Yamaha or Honda Inverter generator question.

[LRamey]

I'm looking real hard at the the yamaha or honda 3000 watt inverter type generator.

Does anyone have one & if so care to comment on how they work for them? Can they start the AC in your RV ok?

I know they are a little on the steep side price wise but I'm looking for quiet!



Thanks for any comments,

Lonnie

 

[jadoca]

actually i have both the honda eu 3000 and the yamaha seb 3000. they are boyh great, no problems, super quiet, and well worth the money. there is a place called southwest that sells the yamahas with a wireless remote. i sure wish i had known about that when i bought mine. there number is 888 365 9709



regards,

 

[jadoca]

no problem with the air conditioning at all with either one.



regards,

 

[Dkevdog]

I have the Yamaha 2800 Ise (also inverter model) and while I've only used it a couple of times, had no trouble starting the AC with it, and I have a single 15K BTU unit. It depends on the model of AC unit you have, as to the starting amp draw it will require. Knowing exactly which unit you have will allow you to check this out. I know and have heard from people who have had trouble starting 15K ac units with the Honda 3000's, particularly at altitude. Again, it just depends on your specific model.



Kev

 

[LRamey]

jadoca



Thanks for the quick response!

I'm leaning towards the Yamaha "seb " at this time as I like the idea of the extra boost if needed.

I have looked at Southwest Fastners web site & also the wireless remote. But dang, $400. 00 to be able to push a button to start it rather then walk outside & turn a key seems a little steep! They do have a very good price for the generator right now on e-bay with freight included, so that is most likely the way I'm going to go & it comes with a 30 amp RV connector to boot.

Thanks again for the info.



Lonnie

 

[LRamey]

Hi Kev,

That's pretty good for a 2800 watt! According to Honda a 13500 btu AC takes 2800 watts to start and 1800 to run. So I guess I shouldn't have any problems with the 3500 watts boost that the Yamaha has. I live and do most of my camping at around 3000' elev. .

Thanks,

Lonnie

 

[NVR FNSH]

I have the Honda EU3000 - it's worth every penny. People have actually asked if it was running.



If I had it to do over I'd buy 2 EU2000 generators and make the parallel cable - see www.irv2.com The advantage of 2 EU2000 is weight - you can easily move an EU2000 - and an additional 1000W. I can move my EU3000 but at 160 lbs it's not easy to pick up.



Brian

 

[SMorneau]

I have one Honda EU2000i and it is a very compact unit. Two of them would be the ticket for 4000W portability. The cable to gang two of them together is kind of expensive but if you do a google search you will find out how to combine them with a homemade cable. I think there is also a fuel pump on the 2000i so you could probably plumb in larger tank if you wanted to. A downside it having to refill two units.



Of couse it would be easier to steal a single compact unit than a larger one so you may want to consider that as well. My buddy sets his 2000i in his truck under the topper when he is ice fishing. It powers his fish house and keeps his beer from freezing. I set mine inside my camper when I am traveling and so far I have not got even a sniff of gasoline.



A place call Mayberry's has good prices on all of the Hondas and maybe other brands as well. Do a google search.

 

[LRamey]

Thanks all for the responses. I'm leaning to the Yamaha for two reasons. One I'm limited on space and it's just a little smaller & lighter. Second it's also quieter (believe it or not) Yamaha says by 2db at full rating & I'm going for quiet. It's the only real reason I would spend that much on a generator!



Lonnie

 

[LJones]

I have the Honds 3000 since early 2001. It works great at starting

my 15K AC unit. I thought the battery failed a liittle early other than that love. However I would look at two Honda 2000 units and use the parallel cable if I was going to do it today. Weight is a big deal when one has to move this unit. I have had many people comment how quiet it is and is it really running? I have no experence with the Yamaha unit, but the boost is interesting.



Happy RV'n

 

[LEerkes]

LRamey,



Where did you see those db ratings? Am I looking at the wrong generators or getting information from the wrong source? I looked at the Honda and Yamaha web sites and got the following noise levels.



Yamaha EF2800i 60 - 67db

Honda EU2000i 53-59db

Honda EU3000i 49-58db



Am I looking at the wrong Yamaha?



