Master thread for disasters and generators.

[turbodog]

Re: Best generator?

For the price of the 3000 you can buy 2 2000 units and join them together. You will have a higher surge current and continuous current, while keeping the weight down.

I agree with Andy that the EU3000 is a nice machine, and I considered buying it. But it weighs 134 pounds, which is too much for me to move around. And according to Honda, it uses more than double the amount of gasoline at 1/4 load as the EU2000. (.17 gal/hr vs. .07 gal/hr for the EU2000) (of course, at 1/4 load it is also producing more watts)

 

[Datasaurusrex]

Re: Best generator?

Actually the lights are low voltage halogen (1 35 watt desk light, and 2 seperate strings of 55 watt bulbs [3 ea]). I figure that's the equivelant to a few 65 watt incans.

 

[turbodog]

Re: Best generator?

Sorry, but all non-inverter generators MUST run at 3600 rpm. The only exceptions are some _VERY_ rare welder/generator setups that will run at 1800 rpm.

The 3600 rpm is what gives 60Hz output. 60Hz=60 cycles per second. 60 seconds per minute = 3600 rpm.

...

In general the Honda's produce very clean AC. Those Discount Generac and other off brands produce very dirty AC. They get there specs by running at a very high RPM. (I know.... I fell into the trap once. Bought a Costco 5000 watt Generac.... It burned up..... not repairable)

...
frisco

 

[turbodog]

Re: Best generator?

I just got back from a little resupply trip to home depot. They had a good looking unit there:

5000w continuous
6250w surge
11 hour runtime at half load
handle kit
wheel kit
low oil sensor
2 year warranty
generator type muffler (semi-quiet, but not really)

robin/subaru engine (better than briggs, one step below honda)

$599

It doesn't get much better than this for what you are looking for. You better jump on it.




***********************

Also, concerning honda engines. Not all are the same. They make some consumer grade stuff just like everyone else. The GC is the consumer grade and the GX is the better grade.

 

[AndyTiedye]

Re: Best generator?

Bought a Costco 5000 watt Generac

Their full name is Genracket, because they are so LOUD.

Friends don't let friends buy cheap generators.
They may be setting up camp next to you.

 

[James S]

Re: Best generator?

there is some great advice here! I think the 'buy 2' is the best and is what I'm in the process of financing 😉 An inverter set to run the small window AC unit, fridge and other daily necessities and a big/cheap/loud/nasty 5k unit to run the wellpump. Running a big generator when mostly you have small loads until the pump kicks in is a real waste, and the cheap ones just dont last very long.

I think it's also important here for a discussion of safety. Beyond the obvious o not running the thing in your garage or right outside the open window due to CO coming in, it's also vital that it be connected properly.

There are only 2 safe and legal ways to connect a generator to loads in your house. Via a transfer switch permanently wired into your panel, or via regular extension cords. (or very high quality 12 gage or better heavy duty extension cords for heavy loads going long distances, dont expect a cheap 16 gage weed wacker extension cord to power your 5k btu AC window unit that is plugged through 3 hundred foot el cheapo cords to get to your window. The voltage drop will be enough to burn out the compressor! Use good cords and invest in them before you need them!)

DO NOT make yourself one of the widow maker male/male ended cords and think you can just plug them in to an outlet to backfeed the circuit. Even assuming for the moment that you remember to properly adjust all yoru breakers so that you're not overloading your genset by backfeeding thewhole neighborhood and potentially electrocuting the lineman working down the block, if someone trips over the cord, or it comes loose, you've got a live male end hanging on the end of a cord laying in whatever puddle is under it. This is amazingly stupid and kills people every year that try it. And it can kill you or someone else anytime during the year when it gets mixed up with your regular extension cords and someone plugs in one end and goes fishing for the other. Dont mess with this, and dont mess around inside your panel to jerry rig something. Pay for the transfer switch, or buy a pile of good extension cords. Everyone knows how to flip a switch or use an extension cord. Imagine trying to walk the baby sitter through using your male/male switch and hiting all the breakers correctly while you're stuck in a snow drift and she's with the kids in the dark in a blizzard with the temperature dropping. Get a transfer switch 😉 Or have your furnaces put on plugs so that you can just plug them into a cord. Thats how I have mine here. It's a pain to run a cord into the attic, but I can have heat!

 

[Datasaurusrex]

Re: Best generator?

Well, I think I'm going to get either the EU 2000 or EU3000. I do like the idea of the inverter, and the low gas consumption.

The EU2000 with auxillary tanks = 30 hour run time is pretty sweet.

 

[cy]

Re: Best generator?

purchased a similar unit from Sam's with slightly larger Techumseh engine. seems it was a 5500 watt, 6500 peak anyways..

that sucker was LOUD! changing muffler didn't do it. Tecumseh sent me a new muffler to try. entire engine created extra noise not just muffler.

put out good reliable power, but way too loud!

