Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Okay, you are clearly eyeing the HXT version of this generator to run natural gas…or at least have that option, right? Otherwise, you can spend significantly less and get the dual fuel version. If you are like me, you would like something that runs off natural gas, similar to a whole-house solution…but without spending the $15K of that whole-house solution. This unit offers a good compromise. It is not as powerful as a whole-house generator, and it requires a bit of effort to get it up and running each time you need it, but it is far less expensive. My goal was to run the smaller of my two AC units, the associated furnace fan, and most other appliances (e.g., refrigerators) when we next lose power in the Houston area for whatever reason. I was comparing this option against the considerably less expensive Champion 100416 tri-fuel generator, which also looks well-designed. The problem with the Champion unit for my purposes is that, while the wattage is good enough, it only has a 30-amp outlet, which is likely not enough to start even my smaller AC/furnace fan. This DuroMax has a 50-amp outlet which definitely will do the job. Also, the digital gauge is a nice-to-have feature that will prove useful in assessing the load. However, the challenge with a bigger generator is that you do need a natural gas line with a hefty volume of BTUs…the manual says it consumes 225,000 btus per hour at full load. Initially I had the thought to hook it up to my existing 1/2-inch natural gas line on the back patio, which was originally installed to support a grill. However, most grills only need 50,000-100,000 BTUs per hour, and that 1/2-inch line runs a long way from the meter (thus lowering the volume), so that connection seemed likely to be inadequate. Instead, I decided to install a connection off of a 3/4-inch line that supplies my pool heater. The pool heater requires 400,000 BTUs per hour, so I knew that that natural gas line would provide enough BTUs, and the existing regulator was the appropriate size, too (6.0 - 9.0 inch water column according to the manual, which you can find on the DuroMax website). Anyway, I mention the above because I am a very average DIYer, and I had to think through these considerations carefully. Other lessons learned… You are going to need about a quart of 10W-30 SAE motor oil. I don’t know exactly how much because I combined two partial bottles. The point is that it does not come with the oil, so order some if you do not already have it. I also would recommend a trickle charger in case you do not fire up the generator very often. Trickle chargers are cheap and will keep the battery in healthy condition. It helps to have your own tools when taking off the shipping brace, putting on the wheels, et cetera. For example, having a socket wrench made some steps easier. I felt like the supplied tools were a bit lacking. The biggest challenge I faced was that the natural gas hose came with what appeared to be a 3/4-inch to 1/2-inch reducer attached on one end, and goodness gracious was mine on there tightly! It is nice that it has that reducer for those who plan to screw it onto a 1/2-inch gas line, but I didn’t need it, so I had to take it off…which should have been quick and easy…but was not. It took my (admittedly inconsiderable) strength as a 48-year-old guy with a 24-inch pipe wrench and a 12-inch crescent wrench (a.k.a., adjustable wrench) to break it free. Once I had it hooked up to my natural gas supply and the switches in the right positions, I pushed the start button. While the battery did its bit, it failed to crank. It would automatically stop trying after a couple of seconds, then it would automatically retry after a few more seconds. It did this 4-5 times before it finally caught and began to run. Was this because it took a little time to fill the hose and “prime?” I am not sure. I just mention it in hopes offering comfort if your unit does not start on the first attempt either. That’s as far as I’ve gotten at the time of this writing because I still need to have the interlock kit and 50-amp receptacle outlet installed on the house. If I learn more that I deem valuable, I will provide an update. Hope this helps! ********* Update: I did get the interlock kit and 50-amp receptacle outlet installed, and I am happy to report that this setup did the job of running my smaller AC unit, two refrigerators, and all the small stuff in the house (lights, two computers, Internet modem/router, ceiling fans, et cetera). With all of that going, it showed 3 out of 5 bars...so approximately 60% load. Time will tell how well it holds up, but for now I remain pleased with this generator. Well done, DuroMax.