? About Inverter Generators

[Allnew2Me]

SWC, you have two ways to get the power from these generators. The first being the usual duplex outlet on the front panel which is run through the 20A breaker also on the front panel. The second source is the banana plugs. If you just plug something into one generator using the duplex outlet you will be able to draw 13. 3 amps continous, the built-in breaker never coming into play because the internal regulation controls overloading such as drawing more than the 1600VA. You can draw up to 2000VA peak but only for a short time.



Now if you use the banana plugs they bypass the 20A breaker but you still can only pull the 13. 3 from one generator. Now here is the cool part. If you use the banana plugs and link hot to hot and neutral to neutral using SHIELDED! banana plugs you now can draw up to 20A from a pair of generators by plugging into only one of them because the slave makes up the difference between the 13. 3 and the 20A that the breaker allows.



Now if you add a 30A plug that is connected to the banana plug wires, tee off them as you stated, you can draw the full 26. 6A from only one plug, the 30A plug. The difference is that you can use one outlet to power a higher load as opposed to using the duplex outlets on the pair to power several lower power loads. It supplies the total of the two generator outputs to a single higher amp outlet.



You should respect anything that has the potential to kill you. You can use a suicide cord that has two male plugs on it and just plug the two generators together and it is the same as the banana plugs except that it still goes through the 20 breaker and also if it gets unplugged while the two are running someone can be killed by the exposed ends. This is why it is important to use SHIELDED banana plugs which have the internal metal tip covered by an insulator.

 

[Allnew2Me]

Here is a picture of the parallel kits I built. the one on the left has the 30A RV plug on it and the one on the right is just the simple cord with plugs. They are just wired with like poles to like poles. The ground I attach to the ground screw on the front panel. I use a open spade connector and I replaced the stock ground screw with a small knob so I don't need a screwdriver.



With this setup you can power your house also if you have a transfer switch.

 

[SWC]

Allnew2Me, thanks a lot for the information and picture of what you have done. In my case a picture is worth a thousand words!!!

Stan

 

[Allnew2Me]

You are welcome. You can put your own together for a lot less than the Generac version, just make sure to use the right parts.

 

[SWC]

Allnew2Me, I appreciate your warnings on using the shielded banana plugs. It would be easy to go a different route but safety is as important to me as well. I started looking around yesterday for shielded banana plugs. I will have to find the right electrical supplier. If I can't find a supplier I may ask for help on where to find them on line.
Stan

 

[Allnew2Me]

I used these. Black Cable Mountable 4mm Shrouded Banana Plug | Mueller Electric | BU-32603-0

Here is another source. Cal Test CT3205 > Banana Plug, Shrouded, Solderless Type, Pair Black/Red CT3205 Cal Test Test Equipment



Be careful when you order, they are available in red or black. I don't know that it really matters with AC but I kept them the same on each end of the cords.

 

[SWC]

Allnew2Me, thanks for the web sites. If I go with a Canadian model that does not have the shielded banana jacks I would also need jacks as well. I was looking on the Cal Test site and found some. You used 12 gauge wire on yours. The Cal Test site mentioned 18 gauge. Would 18 gauge wire be heavy enough to handle the load? On the Black Cable site I didn't see anything for straight jacks. Maybe I don't know what I am looking for!

Thanks again.

Stan

 

[Allnew2Me]

I would not use anything smaller than 12 gauge wire. The plugs from Mouser are rated at 20 amps and so is 12ga copper wire. If you take the full power output of one eu2000i when it is run at the maximum it is around 16 amps, maybe a bit more. At the rated output it is 13. 3 amps. 18 is too small.



Bigger is better with wire size. Might as well build it once.



If you are planning on adding banana plugs to an eu2000i that does not have them I would caution you to really be sure that you know the proper place to connect them to internally. You don't want to fry the inverter module which I think sells for around $600. Check with a local Honda tech and ask him if the conversion can be done safely. If not then just come south and buy a couple.

 

[gonzo2]

SWC, I noticed Wal-Mart is now selling Hyundai 2000w suitcase style gens with a two year warranty. Might be worth a look.

Honda really needs some more competition up here so they can stop rippin' us so bad. #@$%!

 

[SWC]

Thanks gonzo2, as much as I dislike Wallyworld I may have to check that out.

Stan

 

[gonzo2]

Yeah, I'm with you on that one. I haven't been in to see one yet, my wife showed me the ad.

With the dollar coming back up, importing is looking more attractive. The story I was told (by a Honda dealer) was that Honda Canada couldn't be bothered to even try to get the parallel system CSA certified.

 

[SWC]

Gone and Done It

Well, gonzo2, I guess I have to thank you for the tip!

I still don't like the Wallystore but I went to check out those Hyundai inverter generators. For under $500 Canadian a 2000 watt continueous 2200 peak inverter generator. After finding them I had to go and get a shopping cart.

We have a Laredo 27RL 5er just under 30ft long. I hooked the generator to the camper to see what would happen. A/C on, OK; A/C and toaster OK; just for giggles A/C and microwave uh NO. At one point I had it on eco throttle and the motor died when I added a smaller load. The next time I added a large load on eco and the motor sped up without dying.

I have never used an inverter gen before. I was impressed how there was not the surge on a conventional gen when load was added or taken off. It is definately quieter then a conventional genset and probably a little louder then a Honda. Information says 60 db at 20 ft. Weight is 30 kg. or 66 lbs.

Hyundai is a familiar name not a China knock off. The Hyundai industrial division has a good reputation from what I read. They have been available in the UK for a while.

First impression is favorable. We don't often dry camp but wanted something that would get us by and not have others upset with the noise of our generator. (That's what my 24 valve Cummins is for)!

Stan

 

[gonzo2]

Well, let us know how it does. Looks like our RV needs are about the same as yours. I was thinking about rigging up a 2 x 12V battery system, but for that price I might as well as go for a generator since you can use it for other things as well.

The Hyundai industrial division has a good reputation from what I read.

I saw a documentary on their shipbuilding yard, pretty impressive!

 

[Dan_69GTX]

I didn't like the parallel kits I found so I made my own. I wanted to be able to know exactly how much power I was using so...



I bought/scrounged:



2 kill-a-watt meters

2 15 amp 120v outlets

1 15/20 amp 120v outlet

1 30 amp RV outlet

1 Honda parallel cable for 3000is gensets

2 15amp 120V plugs

2 15amp 120V plugs w/o a ground prong

1 30amp breaker

1 20amp breaker

1 box

wire, wire nuts, solder, crimp terminals, etc.



The gens are connected via the banana plugs. The 120V plug is just to

connect the ground. Each generator feeds a kill-a-watt meter. The

plug that goes into the kill-a-watt is what feeds the breakers. The

breakers feed the 20 and 30 amp outlets - which have circuit breakers on them.



Now I know if I am above rated load on either gen so that maximum life

can be achieved for those expensive generators.



To create the extended run tank I bought 2 honda mower gas caps (much cheaper) drilled a hole in them. Used 2 truck valve stems (minus core and rubber bushing - rubber doesn't hold up to gas - ask me how I know). Epoxied them in the cap and fed them from a marine gas tank.



Total cost was just over $140.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

SWC - I tried the honda with the a/c - it will work it just fine. However it is over the rated amps of 13. 3 - which is what you can run the gen at w/o concern for overheating. I'd recommend checking with an ammeter what you draw to make sure you can run what you want w/o going over the rated watt/amp rating.

Glad you found a gen you like for a really nice price.