Generator Review

Generator Review

So, having pretty much rebuilt the 1700w SGS generator since we bought it, with new plugs, wires, ropes and switches it finally gave up the ghost. Not to be put off though, we have been renting a slightly more capable Honda version from Settle Coal for the last few months.

It seems like a false economy though for something we’re going to need for the foreseeable future though so we’ve opted for an upgrade of sorts in the form of a Parker Brand PPG-2800 model.  It arrives looking good and once I’ve topped up the oil and made sure there is clean fuel in the tank, it’s off to a pretty bad start.  In that it won’t start!

Cue two weeks of too-ing and fro-ing.  Including a series of ‘noddy’ emails between myself and the suppliers as they coach me through the process of starting a small generator, all to no avail.  The bugger just won’t go and no amount of throwing my Mechanical Engineering HND at them seems to persuade them that their kit might be malfunctioning and I’m not a complete idiot.

So, we eventually get a link to upload a video of me ‘starting’ the generator using the steps provided but, being in the middle of nowhere, it takes most of the day for the video to upload and I lose another weekend having to rent a generator whilst staring at a 40kg paperweight.

With video evidence, they finally agree it’s knackered and arrange a return and within the week, we have a replacement delivered which I test the moment it’s off the van.  As predicted, oil in, fuel in and open, it purrs like a kitten on the first pull.  Sometimes it’s hard always being right and although it’s not an expensive model by any stretch of the imagination, it works and given the sun isn’t cooperating it gives us the chance to top up the battery bank while the solar panels take a break for the winter.

So far so good though.