Champion Power Equipment 8750-Watt Electric Start Home Backup Portable Open Frame Inverter Generator with Quiet Technology

I wanted a generator with plenty of power and low harmonic distortion to power the many electronic devices in my house. I unpacked it, performed the minimal assembly and added oil and gasoline. It started right up using the electric starter.After allowing it to warm up for a few minutes, I tried to start my 1.5 HP air compressor. Unfortunately, the generator breaker kept tripping, but eventually the compressor did start. To be fair, this compressor sometimes takes out the 20 amp circuit breaker in the garage.Next I connected the 240 volt outlet to a 6 circuit transfer switch connected to various circuits in my house. Included in those circuits are 2 refrigerators, a deep freeze and a 1200 watt toaster oven. The house loads were transferred to the generator and the meter at the transfer switch showed a total load of about 1400 watts. At this point, the generator was not in the ECO mode. I switched over to ECO mode and turned on the toaster oven. The generator held the load without incident. I continued to run the generator in ECO mode and it maintained the load even as the refrigerator and freezer compressors cycled on and off. This is the mode I would probably use during overnight operation to conserve fuel and lower the noise level.Next I used my harmonic distortion analyzer to measure THD (total harmonic distortion). I was pleased to see that it was right around 1%, which is very good for powering sensitive electronic devices. Also, it maintained a steady 60 hz line frequency and 244 volts (122 volts either side of neutral) under varying loads. By comparison, my Honda powered Blackmax had THD around 10% and the line voltage and frequency varied with load. I had a microwave oven fail shortly after a recent 36 hour power failure, which might have been caused by the "dirty power" from the old generator.This is not a generator for the campgrounds, as it is quite loud, even in ECO mode. But I'd be surprised if any camper would need this much power. However, for taking care of power needs during a blackout, the noise is not an issue when it comes to keeping food cold and the house warm.At around 150 pounds, it is fairly light for such a powerful machine. I like the solid tires and the simple handle used to maneuver it about. This is much easier for this 73 year old to move around than the Blackmax it replaces.Be sure to follow the instructions and change the oil after the 5 hour break-in period. It's best to break it in under varying loads much the same way you'd condition a new car engine by not going a long distance using cruise control and varying the speed during break-in.I think I'm going to like this generator and consider it a good value for the money.

This doesn't affect my review of the product, but getting this generator delivered was a pain. It was shipped via UPS, signature required. I made sure to be home the date it was scheduled to arrive, however it never showed up. I called UPS and was advised that their system showed that I had called and requested they hold the product for pickup. That is false, as I had no interest in lifting a 150 lb generator into my trunk. They advised me there was a 99% chance they could have it delivered the next day. It didn't arrive the next day, or the following day. The third day after it was supposed to arrive UPS "attempted" delivery and left a note, however the person in the house waiting didn't hear any knocking or the doorbell ring. Finally, four days after the initial delivery date, the generator arrived.This is my first generator and I was able to set it up in about 90 minutes. The instructions leave a little to be desired. I was able to figure it out but there was some trial and error and frustration involved. The handle makes the generator very easy to move and tuck away.The next day I ran it for the five hour break in period. It started immediately with the electric starter. This generator is only marginally quieter than normal portable generators when in eco mode. If you were to sit next to it for an extended period while it was under a high load you would probably risk damaging your hearing. We have a 1/2 horsepower well pump, a radon mitigation system (with pump), and a basement ejection pump. This generator was able to run them all simultaneously (plus lights, fridge, and power tool battery chargers) without any issues. Just make sure if you're putting it under high load you do not have it in eco mode.After the break in I changed the oil. The old oil had some metallic swirls in it, so you definitely want to follow the manufacturer recommendations on that.Final thoughts: This is a well constructed and affordable inverter generator. It has enough power to run numerous pumps and devices while delivering clean power with little distortion. The eco mode feature will save fuel and make it slightly quieter when less power is needed. It is not quiet though, and if your neighbors are nearby you probably won't want to run this overnight. It would have also been nice if it had an integrated battery tender. I purchased one for $25 for peace of mind. Given that the only comparable generator to this unit is a Honda 7000 watt inverter that goes for $4,500+, I feel comfortable giving this 5 stars.