Honda EU 3000 generator is great

[Whitmore]

Today I received a package containing a new generator, the Honda EU 3000, after preping it I can tell you that this thing is well built and I have never heard a generator this quiet before, I am very impressed. I bought this one so I could stay portable with it rather than having one mounted in the 5er.



Just thought I would pass on what a great product this is



cheers, Kevin

 

[RJOL]

They're pricy but they make some of the best generators out there...

 

[HBarlow]

Kevin:



Will your new Honda generator run your trailer AC unit, lighting, etc?



How long will it run on a tank of fuel when loaded?



I frequently park overnight in truck stops, roadside rest stops, etc. I've been thinking how nice it would be to be able to run my AC overnight during hot summer weather.



I'd appreciate hearing your opinions and experiences as well as a source for the generator if you found a retailer with discounted prices.



Harvey

 

[slo-ryde]

On my last camping trip my "neighbor" in the next campsite had this generator. It's sure quiet.



Here's a link to the Honda website with all the specs:



http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/eu3000.htm

 

[Whitmore]

Originally posted by HBarlow

Kevin:



Will your new Honda generator run your trailer AC unit, lighting, etc?



How long will it run on a tank of fuel when loaded?



I frequently park overnight in truck stops, roadside rest stops, etc. I've been thinking how nice it would be to be able to run my AC overnight during hot summer weather.



I'd appreciate hearing your opinions and experiences as well as a source for the generator if you found a retailer with discounted prices.



Harvey

Harvy, yes it will run my A/C unit, I only have an hour on it so far but they advertise that it will run loaded for 7 hours. I ordered it from Northern tools on sale, that was the best price I could find anywhere. The unit showed up to the house in 3 working days!



Cheers, Kevin

 

[TowPro]

I read you need 3500 peak from the generator to run 1 ac, and a 5000 to run 2. The problem is starting the AC, once its started it uses a lot less energy to keep it going.



My Generac 4KV will run my AC. My guess is the Honda will also, but it might cause problems trying to start if there is any head pressure in the compressor.

 

[HBarlow]

Thanks to each of you who replied.



Harvey

 

[rweis]

My Honda 2k 2. 5k peak will not run my 5er with air, nor will it start my porter cable 2. 5hp air compressor.



Go BIG in generators or you will do it a second time.



I used this generator for night fishing 4@500 watt floods, worked great in that application.



An elecrician I know says to take the generator constant output times 80% and that is the constant load it should carry.



Bob Weis

 

[Doubleclutch]

The neatest thing about these Hondas is that you can parallel two together to meet your heavier demands. A 3000 kw gen. won't lite off my A/C, but two 2000s paralleled together will. If it's not the A/C time of the year, you only take one. (LOTS less weight to heft up to the bed of the 4x4 truck. ) Best price I found was Mayberry's. www.mayberrys.com

Greg

 

[Utah Willie]

I have had a Honda EU 1000 for years that I've taken on the boat, with the camper and in the fifth wheel to run a satellite dish and lights, etc. It is great! I am buying two EU2000s and the connecting wiring to carry in the future. Alone, each would work the satellite or microwave and together, they will light off the A/C in the camper or 5er. At 58 db, they are very quiet. I figure if two are needed... . it's hot and everyone will have their gensets on... . The upside to this idea is that two 2000s are not much more expensive than a 3000 but their combined weight is less! The downside is they are manual start as compared to electric start option on the 3000. Other than that, there's a whole lot of advantages to this set up but it's too long a process to explain... do your math... do your research and you'll come up Honda.

 

[rweis]

How do you parallel two together? What years / models can you do it with?



I wonder if I can do it with my 2. 5 and a 3. 5? or both units have to be identical in output?



Bob Weis

 

[Doubleclutch]

Paralleling generators

Only works with the EU 1000, 2000 and 3000 pairs. Honda uses a "generator" (it makes DC rather than an "alternator" which makes AC) and then inverts/converts it to AC. That way there is no fear about paralleling out of phase etc. because the two generators sync through the inverters. That's also why the engine(s) speed varies as load changes. A parallel kit uses two wires that plug into paralleling jacks on each generator, feeding a box that has your standard 50A female fitting in it. Way cool! Mayberrys.com has a good description. Also, an adapter was required to convert the 50A receptacle to the standard 30A.

Greg

 

[LJones]

These Generators are great, I have had mine for over two years. The only real problem I have had was trying to start a 15K btu AC

above 5,000 feet. I only have one 3000, however wished I had

opted for two 2000 generators. Two 2000 have more power and

wiegh about the same as one 3000. Happy camping.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by LJones

These Generators are great, I have had mine for over two years. The only real problem I have had was trying to start a 15K btu AC above 5,000 feet.



