Very interesting little generator

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Very interesting little generator

Postby booyah » Thu Sep 14, 2017 12:59 pm

Saw this today

https://www.ryobitools.com/outdoor/prod ... -generator

its a 900W peak inverter generator that is built to run off 1lb or 20lb propane tanks.

Never seen something quite like this before, and for some reason I REALLY like the idea. If the price is right, I could see this being a great item to toss in the tongue box for a trip you dont expect to need extra power, but then you have it as an option.

anyone elses thoughts? Looks like its not available quite yet though.
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Re: Very interesting little generator

Postby WizardOfOdds » Sun Sep 17, 2017 10:06 am

I took a quick look at the HF mini generator and was turned off by the maintenance required. As I recall it is a 2-cycle engine (so mix oil in gas) and you have to run it at least so many hours every month or so, then clean it all out, etc... Clearly propane stores long term compared to gasoline. Would this propane-only unit allow me to just keep it for emergency use with a lot less periodic attention?
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Re: Very interesting little generator

Postby Greg M » Sun Sep 17, 2017 12:16 pm

I'll be very curious to see the reviews when it comes out. The 2300 watt gasoline model has remarkably good reviews.
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Re: Very interesting little generator

Postby Socal Tom » Sun Sep 17, 2017 9:25 pm

It does seem like an interesting little generator, I've had 650watt, and 1KW generators. Honestly, I think the extra little bit to get 2K is worth it. You can do a lot more things with the extra 1K, its not that much heavier, and doesn't burn a lot more fuel.
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Very interesting little generator

Postby Pinstriper » Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:26 pm

I am a bit of a Ryobi fanboy, but I wonder about the utility of something that will not produce very much power or run very long on a 1# can. It you have to lug a 20#er that kind of defeats the purpose of small and light.

At $3.50/can, you'll go through money faster than the 800w HFT unit.

Of course, I will be buying one, just because. Price is $299, can't order yet.


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Re: Very interesting little generator

Postby booyah » Fri Sep 22, 2017 10:02 am

So for me, size and using a fuel THAT ISNT GASOLINE that I will already have with me are the two big things that are a plus on this. If its really small enough to put in my tongue box and forget its there then thats ideal.

On a trip where I dont plan on having electricity the option to have it would be nice, even if its just to recharge the TD battery, run the heater for a night, power a laptop for work needs, or let the kids have a movie night that wasnt planned.

I have a 2 cycle harbor freight, with 2cycle its dirty as hell. I have a Wen 2000w inverter generator, I still spill gas, and worry about gas or oil leaking. Both are larger than this appears, both need gasoline, both an certainly do the job, but this hits a "Just right" spot for my brain depending on price.

Pinstriper, where did you see a price on it?
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Re: Very interesting little generator

Postby Pinstriper » Fri Sep 22, 2017 12:03 pm

Home Depot web site. You can't follow the link, do a search for Ryobi on the site.

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Re: Very interesting little generator

Postby Viper_Twig » Fri Sep 22, 2017 12:54 pm

Following. Would be nice to supplement my solar setup as required. And I'm already carrying 30 pounds of propane

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Re: Very interesting little generator

Postby John61CT » Fri Sep 22, 2017 3:29 pm

Yes, propane's the way to go, looks like a neat little unit.

Wonder who makes the engine?

Would need to be lots cheaper than the Honda or Yamaha until reliability reports solidify over a few years.

Unless there's something unique about them?
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Re: Very interesting little generator

Postby Pinstriper » Tue Oct 17, 2017 5:50 pm

Well, I gave up on waiting for the Ryobi propane rig to show up as available to order, and picked up a "Sportsman" 1000w 4 stroke gasoline model off of Amazon.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01 ... UTF8&psc=1

It is 19 pounds (NINETEEN POUNDS !!!), was less than $250, and runs on straight gasoline, no mixing. She arrived yesterday. Fed her oil and gasoline, she started on the second pull. She weighs less than the 5 gallon gas can. Specs say 7 hours on a tank which holds 1/2 gallon.

Really quiet. REALLY quiet. More of a purr, really.

Another consideration was the experience I had last winter with my dual fuel Champion running on propane - wouldn't stay running in the extreme cold < 20F and had to switch to gasoline. Since part of my plan is to do some winter camping in the snow, this became important.

I also have a 350w electric heater that this will drive just fine.

https://smile.amazon.com/Ontel-Products ... ric+heater

I will watch the progress of the Ryobi with great interest.
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Re: Very interesting little generator

Postby John61CT » Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:05 pm

FYI a gasoline-fueled parking heater would put out 100x the comfort per quart than running an electric heater off a gennie.
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Re: Very interesting little generator

Postby Pinstriper » Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:50 pm

Mmmm. For a lot more money, a permanent install including tanks and fuel lines, etc.

A small generator also charges my batteries and provides AC current for the whole trailer and other uses, and I can take it along with my big trailer, etc.

Sometimes it isn't about optimal unitaskers.

I can also still always fire up the Heater Buddy.
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Re: Very interesting little generator

Postby pchast » Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:31 pm

If you look on the home depot site its listed for sale.
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Re: Very interesting little generator

Postby Pinstriper » Tue Oct 17, 2017 11:30 pm

pchast wrote:If you look on the home depot site its listed for sale.


2 days ago it wasn't....nope. There's no "Add to Cart", and none in stock at local store or within 100 miles.
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Re: Very interesting little generator

Postby MadMango » Wed Oct 18, 2017 4:54 am

I've been very happy with my Champion 2kw inverter generator. Used it extensively during Hurricane Irma here in FL. I ran a full size fridge, 5ft chest freezer, and box fan for 12hrs on one gallon of gas. The best feature is that it is half the cost of a Honda of comparable performance. I actually purchased mine from another site besides Amazon for $450. Plan is to keep one in my squareback and purchase another for home, so when I need to I can run them in parallel.
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