Hi, I'm 23 years old, found this forum through google in relation to a search on the EU2000i Honda generator. Being that whichever generator I decided to go with has to also do with RVing I decided to go ahead and ask away here.
Firstly I guess I'll say I'm some what biased towards the Honda, having grown up around their super reliable motorcycles. But I won't pass up on researching and maybe deciding on the equally good Yamaha.
Getting to the point, I'm in the market for a small portable gas generator for my big weekend hobby of remote control car racing (laugh if you must but it's a serious professional hobby)
Usually a medium to large event will go on from mid morning to sometimes around 2-3am. The big problem is most tracks don't have the ability to supply 80-100 people with clean consistent power. So a generator is a must, while most people truck a long big contractor grade loud generators, I don't want to do so, also for another reason I will get to later on. My use of the generator will be to power anything from a battery charger, a soldering iron, high temp heat gun, to a small craftsman air compressor. I don't exactly how taxing any of these devices really will be on the gen, but none of them are rated over 15A and I assume they probably don't run at that load continuously.
The other purpose of the generator will be allowing my parents to take it along with them camping, within the next 8 months or so they will be getting back in to the swing of things with a 5th wheel or tow trailer and have asked if they can use the generator. I have already told my dad that it might not be able to run the air conditioner or other high load things and he seemed to be fine with that (I think).
So those will be the 2 uses of the generator, now I'd like to ask for those people with experience, are there any issues, or annoyances with either? Going by Hondas history I would surely doubt I'd have any issues with it, but stranger things have happen. The weight of the Yamaha is a little bit of an issue for me, and might be an issue for my parents to take it along with them camping, but the truck bed is always an option if it doesn't fit in one of the RV's side bins.
I'd greatly appreciate your opinions on both of these generators.
1--take the air compressor to Honda and Yamaha shops and test the generators. Neither accept any overload, and the starting of the compressor might be too much.
2--The addition of a Supco SPP6E hard start motor starting capacitor on the air conditioner compressor motor is a help to get it started. It isn't a guarantee of starting with the generator, but it'll start more often than with the stock starting capacitor.
3--Given your requirements, I'd choose the Yamaha...if it starts the air compressor.
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Personally I would skip the 2000/2400 watt generators and go straight to the Yamaha 2800I. More power, lighter than the 2400 and at the same price point. Since you want to run an air compressor, no matter how small it will draw a lot of amps on startup. Besides, if you are wanting to run a 15K BTU air conditioner the 2800I is more capable. But all this is JMHO (just my humble opinion) The other options are to get either the 2000 or the 2400watt unit and get two of them and use a parallel kit for all the power you will ever need. Remember one thing, no matter what you choose the number is a MAX rating and not a true running watts/amps rating.
Generators are a very common topic around here. You can also search this forum using Advanced search. For example, 'generator' in the subject line in Tech issues, (returns page 1) followed by Honda in the 'Search within results' on page 1.
That Model (yamaha 2800) is more of a contractor style model with a cage. I personally have a Honda eu2000i and am very happy with it. I would do more research but I also think that the Yamaha 2400 model does not have an eco throttle which was a main reason that I chose the Honda (size also played a role).
2006 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab
2006 Springdale 267BHLGL
Prodigy Controller
Honda EU2000is
Me, Wife and 3 year old camping buddy daughter
Yeah, I'm pretty sure via the description that the Yama has eco
I'm not too fond of the EF2800i styling, like said its more of a contractor style. I'm gonna bring my most tasking item to the local Yamaha and Honda dealers and try it out.
There is a rental place that comes up on the Honda dealer locator that sells or rents out generators, its really close, just 5 minutes down the road, would I be able to try out the Eu2000i there you think? Otherwise the closest Honda Powersports dealer is about 25-30 minutes, and Yamaha is about 15
Yamaha has two versions of the 2800. A EF2800i and the YG2800. The ef2800i is more for camping and is used by a lot of campers here. The YG2800 is more of a contractor generator. Do a search on the two, I think the EF2800I will fit your needs. Then again, I'm partial to my EF2800i. Hondas are great too but (please)stay away from the "lawnmower generators".
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