Brand reccomendations .....
Look to who you have in your area - you want a dealer who can service the stuff, and will help you design the entire installation.
Kohler, Onan, Caterpillar ... are all fine businesses.
I can't make it any more clear .... the brand / model of the genny is the most irrellevant detail. In any event, it's the dealers who are in a position to have an opinion on the topic- not the sparky.
Far more important is correct sizing, fuel choice, and the correct ancillary equipment. I would take a correctly designed system with a China Diesel generator over and incomplete design with a massively oversized Cat any day of the week.
Fact is, most homeowners' true 'emergency' needs can be met with a pair of 1000 watt portables with extension cords. (Just enough to keep the furnace blowing and the fridge cold). For that, I recommend Panasonic first, Honda second, Coleman third.
Then again, I do not consider the loss of TV viewing to be an emergency.
