Buy cheap buy twice?

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You need 3 x running current min on your generator. So 2.2kw = 6.5 kw or 8kva. Not only do you need this to start it but when you stall on a knot you will send the windings into orbit. You can get away with smaller generators but not without reducing the life of the generator and motor. New generators have less material in them and are not able to take as much abuse as the old stuff.

 

RDB logs: I have just tested the 3kw generator on the 3kw log splitter at 7 degrees C and the log splitter as expected was even harder to start at lower temperature, but it did start after a few presses of the go button and it did split some large rings of straight grained oak. Gensetsteve clearly has loads more experience than me regarding what a generator is able to power, so as he says, you need a bigger generator than the motor for long life and reliable operation. I have run a 2.2kw log splitter splitting easy logs off a good quality 3kw generator for I guess approx 20 hours in total but for sure, that is no long term test. It sounds like the best bet is to get a petrol powered log splitter if you wish to use the log splitter away from a power source since the generators seem to get pretty expensive for the higher powered ones (and they get heavier...) I guess also if you have to buy a much bigger generator than the actual hp required to drive the splitter, then it will be more expensive to run than having a smaller engine power the splitter directly.

When I was looking for a generator for the 2.2kw log splitter, I found a local one and tested the generator with the log splitter before making a bid.

I see that Riko are doing a petrol powered version of the same 7 ton vertical log splitter "from £600" on their web site, 600 pounds won't buy much in the way of a good quality generator (if bought new).

I would be interested to hear what you finally decide on and how it all works out.