Honda EU2000i $899 @ camping world - til 11/27

[Falstaff]

If the CA carb compliant versions are anything like CA "green sticker" dirt bikes what they've done is simply jet the carb to be extremely lean which makes the engine run much hotter (decreasing engine life). If one can't get the non CA version, I wonder how hard it would to de-California these for Proper performance?

[thenodnarb]

what exactly would be the penalty for acquiring a non california compliant generator and using it? Are we looking at fines? Jail time? Shot in the back of the head on the street?
And really, how wold anyone EVER know? Aren't they banking on business doing the enforcement for them by going after manufacturers?

[Falstaff]

I know someone who buys chainsaws/lawn equipment in NV....
I was talking to the owner of a Stihl chainsaw dealer in placerville a couPle years ago he said the first thing the lumberjacks do is convert their CARB carbs back to normal as the saws have noticeably lower performance when jetted so lean.

[socalocalypse]

I read that someone acquired a gennie that looks a lot like mine but its non carb compliant. It cost way less, and supposedly has no catalytic converter and runs quieter. I heard they got it off ebay without problems.

Me, I'd go with a new generator regardless as the used ones are *all* low usage , just need carbs rebuilt , or don't run at all, or who knows what.

I use mine frequently, but I'd wager lots don't. Like a motorcycle its got a petcock to shut of the flow of gas to the carb. I never remember to do it, but if you're going to leave the thing for a period of time I read the trick is to shut off the gas flow(petcock) and run it till it goes dry to get the fuel out of the carb. There's a lot of crap in the lower 1/4" of the fuel tank, sediment, I never knew gas was so dirty from the pump.

[thenodnarb]

So I been looking into these more. It seems the 2000 can run about 15A but the 1000 can only run half that. So the 2000 can handle a fridge but not the 1000
The companion sacrifices a DC charger for the ability to run a 30A socket but only when you run 2 in parallel. I think I'd prefer to have the DC charging ability. What do you need a 30A socket for?

Apparently these hondas have a very high quality inverter. Is it a pure sine wave inverter, or just close? If it is pure sine, it seems like a waste to charge batteries only to run a cheaper inverter off of it.

I wonder if I'd be better served by a 1000 or 2000?

Edit: Looks like my fridge needs only 4.5 amps to run so the little one would work fine. But now I want the big one because I could run any of my power tools off the 2000.

[Seesm]

Not sure if the used eu2000i I bought a little over a year ago is a "carb" model but it rocks...
I race Yamaha's and LOVE Yamaha's but at the races EVERYONE uses the Hondas... Why do you ask? Well I wanted to try both to see for myself... And now I have run BOTH the Yamaha and the Honda and the Honda is quieter and just feels more solid.

Over the years I tested with Honda and Yamaha and both are great products but I know the development Honda puts into there stuff and its ALOT more than any other comapany. Honda's EU2000 is GREAT... I run alot of stuff off mine. I love it.

[akjunkie]

Not sure if the used eu2000i I bought a little over a year ago is a "carb" model but it rocks...
I race Yamaha's and LOVE Yamaha's but at the races EVERYONE uses the Hondas... Why do you ask? Well I wanted to try both to see for myself... And now I have run BOTH the Yamaha and the Honda and the Honda is quieter and just feels more solid.

Over the years I tested with Honda and Yamaha and both are great products but I know the development Honda puts into there stuff and its ALOT more than any other comapany. Honda's EU2000 is GREAT... I run alot of stuff off mine. I love it.

Before I bought my Honda gen. I did research on it, and basically "Everyone" over at RV.net loves it. And these are retired / Full time campers that use their generator on a regular basis for Years.

[Eljay]

Before I bought my Honda gen. I did research on it, and basically "Everyone" over at RV.net loves it. And these are retired / Full time campers that use their generator on a regular basis for Years.

Likewise on all of the professional photographer forums it's all anybody will use. Most of these inverter-based generators will eventually kill strobe lights because the power output isn't a pure sine wave, but the Hondas have no such problem. Also they're pretty light and they're quiet enough that you don't have to shout over them to give the models directions, etc. If you're just doing a quick shoot with a couple of lights there are battery based solutions, but if you're out there for a long shoot that's what everybody uses.

