Generators

[RBuesser]

We have a 4 horse trailer with a 10'short wall. I was wondering what everyone is running for power? I understand you wont be able to run the ac and the microwave at same time. I was thinking about the Hondas, but didnt want to buy two 2000's and link them. Is the 3000 big enough or go with a 4000 but how much louder is it than 2 2000's?

 

[JFaughn]

I can'nt say I have had a lot of experance with those mdl. , but if you can go with bigger , less load , less noise , easyer on equipment ,
Kinda like fixing things , get it rite the 1st time , and if your going to spend $$$ be happy with the results , not trying to save and the get caught short .
I'm using solar for most power , but will be adding a generator soon , in trying to have my cake and eat too , the plan is to get a Miller welder/generator , so it can make $$$ and power [ 10kw while welding ] 2 gen. in one .

 

[RichardMClain]

I have a Honda 2000EI for my 5th wheel and it is fine for my loads as I do not use an air conditioner or electric heat water and use gas for the refrigerator. It is very quiet.



Yamaha has just come out with a 2400 watt unit that is supposed to be just as quiet with more 400 watts.



The only reason for me not getting one of the 3000 watt units is they are to heavy for me to pick it up by myself. So if I should need more I will couple two of the 2000s.



Both the Honda 3000 and the Yamaha 3000 are very quiet.

 

[RSeymon]

Might try looking at the Generators at pepboys or checker auto the champinion 3000 will do all you want and are just a little louder then the honda but the price is right. Also check out the forum www.trailerlife.com on the chinese generators lots of great imfo.

 

[Big Mike]

I run the two 2000's, will power everything. The big selling factor for me was the lightweight set up and a guarantee that I can power everthing at the same time. I have run my A/C, fridge, microwave, water heater all at the same time with no problems. I also thought about the 3000, but the weight and possibility that it would not power the A/C was not worth the gamble with my $$.



I hope this helps you with your decision



Mike

 

[klaybus]

Honda EU2000i

I was just reading some posts on the Honda 2000s on www.IRV2@.com this morning & there are people running 13. 5 AC units on a single Honda EU2000i. They said the key to it was only one major load running at a time. For this to work, start the fan 1st then turn on the AC cooling. Probably pushing the Honda EU2000i to it's MAX ability but seems to work.



Clay

 

[kelly4463]

i got my generator at pepboys runs my a/c tvs and dvds in my 5er i used it one time at a truck pull last summer no issues here if i used one all the time i would get a honda

 

[JWRowe]

Honda

Good evening,

I have the Honda 3000EU series and it powers everything I need very well. I haven't tried water heater, micro and AC all at the same time though. Won't for a while either as it is only 6 deg, outside right now. Love the 3000 and it is SO quiet. Has a switch for full power mode or switch to idle and only raises higher when power requirements need it to. Low oil level shut down function too. I have taken the male connector off of all my camper power cords and use the higher level twist lock outlet rather than the normal duplex receptacals. Several brands of nice units to look at so shop around. Good luck.



Regards, John

 

[moparguy]

I guess my Honda EU3000 experience is a bit different. We use one with our TrailsWest 3 horse and while camping in the summer it struggles with the 13. 5btu ac when it's really hot. If you fire it up in the afternoon and temps are in the 90 plus range it starts the ac no problem the first time, but don't shut the ac off and try to restart it. Sometimes it just won't do it without tripping out on high load a time or two.



I understand they make a softstart kit for the ac that will help, I'll likely check into that before it gets hot.



I do like having only one generator to service and dealwith, however In my case the 3000 is marginal at best.



Having said all that, I do like the EU series, really quite, however we often camp with others and evertime it seems the folks next door have a unit that is designed for MAX NOISE. And they never shut it off. GGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. I'm sorry, what were we talking about?



Good Luck

RR

 

[rluft]

If you fire it up in the afternoon and temps are in the 90 plus range it starts the ac no problem the first time, but don't shut the ac off and try to restart it. Sometimes it just won't do it without tripping out on high load a time or two. RR

You have to wait several minutes before restarting the AC to allow for the compressor to bleed off pressure.



3000 watts should run a 13,500 btu AC. With my money I bought two Honda EU2000's. The EU3000 is quieter than the EU 2000 but heavier. Yamaha 2800 is quiet and I believe has a boost feature. Do your camping neighbors a favor and buy a generator that is noise rated 60db or less, if not specified in the specs don't buy it. They all supply electricity some just do it with less noise.



I have been the guy in the campground with the loudest genset, and would turn the thing off at 10pm. I didn't like being that guy. Now that I have the Honda's I am the quietest and don't feel bad about running the gen's all night to run the AC.

