- 15,000-watt portable generator with enough power to run 4-ton A/C unit
- Powered by 992 cc Generac OHVI V-Twin industrial-grade engine
- 16-gallon fuel tank provides 10-hour run-time at half-load capacity
- Easy electric start; 9 outlets including 50 Amp high power outlet, 3 twist-lock plugs, and 2 GFCI protected duplex outlets
- This item is CARB compliant
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Product Description
Amazon.com Product Review
The Generac Guardian ultra source 15,000-watt portable generator is one of the most powerful portable generator on the market. Powered by a 992 cc Generac OHV V-Twin Industrial Engine industrial grade engine, a powerhouse that's renowned for its reliability, long life, impressive power and smooth, quiet operation, this generator provides enough power to start a 4-ton air conditioning unit.
It also offers one of the longest life expectancies in the industry, with over 3,000 hours of runtime. Guardian Ultra Source portable generators feature an electronic governor, which maintains steady speed and eliminates voltage drop when loads are applied. This, as well as the automatic voltage regulator, provides a smooth rate of electricity, which is especially important for sensitive electronic devices such as computers.
This engine offers the finest lubrication technology available by providing instantaneous disbursement of lubricant to all engine parts. It also features a spin-on oil filter, which is an automotive style for easy maintenance.
 Powered by a 992 cc Generac OHV V-Twin Industrial Engine industrial grade engine. See the generator's specifications. View the generator in greater detail. |
 An easy electric start eliminates the need to pull a rope. |
A large, 16-gallon capacity fuel tank give the generator a 10-hour run-time at half-load capacity, ensuring you have the power you need. An easy electric start eliminates the need to pull a rope. A simple push of the ignition and an automatic ignition timing sets the spark for easy starting and optimum operating performance. The generator runs on gasoline and meets all EPA emissions requirements.
To keep your electrical equipment running, the generator includes nine outlets, including a 50 Amp high power outlet, three twistlock plugs and two GFCI protected duplex outlets. The generator also includes heavy-duty 13-inch all terrain tires, ensuring that you'll get the power to where you need it the most, a full 1.25-inch tubular frame, battery charge cables and a maintenance-free battery. The generator measures 38.5-by-30.75-by-48.5 inches (HxWxL), weighs 450 pounds and is backed with a 2-year limited warranty.
Amazon.com Buying Guide
Five Tips for Buying Backup Power
Standby Generators: Installing a standby generator by yourself may void the unit's warranty or violate local building codes, so research these issues before you begin. The basic steps are as follows.
 | Download our worksheet (PDF) to help you determine your power requirements. |
What Types of Generators Are There?
Generators come in two basic types: standby and portable. There also are inverters, which are not generators but may meet your needs. The source of backup power you ultimately choose will be determined by many factors, including your power requirements.
 A standby generator is installed permanently outside your home or commercial building. |
 Portable generators, such as this Briggs & Stratton model, are fueled by gasoline and include 120-volt power outlets like the ones in the walls of your home. |
 View a movie about why you might want to consider installing a standby generator (requires Flash). |
Standby Generators: A standby generator is permanently installed outside your home or commercial building and wired directly into the electrical system to provide power to some or all of your home's circuits during a disruption of normal utility power. Standby generators are fueled by liquid propane or natural gas.
The number of circuits to which a standby generator can provide power--and the number of appliances you can run on those circuits--is determined by the power capacity of the generator.
Standby generators are about the same size as, and look similar to, a standard central air conditioner. A standby model may cost as little as $1,500 or as much as $15,000 or more--the greater the power capacity, the higher the cost.
Portable Generators: Portable generators are versatile. You can use them for
- emergency power at home,
- for power in remote locations where utility power is unavailable, or
- for recreational purposes, like boating or camping.
Portable generators range in cost between a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars depending on the capacity and features.
Inverters: Inverters turn DC power into AC power, the type of current that powers everyday appliances. A common use of an inverter is to connect one into a car's cigarette lighter and then plug small home appliances into the inverter.
Inverters have added features over the years, and today many inverters include emergency radios, lights, or their own internal battery to store power.
When you purchase an inverter, you need one that can handle the wattage of the appliances you intend to connect to it. Some inverters are made specifically to power low-wattage appliances, like portable phones or digital music players. Others can handle heavy-duty power tools.
If you're buying an inverter that's powered by its own battery, you'll have to consider how many hours the inverter can provide power before needing a recharge.
The rest of this buying guide focuses solely on standby and portable generators.
How Much Power Do I Need?
There are two basic power measurements for generators: peak power (also known as startup power) and continuous power. Both are measured in wattage.
