Product Description
- Provides highly stable electrical frequency--perfect for microcomputers or sophisticated electronics
- Inverter Technology with pulse width modulation control
- Automatically adjusts engine speed to match power demand
- Oil Watch warning system: shuts unit down before the oil is low
- Extremely lightweight (only 66 pounds)
Since it tips the scales at just 66 pounds, it’s incredible that this little unit can output 2,800 watts. Not only that, but it’s a good deal quieter than other generators in its class. The inverter system with Pulse Width Modulation delivers such a stable voltage that you can run products with built-in microcomputers or microcomputer-controlled electric tools off this generator. A nice innovation is the "Economy Control" electrical governor: It matches engine speed to the electrical demand, so if you’re camping and just running a CD player, the engine downshifts to supply that much power, again reducing noise to about 60 decibels. Plug in something else, and power increases accordingly. Another nice feature is the Oil Watch warning system that shuts the unit down before the oil is low, and won't let you restart until oil is added. Because it’s light, compact, and quieter, this is the ideal generator to keep on hand at home for power outages and a smart buy for the job site, too.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste
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The generator specs and looks are fine, but....
No where in Amazon's presentation of this item is the fact that you will need an "isolation switch," also called a "transfer switch" at some stores. This is a [$$] item that allows you to switch off the electric power line from your utility company while you are using the generator to feed power to your home. This protects utility workers from electrocution that could occur if you backfeed electricity into the power grid. It protects your home circuits and appliances from overload when the utility power comes back on. Neither Amazon nor Yamaha mentions the fact that the Yamaha generator requires a particular locking plug for the AC output, and does not provide the NEMA number that you have to match when buying the power cord taking power out of the Yamaha to your home's electrical supply input. Yamaha's manual is ridiculously inadequate about how to set up this device, though the details for maintenance and safety seem pretty thorough. But you have to be able to use it, and using it requires a frustrating process just to know what parts to buy. And then there's the cost of an electrician to install the isolation switch. No plug-'n-play here.
A lightweight, heavyweight!
When I opened the box and saw this little generator, I thought I was in trouble. But this 2800 watt Yamaha is the new inverter model. Not sure what that means, but it is very light weight but really puts out the juice. We ran 2 screwguns, 2 - 500 watt quartz lights and our radio and this Yamaha barely ran above idle. It weighs half of what our old junker weighs, runs 4 to 5 times longer on a gallon of gas and purrs quiet as a kitten. We have been using this wonderful generator for over a year with no problems at all. It's Yamaha inverter generators for our crews from now on.