
I run my generator in a small generator enclosure to reduce noise, wonder if the carbon monoxide detector would shut it off? Or a way to disable it? (No one can physically be in the enclosure with the generator, it just barely larger than my current generator)
I am glad you're thinking about neighborhood noise! Add a baffling system with fans to draw in oxygen and vent out the exhaust gases while keeping leaked noise to a minimum. Without venting, you could be running the generator too rich which wastes fuel, increases carbon fouling, risks unexpected shutoff, and all that.
None. I passed it onto another member of the family and they love it! They live in an area that gets lots of power outages and it has been getting exercised for sure. :D
So how do you bypass the CO detection feature?? Reading reviews on HF’s website. Seems that is the weak link. Once the sensor fails. It either won’t start. Or doesn’t produce power again.
I would trust the relative sound levels of your voice and the generator a bit more if you were speaking where the generator was and leave the microphone where you had it while filming.
You would be better off not to trust me or any other video regarding the sound, you really need to hear one in person to get an idea of how loud it is.
The 3500 is rated 25 amps at 120 volts. The 9500 is rated at 31 amps at 240 volts. Technically 31 amps, per leg of the 240 circuit, so each 120 volt circuit can handle 31 amps. This generator wasn't designed with the 50 amp RV requirements in mind. That being said, most RVs or Campers do not require the full 50 amps, they just have a 50 amp cord. Something as simple as this adapter may be a good answer. amzn.to/3CZZWrQ
@@1D10CRACY -- yes but that is actually two 120 Volt circuits at 30 Amp each as opposed to only one 30 Amp 120 Volt circuit in a normal 30 Amp RV setup.
I was going to get one of those but went for the Honda EU7000is. By far better quality, fuel injected. Those extra watts on the Predator for me were irrelevant. I run my whole house with about 3500 watts and thats pushing it. Most of the time the load dont go past 2,400 watts. I wonder if that Predator can run constantly for 3 months? My Honda did.
If you put a meter on both the Honda is underrated and actually puts out more power the the predator. At work we did a comparison of both with a tool that draws 9800-10000 watts Honda held and was able to power it, the predator would not. Not sure why Honda does not market the 7000is with a much much higher start up wattage.
Someone in the comments posted a link to a conversion kit. I can't seem to find it now, but I did find this video regarding one! ua-cam.com/video/wXk7vBQSzXo/v-deo.html
I fired mine up today for the first time. Started it at the entrance to my garage with, of course, the garage door wide open. My wife was in the house and never heard it running.
Just bought this Generator yesterday. If you're a Harbor freight member you should have received a 25% off coupon for any 1 item in the store and it's good through the 17th. I saved $550 dollars. Awsome deal.
MRI Denver. That is where you will find the magnetic oil dipstick that is a perfect fit for this Predator 9500 generator. Get one early, just in case.
Bought my 9500 last year for home and trailer. Got the plug installed and swapped appropriate breakers ( with help from my licensed electrician friend, not just highly recommended -a must ! ) and laminated "step by step" instructions for the family. Runs the entire home without a hiccup. Bought a set of ramps $90 ( also at Harbor Freight ) -for loading it into the truck when needed for the travel trailer. Yes, it weighs quite a bit -so have help for loading if possible. Extremely happy with this generator.
I absolutely love this generator! It powers up my entire house (Central AC included) with the ESC on! It speeds up for a second when the AC kicks on, but then it goes back down. I love it! Thank you for the video and thank you for calling it an ESC vs "ECO Mode". Huge difference between the two. Great Video!
So far I really like it!
@@BrightthgirB hi there, my AC is a 4 ton, running watts is 2500watts, LRA 65amps at start up, 11 running. My WH runs at 3700watts 13/14amps running. This Generator is a beast to say the least, it’s no wonder Harbor Freight raised the price.
@@franklin051579Hello Frank, Your LRA is 65amps? Isn't that way over the 9500w the max starting power? I'm getting 43amp on my central AC unit, but not sure if it will work. So I haven't bought one yet. Thanks for any input!