I had a Coleman powermate 4000 (8 HP Techumseh engine). I ran my house and 2 neighbors', sump pumps during a hurricane. I was inside, with the lights on, fridge running, watching TV. I swapped the muffler for one from a 10HP engine. It was bigger and flowed more. It was LOUD! Please don't mistake this for hyperbole. It was obscenely loud. If loudness were people, this would be China. Of course I had no complaints from my neighbors. They had dry basements. The only problem I had with it was a little surging at light loads and transients. Richening up the carb by 1/2-3/4 of a turn fixed it. I spend ~$500.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_1037635_1037635
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200326548_200326548

There are several. No they're not Honda's but for <$1000, these are just fine. I now have a 4200W Generac. Much quieter, electronic voltage regulation, low oil shutdown. Paid ~$800

 

[turbodog]

Re: Best generator?

You can buy their aux tank for $100, or you can make your own for $25.

I made my own. It's the same since theirs is homeade also.

I'll take a pic of mine and see what I can do about posting it here.

Well, I think I'm going to get either the EU 2000 or EU3000. I do like the idea of the inverter, and the low gas consumption.

The EU2000 with auxillary tanks = 30 hour run time is pretty sweet.

 

[turbodog]

Re: Best generator?

Well, if you're going this way then let me say some more.

Approx shipped prices from www.wisesales.com

Honda eu2000 $875
surge watts 2000
running watts 1600
tank 1.1 gallons
12v dc cables, available but extra
no ground fault outlet

Yamaha yg2800 $1175
surge watts 2800
running watts 2500
tank 3 gallons, with fuel gauge
12v dc cables, included
ground fault outlet

My only remaining unit, after buying 7 this past year, is my eu2000. If it died tomorrow I would have to go with the yamaha for a replacement. The only thing that I can think of now that I would miss about the honda is that it's totally enclosed. I can pack it tightly in with my gear and nothing gets snagged on it, or gets dirty from touching the engine.

Reason:
1. Larger tank, will run through the night w/o refueling. Also, since it's larger there's no pressure to make or buy an extended run setup.
2. About 50% more powerful for only about $300 extra. This extra power is enough that is _should_ start and run andything that you can plug into a regular 120v outlet, water pumps included.

Don't let the look of tha yamaha fool you. Although it looks like a normal generator, with a steel roll cage, it's still a physically small unit. Weight is 66 lbs, compared to 46 for the honda.

Both are excellent units and you will love either one, and get envious compliments and stares from everyone.

Well, I think I'm going to get either the EU 2000 or EU3000. I do like the idea of the inverter, and the low gas consumption.

The EU2000 with auxillary tanks = 30 hour run time is pretty sweet.

 

[James S]

Re: Best generator?

there is some great advice here! I think the 'buy 2' is the best and is what I'm in the process of financing 😉 An inverter set to run the small window AC unit, fridge and other daily necessities and a big/cheap/loud/nasty 5k unit to run the wellpump. Running a big generator when mostly you have small loads until the pump kicks in is a real waste, and the cheap ones just dont last very long.

I think it's also important here for a discussion of safety. Beyond the obvious o not running the thing in your garage or right outside the open window due to CO coming in, it's also vital that it be connected properly.

There are only 2 safe and legal ways to connect a generator to loads in your house. Via a transfer switch permanently wired into your panel, or via regular extension cords. (or very high quality 12 gage or better heavy duty extension cords for heavy loads going long distances, dont expect a cheap 16 gage weed wacker extension cord to power your 5k btu AC window unit that is plugged through 3 hundred foot el cheapo cords to get to your window. The voltage drop will be enough to burn out the compressor! Use good cords and invest in them before you need them!)

DO NOT make yourself one of the widow maker male/male ended cords and think you can just plug them in to an outlet to backfeed the circuit. Even assuming for the moment that you remember to properly adjust all yoru breakers so that you're not overloading your genset by backfeeding thewhole neighborhood and potentially electrocuting the lineman working down the block, if someone trips over the cord, or it comes loose, you've got a live male end hanging on the end of a cord laying in whatever puddle is under it. This is amazingly stupid and kills people every year that try it. And it can kill you or someone else anytime during the year when it gets mixed up with your regular extension cords and someone plugs in one end and goes fishing for the other. Dont mess with this, and dont mess around inside your panel to jerry rig something. Pay for the transfer switch, or buy a pile of good extension cords. Everyone knows how to flip a switch or use an extension cord. Imagine trying to walk the baby sitter through using your male/male switch and hiting all the breakers correctly while you're stuck in a snow drift and she's with the kids in the dark in a blizzard with the temperature dropping. Get a transfer switch 😉 Or have your furnaces put on plugs so that you can just plug them into a cord. Thats how I have mine here. It's a pain to run a cord into the attic, but I can have heat!

