Generator sale at Harbor Freight

[LonestarCBR]

Predator generators starting at $289.

I admit I know next to nothing about them, but the price drops are nice.

[milesmiles]

So let's talk generators. What am I looking & why? I like those mini Hondas and ryobis. They are quiet, but "if" I was to run tire warmers, what power would I need?

[fixxervi6]

one point twenty one jigawatts

[LonestarCBR]

Which means you need a flux capacitor, and DeLorean.

[JTChiTown]

Or just one of these

http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/1dbd/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Striple]

Here is a brief synopsis on generators. Obviously, the goal is to heat the tires thoroughly, consistently, and relatively quickly. In order to achieve this, you also need a consistent power source in the form of a solid generator. If you visit a roadracing event, you will see that most of the generators that are being used produce at least 1000W, which is about what you need to run one set of, say, Chicken Hawk Racing tire warmers. More wattage is generally better, but it also tends to increase the size, weight, and cost of the unit. There is something else that you will inevitably notice at a roadracing event: many (if not most) of the generators that are being used there are Honda or Yamaha generators. The reason why those brands tend to be disproportionally represented is that they are by far the most reliable, most consistent, and most durable units out there. They're also expensive ($900+), as all good things tend to be. As an added benefit, those are also the quietest units that you can find, so other people in the pits won't overinflate your tires because your loud generator is killing everyone's brain cells. (Some tracks don't easily allow you to position a loud generator 100-ft away from everyone.)

[milesmiles]

Exactly what I needed to know. Thank you

[Firewa11]

Thomas hit the nail on the head. One thing I would add, of all the generators I used, the closer you are to top power draw, the more fuel they take. If you're running a 1000W generator and drawing 950W of power, that poor thing is going to go into overdrive to keep up. I saw this out at the deer lease countless times, the guys with 4000W generators had their units sipping gas while running their RV with central heat, floodlights, TV, DVD player, water heater, and baking biscuits in the oven. And the guys (me) with a 1000W generator were only running a space heater but having to get up in the middle of the night to run out and fill up the tank again.