Portable Generators

[c214dick]

How timely that Trailer Life just came out with a comparison of the three generators I have been researching, Generac, Honda and Yamaha.

We have considered buying a generator that was portable enough to carry but able to be added on to if and when we needed more amps. Price has always been a consideration which is probably why we didn't take the plunge. During our latest storm here we lost power for about 30 hours but was able to borrow a 1800 watt generator from a friend so we could run our freezer and not lose our stuff.

It appears as if the Generac will not fill the bill. Besides the TL comparison, I also found negative feedback from other users which leaves the Honda and Yamaha.

What, if any, do the you use and why do you like/dislike your choice?

[navybanker]

We have a 3500/4000 Champion and have used it for two years. No, not on trips but at home to check the camper out before trips and during a recent power outage. No problems so purchased two Champion 2000 inverters at Sam's Club for $500 each and the parallet kit. Tied together they will run one of the ACs at a time. Time will tell but good so far. Each to their own!

[nosticks]

I bought the Honda 2000 so if needed in the future I could add a second in parallel. Also the Eco-throttle is a plus. If you don't expect a heavy load like a compressor start, the gen just hums along very silently and throttles up to keep pace with the appliance in use. I use it every week at my storage area, there is no power there. I just hook up and typically run the ceiling fan, the converter kicks on to charge the battery and power the Fantastic Fan while I'm working inside. When I start up the vacuum cleaner, the gen keeps pace with just slight increases in rpms. I was able to start my 13.5k front a/c with it by turning off the Eco-throttle, but the little bugger was working so hard to keep up, I thought it was going to take off. That was too hard on it, but I had to try it. Anyway, very happy with it. I did look at Yamaha's before I bought the Honda. I got mine on line, free shipping, no tax for $980 at the time.

[pineranch]

Dick,
Are you looking to use it at your stick house as well as on the road?
Mike

[sola123]

we have a yamaha 2400...works good...will run 1 a/c fine....or the micro...but otherwise does nice at football weekends etc when dry camping....yes...I would get a 3k or 3500 when we get a new one...did not make them that light when we bought ours....

[c214dick]

Mike, I'm looking for something that I can use as a back up when we're on the road as well as a gen to keep the freezer/frig cold when at home. I have seen the 3500 Champions at Farm & Fleet so I will check out their smaller ones as well. Because this will be only for emergancy use I am open to SOBs as well.

[Johnnyg]

Check out the link. We have the 2100. They are priced hundreds below the Honda. Had them since May and so far they work ok.
http://www.powerhouse-products.com/

[mhs4771]

Honda 2000 and 2000 companion in the tool box of the TV, had the 2000 left over from the previous TT, so staying with Honda made sense, and bought the Companion when we got the Monty. If we just want to run the fan and watch the tele, one does a fine job just purring along. If hot, like it might be this coming weekend, will hook the two together and will be able to run the 15k rear air to cool the rig off.

[c214dick]

The more I read reviews about the SOBs, the more I'm convinced that Honda or Yamaha are the way to go. Now I just need to wait for a good sale.

[mhs4771]

Don't know about the Yamaha's, but the price of the Honda's is pretty much fixed. If you search long enough and are quick, you might be able to save a little over standard price

[CORattler]

A gently used Honda EU2000i at a good price is my suggestion (if you can find one). I bought mine new and I've been completely satisfied with it. Runs everything in the Monty but the A/C. Really quiet in eco mode and a fuel sipper to boot!

[Art-n-Marge]

I have two Hondas, both the same EU2000 with the old parallel kit (the 30 amp plug is on a big square thing that mounts on one of the Hondas). Now you can buy a "companion" Honda instead of the $100 adapter box.

I've also seen a parallel kit that can tie 3 EU2000s together to achieve 50 amps, but don't have any info on how it works, plus it's about $300! Then there's the price of ANOTHER EU2000 to put in the mix too.

