FIRMAN TRI-FUEL GENERATOR - One Year Later

Today I share 15 things I have learned about the Firman Tri-Fuel during my first full year of use.

This Firman generator is the best value on the market for a whole house generator that runs on gasoline, natural gas and propane

Natural Gas Quick Connect

Natural gas hose with quick connect

My TOP FIVE Recommended Generator Accessories

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[TOOLMANTIMSWORKSHOP]

Check out my original review of the Firman Tri-Fuel Generator
FIRMAN TRI-FUEL GENERATOR - A Portable-ish Whole House Generator

[danielchao]

*Came packaged perfectly. This **Generater.Systems** is awesome! No problems starting on Propane. Three cranks and it lit up. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a bigger generator for a camper or to have during a power outage. Dual fuel source is the way to go!!!*

[DiamondBackRS]

I just bought the TO7573 from Costco, $200 off. It has slightly more power than your blue version. You mentioned the noise for the neighbors. I highly suggest you look into a adapter for your exhaust, and attach a small 4 cylinder car muffler. It will make it as silent as a car idling and your neighbors will love you for it. I suggest avoiding the online muffler kits being sold as they are slightly noiser, you can even make a bracket to hold the muffler with some flexible heat rated tubing for exhaust. parts are readily available. I use this set up while camping, and my camping neighbors love it!

[augustclaire]

I've been looking at generators for almost a year since our wonderful governor here in CA has promised that we are going to have blackouts. Had been saving money to buy a large enough one to run my whole house, when I saw this one and your video. That was all I needed to convince me this one was the one, (also, $600-$800 cheaper than the one I was looking at). Ordered it yesterday and expect to get it in two days. Can't wait. Thanks for the two videos on this unit!

[gilleslafreniere]

Bought a Firman small 3650 Watts gas generator 3 1/2 years ago. It is a stand by generator that I use only when the electrical power from the grid is down during snow or ice storms. Up to now, there is no rust on the metal parts and it starts flawlessly on the first manual pulls everytime. With the electrical power provided, it is enough to power up the gas furnace, the refrigerator, router, tv and computer and a couple of lights. Myself I am happy with this purchase.

If I ever need to replace it, I will go with a natural gas generator that will use my gas line and I would not have any worry about bad gasoline, running out of fuel and the carburator going dirty

[rebeccarule]

thanks so much for your video Tim, My husband and I are just looking into getting a generator after a four day outage in Sacramento California. Our neighbor's electrician recommended this generator. We want to use our natural gas line for the fuel. In the cold I don't so much need to run our natural gas central heat as long as I can have my heated mattress pad on and can charge up my electronics and keep the fridge and toaster oven running. But we are having outages in the summer when it is above 100 degrees and I hope to be able to run my AC at least some of the time. We will look at other videos to continue learning. Thanks Again, Becky Rule

[gcnd]

As yet another Californian dealing with our idiotic government, I appreciate the info. Great review, thanks

[brett]

Thx for the follow up. Much better than someone just firing up one they just bought

[michaelerb]

I'm considering purchasing this generator from Costco which currently has it on sale for 699. I asked their online support about the dirty power concern that I had with my electronics. This was their reply...

"Total Harmonic Distortion Firman portable generators will output an industry standard total harmonic distortion (THD) rating of about 12%-20% depending on load applied. They will produce a sine wave, not a modified or square wave. This is perfectly acceptable for running common commodities found in your home such as TVs, computers, your appliances, etc. Inverters has a THD of 3% or less THD is a measure of the deviation of a sine wave from a "perfect" sine wave. All electricity, including line electricity, has measurable THD."

[justinpecot]

Great video. I also have this unit, but have not used it yet. It came highly recommended by our electrician.

[practicallyfrugal]

Bought the gray version about 6 weeks ago I sale for $799, aside from the CO detection they now have all the switches covered with clear weatherproof flexible plastic to protect them

[scotthill]

Mine's been great for 3 years, I only run on propane because propane can be stored forever without going bad. Gasoline can't be stored without degrading even with stabilizers. Bought one of plastic shed's to store it in, an I use a solar battery tender. Great purchase.

[communityprepper]

Thanks for the in depth review. I purchased this at Costco last month. Haven't unboxed it yet; on my "to-do' list.

[ACommenterOnYouTube]

1 thing i learned TODAY ...
On a 240V generator, there are 2 coils. 120V each. 120V x 2 is 240V Just like the power coming in from the street.
My buddy has a 7kW running generator but it kept poping the breaker after so many appliances or loads were used BUT it would run his 6500W dryer just fine.
Could never figure it out until the generator repair place he went to told him that we was overloading the 1 side coil which was why he was popping the breaker.
This is a 7kW running generator which means its 3500W per 120V coil x 2 which gives a total of 7kW ... Only by coincidence, when he would turn stuff ON inside his house, it was just his luck that MOST of the loads were wired to 1 side of the vertical buss bar in the breaker box .... which meant the one 120V leg from the street was getting more power consumption than the other 120V leg which created a light imbalance on the main transformer coil which isnt a big deal because he has a 200 amp breaker ....
So when he got a clamp meter and measured each 120V leg, he saw that one leg was 7100 watts while the other leg was only 3000 watts ..
So while that was all fine and good with a 200 amp breaker, this is a problem when it came to his generator that could only do 3500 watts per coil or per 120V leg ... And most of the stuff he ran was wired to one side of the 120V bar so as he got to 3500W and passed it, he popped the breaker.
While the Dryer was on 240V .... it was an even balanced load at 6500 watts ..

[weird_law]

Thanks for making these. I watched the previous one. Always appreciate when people do a follow-up when reviewing/installing products.

[stephane]

Was going to exchange my smaller inverter firman 3300 for this one. Currently on sale for $1198 cdn. $250 off. But after reading more info THD and sensitive electronics requiring THD of 5% or less I decided to keep my Firman inverter. It has 3% THD while the model your review is rated at 11-14%.

I have a newer Lennox furnace (2019) with smart thermostat, and a couple of UPS to protect routers and components and higher THD supposedly can cause issues.

[gringojuanita]

Just got the grey one from Costco and so glad I saw this before opening the box. Now I can't wait!

[ElCid_]

Thanks for the review. And you NEED a soft start on your AC. My Firman handles mine just fine now.

[PupWalker_]

I have been researching generators for the past couple of days. I know nothing about generators. It's all Greek to me! YOU are a Godsend!!! My Costco Business center has this for $200 off at $759. I live in Phoenix and am worried about potential rolling Blackouts/Brownouts with our summer heat as my 96 year old mother lives with me. My biggest concern is being able to run the central AC. I think it's a 3 ton unit. Everything else I can get by without for limited time if it puts too much of a load on the generator while AC runs..
Questions:
1. Electrician to install soft start on roof AC unit and plug in at electrical panel?
2. Already have natural gas for heat. Would gas company install some kind of "outlet" or attachment to hook into the existing gas meter?
3. I assume once the electrician has the hook up at the electrical panel, it's just a matter of connecting propane tank up?
It would be so much easier if you could come to my house and hook this all up...Hahaha. Thank you for this great easy to understand video.

[west]

Great video! Costco has it on sale for $699. I'm going to pick one up.