It's also worth walking around a farmer's market if you go to one with people selling cooked food. A good number of them have a generator and they're nearly 100% Honda - anything else is too loud and if you do run into somebody with a cheap generator it really stands out. But the Hondas are unnoticeable unless you actually look for them.

Basically if you care about portability, noise, and not frying electronics it's Honda. I would only consider another brand if you don't care about at least two of those.

[bruss01]

I like ours - bought two of them. One by itself is enough to run our washer, dryer (gas), refrigerator and furnace (gas forced air). That's all I really need to get through a power outage. Caveat - dryer must be started first, runs fine with everything else after that.

I have the additional cord that connects the two, making it equivalent of a 4k watt unit. But by virtue of being separate, my wife can lift and move them by herself, even lifting them into the back of our truck. I like that.

[TheChief]

I spent part of this weekend setting up my new Honda EU2000i gene. I picked up the parts, listed in a previous post, to create an extended run fuel tank. So instead of a 1.1 gallon tank, I know have a 7.7 gallon tank.

While the gene is quiet compared to other open frame units, it does still make some noise. I would like to make some type of sound box to help reduce the noise while also allowing for air flow. I am thinking of a Plywood box with the foam acoustics tiles you see in music studios. And some 90 degree turns. Thoughts? The gene would run on my back deck so carbon monoxide poisoning is not an issue.

I also went around the house and pulled/researched the amp/watt load of the appliances and toys I would want to run during a power outage. The numbers are below. My current focus is for the winter so heating is number 1. The fridges are number two. I have enough batteries to run lanterns for a couple of months

-
-
-
-
-
-
- - Fans, work lights, radio, and power tools
-



The fridges will run for 30 minutes every six hours or so. I will want to test this during the HVAC test given the lower temperatures in the house during a power failure in winter. If the power failed during summer/fall, more likely 30 minutes every four hours. I would like some type of temperature monitor over the course of a 24 hour period to measure during the test though.

Thoughts?

[cranemech]

Chief
Maybe check out some of the RV forums for some ideas on mitigating the genny noise.
Are those amperages you posted for a running load? Start-up loads for electric motors can be significantly higher than running loads.

[Suhleen]

So I been looking into these more. It seems the 2000 can run about 15A but the 1000 can only run half that. So the 2000 can handle a fridge but not the 1000
The companion sacrifices a DC charger for the ability to run a 30A socket but only when you run 2 in parallel. I think I'd prefer to have the DC charging ability. What do you need a 30A socket for?

Apparently these hondas have a very high quality inverter. Is it a pure sine wave inverter, or just close? If it is pure sine, it seems like a waste to charge batteries only to run a cheaper inverter off of it.

I wonder if I'd be better served by a 1000 or 2000?

Edit: Looks like my fridge needs only 4.5 amps to run so the little one would work fine. But now I want the big one because I could run any of my power tools off the 2000.

You can parallel a 2000i with the 30A Companion, which would give you the DC option as well as the 30A.

People want the 30A outlet for their RV's, or if you install a transfer switch you'll want the 30A as well.

[amd64]

I'm looking at getting a EU2000iac. Also interested in having a propane fuel option if possible.

Anyone using a propane kit with their Honda EUx000iac generators? What kit(s) do you recommend? TIA for info!

[TheChief]

I'm looking at getting a EU2000iac. Also interested in having a propane fuel option if possible.

Anyone using a propane kit with their Honda EUx000iac generators? What kit(s) do you recommend? TIA for info!

I don't have the kit but am researching this as well to run off of the house gas feed for running during a power outage.

Here is what I found:

Someone's writeup --> http://www.technomadia.com/2009/07/p...r-and-cooling/

The Kit for sale $179 --> http://www.generatorsales.com/order/...i_Tri_Fuel_Kit

The kit sold already attached to a EU2000 --> http://www.generatorsales.com/order/...2000i_Tri_Fuel

The kit allows the genie to run gasoline, LP, and Natural Gas.