 

[K A]

Re: Best generator?

If you do go the route of getting the Honda eu2000i might I suggest you look into getting a Kill-A-Watt meter? It will help you gauge how much your pulling from the generator. Sadly it only has a 15amp max on the meter, just a bit below the 16amp max on the Honda.

 

[turbodog]

Re: Best generator?

Those units are not a bad idea regardless of which generator you have. I've had one for years.

If you do go the route of getting the Honda eu2000i might I suggest you look into getting a Kill-A-Watt meter? It will help you gauge how much your pulling from the generator. Sadly it only has a 15amp max on the meter, just a bit below the 16amp max on the Honda.

 

[CLHC]

Honda Super Quiet EU2000i Generator

Greetings!

I was looking into these super quiet generators from Honda. This particular model seems suited for what I'll be using them for, and I'll be needing/wanting (2) two since this can be linked in parallel to increase wattage. What peaked my interest is the noise level on it is rated at 55~59db! Anyone here have any experience with the EU2000i model or any other EU series?

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

Re: Honda Super Quiet EU2000i Generator

I have the EU2000i. All I can say is get one. When I first heard of them, I thought they were ridiculously overpriced. $800 for 2kw, wtf!? Sure it's a Honda, so you could expect it to start easier, use less fuel, and last longer than a B&S, but JEEZ. $800 would buy a lot of flashlights on top of two normal 2kw gas gennys.

Then I started hearing more and more about it here on CPF and other sites. I also needed something small enough, light enough, and easy enough to use for my wife to set up and run the sump pump(funny how it's never GOOD weather when the power goes out, eh?) if power should fail while I'm not around to set up the diesel genny.

Then I went and looked at one in person. Heard one in person. More important was what I DIDN'T hear. The dealer I went to was a servicing dealer and just happened to have one in for servicing. The service tech cranked it up and even with the ecothrottle off we were still able to have a conversation in normal voice while standing over the genny. I was sold.

It's so nice to pull it out, haul it out back, turn on the choke and turn off the ecothrottle, pull the cord(once!), turn off the choke, run the extension cord to the sump pump, plug in the pump, turn on the ecothrottle, and be done. It's harder to say than it is to do. My diesel genny will run my entire house all weekend straight on less than 4 gallons of fuel, but it's AWKWARD, the throbbing sound penetrates everything, and it takes 20 minutes to drag out and set up. With the sump pump stopped my garage can be ankle deep in half that time. The Honda? My wife can have it running and the sump pump pumping again in 2 minutes. With an extended run tank it'll run the air conditioner and the sump pump all night, and my wife and I will actually get sleep because we don't have to hear the throb of the diesel or the WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH of a normal gas genny.

Buy them. You won't be disappointed. With the ecothrottle it just sips gasoline. When I first got mine I kept checking the fuel level. I started wondering if my wife was refueling it when I wasn't looking! I'm very seriously considering buying a couple more and just leaving them NIB and stashed. I like to have a backup of anything important, and I have this odd feeling that whatever new model replaces them won't be nearly as good.

:buddies:

Edit: Sorry for the long post. Seriously, get one, you won't be disappointed.

 

[CLHC]

Re: Honda Super Quiet EU2000i Generator

Hey thanks for that personal usage experience Diesel_Bomber!

Now are you running the EU2000i on full or quarter? Just curious as to know how long did you have it running before refueling.

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

Re: Honda Super Quiet EU2000i Generator

Full or quarter? Meaning ecothrottle off or on? If so, usually on; it'll start the compressor on the bedroom window a/c with the ecothrottle on. If I have to start a big load I'll turn the ecothrottle off. When running the sump pump it seems to run 4-5 hours on it's internal fuel tank, about a gallon I think. I haven't checked, but I'd guess it's a 700-1000w load. You can download the owner's manual in PDF format, I'll try and dig up a link.

:buddies:

Edit: Here, bottom of the page.

 

[jezzyp]

Re: Honda Super Quiet EU2000i Generator

I'd just ordered the European version, the eu20i. I have read a lot of reviews and it seems to be the best. Saw one running a food stand recently and walked up to it to see if it was actually running - It was!
I have ordered a propane conversion as it is supposed to run even quieter on the LPG.

 

[K A]

Re: Honda Super Quiet EU2000i Generator

I have bought one as well though I have yet to experience a power outage long enough to use it! I do bring it out every other week to use with my electric week eater so I can give it a workout. I was going to suggest buying a Kill-A-Watt to go with the unit ($22 shipped!) to keep track of your power usage. But if you hook two together like you're thinking then that will exceed the amperage rating for the meter.

 

[BIGIRON]

Re: Honda Super Quiet EU2000i Generator

www.wisesales.com