Generator Question

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Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: Generator Question

Post by Solar98632 » Thu Jul 10, 2014 4:59 pm

contacted the Better Business Bureau. and Attorneys General. that is what the tech I spoke to advised me.to do as.he is not sure how or why Harbor Freight does this when they know.it is wrong.

tardsat
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2014 10:36 am
Location: Randolph, VT

Re: Generator Question

Post by tardsat » Thu Jul 10, 2014 5:29 pm

The outlets are rated to carry 20A or 30A respectively, but the generator can only make 13.3A@240VAC or 26.6A @ 120VAC total sustained (Amps might be slightly higher based on power factor, but not much). As the previous commenter said, the 20A/30A refers to the NEMA rating and style of the outlet. At no point should you load the generator beyond 3200 Watts total (4000W for surge). 24.1A @ 240V dryer is 5784W, but air fluff just runs the motor and fans so that should work OK.

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: Generator Question

Post by Solar98632 » Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:02 am

update:
after calming down and clearing my head there is a larger issue that needs to be adressed.

Time for Math.
we have 120 volts and 13 Amps
that gives us 1560 watts
take 1560 X2 and that is a total of 3,120 watts.
generator is rated at 3,200 watts.

now there is a problem each of the 2 separate outlets can not exceed 1,560 watts or you go into overload.
Now on the 240 side it is not even 26 Amps if the generator is limited to 13 amps
240x13 is 3,120 watts and not the 3,200 watts as specified and certainly not even remotely close to 4,000 watts


I have contacted Harbor Freight on this issue and I have contacted the Better Business Bureau to have this investigated further.
I can not return it as it is full of fuel and oil . I am sadden by my experience with Harbor Freight. I think thinking wil Stick with Finger Hut for Now and or All Power.

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: Generator Question

Post by Solar98632 » Fri Jul 11, 2014 5:40 pm

i also came across another error.
The unit is not even 3, 200 Watts.


If we take 120 V and multiply that by 13 Amps We get 1,560 watts

1,560×2
=3,120


and the generator is rated at 3, 200 watts


so according to the math. purchasers are shorte by 100 watts.
This then also effect the Max Wattage it can take as well.
Now ifwe take the combined 13 ampss and then add 13 amps .

then we should get 26 Amps but that is not the case because each circut is seppcrato.
so lets say We do the combined amp trick Of theirs

Then this is what we get

120×26= 3,120 Watts. still Not 3,200 watts
Even 240 X 13 amps =3,120 watts .

so again there is no 3,200 watts. because the rating on the 240 is 13 amps.
Now if We took 240 ×26Watts ist would be
6,24watts with the generator is pot able to produce.

so my conclusiois that Harbor Freight either lied or cannot
do math.


and because of the seriousness of the errors people need to know not to know not to get this generator and to double check all the math to make sure they get what it is they are asking for.

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: Generator Question

Post by Solar98632 » Sat Jul 12, 2014 4:02 pm

Up on doing the ral math, it has been determined that the generator is not even 3,200 watts as even stated, it is 3, 120 watts .
The generator is falsy advertised and falsly labled.

I have contacted harbor freight with regrds to the 80 watt discrepencey . Theywanted to offer me a coupon but I declined, they asked me to return it I declined as I want them to correct the issue on there site that is falsley advertising the genenerator.

tgenerator is not 3,200 watts, it has no 30 amsp anything, and yes i read what the gentleman posted and I see what you are saying.
How ever up on tring to figure out the wattage on the unit by doing the math, No matter how you break it down, it is 3, 120 watts. and not the 3,200 watts. Returning it would not cause Harbor Freight to change there advertising, returning it would only perpetuate the false Advertising of said unit, retuning and or accepting offers would void my abillity for comensation or possibly Jeoprodise a potential lawsuite.

so, I have contacted HFT, and I am awaitng a return call from a company rep.

I have contacted the BBB and the Atourney's general. as this is a missleading and false advertising which effects customers.
I am posting this so that if any one wants to know more about the item in question is all I can say is Don't get it.
do the math before getting the generator. and if you have questions, after you get the generator, and you are wondering what its real wattage is, multiply the voltage x the amps. that is its true running watts.

techman
Site Admin
Posts: 1329
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:49 am

Re: Generator Question

Post by techman » Tue Jul 15, 2014 11:48 pm

Been following your comments on YT. Let us know here as well how the case against HF turns out with the false advertising.

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: Generator Question

Post by Solar98632 » Wed Jul 16, 2014 9:37 pm

Update:
after a number of calls to Harbor Freight, the BB and the Attorneys General , I am pleased to announce 2 things.
1 the Model 69729 Predator uses "Slow Blow" breakers this allows the unit to take in more current where as before it had quick kill
breakers.

There is a debate on this subject what a slow fuse breaker does is allow more current IE these 13 amp breakers to allow for surging.

How ever, people seem to think that they are "Over working " the generator when they are not the generator can handle slightly more then 3,200 watts.
but you are playing "Russian Roulette" when you do so you won't know what might cause the breaker to overload and kick out.

Many people brag about over running these generators and how good they are.
and it is true they are a good generator. No qualms about that.

How ever there safe running watts is 3,200 watts.

was I wrong, Yes and no, according the older system, yes I was dead on with the quick kill breakers.
I was wrong in that this unit had the slow blow breakers. So yes I was wrong.
Did I know of Slow Blow, no, not really.

Now on for the second part.
Yes,Harbor Freight is guilty of misleading consumers and is now being forced to change there site.
if they do not they can have legal issues because all this goes in to a real file .

So there is no 20 or 30 amp 240 either, they deliberately limited that I mean after all even a 240 Volt with 20 amp out, well what need would there be to sell their 7,000 watt units?

so basically yes they got caught for Falsely advertising the generator and got nailed for that.

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: Generator Question

Post by Solar98632 » Wed Jul 16, 2014 9:46 pm

techman wrote:Been following your comments on YT. Let us know here as well how the case against HF turns out with the false advertising.
They got busted for misrepresenting the generator.
The Generator has slow blow Fuses. that is the difference between the newer model and the older model.
The older Model had quick Trip and I guess the breakers were not taking kindly to even going over 2 watts with out tripping thus negating the 4,000 watt surge.
And I guess they got Nailed because of even all the math I did was right on. People were tripping it at 3,200 watts.
so they had to fix that.

so now yes, it does well. I will see how much it can take tomorrow and post it online.

and I am going to seriously load it up.
i think a
1300 watt induction cook top, a 780 watt fridge
and a 552 watt dishwasher should do the trick
see if 2,632 watts will trip the thing on one out let.

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: Generator Question

Post by Solar98632 » Wed Jul 16, 2014 10:41 pm

just an up date
on Outlet aAi ran :
Fridge 780 watts
bread Machine 400 watts
dishwasher. 552 watts
---------------------------
1, 732 watts

on circuit B
conduction cook top 1,300 watts

SHARK Vacuum. 500 watts
-------------------------------------
1800 Watts

3,532 Watts
Generator started to surge so I wouldn't recommend going that route
surging is the slowing and speeding up the motor.
although it looks like the spring can be moved. which may help.
man I hate auto gas thing.

techman
Site Admin
Posts: 1329
Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:49 am

Re: Generator Question

Post by techman » Thu Jul 17, 2014 8:19 am

Wow, you did it. For us mere mortals to influence a huge company like that is truly impressive.

Here is a bit of advice though. Do NOT overload your generator, ever.

People who do this have money to burn and play around with their generator until they blow it. Overloading it will reduce its life. You need yours for real life use. I always try to stay well below the maximum rating of the generator myself.

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