A discussion about this got started on another thread. With a heat wave peaking today in the pacific northwest it was a perfect day for some testing. As a baseline, my eu2000i peaks out at 1875 VA at 500' and 70*. I tested today ay 3500' and 97*, generator sitting in sun. Applying the 1% per 10* and 3.5% per 1000' derating factors, the expected peak would be 1640 VA. The result was that it came pretty close to that when the heavy load was first applied, but after a few minutes something I haven't seen at lower temps happened. The maximum output slowly drifted down to around 1500 VA, I assume due to the generator heating up, then stabilized. For instance, with a 12.6 amp load, the output voltage was 118.6 . From there, increasing the load pushed the current up and the voltage down. By the time the load was up to 13.3 amps, the voltage was down to 107.5, or 1430 VA. So in addition to the losses due to altitude and temperature, it looks like there's another reduction from the generator just getting too darn hot. I imagine running in the shade would help at least a little bit.
Recovery from load application was still pretty good. When going from no load to the ~1600 VA load, with eco off the voltage dipped to 90 and recovered to 110 in one second. With eco on the voltage dipped to 70 and recovery to 110 took 2.5 seconds. I'll mention that the 1500 VA capability is still comfortably above the 1320 VA that my 13,500 btuh Brisk Air pulled on 90+ days. Also on a 45* day at the same 3500' altitude, the generator will supply a steady 1800 VA. It's looking like the high ambient temp is a pretty big deal, much more than the standard rule-of-thumb correction factor.
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LinkPro battery monitor - EU2000i generator
Interesting. Honda doesn't go into the different ways and amounts that output will be reduced on it's website. I got those correction factors from the Onan website.. They are VERY experienced in genset sizing for RVs. Makes sense since most everything they make is for installations...Gotta get it right the first time or the customers gonna be really upset.
I figured that those correction factors would be pretty close regardless of brand. It appears not to be the case.
I wonder if the Hondas being a inverter type vs the Onans not that may cause the disparity?
Huntindog
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good emperical information on the Honda's capability. This goes a long ways towards understanding the effects of temperature and altitude on AC operation (or not in some cases). The temperature effects on the honda are not insignificant from your measurements.
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Huntindog wrote: Interesting. Honda doesn't go into the different ways and amounts that output will be reduced on it's website. I got those correction factors from the Onan website.. They are VERY experienced in genset sizing for RVs. Makes sense since most everything they make is for installations...Gotta get it right the first time or the customers gonna be really upset.
I figured that those correction factors would be pretty close regardless of brand. It appears not to be the case.
I wonder if the Hondas being a inverter type vs the Onans not that may cause the disparity?
I wonder if/when Onan will start making inverter generators for RVs ?
Huntindog wrote: Interesting. Honda doesn't go into the different ways and amounts that output will be reduced on it's website. I got those correction factors from the Onan website.. They are VERY experienced in genset sizing for RVs. Makes sense since most everything they make is for installations...Gotta get it right the first time or the customers gonna be really upset.
I figured that those correction factors would be pretty close regardless of brand. It appears not to be the case.
I wonder if the Hondas being a inverter type vs the Onans not that may cause the disparity?
I wonder if/when Onan will start making inverter generators for RVs ?
Dusty
I wish. I had a Onan Microquiet 4000 that I installed on my last TT. It was flawless for many years until we had a lightening strike right next to the TT. Fried the electronics, and the rotor.
While it was down I needed a generator for a trip, so I bought my first Honda EU2000. I was so impressed with it and the economy that when I sold that TT I decided not to do a install on the new TT. I bought a set of twins and gave the original Honda to my brother.
A invertor Onan that I could install would be the best of both worlds.
A invertor Onan that I could install would be the best of both worlds.
I would be thrilled if Onan or somebody else would just license the eu3000i and package it to be a drop-in Microquiet replacement. Or the Yamaha 3000 with the booster might be even better. The booster could be a plug-in option.
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