@@gm1300r I honestly don’t know, but I do know it runs it without hesitation. I’m going to make a video sometime soon on my set up :-)
I’m picking my 9500w gen tomorrow, I hope to have the same success. Thanks!
If you would be so kind as to recreate all content on youtube with your succinct and informative style I'd genuinely appreciate it. Your ability to convey information is apparently super rare.
It’s good that they advertise max peak power. Plenty of electronics draw more current on start up than running.
I just bought a Champion 100520 because my local HF didn’t have them in stock and had no ETA. I want this genny and I could unload the champion and pick this up.
The thing that makes me love this gen is the ability to parallel! 15k+ watts in a portable form factor will power our house awesomely!
I have a 15500 Generac Portable, it's awesome to turn on every light in the house and put the AC on 70 during a power outage, what isn't nice is the 100 gallons of gas that generator will need to run for less than a week. Trying to invest in a duel fuel system with propane, 100 pound propane tanks are less expensive than gasoline.
I've had the 3500 inverter/ generator for 2yrs now mounted on the front of my rv . I've deleted the generator and it is so much better. Just be sure and change the oil when you get one . I changed mine at 3hr, 6 hr and 10 hrs or until I don't see any metal flakes in the oil.
I did the break in oil changes at 3, 10 and 30.
"deleted the generator" Not following what you mean by this. Can you clarify?
Thanks for explaining what the inverter feature is, the most I got in the past was that it was safer for electronics, but not why. the RPM needed for present use makes me glad I opted for, and paid more, for the inverter Predator
common usage of the term "inverter generator" vs "generator" today is odd to me. Both produce AC. However, the "inverter generator" produces a pure sine wave AC, whereas the "generator" version produces a hybrid or approximation of a sine wave. Your household current is pure sine wave, It goes alternatively at 60 times per second (which is US standard). and it does it smoothly. The hybrid current jumps up and down, not smoothly, but only approximates the sine wave AC. That's why the inverter is better for sensitive electronics, especially medical devices. But the hybrid generator is ok for motors and tools, but I wouldn't use a hybrid (regular generator) if I was peering my CPAP device.
I have the 3500 watt one for our off grid camper. It runs all the time when we are there. I really like it so I can just imagine this bigger one being just as nice to own. I might ditch my "construction" style one for the house and pickup one of these.
I've been told they are a little louder than the 3500, so keep that in mind. :D
Thanks for the quick look!! Other info, weighs (not surprisingly) about 260-270 lbs. A heavy lift into/out of back of truck if you help a friend out of power. Still, 7600W seems likely to easily run a home heating system plus in a winter power outage!!
Thanks again!
Cool, this looks pretty good! This generator would be great for grid replacement for our home. We were told by many people that gasoline is cleaner and better for the environment than coal from the powerplant, so this generator looks to be the solution to it.
Powering a house with a gasoline generator is the least environmentally friendly way to power a house. And it will cost significantly more than being connected to the grid.
@@smiller225 dumb idea
@@smiller225 -- You are right about that. On grid is around 12 cents pre KW and I would hazard a guess that running a generator like this for true off grid use would cost you over 10 times that much per KW.
Lmao
If you power it with a wood gasifier that will be a solution
One thing they missed is a 50amp plug. This guy has plenty of power to run most any RV with 2 a/cs. Most of us have to run 2 generators and tie them together with a splitter.
7500W (continuous) at 220V is only 34.1 amps. Buy the appropriate converter plug for a few bucks.
Nice review. I have the 2400w version and it is quieter than the Honda equivalent.
Cann't find the 2400W Version, There are 1400, 2000 and 35000 versions. The Predator 2000 spec sheet shows 66dBA and the Honda EU2200 spec sheet shows 57dBA. Not sure which generators you are comparing but the Honda seems to be considerably quieter.
Most new generators work well at first. Would you consider giving us an update at say 100 hours operating and or 2 years later?
I have 700 hours on the smaller 3500 unit and so far 10/10!
Just make sure to remove the spark arrestor if where ever you go doesn’t require it cause the predator run pretty dirty. Or you can clean it once in awhile. I just removed mine. I also have a Honda EU 7000. If you have the money Honda will be better but predator will do just fine. Have my 3500 for 6 years now starts when i need it.