- Peak power is the wattage required for appliances at startup or when they are running at their highest levels of power consumption.
- Continuous power is the wattage required for operation of those appliances under normal load.
Standby Generators: Standby generators create from 5,000 to 25,000 watts or more of power. You'll have to choose a generator that supplies sufficient peak and continuous wattage for the appliances on the circuits you need to power.
You can choose between an air-cooled and a liquid-cooled model standby generator. Generally, liquid-cooled models are bigger and create more power.
Portable Generators: A small 1,000-watt portable generator may be all you need for recreational purposes. And you may use up to 8,000 watts if using a generator to power tools on the jobsite.
Because you plug appliances directly into a portable generator, you'll also want to make sure that your model has the number and type of outlets you need. The size of the fuel tank also is crucial. The bigger the tank, the longer your generator can run without refilling and produce power.
If you want to use a portable generator to power specific circuits in your house--or the whole house--follow the guidelines for choosing a standby generator.
What Features and Accessories Do I Need?
Aside from pure power production, there are some useful features and accessories to consider when buying a generator.
Transfer switch: If you want to use your generator to power your home, you'll need a sufficiently sized generator and a transfer switch. The transfer switch safely closes off the utility power line to your house's electrical system and opens a direct line to the generator and reverses the process when utility power is restored.
Standby models can work either with a manual or an automatic transfer switch. The benefit of an automatic transfer switch is that it senses when utility power has been lost and automatically switches to generator power.
Wheeled Frames: As the name suggests, portable generators can be transported to different locations. The smallest portable generators are comparatively light--perhaps 50 pounds--and can be carried. Larger models can weigh as much as several hundred pounds, making a wheeled frame essential for transportation.
Other Considerations:
- Noise: Generators aren't necessarily quiet. Some offer extra features to reduce the noise created during operation.
- Weather Protection: Make sure the generator you purchase is suited for the climate in which you'll use it.
 Standby generators are wired directly into your current electrical system and generally require professional installation. View larger. |
 Setup for portable generators is easy. Just make sure to keep the exhaust port pointed away from your house, and to have the proper distance from your windows and other house openings. View larger. |
First, mount the unit outside your home on a concrete pad or plastic mounting pads that come with the generator. You may need a contractor to pour the concrete foundation and mount the generator.
Next you'll need to contact your gas or propane company to connect the unit to its fuel source.
Last, you'll have to call an electrician to hook the generator up to your home's electrical system. Some generators come with pre-wired kits that make it easier for the "do-it-yourselfer" to do the wiring. In most cases, it's probably safest and best to have this work done for you.
Once installed, operation depends on whether you've used a manual or an automatic transfer switch. With an automatic transfer switch, if the generator senses a disruption in utility power, it turns itself on and takes over power production until utility power resumes. With a manual transfer switch, you have to handle these chores yourself.
On a standby model, you'll have to change the oil and filters on a regular basis. Many manufacturers provide maintenance kits to make this easier.
Portable Generators: If you're not planning to hook your portable generator into your home or building's electrical system, there is not a lot of setup involved other than finding a safe place outside your home for the generator. Because portable generators create carbon monoxide, you should never run them inside a building, beneath a window, or near any opening to your house (doors, vents, etc.).
Once situated, fill the generator with the required type of gasoline and oil and start the unit. Startup can be as simple as pressing a switch, but on some you'll have to yank a manual recoil pull-cord.
Of course, you will have to plug the appliances you want to power into the generator, refuel it as necessary, and shut the generator off when you're finished with it.
If you want to connect your generator to your home's electrical system, you'll need a manual transfer switch. Make sure your generator's manufacturer supports connecting your model to a transfer switch. If supported, comply with your model's safety and warranty guidelines as well any local building codes during the installation. In general, it's best to hire an electrician to handle the wiring of your home to the generator and transfer switch.
However you use your generator, over time you'll have to change filters, oil, and spark plugs. Plus, you should not store raw gasoline in the generator when you're not using it. Either run the generator empty or add a gasoline stabilizer that will prevent the gasoline from "gumming" up. Many manufacturers sell tune-up kits for their models.
How Do I Run a Generator Safely?
- Do not operate generators indoors, in enclosed spaces, or near a window. Make sure there is proper ventilation for all exhaust.
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation, operation, and maintenance.
- Do not operate generators near combustible materials.
- Operate portable generators on a level surface.
- Do not plug a portable generator directly into your house circuit.
- Do not attach a generator's transfer switch to your circuit box yourself unless you're very sure of what you're doing. Check all applicable local, state, and national codes and the warranty information before you do this.
Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great for the Whole House, Not for Electronics,
By
This review is from: Generac 4582-2 Ultra Source 15,000 Watt Portable Generator (CARB Compliant) (Lawn & Patio)
I am very happy with this generator, but I would not recommend using it for electronic equipment (computers, TV's, etc), as it is not very stable, especially under large loads.I ran a test to see what it could handle, below is a description of the items I turned on, and the order in which they were enabled. I connected this generator up to my whole house using a 200 amp manual transfer switch, which was professionally installed by an electrician. The transfer switch has a watt-ometer on it, so I can estimate how much wattage I am using. 1) 100 Gallon Hot Water Heater: ~4800 watts. (I opened all the hot water taps to make sure that the heater was running.) 2) 3 ton air conditioner (Trane XL19i) ~3600 watts (Set temperature to 65F to ensure that both compressors were working) 3) 2 refrigerators. ~800 watts each. (set the temperature to the coldest setting on both of them to make sure they were running) 4) 20" TV. ~300 watts 5) PC w/ 2x21" monitors ~300 watts total 6) Washing Machine ~500 watts (put a load in for the spin cycle) 7) Dishwasher ~500 watts 8) Pool Pump ~500 watts So far all of the above was running at the same time, and everything was fine except the backup battery alarms on the TV and the PC were sounding. It seems the power was not stable enough for those devices, so I turned them off. I kept everything else running, and I was determined to overload the generator to see if it would shut off as described in the manual. So, I proceeded to turn on some more large and medium appliances. 9) Clothes Dryer ~5700 watts 10) 4 stove top burners set to high ~200 watts each 11) Oven set to 450F ~5000 watts? 12) 6 overhead lights ~100 watts each 13) Sprinkler / Well Pump ~500 watts 14) Microwave oven set to High ~1500 watts 15) Garbage Disposal ~200 watts I ran out of appliances and large items that I could turn on. All of the above was running at the same time, which of course is not a typical household scenario. I was very impressed. My electrician told me that electrical devices all have exaggerated wattage ratings, so you cannot simply look at the back of device and determine how much wattage it will use. This is why my numbers add up to way more than 15,000 watts. In addition, the rating on a generator is the minimum it can handle, so it is possible that the generator could be producing slightly over 15,000 watts, depending on quality of fuel and other factors. Regardless, this test proves that the generator can handle your whole household without a problem, just keep your electronic devices plugged into a more stable generator. It is quite loud. It sounds like a Harley running at 3500 rpm. Much louder than my 3000 watt generator, and louder than my 2300 psi pressure cleaner. The smell of the exhaust is very strong as well, so keep ventilation at a maximum. Don't place it next to any bushes as the bush will die from the heat and carbon monoxide (I know this from my own experience ;-) On a separate test, I ran the generator for an extended time period to see how much fuel it uses. I plugged it into my house and ran a more limited set of appliances which would represent a typical day. The fuel consumption was about 1 gallon per hour, so keep this in mind when storing fuel for something like a hurricane. I purchased a fuel storage tank which can hold 120 gallons with a pump on it, and I can also keep 17 more gallons in the generator itself. Of course there is the risk of all this fuel going stale very quickly, so I only purchase it when I see a hurricane coming. If I never need it, I just use it for my cars.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good machine, but loud!,
This review is from: Generac 4582-2 Ultra Source 15,000 Watt Portable Generator (CARB Compliant) (Lawn & Patio)
Solid performance, easy to assemble, generally a good machine, but heavy and loud.I installed a manual switch to disconnect from main supply. It will easily run my entire house (A/C, W/H, stove, micro, freezer, etc..). Nice to have here in south FL. Neighbors like to know I have it, but dislike it when I run it every week or so to keep it in good condition because it is LOUD. Somehow they seem to forget about the noise when the power goes out and I save their frozen food.... Hmmmm? I used an engine hoist to lift it to put on the wheels etc. Couldn't imagine trying to assemble it without one. Be careful when filling oil because for some reason it's difficult to see on the dipstick - Very easy to overfill.
31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
15000K Guardian Generator,
By
This review is from: Generac 4582-2 Ultra Source 15,000 Watt Portable Generator (CARB Compliant) (Lawn & Patio)
Assembly instructions clear. Best to have some equipment to hold the unit off the floor to install the underparts, (wheels, etc.) Too heavy for one person to pick up(Unless you are VERY strong).Performance is great, has an economy feature that idles the engine back when the load lessens. Use ear protection when running, especially in an area with walls. Very pleased with the unit.
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