I went to a tool sale & bought a generator
Submitted: Monday, Aug 02, 2004 at 18:54
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Troopy Travellers (NSW)
I went to a tool sale with the intention of browsing only. So when I saw the generator for sale marked down from $389 to $229 how could I resist? After all, the store had big windows.
The details are: Scorpion silent series camping generator, 65 db(A), 2 stroke, 800W peak power, 650W rated power, 240V, 50Hz & also 12V,10A dc. 4l tank (says 6.5hrs running time) weight 21kgs, dimensions 320mm cubed. 12 month Warranty. Instructions written by a Chinaman in Pidgin english.
I tried it out the other night in the backyard. Surprise!!! it started first go. Connected a 25 m lead to it and a twin 18W fluoro light & my 650W electric drill, another surprise!! they worked OK.
It didn't seem all that noisy but I think it might have woken up the rooster next door.
Question: Did I do good or have I been suckered??
Sparky
Reply By: mr diamond - Monday, Aug 02, 2004 at 19:05
Monday, Aug 02, 2004 at 19:05
the good or bad news mate.
the good news they are a great little genny some people have had trouble some havnt like me mibne is still going great.
bad news bunning ect sell them for $198 with 2yr waranty called gmc.
our bigger hardwhare
shop had them last week $180 2 yr waranty.
but dont be to upset i payed a lot more for
mine just before they dropped in price lol
AnswerID:
70940
Reply By: Goran - Monday, Aug 02, 2004 at 19:06
Monday, Aug 02, 2004 at 19:06
You did overpaid a little. Those gensets can be found for around 150.00 in Kmart. I just got 1.2KW Scorpion 4 stroke with 10A battery charger for 420.00 from Primary priced machinery WA. It is a ripper.
AnswerID:
70941
Reply By: Member - Ken - Monday, Aug 02, 2004 at 19:13
Monday, Aug 02, 2004 at 19:13
Evening Sparky
Weeeeeeeeeeeeel! its like this mate. 'did I do good' means different stokes to different folks.
I bought one from Bunnings 4 months ago for $198 and Big W had them for $178 a week or two ago.
This particular generator is made in the Yamaha factory in China and comes in all sorts of livery badging and colours, however the fundemental parts that make it go are all identical.
I had a problem with the fuel tank on
mine - p$ssed everywhere when first filled. Took it back to Bunnings, showed them and was invited to immediately select another off of the pallett and 'give that one a go mate'.
Which I did with no further problems. Runs everything I have attached just like yours.
Yep! I believe for the price you paid you did good.
Ken Robinson
AnswerID:
70945
Reply By: REX.....(Adelaide) - Monday, Aug 02, 2004 at 20:08
Monday, Aug 02, 2004 at 20:08
3 kva 4stroke honda second hand ebay $465.00
works great a little big but ill never run short of power planing on using it at
home
when we have blackouts ,also have a 850 w gmc never had any problems with it great geny for camping
AnswerID:
70959
Reply By: Member - Jimbo (VIC) - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004 at 13:48
Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004 at 13:48
I had one from Bunnings and it was a dud; took it back and they happily exchanged it. Second one was a dud also and they happily refunded my money. I put it towards a dual battery installation. The original idea was to use the gennie instead of a dual batt setup. Gave me an excuse to spend extra and get what I wanted in the start (I'm getting off the point I know).
Search the archives and you'll see heaps of reports, good and bad. It seems if you get a good one you're fine. If you get a dud the warranty backs the product so you really can't go wrong. At the money they are a great little unit. Keeping in mind Pirahna were selling the same unit with their name on it last year for $599 I reckon you did OK.
As for the load, your drill may not be using 650 watts untill under load. I ran an electric chainsaw rated at 900 watts and it ran OK until I put it under load; had to use it gently.
Before taking it bush and relying on it I would suggest running a few tanks of juice through it to make sure it's OK. My second one took a while to start giving me grief; being that it was leaking some oily substance from underneath and two stokes don't have oil to leak. Don't know what it was and didn't bother to investigate.
Good Luck.
AnswerID:
71059
Reply By: Member - JEFF - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004 at 17:11
Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004 at 17:11
Jimbo
You're the only one with any brains, you spent your money on a dual battery system
The rest of you are mad, mad, mad
BAN ALL GENERATORS FROM THE BUSH 11
Regards jeff
AnswerID:
71093
Follow Up By: Member - Jimbo (VIC) - Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004 at 22:06
Tuesday, Aug 03, 2004 at 22:06
Jeff,
Not sure about banning generators from the bush. If they're used responsibly (like a trail bike) I have no problem with them. It's just about respecting other people's rights. A generator does not work for me; it takes up space, you have to carry fuel and oil etc. I reckon a dual batt setup is more efficient overall but does cost a bit more.
Let's wait for GO_OFFROAD to make a judgement. After all he knows far more than we do.
FollowupID:
331375
Reply By: JasonR - Wednesday, Aug 04, 2004 at 11:59
Wednesday, Aug 04, 2004 at 11:59
Ocean Grove Hardware (VIC) are having a fathers day sale yet to be advertised. Deisel brand generators (actually 2 stroke petrol) are being sold for $99. They are 750 watt with a rated 500 watts of power. They sold one to guy who works at Yamaha in
Melbourne and they hooked it up to a bank of lights at 700 watts and ran it continuously for 4 hours without it cutting out. They found it cut out at 800 watts. I rang the hardware store yesterday and they have 96 being delivered this weekend and that will be the last shipment they receive because of low stock levels. I have seen and heard one run and it was reasonably quiet. The guy I spoke to at the store had Mitre 10 staff buying them because they were cheaper than Mitre 10 sell their small generator even with staff discount. It also came with the 12 volt lead. Even if lasted 6 months at the price it is cheap power.
JasonR
AnswerID:
71246
Follow Up By: Dunedigger - Wednesday, Aug 11, 2004 at 12:21
Wednesday, Aug 11, 2004 at 12:21
Bunnings have the GMC model for sale now at $98.00. Charges Battery at 8A and runs at 3600 RPM At $98.00 with a 2 year warranty can't go wrong. Only thing it is a bit heavy at 21Kg. Runs a computer UPS OK
Dunedigger
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