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I just received my Harbor Freight 350W generator today and, given the
current discussion, thought I'd post my initial reactions with more to
follow when I get a chance to look at the electrical output
characteristics in my lab.
Like all stuff from Harbor Freight, it's not exactly made in the US ---
even though the color and name "Chicago" gives the impression that it's
of the same quality as "Milwaukee" power tools. It's made in China.
I gassed it up and it started on the third pull. The muffler is quite
effective. I had expected chain saw like noise from such a little
motor -- in fact it was quiet enough that I had a conversation in normal
tones with my neighbor while standing six feet away from the loaded,
running, unit. I put a 200 watt lamp on it and it seemed quite happy
with that load.
The construction is quite practical and straight forward (in a sort of
Marxist way) with an exceedingly simple carburetor without even a
governor vane as is typical on lawn mowers. Speed regulation is via a
throttle thumbscrew on the top of the carb. There is a choke lever, a
small prime button, a button/valve at the bottom of the fuel bowl that
allows the carb system to be quickly drained for storage, and a fuel
shut-off valve at the bottom of the fuel tank. The fuel tank neck has a
nice wire mesh strainer to make sure no chunks get poured into the tank.
Motor speed (Output voltage) is set using the throttle thumbscrew and
two lights on the electrical housing. It must be set for the
load....more later after the tests.
The alternator appears to be a moving magnet type with the coils mounted
in a fixed position in the center -- hence no slip rings or brushes to
repair or replace --- also no (or minimal) radio noise except from the
spark plug.
The only really glaring problem is that the outlet plug is some sort of
weird foreign standard (Chinese?) that I have never seen before.
Fortunately, they give you the mating connector so that an adapter cord
can be made up for any standard connector you might prefer. The 12V (12
Amp) connection is via a pair of binding posts and a cable is supplied
to connect to a battery. It appears as if the DC side of unit is most
suited to charging batteries and may have some wild output
characteristics without a battery attached for a stabilizing load. I
don't think I'd hook an expensive radio to the 12v output without a
battery there too.
I have not had time to look at the electrical output, but hope to get a
scope, voltmeter and spectrum analyzer hooked up to it in the next few
days. The objective would be to look at the stability and quality of
the output. I'll report when I get around to the tests.
The whole generator only weighs 13 pounds -- so if it is accidentally
tipped onto a sea otter, the little critter will probably escape without
injury.
The unit comes with a little rebuild kit consisting of piston rings,
gaskets, spark plug (w/wrench) and fuse. I get the feeling that these
are made to be used out the the boondocks of China where people really
repair things when they break. The manual is well enough illustrated
that an experienced mechanic with limited tools could probably do the
rebuild without a lot of trouble --- but there are no written repair
instructions. The manual, which is pretty limited (except for the legal
safety instructions and cautions), is available on the Harbor Freight
Web site.
I will keep you all posted as I have a chance to test the little feller
further. It sure ain't a Honda, but I get the feeling that it will
deliver reasonable service for the cost ---- we'll see.
Regards All
Rye Gewalt
'90 HMS18
Springfield, VA
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I just received my Harbor Freight 350W generator today and, given the
current discussion, thought I'd post my initial reactions with more to
follow when I get a chance to look at the electrical output characteristics
in my lab.
Like all stuff from Harbor Freight, it's not exactly made in the US --- even though the color and name "Chicago" gives the impression that it's of the same quality as "Milwaukee" power tools. It's made in China.
I gassed it up and it started on the third pull. The muffler is quite effective. I had expected chain saw like noise from such a little motor -- in fact it was quiet enough that I had a conversation in normal tones with my neighbor while standing six feet away from the loaded, running, unit. I put a 200 watt lamp on it and it seemed quite happy with that load.
The construction is quite practical and straight forward (in a sort of Marxist way) with an exceedingly simple carburetor without even a governor vane as is typical on lawn mowers. Speed regulation is via a throttle thumbscrew on the top of the carb. There is a choke lever, a small prime button, a button/valve at the bottom of the fuel bowl that allows the carb system to be quickly drained for storage, and a fuel shut-off valve at the bottom of the fuel tank. The fuel tank neck has a nice wire mesh strainer to make sure no chunks get poured into the tank.
Motor speed (Output voltage) is set using the throttle thumbscrew and two lights on the electrical housing. It must be set for the load....more later after the tests.
The alternator appears to be a moving magnet type with the coils mounted in a fixed position in the center -- hence no slip rings or brushes to repair or replace --- also no (or minimal) radio noise except from the spark plug.
The only really glaring problem is that the outlet plug is some sort of weird foreign standard (Chinese?) that I have never seen before. Fortunately, they give you the mating connector so that an adapter cord can be made up for any standard connector you might prefer. The 12V (12 Amp) connection is via a pair of binding posts and a cable is supplied to connect to a battery. It appears as if the DC side of unit is most suited to charging batteries and may have some wild output characteristics without a battery attached for a stabilizing load. I don't think I'd hook an expensive radio to the 12v output without a battery there too.
I have not had time to look at the electrical output, but hope to get a scope, voltmeter and spectrum analyzer hooked up to it in the next few days. The objective would be to look at the stability and quality of the output. I'll report when I get around to the tests.
The whole generator only weighs 13 pounds -- so if it is accidentally tipped onto a sea otter, the little critter will probably escape without injury.
The unit comes with a little rebuild kit consisting of piston rings, gaskets, spark plug (w/wrench) and fuse. I get the feeling that these are made to be used out the the boondocks of China where people really repair things when they break. The manual is well enough illustrated that an experienced mechanic with limited tools could probably do the rebuild without a lot of trouble --- but there are no written repair instructions. The manual, which is pretty limited (except for the legal safety instructions and cautions), is available on the Harbor Freight Web site.
I will keep you all posted as I have a chance to test the little feller further. It sure ain't a Honda, but I get the feeling that it will deliver reasonable service for the cost ---- we'll see.
Regards All
Rye Gewalt
'90 HMS18
Springfield, VA
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