ST-GP2000i Inverter Generator Yamaha Engine, 2000-watt

I just bought a 9 year old unused one off my brother. I added oil and it started right up. I have been using it in the freezing cold and this thing rocks! Usually 1 pull and it starts and it runs lots of 1500-1600 watt items I own. Sometimes it even ran my 2000W air fryer on low but not consistently. It is pretty quiet, sips gas, is the perfect weight, and best of all it's a Yamaha!

I ordered a refurbished unit. What I got was , in the words on the sticker attached to the unit, "non-saleable."The pull start string is missing.The front panel is disconnected and wires are hanging out.The side panel is broken, which means it will not hold gas.The rear panel near the muffler is broken.There's no gas cap.The box it came in is stained with gas and oil.I can't return it because "items containing flammable liquids or gases can’t be returned to Amazon" What a mess. I've contacted Smarter Tools. Let's see what happens.

I purchased this product from Costco in 2015 for $549.00. I did a lot of research on generators and this was my choice. I bought it to use for my travel trailer. The fist couple of years is worked great. Always started and ran well. I start it every 2 months. It got harder and harder to start, so I put some Sea Foam through it (3oz/gal) and it helped a lot. After a few months it became impossible to start. Had to pull the side cover to use starting fluid or a squirt of gas in it to get it going. Started putting non-ethanol gas in it, but didn't help. I went to start it last week during a big storm in Ca. and I noticed the neck on the fuel tank was broken off. Trying to find the fuel tank now, but the phone numbers for the company do not work. I read online that a fuel tank replacement is $130.00 plus shipping. I can't find one anyway. I will probably just get a new generator instead.

When attempting to power a Panasonic NN-SD797S Genius "Prestige" 1.6 cuft 1250-Watt Sensor Microwave with Inverter Technology & Blue Readout, Stainless Steel the generator's overload light goes on and the generator stops producing power within a few seconds. Other reviewers have reported similar. One of the main reasons I purchased the generator was to be able to cook with the microwave during power outages. I am trying to call Smarter Tools support, left messages, but no one returns my calls.After many attempts I was able to get through to their support line. The person explained that microwave ovens have a startup surge that can be several times the cooking power. Searches related to "microwave oven startup power" confirm this. However he lost his credibility when he stated that other kitchen appliances such as coffee pots and toaster ovens have the same problem. These have resistive loads and the startup surge should be negligible. When I told him he did not know what he was talking about with the resistive appliances he hung up on me.I was able to run the above microwave at 80% power which is a satisfactory workaround. Other appliance such as my refrigerator, GE FCM7SUWW 7.0 Cu. Ft. White Chest Freezer, lights such as the Designers Edge L1306 108-LED Portable Bright LED Workshop Lighting, Green and Designers Edge L1315 63-LED 1600-Lumen Portable Ecozone LED Work Light, Green, Zojirushi CV-DSC40 VE Hybrid Water Boiler and Warmer, Stainless Steel, Keurig K75 Single-Cup Home-Brewing System with Water Filter Kit, Platinum, Cuisinart TOB-60N Toaster Oven Broiler with Convection and Whirlpool WTW5600XW Cabrio 3.6 Cu. Ft. White Top Load Washer - Energy Star work fine, of course not all at once. I had to make sure the sum of the loads did not exceed 1500 W.I originally rated this unit as 1 star but am rerating it as 3 due to their poor customer support. I would give the unit it 4 otherwise.

A short note to everyone considering this generator. It does have the Yamaha engine and it is quiet. I will tell you the two things that make it different from the Yamaha 2000is that retails for about $1000.00 (I got the Smarter Tools generator for $599 plus tax).1. This unit is not designed to be placed in parallel with another generator of the same type. Yamaha units have this feature built-in. You just need the wire.2. This unit does not have a fuel gage. Yamaha units have a fuel gage.3. Yamaha is blue, Smarter Tools is red.I have one of these and love it. Just be aware. This will not run a travel trailer AC unit which usually has 2500 watts of starting power, minimum. Other than that, this is a great little unit at a fantastic price.So now you can ask yourself. Are a fuel gauge, parallel capability and blue color worth an extra $350? For me, the added features were not worth the extra money.Have fun making electricity.