Generac GP5500 - 5500 Watt Portable Generator

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Due to the engine configuration the Generac GP5500 cannot be converted to electric start and generac does not offer an electric start kit as an option.

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We at Power Equipment Direct do not recommend converting your gasoline portable generator to an alternative fuel and doing so will void the manufacturer’s warranty and may cause damage to the generator itself. These conversions are not recommended by any of the generator manufacturers.

Gasoline has an Ignition Point of 475–536 °F. When a generator is manufactured to run solely on gasoline these temperatures are taken into consideration and the engine components are made to handle these temperatures.

Propane (LP) has an Ignition Point of 920-1020°F and Natural Gas (NG) has an Ignition Point of 900–1500°F. These higher temperatures will cause damage over time on any “gas only” powered engine.

The following guidelines cover Honda engines (Also applies to other engine manufacturers) modified to run on fuels other than the one for which they were designed, such as converting an engine to run on propane (LP) or natural gas (NG).


• Honda gasoline engines are certified to operate on unleaded fuel with a pump octane rating of 86 or higher, containing no more than 10% ethanol (E10).

• Any change to the original configuration of a certified Honda engine is a potential violation of the Clean Air Act prohibition against tampering (40 CFR §1068.101(b)(1)). The tampering prohibition is important because poorly designed and installed modifications can increase emissions.

• The Clean Air Act prohibits anyone from removing or rendering inoperative any device or design element installed on engines in compliance with regulations. These actions are considered tampering, which carries a civil penalty up to $37,500 for each engine or equipment in violation.

• Engines converted by a third party (OEM, dealer, converter, etc.) to run on a different fuel type must be recertified with the EPA on the new fuel to comply with applicable emission standards. The third party must recertify under a new family and notify Honda to not include the modified engines in the original family.

• Converted engines to be sold for use in California must meet CARB requirements and the converter must obtain approval from CARB. EPA certificates or tampering exemptions will not satisfy the requirement for CARB certification.

• Once certified, the third party must remove the Honda emission control label and apply a compliant emission control label for the new fuel indicating the new certifying manufacturer. Honda will no longer assume any responsibility as the certifying manufacturer.

• The Honda Distributor's Limited Warranty does not extend to parts affected or damaged by the conversion to or use of fuel other than the fuel for which the engine was originally designed.


• Honda offers V-twin engines specifically designed and certified for use in LP/NG applications. The engines incorporate special design features that address the higher combustion temperatures and reduced lubrication to the valve guide area (since it is a dry fuel, not liquid). Please contact your sales representative or distributor for additional information.


Disclaimer: The guidance provided is intended for Honda dealer/distributor informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You must contact the appropriate certifying agencies if you require information on how regulations apply to your specific application.

The regulations and additional information can be found at these web sites:

EPA - EPA

CARB - CARB


The run times will always vary based on the actual load put on the generator.

The Generac 5500 watt generators have a 30A 4-Prong 240V twistlock outlet which you would use to connect to a manual transfer switch using a generator power cord.

The following 30A switch kit is a recommendation found under the hand-picked accessories tab available on product page for each generator model....

Generac Model 6294 - 30A Transfer Switch Kit

All of the manufacturers have compensated for the ethanol content in gasoline and have adjusted parts composition using different materials. The issues with carburetors clogging and gumming up is due to old/stale gasoline and not using a fuel stabilizer.

Gasoline goes bad in 30 days from the date it leaves the refinery and when using a fuel stabilizer it will keep the fuel fresh for 6 months to a year and when a generator is properly maintained by using a fuel stabilizer and running it every couple of weeks the issues disappear.

Any Synthetic oil can be used all season as long as you are using the recommended 5W30 synthetic.

A 5W30 synthetic oil is multi-weight with the 5 covering the low temperature end and the 30 covering the high temperature end.

Synthetics offer better high-temp resistance and better low-temp flow, and they leave nearly no deposits. Hence the high cost for a better product.

The best case scenario it to wait out the bad weather before you run the generator, but if it is a must, then you will need to have some type of roof over the unit whether it would be a lean-to or building a roof with a minimum of 3 exposed sides for proper cooling and exhaust.

You can place the generator anywhere outdoors as long as you are a minimum of 5 feet from any window, door or ventilation opening to prevent fumes from entering the building.

Generac does not offer any Tri-Fuel generators, only Winco (see link below).

Winco Tri-Fuel Generators

Unfortunately, not all generator manufacturers publish the decibel ratings for their generators. Currently, there are no industry standards or requirements for generator manufacturers to follow when testing their generators for noise.

Due to this, manufacturers can test the noise level under any conditions they choose and, therefore, the results are not very reliable as each company will test under conditions that are favorable to their products.

At this time there are no db(A) ratings available on this model.

Model 5939 (GP5500) is not California Carb compliant. The link below will show you all the CARB models available.

CA CARB APPROVED

This model has a Generac OHV engine in it.

Yes, the Generac GP5500 is a good choice because it features a 30-Amp Twistlock outlet.

As long as your transfer switch has a 30-AMP instead of 20-AMP outlet, you're fine.

You'll still need to buy the cord (and possibly a power inlet box) separately from the generator.

You can learn more about them here:

How to Pick the Perfect Power Transfer System

If you will only use your generator for emergency backup, go with the larger and less expensive GP model.

The GP series is designed to backup homes during a power outage.

The XG series can also backup a house. But, it is designed for the person who will also be doing projects that require a generator to run power tools.

Portable generators are not intended for use in bad weather. The control panels are not water tight and electrocution can happen if run in bad weather.

We do offer an outdoor enclosure which is designed to house a generator while running which keeps it out of the bad weather. This item is called a Gen-Shed and for pricing and additional info please see link below.

Gen-Tran Gen-Shed

An alternative to the Gen-Shed is to create a type of generator covering that leaves 3 exposed sided and allows for engine cooling while running.

Generac uses 10W30 in their kits that get sent with the portable generators.

This really depends on the starting loads of the sump pumps. 5500 Watts is a good size but it is best to use the following formula to calculate the wattage needed.

Starting Amps x Volts = Watts

This way you make sure the generator isn't undersized in case you decide to run lights or any additional items such as your refrigerator.

The Classic Accessories Large Cover will fit up to 8000 watts. We have tested these covers on all of the Generac GP model generators and other manufacturers.

Note: It is important to not include the wheels when measuring the width as the generator covers are not meant to cover them.

Large Cover

A 50 foot 30 amp cord can be purchased for this, so you would be able to run the generator further away from your house without a problem. There is a possibility to have a slight voltage drop, but not enough to make a difference.

All oil should meet minimum American Petroleum Institute (API)
Service Class SJ, SL or better. Use no special additives. Select
the oil's viscosity grade according to the expected operating
temperature.

• Above 40° F, use SAE 30
• Below 40° F and down to 10° F, use 10W-30
• Below 10° F, use synthetic 5W-30

Generator sizing is based on the starting amperage of the equipment you plan on powering which will determine the size generator needed.

Proper sizing of the generator is based on 80% of the generators running capacity, so when a large load kicks in the unit has enough flexibility to handle it and still provide clean voltage output.

To calculate the wattage, the following formula will help convert starting amps to watts - Starting Amps x Volts = Watts

Unfortunately, Generac, like many other generator manufacturers, do not publish the decibel ratings for their generators. This unit does come equipped with a Low Tone Muffler for Quiet Operation but do not have a decibel rating to give you. Currently, there are no industry standards or requirements for generator manufacturers to follow when testing their generators for noise. Due to this, manufacturers can test the noise level under any conditions they choose and, therefore, the results are not very reliable as each company will test under conditions that are favorable to their products.