Got me a cute generator (2019 update)

IrishCannon said:
Could someone tell me why you'd get this for $1k versus a higher watt generator with just as good reviews for less $ ?

Is it just the portability factor and Honda name?
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Not everyone needs the higher output and the Honda is a proven factor when it comes to smaller generators. I can guarantee you that 85% of sailboats and a ton of cruisers have a 2000 Honda hidden somewhere on board. You can raft boats together and never hear the gensets.....Their quietness is one of the biggest draw cards.
 
Bailey Boat said:
Not everyone needs the higher output and the Honda is a proven factor when it comes to smaller generators. I can guarantee you that 85% of sailboats and a ton of cruisers have a 2000 Honda hidden somewhere on board. You can raft boats together and never hear the gensets.....Their quietness is one of the biggest draw cards.
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Gotchya, thank you.

I ask because I'll be in the market for one when I have the spare cash. I've primarily been looking at gas/propane duel fuel options, and most are around 3000-3500 watts for about $1k.
 
Another reason for lower wattage generators costing double of higher ones is ones like the Honda 2000 are inverter generators. Powering sensitive electronics requires clean, stable electricity. An inverter generator delivers electricity more like you get from outlets in your home, a cleaner wave form, so running computers, televisions and such is more likely to keep from damaging their electronics ... not that a non-inverting generator will damage thing its a higher risk.
 
For me it's the known quantity of the Honda gensets. I'm sure others are catching up with them but I can't afford to buy a slightly cheaper version and not be happy with the noise level or service life etc.

That's also why I'm hoping we can get a group buy going to push the Honda cost down closer to the knock offs.

I know Bailey Boat was looking into it but if I'm the only guy interested maybe he shouldn't waste his time. I want to get the eu2000i with the 30a outlet for ganging to another eu2000i. Anyone else thinking they want a cute generator?
 
IrishCannon said:
Is it just the portability factor and Honda name?
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Partially. The inverter type Hondas are quieter than the bigger generators and that becomes a factor if you're in an camp ground. Or even if you're trying to stay under the radar in a power outage situation.
 
Don said:
if you're trying to stay under the radar in a power outage situation
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Bingo. As much as I'd like to have a silhouette of a looter notched into the buttstock of my rifle, I'd rather not have to stand guard through the night waiting for the shot.
 
Slosolo2 said:
I know Bailey Boat was looking into it but if I'm the only guy interested maybe he shouldn't waste his time. I want to get the eu2000i with the 30a outlet for ganging to another eu2000i. Anyone else thinking they want a cute generator?
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If everyone can hang on for a little while, I'm trying to contact the company (BOE Marine) and the guy (Jim) that did the last one I was involved in but he's in south FL and we can only imagine what it's like there right now. Poor guy may not even have a house, I don't know. Pray for him...

PLUS.... I've got to get it blessed by the CFF Admins and work through those channels to be able to get it posted here. The minute I get the ducks in a row there will be a thread started with all of the particulars.... Stay tuned...
 
9outof10mms said:
According to this website, it can be anywhere from 800W to 2000W running, and 1300W to 4000W spike, depending upon HP.
https://www.generatorjoe.net/html/wattageguide.html

I know my pump has a plaque on it for HP, depth, etc. Don't remember if it had wattage.
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Volts x amps = watts. Simple stuff.

746 watts = 1 horse power

The startup draw is another scenario though. You can always just plug it up to the generator and see if it trips the breaker.
 
I went to CO for the last week. Rented a house for a few days and the neighborhood I was in had 5k watt solar panels on every home. Pretty dang sweet. If I build a house I'll definitely build a generator into it, and I would like to see about the cost of solar paneling. - Maybe enough to run a small kitchen.

Apparently the issue with solar in grid-down scenarios is your battery store. You can have the panels hooked into the grid to take down costs of your electric bill (kwh in = kwh saved), but that doesn't do jack in a grid down situation, so you're probably talking a lot in battery cost.

I have no idea what a week of 5k watt battery usage would cost.
 
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how would you rate the efficiency of this generator vs others in this class?
 
IrishCannon said:
Could someone tell me why you'd get this for $1k versus a higher watt generator with just as good reviews for less $ ?

Is it just the portability factor and Honda name?
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For the longest time the Honda 2000 was the only game in town for this size generator. Besides portability they are quiet enough to set next to a tent and still sleep.

