Coleman Powermate PM0545002

I think the Coleman Powermate PM0545002 is poor all around. The manual does not represent the actual item and represents all of the PM generators, good luck with that and have not received a miliwatt of power. and the customer service I get at the moment is a full voice mail box for the 1-800 number.

In my opinion, all Coleman Powermate equipment is disposable junk, including generators, air compressors, and heaters. Typically you get what you paid for.

I bought this generator due to three major storm's hitting one after another. Soon after I got home, filled with gas. Could not get the generator to fire. Was able to get it to run for 20 seconds, then the plug would fowl. This went on for about hour hours of pulling, pulling the plug till I stopped for the evening.

In the middle of storm #2 with lights flickering, was able to get it to run off of starting fluid, but the plug fowled out again.

With storm #3 packing even higher winds, and after taking the carb part, cleaning the jets, I was able to get it to run. 8 hours of working on it, and two full freezers, and my back against the wall it seems to run well.

Unless your handy with small engines, I would not recommend this generator with the 14.5 Hp Briggs motor.

Coleman seems to have targeted the "power is out, gotta have it now" crowd with this particular model, as some of the design flaws indicate that they designed it in a hurry. For instance, getting oil into the engine crankcase requires either a tiny, long, flexible funnel or a squirt bottle with a hose attached to it, since none of the SIX funnels I own would fit under the frame and reach the oil port. The pull start faces the wrong way (you pull the starter towards the side opposite the outlets). If you place the unit next to a wall, you have to pull it away from the wall to start it or face the outlets towards the wall. As for the instruction manuals (there are four of them in every language you can imagine), they're pretty bleak on exactly how THIS model works, how much oil THIS model holds, where to find the engine model on THIS unit, etc. They have the idea that one manual fits all their models, and that's like assuming a Rolls-Royce is the same as a VW Bug.

The unit is quite loud, but most generators are regardless of make or design.

Also be aware that the manufacturer recommends NOT operating the unit in inclement weather (like weather that makes the power go out). Furthermore they have LOTS of cautions that you should NOT operate solid state items like computers, clocks, televisions, stereos or telephone equipment from the generator without a line conditioner to keep the voltage and frequency variations from damaging these items.

I paid $599 for the unit from Lowe's, and while it does a decent job of powering the fridge, freezer, fans and such, my next unit will have a built-in line conditioner and much better design characteristics. I don't recommend this model, personally I'm going to sell mine for a small loss and buy something else before a hurricane starts brewing.