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@@AlaskaWild where you exhaust tip is at there a mesh screen. It stop unwanted spark from coming out. If you clean that regularly than you have nothing to worry about but if your generator start shaking and saying overload that mean it’s clogged. I removed mine and it never have a problem.
Might be the perfect machine when I upgrade my current Briggs Storm Responder 8550/5550 generator. Less noise and greater fuel efficiency would be a welcome addition.
same here. the storm responder should be renamed the gas guzzler or ear buster.
but it will do the job.
Looking forward to this series of videos. Thanks for the quick overview of this guy. It’s on my short list.
Great review. Looks like a solid addition to the tool arsenal.
They missed out on not having the gauge built in that shows how much wattage is being used. Hoping they come out with a refreshed model.
Interesting you mention this! The manual that came with it talks about a digital screen that shows watts / amps. The manual that is posted online does not. I wonder if this was an intended feature that never made it into the final product, or maybe a future thought.
I managed to snag one of these recently. Yes if Harbor Freight can manage to eventually offer one with the multi-function hour meter that shows wattage load for a reasonable price upgrade I'm sure there would be a demand for it.
@@1D10CRACY Strange…I have the 3500 and the hour meter has a button that allows you to toggle through various metrics including wattage, amps, etc. Might want to double check and make sure your not missing something.
@@markashlock9017 Sadly it is just not a feature with this one. Maybe in the future!
Harbor freight makes nice generators, I have the 3500 W inverter, love it, however, getting parts is very difficult, my fuel valve was bypassing, wasn't leaking to the outside, but every time I would try to drain the carburetor the fuel will just keep flowing, harbor freight sent me a new fuel valve, but it took over 11 months to get it. These generators might be number one, if you could just go to your local harbor freight and find a section in the store that sold nothing but parts for there generators, that would be excellent.
Agreed they need a parts distributor in like 4 different areas in the U.S.
Yup, Harbor Freight is definitely upping their game in recent years.
I live in an area where we can lose power for floods, fires, earthquakes and locusts. Okay, no locusts but certainly for all of the rest. We may get lucky and go a year or two or three with no power loss but after that long, the gas will have gone bad. I was so hoping you would say that there was a natural gas conversion for this machine. Alas, there doesn't seem to be. I'm sure some people won't think of this when they purchase an emergency generator. When they lose power, they will fire it up and in a few minutes their carburetor will gunk up and they will again be without power. To me it is the most important feature I need to meet an emergency. I need a machine that runs on fuel that won't go bad.
I kind of am in a similar situation. I use to run my older generator for a few hours every 3 months and kept the gas cycled. But you are very correct, it's difficult with today's gas that goes bad in less than a year. I did find this video showing a conversion kit to propane and natural gas. ua-cam.com/video/wXk7vBQSzXo/v-deo.html
@@1D10CRACY Oh Wow !! That's stunning and a game changer. Someone at Harbor Freight should be fired for not making this a selling point. I think a lot more people will buy this for emergency total power loss that regular running for camping or outside working. And gas for fuel is useless for that purpose. Thanks ...
There is an aftermarket natural gas conversion kit available for this generator. I haven't bought this generator yet, so I can't comment on the actual conversation. But you can find instruction video here:
ua-cam.com/video/wXk7vBQSzXo/v-deo.html
You. An convert and gas motor to natural gas or propane. Don’t be so stupid!!!!
@@1D10CRACY What about 100% gas. I use that in small engines and I don't have a problem.
Great review!!! For that price, its hard to consider a Honda at the same price for less than half the wattage!!!
I have one of the Hondas and it's a nice generator but way overprices! Also, mine has less than 10 hours on it and always stored inside and the last time I tried to start it the starter locked up!
Nice start. Use a sound meter and test it first a 1/4 load and then at near full load at both 10 feet and 30 feet.
Great review! Super quiet!
Not bad for a single cylinder - $2k is a bit spendy, but if the engine runs forever, probably worth the extra money.