Just bought an EU3000is and have used it one night camping in cold 38 degree overnight temp alongside Lake Superior. Ran all my electrical just fine including electric hot water and microwave. No AC of course. Didn't run electric heat, just the propane furnace plus the electric blanket which the better half requires. Ran the generator for 11 hours continuously and still had a quarter (or maybe a third) tank of fuel. Sure like that electric start.



On the 5,000 foot elevation quote above, the owner's manual says that above 5,000 the air-fuel mixture wil be too rich, performance decreased, and fuel consumption increased, plus increased plug fouling. The manual doesn't say how to adjust the carburetor for high altitude operation, but to go to servicing dealer. Since we're taking off in the early fall for Washington State via the high altitude northern route, that could become a problem. Anyone figured out how to make the adjustment and get it right?



The manual also says that coming back to sea level the unit, if adjusted for high altitude, will run too lean. In an air cooled engine that means hot of course (been there, done that with motorcycles years ago. Used to worry about burning a hole in the aluminum piston. )



Camping World sells nice Honda covers for the 1000/2000 and 3000 size units. Got one that cost $22. 50 and lost it on my first trip. With the generator in the PU bed, the cover got sucked off by the wind. Cover has an elastic strip around the bottom but doesn't hold tight enough. On trip to the camping location the cover slipped up a little. Didn't think much about it. On the return trip, the cover vanished somewhere along 40 miles of road. Too long for a search. So it's back to using a tarp.



Previously had a 3. 5 KVA Generac unit which worked fine but was a lot noisier. Chose the Generac back in 1993 because of its large fuel tank that would carry it a whole night when running the AC in hot weather. Have yet to see what the Honda's fuel consumption is under those conditions.



Also noted from the manual that the Honda, although enclosed, isn't supposed to be operated in the rain. So guess it needs a roof-type cover. Will construct a low table about 23" high with detachable legs to use as a rain shelter when it's exposed.

 

[DPelletier]

I've run mine in the pouring rain w/o any problem. Probably more of a "it isn't safe to have electrical devices get wet" type of thing, than a problem with the unit actually running in the rain.

Love my EU1000.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Since the biggest issue with air conditioners is starting current, I wonder if guys using a pair of the Honda 2000 watt units are able to shut one down once the AC is up and running?

 

[GerryDrake]

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

Since the biggest issue with air conditioners is starting current, I wonder if guys using a pair of the Honda 2000 watt units are able to shut one down once the AC is up and running?

Gary, . . shooting from the hip here, but I suspect not, as isn't the maximum draw when the compressor kicks in, particularly up against a load, and that would occur from time to time as the A/C compressor kicked on?... . Also as they only raise their RPM as more amperage is demanded, you should be using about the same amount of fuel running one or two for a given load... . Like I said. . just shooting from the hip... ... Gerry KB7NEZ

 

[tgrfan2]

Honda 3000

I've had mine over three years and it still amazes me. Averages . 1gal / hr w/o AC and . 25gal/ hr running AC etc. It has always started the AC on my 97 TT and now the fiver on econo without any trouble. The biggest problem is that it is so quiet that when I hear my tailgating neighbor's Marquis 5500 load up I think something is wrong with my Honda! People will walk right up to it and shake their head in amazement at how smooth it is. In fact the ability to put it in the generator bay of my Everest was the closer on the fiver for me.

 

[Berrigan]

Wow these things actually ramp the rpm down as load decreases? I usually try to buy American products when I can but ive had 2 Hondas in the past, a 1 kw and a 5 kw. Both were excellent gen sets.



I got a Onan 5. 5 now cause thats what come in my 5er. I like it. The unit has a dial in the carb that goes from 0 to 10,000 feet. You just set it at the altitude your at and it adjusts the mixture accordingly.



Also the generic rule of thumb for fuel consumption is . 6 gallons per 2500 watts per hour. Thats based on mid loaded units running at about 50% load.



Im gona have to check out these new Hondas. Bill

 

[Jumbo Jet]

I opted for the Yamaha EF3000iSEB w/boost technology. It is very quiet and ran a solid 11 hours at full song on one 3. 5 gallon tank of fuel.



It starts and runs my A/C just fine. It has even run the Microwave and A/C at the same time (my wife didn't know any better), but I wouldn't suggest doing that. Lights dimmed.



I looked at the Honda and the Yamaha's a long time.