On edit: OK, i found it, you are looking at the Yamaha 3000 with boost. That one is rated at 51-57db. Note that the Honda is quieter at 1/4 load and the Yamaha at rated output. Keep in mind that you only run at rated output with the AC running and your AC is probably louder than either generator. My AC is louder than my twin EU2000i's.



You would really impress me if you could tell the difference between 1 or 2 db (you will definately notice 10db however). I wouldn't make a decision based on that alone, look at weight and other features also. Either way, if you purchase the Honda, Honda's or a Yamaha you will be a happy camper!!

 

[klenger]

Keep in mind when comparing generator noise levels to watch what distance the noise is measured at. See the link below for more info.



http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/generator-noise/index.html

 

[NVR FNSH]

Most people can't tell a 2dB difference. 3dB and above is where people can start telling the difference.



Brian

 

[ralbert]

I bought the Honda 2000 and plain on getting a second one for running the AC. Most of the time dry camping we do not run the ac but need alittle juice for other things. With the two 2000s you can run only one at a time and save alot of fuel doing so.

 

[TowPro]

I was camping last weekend on in NJ for the first motorcycle race of the year, Everybody has there generators running as it was below freezing. (I don't use my generator for 1 night camping, my big yellow walmart battery will run the heater all night with no problems)



I was talking to the guy that parked behind me and I noticed a he had a generator sitting in front of his camper. I was standing around 30 foot from his genarator when I comented to this guy how loud the generator was 2 campers away. The generator I was hearing was (about 60' away) was one of the small compact quiet ones, much quieter then a lawn mower, but you could still hear it.



I was being nice when I asked this guy if he was planning on starting HIS generator and running it all night.



I was shoked when he said "its running now" (he had a smile on his face). I found out it was a Honda EU3000. My next question was "will it run your AC"? he replied "no problem"



There is no compairson between my Generac 4000 with its quiet nagono OHV engine and the Honda 3000. My Generac is quiet, but you would not even be able to hear the Honda if my Generac was running 2X further away.

Originally posted by NVR FNSH

I have the Honda EU3000 - it's worth every penny. People have actually asked if it was running.

Brian

 

[Jumbo Jet]

I just bought a Yamaha EF3000iSEB from Southwest Fastener. I have a 15,000 BTU A/C.



I read over on the irv2 forum that one person stated the Yamaha can start and run his 15,000 BTU A/C, Microwave, and everything else in his RV at the same time. I'll see.



I've been using a Generacket 5000/6250. It has run 3 days continuous in 104 degree KC heat during the July 4 races. I hope the Yamaha can do the same. I haven't sold the Generacket yet.



I want to be a good neighbor at the races. I also wanted a smaller generator for my truck camper.

 

[jadoca]

jumbo jet





did you get the remote start option with that yamaha? i'm really curious how well it works if anyone knows.



regards,

 

[Jumbo Jet]

No, I didn't go with the $400 option. Thought about it though.

 

[LRamey]

"Generacket" now if that ain't the truth. I even had one that had a honda motor on it & couldn't stand the noise!



Good info gentlemen, thanks. I know I can't tell the dif of 2 db but I will say this, I was at a home show a couple weeks ago and saw a yamaha dealer display. I walked up to him and standing right beside a EF3000iseb was talking to him about it. I ask him how quiet it was and he said "it's running now"...

Without paying any attn. to it I didn't hear it over the hall noise. It sure sold me.

I have a rack mounted on the back of my RV where I had my Generacket and it's been there for the last three years so I'm not to worried about weight & as far as space goes the Yamaha is smaller the what I had.



Thanks everyone!



Lonnie

 

[thejeepdude]

Originally posted by klenger

Keep in mind when comparing generator noise levels to watch what distance the noise is measured at. See the link below for more info.



http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/generator-noise/index.html

I noticed on that same page you recommend the coleman a/c unit... do you think that would be enough cooling for a 8. 5x20 enclosed trailer that's used as a living room from time to time in 120F heat? The walls and ceiling are insulated with 1" styrofoam... just trying to find comfort while going riding in the desert.