My Predator generator works great. It's just a little hard to start in freezing temperatures.
that is very quiet , impressive unit
Make sure to pay for the warranty. It is worth it when you have to swap it out.
Warranties are a scam.
@@athroop1321 They are easy money for the sellers.
@@athroop1321 Not on Predator gens they're not. YT and forums are full of accounts of having to get 2 and 3 Pred 9500s before getting a good one.
Awesome! Wish they made one of these in between the 3500 and this..
I stole one from home depot today , I couldn’t figure out all the buttons . Thanks !
Nice review. Was looking to buy one, but the price went up $200 recently.
They have a 10% coupon every now and then
Why is this news
These prices will go up as our dollar value goes down. Printing so much money and giving it away just causes inflation. That is economics 101.
For that price it should be dual-fuel so you can run it off of propane.
A friend purchased a Wen 1100T dual fuel generator for $ 900 through Amazon. He has it wired to plug into his house so he doesn't have to run extension cords.
You are very correct on the economics! BTW, do you know of any similar size inverter based generators that are cheaper?
Mine’s conventional, so louder, but I only run it when an emergency power out condition. It’s saved me some expensive hotel bills on several occasions. I also converted the generator to run on Propane or Nat gas, with a kit I found on line. I’ve never actually run on either of these fuels because of their lower energy content. NOTE: Should you not have a main disconnect breaker in your power panel, I do not recommend this approach at all!
I also have a gas dryer, thus a 30a electrical receptacle, for which the breaker is always locked off. I ran a large cable into my laundry room, and put a matching 30a plug on it. I keep it out of sight, but when needed I can pull it through the hole in the garage wall to the receptacle by the dryer and plug it in. When the power goes off (rarely), I take the battery out of the lawn mower, install it on the generator, and roll it outside. Fuel and Start the generator to verify it’s operational. Then shut it off.
Procedure to power up: 1. Assure the main incoming breaker at the power panel is off. (You would never do this if commercial,power is available anyway!)
2. Assure the 30a Power Panel breaker for the dryer Receptacle (inside) is off. 3. Plug in the cable at the dryer receptacle. 4. Double check that the power panel dryer breaker is off. 5. Plug in the Cable at the generator end. 6. Start the generator. LAST: Turn on the Dryer breaker. This feeds 30a of power into both sides of the power panel, which feeds the entire house. NEVER TURN THE INCOMING MAIN POWER BREAKER BACK ON until the generator is completely disconnected!
I never know when utility power is restored without calling a neighbor. At that point, I kill the generator and connected feeds at both ends. Turn on the Main disconnect breaker LAST.
Now if this sounds like a lot of effort, it is! And it’s for emergency use only!! Setup takes an hour or more depending on outside temperature. Breakdown takes about an hour. I don’t ever do it unless I expect the power to be off for some time, and it only works in the wintertime. If you are uncomfortable with any part of this procedure, have a commercial Back-up Unit professionally installed by a licensed contractor.
@@edb6783 A ham radio friend who lives in Port Lavaca, Texas bought this one. He paid about $ 950 from Amazon. I don't know what the prices are now.
Here is the model number:
Wen 1100T model
Check it out and see what you think. I know you already have one.
Good review….I’m a firm believer that you get what you pay for and at the price point these are being sold at I have concerns about there longevity. That being said the predator seems to have all the bells and whistles you would want in a generator. I’m just a skeptic on how many hours of service these can deliver.
I use to be a firm believer in the very same concept that you get what you pay for, but today things have changed a bit. I'd like to think for the most part it is true, but there are very good examples where it simply isn't. A good example is the Harbor Freight Daytona Jacks VS SnapOn's. The 3 tons were identical except for paint color and SnapOn tried to sue Harbor Freight. It was quickly dropped when SnapOn found out HF Jacks were being made in the same factory as theirs, in China. The issue wasn't the copy, it was the simple fact SnapOn was charging $650 dollars for a red version made in China with a falsely stamped "Made in USA" on the box. HF's was yellow, at the time they were charging $200 but were stamping "Made in China" on their boxes. The whole point of the story is I am sure there were people who paid the extra $450 because of two main reasons, you get what you pay for and SnapOn is assumed a better brand. :D
I really have no idea if these generators are going to be good in the long term though! I know Honda's are tried and true and with a few exceptions are pretty dang reliable. The Predator 9500 has not been out long enough to deserve a badge of honor yet, but the Predator 3500 has been out a while now and seems to have a pretty solid following! Most food trucks are either using the predator 3500 or a Honda EU4000. I suspect they are using them because they are reliable and quiet.
