Honda Eu2000i..update!!!

[tom sweeney]

well fellas, i finally had an opportunity to test my eu2000i running the a/c in my 5'er... . and to my surprise... . the unit tripped-out after several minutes!!!... . to make a long story short... my area lost power for 17hrs due to severe thunder storms,and in order to FINALLY keep the a/c running in the rv,i HAD to disable the converter.

this was not a big deal,simply removed two 30amp fuses and BINGO!!. . fortunately i had a full charge on the batteries,so i didn't need the converter for charging purposes. i'm feeling a bit sheepish,for not adequately testing the Honda prior to my original posting... i apologize to all who may have been misled!!!!

... i guess i will purchase another 2000i and parallel cable sometime in the future so i'll have extra capacity for the other appliances... but that will have to wait for now.

i would STILL highly recommend this little generator,its a quality unit thats quiet and easy to transport... take care all... . tom

 

[hammersley]

How many watts does your AC take...

I thought this was the minimum needed for roof AC's - http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/eu3000.htm

 

[Dkevdog]

Re: How many watts does your AC take...

Originally posted by hammersley

I thought this was the minimum needed for roof AC's - http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/eu3000.htm

Agreed- there have been numerous discussions on this before, and it greatly seems to depend on the brand of unit and size of unit (ie 13. 5 or 15Kbtu). Having said that, I would personally not try and run an AC unit on a single Eu2000. While it may run it, that generator doesn't provide the required starting amps and will ultimately send the AC compressor to an early death.



Tom- go over to IRV2 and do a search for EU2000, and see what problems others have had. Oh yeah, you'll also find info on making your own parallel cable (when you get to that point) and save some big $$$.



2 EU2000's are on my list... ... ... just waiting for the money tree to bloom !!



Kev

 

[hammersley]

Can I buy some of

those Money Tree Seeds?????

 

[Dkevdog]

I must have got the ornamental tree cause it hasn't bloomed yet

 

[lmills]

Originally posted by tom sweeney

to make a long story short... my area lost power for 17hrs due to severe thunder storms,

How did you like those storms that rolled through? I was on I-70 when they hit.

 

[rweis]

I would TRY before BUY



I have a honda 2k surge to 2. 5k. Wanted it to run a small pancake air compressor 1. 5hp, 12 amps, has pressure unloader on the pump head.



Let's see 1. 8k = 15 amps, air compressor takes 12 amps, NO problem, right? WRONG



Took gen to honda, had it tuned up, checked for loading to 2. 5k, it was fine. Could not start the 1. 5hp compressor.



While at honda, tried several different size gens to see what WOULD do it. Took 3. 5k to crank the compressor. Talking to a "good ol boy" at work, he said he figueres 3x the rating of the load for the generator capacity, and he was just about right on. 3. 5k to crank a 12 amp motor.



Bob Weis

 

[ImagesThatSing]

{{{{I have a honda 2k surge to 2. 5k. Wanted it to run a small pancake air compressor 1. 5hp, 12 amps, has pressure unloader on the pump head.



Let's see 1. 8k = 15 amps, air compressor takes 12 amps, NO problem, right? WRONG }}}}







And for my stick welder that is supposed to operate @ 15 amps, 3 times 1. 8k would equal 5. 4K, and the welder will only operate in a full on, then not full on, then full on, then rest mode and my generator is a 5K Generac Powered Honda Generator. So I cannot weld remote. So the 3 times and even maybe a little extra for "big drinkers" seems about right. Also when charging my 4 golf cart batteries, I never get a full 15 amp charge like when connected at home. About 8 or nine is about as high as it goes.

 

[geusterman]

My Honda 2K starts and runs my AC on low (only). I can move it up to medium once the pump is running but it will not restart medium when temp rises. So I leave it on low and it will run AC for as long as I want. geusterman

 

[Deezul1]

I talked to an outfit called Mayberrys which said the 2000 watt would start a 13,500 AC unit with nothing else running and would take it back if it didnt work. Try http://mayberrys.com/



I had ordered one and the wait list was looking like October so cancelled it. Nice folks out there.

 

[sewman]

We just got a 2000 EI Honda from Alaska Mining they mailed it

for $999. 00. Nice quiet machine.

Bob

 

[Dkevdog]

Originally posted by Deezul1

I talked to an outfit called Mayberrys which said the 2000 watt would start a 13,500 AC unit with nothing else running and would take it back if it didnt work. Try http://mayberrys.com/

I don't think the issue is with starting or running the 13. 5 AC- the issue is doing it repeatedly and doing damage. I don't want to start any wars, but I would highly discourage anyone from trying to run an AC on a single 2000. I think you're asking for trouble doing so. But then its your AC, not mine.



