Two Honda 2000s or the Yamaha 3000 seb

[Skyliner]

My feedback is none of the above. I'd get yourself a 3400 (3100 watt continuous) Champion generator with electric and remote start for about $950 shipped with a great 3 year warranty.

No need to pull start, has wheel and handle and once you pull it out all you need to do is secure it to something with a chain and padlock and you are set for the rest of your camping trip. Need to use the microwave in the morning when it is cold or raining outside? NO worries, just use your remote to start the generator without having to change your pj's.


If you are concerned about it breaking and not having a backup, a cheapo 2 stroke harbor freight generator that puts out 800 watts is sufficient to recharge your batteries- not much else it can do except TV and DVD player-not enough power for hot water heater or a/c obviously. I carry a 2 stroke HF generator and with a 20 to 30 foot extension cord it is barely noticeable when it is running. My 3KW gennie is mainly brought when we need airconditioning. The HF generator is a backup for us if we don't have sun for 3 days or more. We plug it directly into our power converter and use our inverter for 120 volt AC use. With coupon, the 2 stroke gennie is about 79 bucks. I have had one for five years and love it! I find it easier to fire up the generator (it is small) and use it to power my 120 volt AC 3 gallon air compressor when I need to top off the tires on my truck.

[SailorSam20500]

I was looking for some other info and ran across a page on the Micro-Air site. They are touting the Westinghouse iGen2500 Inverter as a good idea for RVers. They claim that in their testing, it successfully ran the commonly used 15k AC units with their Easy Start gizmo installed. Looks like the generator goes for about $650.
This is the first time I've seen Westinghouse mentioned as a generator supplier. Anyone already have one? Comments on it's durability? How does it compare to the Champions?

[davidjb]

Not familiar with Westinghouse. I have had a 3500/4000 watt Champion for 3 years now, it has been a great unit. We used it this week round the clock for 2 days here in Mass. because of the storm. We payed under 300. for it from Cabelas. It is not as quiet as an inverter but not awful

[bikendan]

Champion is an American company that has their generators built in China but to their specifications.

Westinghouse generators are simply Chinese designed and built generators and slapped with a purchased well known American brand name.
Many famous American brand names have been purchased by overseas companies. Westinghouse and Bell and Howell are two examples.

My question is who does warranty work on these Westinghouse generators?
Champion has a well established and proven customer support network.

[Mad Cow]

Well it also comes down to the person, their capabilities, and where they are using a generator. A pair of 2000w generators at 44 lb each are far easier to move around than a gen set that weighs in well over 100 lb. And one can use a single 2000w unit when they have lower power needs. It is easier to get a couple of 2000w units set up, running in parallel, etc to provide the same or more running watts than a 3500w single gen set that has roughly 3200 watts running. A pair of Yamaha's or Honda's will provide 3200 running watts quite comfortably, and have surge watts of up to 4000w.

it was brought up in another forum, but something to consider.... service. if the unit needs service, how easy is it to find a dealer that services the unit. In my case, the local John Deere equipment dealer is also a Honda and Yamaha dealer, and services everything they sell, and unlike some goofy RV/TT dealers, will service even what they don't sell. That makes it an easy choice.

All about choices.

[PARADOX-SEV]

I just picked up a pair of the new Honda EU2200i's with one being the companion. $2,000 out the door with 4400 surge and 3600 sustained watts of power. Same weight and cost of the discontinued EU2000i's but more power.

[SailorSam20500]

Originally Posted by PARADOX-SEV

I just picked up a pair of the new Honda EU2200i's with one being the companion. $2,000 out the door with 4400 surge and 3600 sustained watts of power. Same weight and cost of the discontinued EU2000i's but more power.

Does the 2200 have a fuel pump as did the older 2000? That is does it still support the same external fuel tank setup as the old one?

Who did you buy them from? Did you get Honda red or the camo model?

[PARADOX-SEV]

Originally Posted by SailorSam20500

Does the 2200 have a fuel pump as did the older 2000? That is does it still support the same external fuel tank setup as the old one?

Who did you buy them from? Did you get Honda red or the camo model?

You can find them online from several sources. I got mine from a local Honda dealer in Salt Lake City. Yes they have a Camo model, but I got Red. They have fuel pump and fuel cut off switch. Many new features and same size as the old EU2000i.

All-new Honda EU2200i Super Quiet Series Generator Delivers Customers More Power for Work, Home or Play, With the Same Legendary Honda Quality and Reliability - Honda.com

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by PARADOX-SEV

You can find them online from several sources. I got mine from a local Honda dealer in Salt Lake City. Yes they have a Camo model, but I got Red. They have fuel pump and fuel cut off switch. Many new features and same size as the old EU2000i.