So I guess at this point, time will tell and we really have nothing else to go by. :D
1:03 actually some generator companies do advertise their models based on the continuous running watts. Westinghouse traditional portables, for example.
Two of these would be ideal set up in a remote location. Good Presentation 😎👍
2? Holy Cow, whatre you running, a nuclear reactor?
@@DzHarryNuttz Don't ask! 😂😂
Thank you, thinking about getting this for my camper.
Can a wireless remote be added to the 9500?
Right on my friend. Good knowledge.
This was a great review.
Looking into purchasing this generator, so thank you for posting this up. 👍
Thanks lots of information very organized and clear
Thank you very much sir! Outstanding review!! Thank you for the effort and your time.
Inverter generator is going to give you cleaner power which is a must with todays electronics . No inverter NO buy
We have had ours 3 weeks, only have 0.3 hours and on our 2nd one. It will start then shut off with the “Carbon Monoxide Shutoff” kicks in. We start it up outside in the driveway and it’s stored properly. For $2000, I expected it to do a little better and not have to go through 2 of them, for the same issue, in 3 weeks.
Wow that is horrible! Mine is still running good and I have a friend who has the same model with no issues either. I'll remember this, if mine has this issue I'll disconnect the carbon monoxide sensor.
@@1D10CRACY that’s what we ended up doing. We picked the first on a Sunday, Monday my husband was driving the 1.5 hours back to the closest HF that had one to exchange it. It has ran the 0.3 hours and now the same issue. We bypassed it and now it seems to be doing great!
I know with a standard generator you want just enough power to feed your stuff and no more because fuel efficiency goes way down since they're always running flat out. With an inverter like this you can get a bigger generator than you necessarily need and not waste the extra fuel because it's going to throttle down right? Or is a bigger generator always going to use more fuel even when it doesn't need it, even with an inverter?
I've been thinking about getting one the little 2000 watt Predator's but this one could be used as backup power for the house!
I’ve had one for a few years now and I couldn’t be happier. Well, maybe I could be happier if Honda made their comparable offering in the same price range as the Predator 2000 but oh well. We’ve used it for our camper mostly while boondocking. It runs our AC unit and the rest of the camper except for the microwave. It’s a small 18BH camper. We also have used it for extended power outages for tv, cable router, WiFi, some lights, and fridge freezer. It’s surpassed my expectations.
@@tomahawk5118 Wow! I didn't think it would run an A/C unit on the RV.. That might make the 2000 the way to go.
I bought one in January, it can run my fridge and a 5000btu window unit to get by. My dad has a 25 years old Honda still runs great!
Figured Id ask the question, sorry that it's two years later. If you turn the generator to 120v only, does that mean even the 4 prong outlet will only output 120v? I ask this because my camper will be plugged into the 3 prong twist but I may want to put a box in my shed and have the other 120v support it. Let me know if this sounds right? thanks!
One that big enough to power a 2 story house that’s quiet and more solar powered so that way if electricity is off for a week the generators can be charged to last with a solar panel hooked to it
Mine failed out of the box with a faulty carbon monoxide sensor malfunction. HarborFreight said they are aware of this problem and I should return it as there is no fix or parts they can provide me.
A lot of people are just disconnecting it. Mine hasn't failed yet, but if it does, I'll do the same.
Is it possible to create a sound deadening box for the generator or would that interfere with the machines "exhaust system" if the makes sense?
Can you disable the CO sensor? I want to put this in my generator shed I am building. I would be afraid it would be tripping if left in the shed. Thanks
Can these be converted to Propane?
