Here, we have a lot of experience with portable generators.
Suggest getting a Honda generator.
Has a better rated duty cycle generator, run a LOT quieter than others, most have auto idle circuits that save you a LOT of gas. I think their power is a little cleaner too. Check their websites
At worst get one with a Honda engine, very trouble free and great longevity.
Have seen a lot of problems with the cheaper, lesser quality ones. When your without power, you don't want problems.
Ours is a 7kw and it runs the 3ton a/c, plus refrig, plus the rest of the house at once, less the elec oven, elec water heater, and any other high draw pieces. If and when we need those, we just turn off the breaker for other high draws and use that item individually.
I just backfeed the generator into the drier receptacle in the laundry, turn off the main breaker and adjust other breakers as needed. I end up using a double male prong feed cord. This is exremely dangerous and illegal, but it has worked for years that way. Just didn't want to go thru all the hassle of wiring in a transfer switch, because one that handles all the circuits is very expensive and a real pain to wire in. It must match the whole main panel rating of the house if you want full options and not the generator output.
Thought about at least putting in one of these only lockable.
http://www.peakpowertools.com/Gen-Tran-50-Amp-Power-Inlet-Box-p/agt63651.htm
Then at least I couldn't have a potential 40 amp power cord with hot prongs.
Flame away :tomato: :rain:
Also, because of the winds here, a couple of times I have gotten unequal voltage on each leg into the main panel (70v on 1 leg and 160v on the other), ended up as a deteriorated neutral connection at the pole, power company came out and fixed immediately both times. Maybe because they use aluminum wire in all this salty windy air???