For longer Honda generator run-times others have made or purchased external fuel tanks and the plumbing to extend the one gallon fuel tanks in their Hondas. I thing these kits are adaptable to most portable generators to extend run time. Since I only use my generators for emergencies (no more than 4 hours due to CG failures or while in storage) the existing fuel tanks are fine for now.

I don't have any other info on other generators except that others prefer ONE larger unit that powers their rig, but these are too big and heavy for me, so I paid a little more and made my generator solution a little pricier by making it "modular" with two smaller EU2000s that I can lift by myself and fit under my truck bed cover.

[Bill-N-Donna]

We have a Generac 5500 that we use at the house. I would not want to take it with me because of the noise; it’s loud.

[pineranch]

Here's my take on Dick's quandry. He is looking for aux power to his house during power outages caused by whatever. He wants to power his fridge and freezer and will probably expand that requirement to fans, lights and whatever else he/she needs to get throught a day or two without power. Next comes a hurricane and the requirement is now 2 weeks.
He also wants to take it with him on the RV in case of an emergency on the road.
Dick, it looks like you can do both, but IT COMES AT A PRICE.

My home aux power is a 16 kva Generac, had a 7550 EXL Generac and it wasn't enough to do air conditioning. It's for sale.
I do not do DRY CAMPING and have no need, not, nil, nada requirement to drag along a generator and gas. If no RV power, motel 6 or Holiday Inn Express will do just fine. My hats off to all you survivalist in a Montana that want to get away from it all. If I was camping in the boonies and someone showed up with a generator and ruined my solitude, my ire would have no bounds.
Now this is not intended to rile anyone, just my random thoughts on boondocking/dry camping.
Mike

[noneck]

Add to this thread...I have the Kipor 3000watts and use it for backup power when home if storms knock out power, take it to the NASCAR infield camping events, and when camping in Assateague Island National Seashore. It is comparable to the Honda's as DB's are 52'ish and even had neighboring tent campers walking past comment that they didn't realize I had a generator nor that it was running!! I do not use it to power my A/C as that pushes the power demand...microwave does get used and generator rev's. None of the other appliances make the unit climb above a silent purr.

[pineranch]

I could deal with a silent purr. Most will roar when asked for full demand.
Mike

[c214dick]

Thanks to all. We had another power outage yesterday morning with an anticipated return to normal of 1-4 days. We drove as far north as Milwaukee before we could find a generator at Farm & Fleet. The first one I saw was the Honda 2000 which I grabbed and put in the cart. Meanwhile I started looking at the other bigger, units.

To make a long story shorter, we bought the Generac 5500 which was on sale for about 1/2 the Honda price. When we checked out we were offered another 10% discount if we opened up a F&F charge account. Bottom line, $541 out the door. 1/2 hour to set up and plug in the freezer & fridge. This morning we woke up to restored power but I now have my back up.

[pineranch]

Dick,
Who said "necessity is the mother of invention". Seems to apply here. I thought you moved to Florida?
Mike

[c214dick]

We bought a house in Florida and spent about a month in it before coming home to get this one ready for sale. Louise has a great deal of time and love in her gardens which is where she is spending EVERY waking hour.

While she's gardening, I'm painting which is not my most favorite pass time, beside we seem to be taking more breaks than working so it's slow going, not that it's a bad thing.
So his morning some friends dropped by to see our new generator and while we were sitting in one of Louise's favorite spots they asked when the house was going on the market. As I looked at Louise, all I could see was a big smile and "as long as we can afford to pay for both houses, who knows"

So there it is, in the winter we will be in Florida and after the last snow flies we will be back in Illinois. In order to get the homestead exemption in Florida, we need to establish residency which means registering our vehicles and getting Florida driver's licenses. I need to check on a number of things before we head back south in October.

Thanks for asking.

[TYR]

Happy to see this thread (albeit after I started one on portable generators . . .). We are seriously considering a portable gen that will run an A/C and other small things during power outages, which seem to come with the territory where we are. We'll be here for a while, so looking at something a bit more than a 2000-3000 watt gen. Again, all info. helps so was glad to see this thread!