Would be good to see how it deal with a heavy load. Wil it run a small 220V a/c compressor, for example?
I know it’s been a long time but could you please give me a quick update on how it’s holding up? I would like to get one but I am some what skeptical on how well it holds up over time. Tia
It's still holding up! I gave it to a family member who has been using it during power outages. They seem to really like it.
This looks awesome. The ONLY THING I wish this had, is the ability to run on propane. I'd love to hook this up to a 500 gallon propane tank. Having to have bottles of fuel is terrible. I've never figured out a solution where you don't land up having your car (when you transport it from the gas station) or your body (even if a drop gets on you, you smell like gas) smelling like gas.
i Think you can buy the converter carb off ebay? Saw one for my older non inverter one there.
So maybe I could ask for your help here ... when we built, we had planned on getting a Generac whole-house generator but they are just prohibitively expensive. And Generac requires you use their people and all their bells & whistles which are a few thousand each etc. it's just not happening - but what is very important to me ... This does "240" right? Because my well-pump is on 240 , and to me, there is no point in getting (another, we have a small regular one) generator that doesn't run the well-pump ... Water is the second most-essential item in the sustainment of human life, other than oxygen, and that doesn't even take into account sanitation, hygiene , cooking, cleaning, etc. So while this generator looks great, just wanted to make sure it would run that 240 Well Pump? Thanks brother!
It does. And does it well. This can run a 5 ton AC with no problems. Watch some other videos for proof.
Thank you for this information. This is a great generator! Mine is brand new. Any initial setup videos available?
Are you still planning on making those future generator-related videos you mentioned?
Hopefully this summer!
Hey MARCOS hope ur enjoying ur weekend!! Big bud guts and stuff.
Thanks DONATOS and right back at ya!
Hello I’m thinking on buying this exact one how has it kept up ? Have you used it on 240v?
Good review but ... how much does it weigh? Can one man pick it up?
Looking at the harbor freight website, the specs say it's 257lbs.
Hello. will it run a well pump ?
Thank you in advance.
How many amps does the pump pull and what is the starting current?
Does this have copper or aluminum windings?
Thank you very much Sir. Very helpful..
Its pretty equal to Honda..... I have Honda Ei's How does it compare in the long run though? obviously if you use it more *putting the hours on will this make the difference between 5 years and 15? I intend on buying one of these shortly, back feeding 240V and powering the whole panel (*im a industrial tech. I know the risks... trust me I wont fry my local linemen) Im more concerned how its going to last compaired to my honda eu's in parallel
How is it working after a year? Please do an update video.
I no longer own it, but it is still working just fine. I gave it to my Nephew over the winter when his family had a major power outage. He ran his whole house on it for 3 or 4 days without any issues and has used it on and off since.
@@1D10CRACY Excellent, thank you very much for the information. 😊👍
I run my generator in a small generator enclosure to reduce noise, wonder if the carbon monoxide detector would shut it off? Or a way to disable it? (No one can physically be in the enclosure with the generator, it just barely larger than my current generator)
I am glad you're thinking about neighborhood noise! Add a baffling system with fans to draw in oxygen and vent out the exhaust gases while keeping leaked noise to a minimum. Without venting, you could be running the generator too rich which wastes fuel, increases carbon fouling, risks unexpected shutoff, and all that.
I think I have seen one of these on an ice cream truck, which is perfect since it is not too loud!
Like to see where this is at in a couple of years after some long hours on it.
What about powering a heater overnight? How many hours usage would you get?
This is going to depend on the heater size and how much current it's pulling.
Which one of these predators can 🏃 a 15 amp sliding compound miter saw, a 15 amp table saw, and lights?
Will this be powerful enough for 240v air compressor or 240v ac/dc tig welder?
It's rated for 7600 continuous watts. You will have to learn the wattage requirements of the devices you are plugging into it.
@@1D10CRACYhows your holding up?
I love that movie idiocracy!
I didn't know they made a quiet generator this size. I have the 3500.
They just came out a few months ago. They are a bit louder than the 3500s, but still quiet compared to a traditional generator.
