I received the generator yesterday and liked it as soon as I removed it from the box. Solidly built and well organized, even came with a flexible funnel to make putting in oil easier. After reading the manual I put in oil, some gas, turned the fuel on, set the choke and tried to start it. After 6 or 7 pulls I looked down and realized I had forgotten to turn the switch on. Next pull it fired right up. Senility is so much fun. I have started it both hot and cold several times since then, and it started first or second pull every time. I ran it about half an hour with no load.Today I drug out some of my old gear and gave it a good checkout. With no load voltage is 122.3 volts, and the frequency is 62 Hz., which is a little fast, but should not create a problem unless you are using it to run a mechanical clock. I used a sealed oil heater with a variable output for a load. Setting 1 (610 watts) was still 122.3 volts, and down to 61 Hz. Setting 2 (915 watts) was 122.3 volts and still at 61Hz. When the 915 watt load was suddenly applied the voltage would drop about 3 volts and the engine would surge a second or to then quickly recover. At setting 3 (1500 watts) it loaded the generator down enough it lost speed and voltage. It is a 1200 watt continuous and rated 1500 surge, but I am not sure how they figured that part, i actually measured these values rather than depending on the labels. All in all, pretty good performance.
I hooked an oscilloscope to it and did see some noise spikes when the generator was unloaded, but they were only a few volts and faded to nearly nothing when a load was applied. A wheel kit and handle would be a nice option since the generator with a tank of fuel is about 65 pounds, and this old geezer does not like carrying it around.
The engine and generator are mounted toward the side rather than being centered and it is a little heavy to the outlet side, so when hauling it be careful how you set it in order to prevent it from falling on it's face. Normal use should not present a tipping problem. The only problem I had in all of this was that when I started to put it away I found the 2 bolts that mount the engine to the rubber vibrations mount laying on the ground. They had worked out while it was running, but were not to difficult to reinstall, and to prevent it happening again I put some Loctite on the threads.
Even with the minor problem of the 2 bolts coming out I am pretty impressed with it.
added 8-16-12 I forgot to mention the sound levels. I do not have a way to accurately measure the sound, but it sounds like a small push mower, though not quite as loud. I wouldn't want to try to sleep right beside it, but at a distance of 10 feet it is comparable to your next door neighbor using a push mower, and at a distance of 15 to 20 yards is comparable to someone using a push mower 3 or 4 houses away. I would like it if the engine were quieter, but for my use I can live with it.
Edit Dec. 24, 2012. After owning this for 4 months, and using it several times, I can report I am still happy with it. A couple of the uses were powering lights on floats in Christmas parades. They were predicting rain, so I bought a large plastic storage bin at a local discount store and cut large holes in each end to allow for cooling air flow, and still keep the rain off the generator and motor. Worked great, plus it was considerably quieter, and when I removed the cover after 3 hours of running I could not tell it was any hotter than normal by feeling the engine, generator, etc. The only shortcoming I have fond so far is that if it has not been started in the last day or so, it usually takes 5 or 6 pulls to start it, but it always starts, even in the cold.
My essential needs were to power my fridge and maybe a light or two, The big question was would it be big enough at 1200 watt.
The inside of my fridge says 11.6 amps and I did the math 11.6 x 120= 1392 watts, being a newer fridge with energy star I knew that this was maximum current draw.
After powering up the generator I plugged it in to a 10 gauge outdoor extension cord and plugged it into my fridge, after a small bog it smoothed out and has been powering the fridge for the last hour!!
To me, this is the perfect little genny I can unplug the fridge, run my dryer, microwave etc...
HIGHLY RECOMENDED!
Buy Powermate PM0101207 Vx Power Series 1,500 Watt 99cc Gas Powered Portable Generator Now
just enough power for freezer or fridge good price for the few times i expect to use it. Starts easy and runs smooth. picks up load without stalling
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