The Honda version has extreme reliability and when knockoffs first started appearing they were crap compared to the honda. That just isn't the case anymore.


These are not meant to be home generators. They are meant to be light weight, portable and quiet generators for low output needs. And for that they are excellent.

But nowadays, the Harbor Freight one is about 95% as good for half the price.
 
Chdamn said:
For the longest time the Honda 2000 was the only game in town for this size generator. Besides portability they are quiet enough to set next to a tent and still sleep.

The Honda version has extreme reliability and when knockoffs first started appearing they were crap compared to the honda. That just isn't the case anymore.


These are not meant to be home generators. They are meant to be light weight, portable and quiet generators for low output needs. And for that they are excellent.

But nowadays, the Harbor Freight one is about 95% as good for half the price.
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IDK if I'd be willing to trust Harbor Freight products for something like this...but I would certainly like my $ to go as far as I could. I would personally prefer something on propane just for the ease of storing it and I already have to have it on hand for other equipment. Being able to buy a few 100lb tanks and storing indefinitely is nice versus having to store and stabilize tons of gasoline.

But I get why people like these too. Certainly have benefits.
 
IrishCannon said:
I went to CO for the last week. Rented a house for a few days and the neighborhood I was in had 5k watt solar panels on every home. Pretty dang sweet. If I build a house I'll definitely build a generator into it, and I would like to see about the cost of solar paneling. - Maybe enough to run a small kitchen.

Apparently the issue with solar in grid-down scenarios is your battery store. You can have the panels hooked into the grid to take down costs of your electric bill (kwh in = kwh saved), but that doesn't do jack in a grid down situation, so you're probably talking a lot in battery cost.

I have no idea what a week of 5k watt battery usage would cost.
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This is the weak point in any truely off grid solar system.
https://www.wholesalesolar.com/solar-information/battery-bank-sizing

You can be looking at $1,000s of dollars in batteries.
Kinda like a Prius, looks really good on paper until you realize that your going to have to spend $5k on a battery.

Most true off grid homes have a room or a separate building specifically designed to house the batteries.



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NCMedic said:
This is the weak point in any truely off grid solar system.
https://www.wholesalesolar.com/solar-information/battery-bank-sizing

You can be looking at $1,000s of dollars in batteries.
Kinda like a Prius, looks really good on paper until you realize that your going to have to spend $5k on a battery.

Most true off grid homes have a room or a separate building specifically designed to house the batteries.



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Tesla baby...... Tesla....
 
Bailey Boat said:
Tesla baby...... Tesla....
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That was / is one of the things that Tesla and Elon Musk were working on, basically wall panels for a house that would serve as a battery, think it was called Powerwall or something, think they were like $5-7k a pop and the average home would need like 4 or 5.....and it still wouldn't take you completely off grid.

And having see large industrial batteries on fire before, I'll let the tech sort itself out before I bolt a couple of hundred pounds of Samsung Note 7 batteries to my house.

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Bailey Boat said:
If everyone can hang on for a little while, I'm trying to contact the company (BOE Marine) and the guy (Jim) that did the last one I was involved in but he's in south FL and we can only imagine what it's like there right now. Poor guy may not even have a house, I don't know. Pray for him...

PLUS.... I've got to get it blessed by the CFF Admins and work through those channels to be able to get it posted here. The minute I get the ducks in a row there will be a thread started with all of the particulars.... Stay tuned...
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I have a guy working on some pricing too
 
Whatever you do, don't leave fuel in your generator for 2&1/2 years, don't run it all during that time much less under load and expect it to start. And don't do this because you used to be in the critical power/mission critical facility business. Can I get a big ole Homer Simpon DOPE?
 
IrishCannon said:
Could someone help me understand the pros and cons to something like this vs these more expensive Honda inverter type generators: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...c-start-generator-carb-compliant?cm_vc=-10005
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That would be a great genny for most homeowners. It's not an inverter type, but do you need that feature?
One of my customers (Ohlins USA..make high dollar racing suspensions) has a similar Honda version. They cart that thing all over the country to various races and events.
I guarantee they've never changed the oil or air filter or spark plug or any of that. They just run it. At least 200 days a year.
No matter how they try, they can't kill it. I know they've had it for 10 years at least, cause I've had to wire several trailers and vans to run off the thing. I keep ragging them to take care of it, but when it dies they'll just buy another one.
I haven't looked, but I would bet it's $1000 more than the Champion. With the Honda, you're paying for the name, but they walk the walk.
 