 

[daytripper63]

Nice thing about 2 eu2000's is you only have wear and tear on 1 unit most of the time and then the few times you need a/c then you twin kit them and use both. it is a very nice set up.

for the 3000 my buddy has one and if you start it and let it run for about 5 min. before turning on a/c all is well. The r. v and generator dealer both said the built in rv battery charger will have a high energy draw for the first few minutes and that was why he was having problems with the 3000 where as 4000( 2 eu2000) it is not a problem

 

[NVR FNSH]

Might try looking at the Generators at pepboys or checker auto the champinion 3000 will do all you want and are just a little louder then the honda but the price is right.

A Pepboys, Home Depot or Costco generator is "just a little louder" than my EU3000? You have no idea how wrong you are. My dad thought the same thing about his Generac 5000W until he (barely) heard my Honda.....



That said, if I had it to do over again I'd get two EU2000's and parallel them - less weight and easier to pack. I can pick up/move my EU3000 but I'm not happy about it. The Honda wheel kit uses "roller blade" type wheels - won't work in the desert - and I haven't found an 'off-road' wheel kit to purchase so I'm going to have to make my own.



Brian

 

[SSell]

a pair of EU2000's is THE way to go! very clean power, run your computer or tv on it, can't hear them run (hardly), eco-throttle saves gas, it's a 4KW, 30amp service that you can carry/load /move by yourself w/o a hernia. u can save 100$ or so & build parallel kit yourself. Some people can run a 13. 5K AC with one, but they are pushing it, can't spin mine up with just one running... half considering converting mine to propane so dont have to worry about carb gumming.



my2cents

 

[AMink]

One of these days I'll have two Hondas. One 2000 may run stuff at sealevel, but remember that with each 1000' rise in elevation, they lose something like 3. 5% power (according to Honda), so at 5000' a 2000 is more like a 1650. Since I start at 5000', everything downhill is like adding power to the generator!

 

[tandersen]

Those cheap construction generators are ok if you are not going to be around anyone else. They are LOUD! I had somebody parked by me in a forest service campground that ran theirs from 6a to 10p, I complained to the host. He talked to them about it, they got mad and left. Oh well, too bad.

 

[CLAYTON]

I've been very happy with my EU3000. It's a bit bulky but I figure I'm young enough not to throw my back out. The Honda starts my AC no problem... Depending on what altitude I'm at but in good conditions I can run my fridge, AC, and mic at the same time. TV is on too. Also depends on how hot it is out side. I like that I only have one unit to service or worry about.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Take a look at the Yamaha series. I have the 3000 inverter type w/boost technology.



Does a great job and quiet. Not cheap.

 

[CBari]

I Have Generac Quietpac 40g On My Horse Trailer And It Runs The Air And Microwave Together, Plus With The Remote Start In Side The Living Quarters It Is Awful Handy. Rvparts Outlet Usually Has The Generator On Sale For About $1200. It Mounts Well In The Manager Or Rear Tack Or Even On The Hay Rack. If You Mount On The Hay Rack You Need To Use And Additional Fuel Pump. Under Full Load It Burns 1/2 Gal/hour.

 

[SSell]

yamaha= carb problems!

 

[JoeDiesel]

Honda EU-3000 all the way!!!

Speaking from extensive Honda experience; I can't begin to tell you how much I love my EU-3000. Living in Miami, generators are not a luxury but more of a necessity. I have owned an ES-6500, EU-2000 and now a EU-3000. They all have served me well. I used them all for, guess what, hurricane power outages. Two weeks w/o power when I had the 6500 and the 2000. The 6500 was pretty quiet but it did not have an "eco" throttle so it sucked gas. "Katrina" left me almost 3-weeks w/o power. My 3000 ran a 25' refriderater, a 7' freezer, 8500 BTU window a/c at night and several lights and still got me approximately 30 hours to the tank!! I could not believe it. I got more hours than the manual said I should. I only turned it off to fill the tank and change the oil. I bought the 3000 to power my 2204 HI-LO. It runs everything. However I freaked out when I turned off the 13,500 btu a/c then turned it back on too soon. I heard the honda "grown" in protest then everything went dark. I later learned that you just have to wait a few minutes. Whew. It is very heavy but I have a son to help me. The two (2000's) sounds like a great idea but I wanted the quietist gen set i could find and one that would not run out of gas in the middle of the night either. Also, the 2000's have a propensity to grow legs. As a matter of fact, ALL honda's do. Please take sufficient efforts to avoid helping criminals to these units.