The Predator 3500 Inverter Generator is quiet, however simply how quiet is it and are they value it?
We now have been utilizing the Harbor Freight Predator 3500 Generator for two weeks straight now whereas Dispersed Tenting in Western Montana and have actually put it to the take a look at, so lets dive in.
The very first thing I’m going to sort out is the value. When you have regarded in to Inverter Turbines in any respect, the costs are all around the map. The primary one I checked out shopping for was the Honda and it was over $2,300. Having used loads of Honda merchandise within the fireplace service, I do know their small engines are rattling close to bullet proof.
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2,300 Bucks is an enormous nut to crack although, so I stored trying. I got here throughout a number of different manufacturers, and occurred to cease in Harbor Freight for some small instruments and noticed the Predator 3500, and it was listed for $799. After seeing the costs of the opposite manufacturers, my first thought was nothing this “low cost” goes to be value it. However nonetheless, for One Third of the value, it piqued my curiosity sufficient to do some digging.
Quiet RV Generator
After a couple of days of diligently looking the web for the great the dangerous and the ugly on the Predator 3500, I made a decision it was certainly value taking a shot on the “low cost” generator. The value has gone up round $150 since we bought ours a couple of months in the past, however even within the $950 vary, I’d purchase it once more.
Unboxing
The one factor that DOESN’T come within the field is a quart of 10/30 Motor Oil that you want to fill earlier than firing it up for the primary time. Each different factor you want comes with this little energy home. Included within the field is a small instrument equipment for attaching the battery to make use of the starter, a funnel to fill your oil, a spark plug wrench, a small set of “jumper cables” to connect the Predator 3500 proper to a battery, and a 30amp Twist Lock to RV Plug adaptor.
Preliminary Setup
Earlier than its first fireplace up, you want to fill the oil, which is simple to do by way of the oil fill entry door utilizing the included funnel. The subsequent step is to connect your battery cables to your battery, and also you’re able to go. Complete preliminary setup time was below 5 minutes.
Gas Up & Hearth Up
The instruction handbook says to make use of StaBil gasoline stabilizer as a result of the ethanol gasoline tears up small carburetors, and the StaBil negate the ethanol’s results, in addition to stop the gasoline from turning to jelly in the event you let the generator sit saved for months with gasoline within the tank.
The Predator 3500 boasts a ridiculously long term time of 11 hours on 2.5 gallons of gasoline below a 25% load. That appeared like a quantity that may be a “lab outcomes solely” type of statistic and I couldn’t wait to show it incorrect. We topped off the onboard fuel tank, and received a 2.5 gallon fuel can and topped it off as nicely, so we a spare “full tank” of fuel on the prepared as I used to be sure there can be no approach it could attain 11 hours.
Predator 3500 Generator
Yesterday at 5:00 pm we fired up our Predator 3500 so we may watch TV within the RV and to cost up our batteries for the over evening energy draw of the fridge, water pump and so forth. My Spouse and I subsequently fell asleep on the sofa and by no means shut it down for the ten:00 pm quiet hour curfew. We additionally each managed to sleep the whole evening till the solar was beginning to come up the subsequent morning, which in itself is unprecedented.
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Fortunately we’re Dispersed Tenting, and there was completely nobody else within the space we have been tenting in, so we weren’t “these guys” with their generator working all evening (extra on that in a minute)
I opened my eyes about 6:15 am, arrange the espresso pot, and hit the ability button on my morning autopilot routine. When the little LED turned on and I may odor the Folgers beginning to permeate air, I remembered we’re boondocking, and I shouldn’t have energy proper now.
The Predator 3500 was STILL RUNNING 13.25 Hours Later!
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Predator 3500 Gas Effectivity
Now I’m not certain how, maybe the Predator 3500 has a 3 gallon tank however is “rated” as a a 2.5 gallon? I don’t know, both approach it was nonetheless working. The little fuel gauge on the highest of the tank stated it was lifeless empty, after which I did one thing I DO NOT suggest.
I opened the fuel cap whereas it was working to see if there was truly any gasoline in it. There was, not a lot in any respect, barely a coating on the underside of the tank, however there was certainly nonetheless gasoline in it.
I grabbed our spare fuel can and refilled the tank, and fired it again up. The Predator 3500 Generator loved lower than a 5 minute relaxation earlier than I fired it proper again up, and continued to make use of it for the remainder of the day. It diligently carried out as marketed for the whole day, powering our Residential RV Fridge, Two
Desktop Computer systems, a Espresso Pot, Certainly one of our 2 AC Models, and our front room TV.
We most likely had it fairly near its 25 amp max for many of the day, because it was a “work” day, the place my spouse and I have been each engaged on articles for the web site, YouTube movies, and downing espresso like there’s no tomorrow. The Predator 3500 simply stored on going, with out problem.
Extra on that in a minute
Like I discussed earlier, we each fell asleep on the sofa and blew the quiet hour shut down. We each actually hate to be “these guys” at a campground, and do all the pieces we will to verify we’re utilizing correct tenting etiquette so everybody can have an pleasing expertise on their tenting journeys.
We received fortunate and there was nobody else right here, however what if their was? I do know it’s a brilliant quiet generator, however tremendous quiet within the day time, isn’t the identical as at midnight when the ambient noise degree is at damaging 10. I needed to know, how a lot of an A-Gap would I’ve been if we had neighbors?
So with espresso in hand, I began stroll the campground to see how far the sound of the Predator 3500 Generator working would journey. To my amazement, on the very subsequent camp website, in any course, it was nearly undetectable.
After I say undetectable, I don’t imply that it’s 100% silent. I imply to say that you just CAN hear it, however you CAN’T inform its one campsite away. It sounds as if Somebody, has a generator working Someplace, approach over there.
We now have a YouTube video you may watch by clicking right here, of after we first purchased it and examined it, with actual world, unedited quantity ranges to see what I imply for your self.
Is It Quiet
The again of the generator the place the exhaust comes out is louder than being on any of the opposite 3 sides. Nonetheless, since we have been on the outer fringe of the tenting space, the exhaust was pointed away from the remainder of the campground. So even when somebody had pulled in after we fell asleep, it wouldn’t have prevented them from falling asleep both.
Predator 3500 Generator Cons?
We now have been utilizing the Predator 3500 Generator fairly rigorously during the last 2 weeks, and there has solely been One Downside. I can’t even actually say its a disadvantage, extra of a private choice.
The generator comes with a Twist Lock to RV adapter, so you may plug your RV into the 30 amp generator outlet. It’s a brief adapter, solely about 3 inches lengthy, twist lock male on one aspect, RV feminine on the opposite. So, It really works.
My solely hold up, is that RV Plugs are heavy. So the load of the RV energy wire on the adapter simply made me a bit uncomfortable. Don’t get me incorrect, We used it like that for a couple of days, with out problem, and it by no means failed or pulled unfastened, or gave me any actual purpose to present it a damaging on this one, I simply didn’t prefer it.
Our Answer
My answer was to purchase a dongle, with an influence wire between the twist lock and the RV plug finish, in order that the load of the RV plug was on the bottom, and never hanging on the adapter on the generator.
Click on right here to get the identical dongle we use.
Our Unbiased assessment of the Predator 3500 Generator is 5 out of 5 stars. We now have not been paid for a assessment or endorsement in any approach. I’d purchase it once more, even on the increased worth level. And one additional benefit, is you may daisy chain two of them collectively and have 50 amp complete service do you have to want too. Even with shopping for Two of them, you’ll nonetheless be below the value of a single comparable Honda.
Watch our actual world take a look at video on YouTube Right here