Kev

 

[randyn]

I recently posted my experiences trying to get my 2000 to run my 11,500 btu Dometic ac. It would start the unit fine w/ no bogging nor w/ red light comming on. The first time the compressor tried to cycle on again the unit would bog somewhat, but it would still run the compressor. However, after a couple of cycles the compressor would try to come on after only about 1. 5 minutes instead of about 3 as it did initially.

W/ some advice from ac tech, I called mfgr. and got a start kit and a delay relay. This was an 88-108 mfd capacitor instead of the 44-58 one that was there originally, and a relay to switch in the start capacitor, and a delay relay/circuit board. (numbers may be slightly diff. due to my memory) The delay relay/circuit board insures that the compressor will not cycle on in less than 150 seconds. In other words, as soon as the unit tries to cycle on, the power to the compressor is delayed an aditional 150 sec. This lets the pressure bleed off through the expansion valve more.

Works like a champ. Voltage before unit is switched on 125 volts. At compressor start the digitial meter flashes once at 87 volts & then immediately 122 volts. Sometimes the flash is to 122 volts w/ nothing in between. This happens about as quick as you can see it. Red light on generator doesn't come on at all. Gen doesn't bog at all unless you have the eco. switch on, and then just a little, but I probably won't run it that way.

I'm thinking I may activate a relay to disconnect the converter for an instant when the converter kicks in, but other than that I'm happy w/ the results. My house voltage is about 115 and the ac on camper pulls it down to 99 volts (long extension cord). The generator maintains 122 w/ the ac (including compressor) running.



RandyN

 

[geusterman]

For not much more $ you can have a Yamaha quiet 2800 which should make more sense and only 64lbs. geusterman

 

[Roger rodbolt]

Originally posted by geusterman

For not much more $ you can have a Yamaha quiet 2800 which should make more sense and only 64lbs. geusterman

Geustraman,

I first purchased a Honda EU1000i which is whisper quiet and works great if you only need 900watts. Bought a used EU2000i that vibrates a bit when running and the exhaust is noiser (maybe used more I thought?) but would not run my 13,500 roof air. I cabled the 1000 to the 2000 (I know they say it won't work) and the pair will run the air but both units run fairly hard (more noise then I like).



I'd buy the Yamaha EF2800i in a second but they rate the noise much higher then the EF3000iSEB or any of the Honda EU seris. The 2800 is rated 60-67dBA while the Yamaha EF3000iSEB is 51-57dBA. That is a lot of noise reduction on the 3000, of course it weights >150lbs which includes the sound deadning and electric start. How does your EF2800 compare in noise? Larry

 

[geusterman]

Larry, I apologize if I led you to think I have a Yamaha. I have read about it in very positive light here on the TDR so do a search in the RV section. I have a 2000 Honda that starts my 13,500 high efficiency Dometic on low and can stay on low. I wish I had looked more into the Yamaha but my dealer had none when I needed a generator this summer. Consider the suggestions above to change how your AC starts. Good info there. geusterman

 

[randyn]

Recent experience w/ my eu2000:



I just noticed in my previous post I failed to state that (prior to installing the start kit) when the compressor "short cycled" it bogged the generator down, the red light came on and then the breaker tripped. The red light stayed on, and the unit wasn't providing power.

My 11,500 btu Dometic ac has the following info: 9. 5 amps compresor, 3. 3 amps fan. That is 12. 8 amps total. The Honda will provide 13. 3 continuous if I remember correctly, maybe 13. 5. Anyway, that only leaves about . 5 amps for anything else other than short term "peaking" loads. That works out to about one 60 watt light bulb. Not much, but it works for us so far.



RandyN

 

[rnabors]

I think you are better off with 2 EU2000's in parallel. There is no question that in parallel they will comfortably run your air plus other things at the samre time. I also made an aluminum box that they both fit in that I carry and lock in the bed of my 03 3500. The box has plenty of ventilation for breathing, cooling, and exhaust. I can run one or both generators, depending on my powewr needs, and they are extremely economical. I can run the generators while locked in the box preventing someone from messing with the generators or getting hurt.

Ron

 

[geusterman]

I think Ron has it right if you are already committed to one 2000. I paid $875 at my Honda dealer for my new one last month. Another one would not be so hard to buy next year. I would like to have the batteries, solar panels and inverter to avoid the generators all together. I would like to get to one fuel as well. Reality says it is not necessary as long as there is room for stuff. I like my Bigfoot and the whole camper versatility thing so going to build a flatbed and use extra side room for things like firewood and generator/fuel stuff. george

 

[LarryB]

Anyone look into using a 4kw inverter and two deep cycle batteries? Then use an EU1000i to constantly charge the batteries. Mmmm... maybe quiet and powerful enough to start stuff.



I suppose it would depend on the duty cycle the ac required according to current temp.