Sorry if this has already ben answered, but will it run fine on non-ethanol fuel? Thanks
Yes, as long as you don't let the gas go bad.
How did you get that up on your workbench? It's a heavy beast.
The workbench is a scissor lift, so I am able to lower the top almost all the way to the floor. ;)
We live in a rule area devasted by forrest fire, after nov8th 2018 , generac came through with home
Any complaints about the generator or the engine after 1 year?
None. I passed it onto another member of the family and they love it! They live in an area that gets lots of power outages and it has been getting exercised for sure. :D
7600 running watts with a max 30amp breaker?why did they not bump up the internal wires size and allow for a 40amp breaker and a 50amp receptacle....
My guess is since the generator is only capable of running ~31 amps @ 240 volts, a 30 amp circuit with a 30 amp / 240 volt receptacle made sense.
So how do you bypass the CO detection feature?? Reading reviews on HF’s website. Seems that is the weak link. Once the sensor fails. It either won’t start. Or doesn’t produce power again.
ua-cam.com/video/CMTJtt9y7IE/v-deo.html In the comments, there is a fellow that talks about doing it with the 9000.
@@1D10CRACY Appreciate it. I’ll check it out in the morning.
Can this do two freezers and two refrigerators?
It should.
Is this generator only enough to run a home AC
This would depend on the load requirements of the home's AC.
I would trust the relative sound levels of your voice and the generator a bit more if you were speaking where the generator was and leave the microphone where you had it while filming.
You would be better off not to trust me or any other video regarding the sound, you really need to hear one in person to get an idea of how loud it is.
Good vid 👍
Propane version ?
Nice easy review. Thank you.
Can you get it in the UK
how do you then just turn it off w/o wanting to for storage?
You just press the Off switch, in the top left corner of the panel.
Hello!! Is it easy to lift for one man? I see you had it on a work table did you lift it alone?
It is over 200lbs. My table is actually a lift, so I lowered it all the way down, put the generator on it and raised the table back up.
Are electric generators any good?
Any way to start it if the battery dies?
Yes, you can pull start it.
Why does the predator 3500 put out 25 amps in the 9500 which is more than double only have a 30 amp plug? I really wish I had a 50 amp plug
The 3500 is rated 25 amps at 120 volts. The 9500 is rated at 31 amps at 240 volts. Technically 31 amps, per leg of the 240 circuit, so each 120 volt circuit can handle 31 amps. This generator wasn't designed with the 50 amp RV requirements in mind. That being said, most RVs or Campers do not require the full 50 amps, they just have a 50 amp cord. Something as simple as this adapter may be a good answer. amzn.to/3CZZWrQ
I can see this generator being popular with food trucks.
Wonder if this will run a 50amp 5th wheel.
Keep in mind, its biggest outlet is only a 30 amp twist lock.
@@1D10CRACY -- yes but that is actually two 120 Volt circuits at 30 Amp each as opposed to only one 30 Amp 120 Volt circuit in a normal 30 Amp RV setup.
This would be the perfect generator if it were duel fuel.
That is a pretty nice generator.
I want one !
I was going to get one of those but went for the Honda EU7000is. By far better quality, fuel injected. Those extra watts on the Predator for me were irrelevant. I run my whole house with about 3500 watts and thats pushing it. Most of the time the load dont go past 2,400 watts. I wonder if that Predator can run constantly for 3 months? My Honda did.
If you put a meter on both the Honda is underrated and actually puts out more power the the predator. At work we did a comparison of both with a tool that draws 9800-10000 watts Honda held and was able to power it, the predator would not. Not sure why Honda does not market the 7000is with a much much higher start up wattage.
My won’t star and every time I crank it the oil light flashes even when the oil level is ok any idea what could be the problem?
You could try to bypass the oil sensor. On most generators the sensor just grounds out a wire when it senses oil.
Can I convert to Natural Gas
Someone in the comments posted a link to a conversion kit. I can't seem to find it now, but I did find this video regarding one! ua-cam.com/video/wXk7vBQSzXo/v-deo.html
HOW CAN GET THIS ?