All-new Honda EU2200i Super Quiet Series Generator Delivers Customers More Power for Work, Home or Play, With the Same Legendary Honda Quality and Reliability - Honda.com

Did the salesman happen to mention if the 2200 series can be be mixed with the 2000 series?

I have the 2000 Companion and have been waiting on the 2000i for when it was needed (maybe this summer). However I would like the extra oomph if the 2200i works with the 2000 Companion.

[PARADOX-SEV]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

Did the salesman happen to mention if the 2200 series can be be mixed with the 2000 series?

I have the 2000 Companion and have been waiting on the 2000i for when it was needed (maybe this summer). However I would like the extra oomph if the 2200i works with the 2000 Companion.

This is from the Honda Generator web site.

EU2200i and EU2000i Parallel Operation
The EU2200i are only compatible with EU2000i or EU2000i Companion models within a specific serial number range:

EAAJ-2017305 through EAAJ-9999999
EACT-1000001 through EACT-9999999

Connecting an EU2200i with an EU2000i or EU2000i Companion that is not within the compatible serial range above may cause a low voltage output, which can damage tools and appliances powered by the generators. Units outside the compatible serial number range should only be paralleled with another EU2000i.

[mitch28311]

I have a Honda EU2000i, it is more noisy than my friend's EU3000i at higher loads, because the 3000 was still running at half speed for the load when my 2000 was running full out to meet a similar demand. However, there was that 100 lb difference and my friend sold his bigger unit because he could no longer lift it in/out of the truck. He opted for solar panels and a 2000 to assist. Solar panels won't help with running an AC, though. I am a big fan of conversion to propane/dual fuel set up. I converted my EU2000 with an aftermarket kit, it's a little cumbersome and kludgy, but it works. I can run longer because of the bigger full propane tank and I never have to worry about fuel varnish build up and dead gas during storage. Lots of good advice in this thread, but it sure makes the choice hard.

[SailorSam20500]

Originally Posted by PARADOX-SEV

You can find them online from several sources. I got mine from a local Honda dealer in Salt Lake City. Yes they have a Camo model, but I got Red. They have fuel pump and fuel cut off switch. Many new features and same size as the old EU2000i.

All-new Honda EU2200i Super Quiet Series Generator Delivers Customers More Power for Work, Home or Play, With the Same Legendary Honda Quality and Reliability - Honda.com

Thanks. I was wondering mostly about the pump. Makes it easier to hook up an external gas tank for longer running.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by PARADOX-SEV

This is from the Honda Generator web site.

EU2200i and EU2000i Parallel Operation
The EU2200i are only compatible with EU2000i or EU2000i Companion models within a specific serial number range:

EAAJ-2017305 through EAAJ-9999999
EACT-1000001 through EACT-9999999

Connecting an EU2200i with an EU2000i or EU2000i Companion that is not within the compatible serial range above may cause a low voltage output, which can damage tools and appliances powered by the generators. Units outside the compatible serial number range should only be paralleled with another EU2000i.

THANK YOU! That makes my life easier!

[Mad_River]

In addition to the new Honda model. Champion has a dual fuel 2000W generator with fuel level gauge, load indicator coming out in April. Same style as other inverters on the market. You can stack it too like their bigger cube shaped 2000W model. Those new features make it quite an attractive option.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by mitch28311

However, there was that 100 lb difference and my friend sold his bigger unit because he could no longer lift it in/out of the truck.

I'm getting older and not able to lift what I used to but that just means I'm using more "technology". I just installed a small hydraulic crane in my Pickup (from Northern Tool) that folds down low enough to store under the bed rail of my pickup and still let me use my hard tonneau cover.

Lifts my 100# Champion 3500 W dual fuel Inverter/Gen with ease. Just like pumping up a bottle jack. Less than $100 and only a 60# penalty in weight. No more lifting heavy 'anything' into the back of my truck and no more compromises due to weight.

[Mad_River]

I wish I had known about that truck add-on. I sold my EU3000i for an EU2000i because my bad back and arthritic hands couldn't handle that heavy lift into the bed.

[AlaskaErik]

I went with the 2000 watt A-IPower inverter generator from Costco. It uses the Yamaha MZ80 engine. It also comes with one three prong outlet, a 30 amp adaptor, parallel cables, tool kit and oil funnel. $499.99. So two of them for the price of one Honda. One will run everything except the A/C. And it's light enough that I can get it out of the back of my pickup even when the tailgate is wedged against the power tongue jack. I use the 12 volt outlet to run an hour meter so I can keep track of the hours used.