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(More customer reviews)I bought one of these "professional" units from Amazon to replace the 2500 watt no-name generator that we limped along with for years by running a long extension cord into the house, and powering up one appliance at a time. I determined that the XG6500 has more than enough rated power to run a couple refrigerators, the furnace motor, sump pump, microwave oven, and a few lights.
A 4-pronged 30-amp inlet was installed on the side of the house, leading to a transfer switch. This is a standard installation that enables one to safely power up essential appliances through the house wiring. I tested the new Generac through this setup, and was secure in the belief that we could sustain a prolonged power outage with minimal discomfort. A few months later we had a power outage that lasted a couple hours, and the new Generac saved the day. We lost power for a second time last November, so I fired the unit up again. All went well for half an hour. Then the lights went out, although none of the circuit breakers on the Generac or transfer box had tripped. It was unsettling to have the unit fail after just 2.5 hours of use, but these things happen. It took two strong men to load the unit into our Explorer, and we took it to our local Generac service center. While the unit was in the shop we had another power outage, and sat in the cold and dark once again. The Generac failed just shy of the first year from purchase, so the voltage regulator and brushes were replaced free of charge. The technician said he couldn't see any obvious reason that the unit failed. We brought it home, hooked it up and ran it for a few minutes, and were satisfied that it was fixed. My confidence level took a hit, but I still had faith in Generac and figured that the voltage regulator had a manufacturing defect, and the new one would give us years of trouble free service.
A few weeks later we had yet another power outage, so I hooked it up and all was well for about 10 minutes. Then the lights went off, came back on briefly, and went off again. I shut the generator down, and once again our family shivered in the dark (except for a few candles) until power was restored. The next day I called Generac and told them the problem, and they assigned me a case number and a case coordinator. I hauled it back to the shop and it was diagnosed with the same problem, burned out voltage regulator. The technician told me he has encountered the same before with the portable Generacs, and suspects the regulators themselves are to blame. I told him to hold off on replacing it again until I talked to the case coordinator.
I called Generac to inquire about having the unit returned or replaced, but before I could end my sentence the person assigned to the case said no way, they never do that. He said they would supply a new regulator (a $30 part) again under warranty, but he hemmed and hawed about whether Generac would pay the labor charges which aren't covered after the first year. I asked what might be causing the problem and he defiantly told me that their portable generators aren't designed to be wired into a house circuitry, and are only supposed to be used with extension cords! So why does it have a 30-amp 4-pronged receptacle, and why is there a section in the instruction manual entitled, "connecting to a building's electrical system?" He blamed me for the failure of the unit, and said if I didn't like his offer that I was free to take another course of action, so here I am. I googled , and checked out Generac at the Better Business Bureau in Wisconsin, and ripoffreports.com. It turns out that lots of people have filed complaints against them regarding their warranty and products, and they have a pattern of blaming their customers when their equipment fails.
Having dealt with Generac first hand, I would recommend anyone considering buying one of their portable generators to find a company that cares as much about consumer satisfaction as their bottom line. If you do decide to buy a Generac, be sure to buy a box of candles too, just in case.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Generac 5796 XG6500 8,125 Watt 410cc OHV Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit
This portable generator from Generac is a safe and reliable source of power for campgrounds, construction sites or emergencies. U.S.A. Surge Watts: 8,125, Rated Watts: 6,500, Start Type: Recoil, Engine Displacement (cc): 410, Engine: Generac OHVI, Run Time: 13 hrs. at 1/2 load, Receptacles (qty.): 5, Fuel Type: Gasoline, Fuel Capacity (gal.): 9, Low Oil Shutdown: Yes, Dimensions L x W x H (in.): 31 1/2 x 25 x 27
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