Well pumps are so different depending on where you live.
Common well depth here in the mountains is 600 feet. That usually requires a pump of 1 to 1.5hp.
My neighbor has this set-up. When running, it draws 19 amps. His 5000 watt (20amp) genny will run it, but all by itself with no other load, and it complains. He really needs a genny of at least 6500 watts.
Grandpa has a 450' well that feeds 2 houses. His pump is 3hp with start and run capacitors.
The submersible well pump I had in Ohio was 30 feet deep.
One campground I know, up in Cashiers, has a well pump 1/4 mile deep.
I have a spring well that constantly flows into an in-ground cistern of 1300 gallons. My pump is surface mounted on the cistern (commonly known as a Jet Pump) and draws 6 amps at 120v.
Well pumps can range between an SR22 all the way up to a Desert Eagle. :D
 
Slosolo2 said:
Seems like there are several options to do just that.
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Yeah. A couple hundred bucks for the kit or you can buy them set up for it. From the looks of it, gas is more efficient for run time, cost, space requirements. I would like to have the option though since propane doesn't go bad...
 
I've got one of the Harbor Freight 2000w inverter models and am happy with it. Starts on the first or second pull, and is easy enough to start for my wife to use it. Sometimes I use it to power tools in the yard instead of dragging 100' of cord out. I don't know if it's as quiet as a Honda, since I don't own one to compare it to, but it's pretty dang quiet. I can have it running in the back yard and not even hear it inside.
 
DaveTNC said:
I've got one of the Harbor Freight 2000w inverter models and am happy with it. Starts on the first or second pull, and is easy enough to start for my wife to use it. Sometimes I use it to power tools in the yard instead of dragging 100' of cord out. I don't know if it's as quiet as a Honda, since I don't own one to compare it to, but it's pretty dang quiet. I can have it running in the back yard and not even hear it inside.
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What did that run you? any idea on warranty?

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I got it for $399 with a "Super Coupon" that Harbor Freight has online for them frequently. I think they're normally $499. Warranty is only 90 days. There was a 2-year extended warranty available, but I didn't buy it. I don't remember what that cost. I figured that for as little as I use it, I could get another one if something happens to this one and still be a couple of hundred dollars under a Honda.
 
I'd be interested in a group buy as well depending on prices (unless I run across a killer craigslist deal in the comming weeks). I imagine the local harbor freight will be overwhelmed with returns soon as well.
 
No problems with the Honda of coarse but at work we have bought 2 of the HF knockoffs. They both have over 300 hrs, one 326 and the original 400+. They have been tortured, left out in the Rain, couldn’t tell many times they have rolled around in the back if a truck. We’ve got our money out of them and will buy more when needed. We do change the oil about every 15-20 hrs. I think one needed a plug one time.
 
Majicmike said:
No problems with the Honda of coarse but at work we have bought 2 of the HF knockoffs. They both have over 300 hrs, one 326 and the original 400+. They have been tortured, left out in the Rain, couldn’t tell many times they have rolled around in the back if a truck. We’ve got our money out of them and will buy more when needed. We do change the oil about every 15-20 hrs. I think one needed a plug one time.
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I’ve got a big hf predator generator (8750 peak maybe?), and it’s been a beast. Ran it for a whole week and it never cut off except to fill with gas. Cranks everytime I go to run it.
 
Majicmike said:
No problems with the Honda of coarse but at work we have bought 2 of the HF knockoffs. They both have over 300 hrs, one 326 and the original 400+. They have been tortured, left out in the Rain, couldn’t tell many times they have rolled around in the back if a truck. We’ve got our money out of them and will buy more when needed. We do change the oil about every 15-20 hrs. I think one needed a plug one time.
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thanks for giving personal opinions on the HF version
Theyre much cheaper than the Honda or Yamaha versions, so it makes it very tempting
 
Majicmike said:
I gave a 1000 bucks for Honda, if I had it to do over again I would buy 2 HF’s instead
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Yep. People who knock HF generators are ignorant to them and don’t know any better.
 
Burt Gummer said:
Yep. People who knock HF generators are ignorant to them and don’t know any better.
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Same people won’t buy a Hi Point or Keltec either,
beamernc said:
I've got the Kel-Tec's and just got home from Harbor Freight, but you have to draw the line somewhere. Hi Point?
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Lol, Not pretty but they work
 
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