Seeking Generator/Inverter Recommendations to Power '13 18EC

[BrianSF-GA]

There are still several months before rally season, but I am starting to look at inverters to FULLY power our 2013 W&P 18EC w/13,500 btu AC while dry camping. From hearing generators and inverters at previous rallies, we are convinced we want an inverter rather than a generator for noise considerations.

My dilemma is actual wattage. I was convinced the Honda EU3000is was the way to go, but after researching the demands of the 18EC, I am no longer certain. Is anyone powering their entire 18EC with an inverter and what are you using?

I realize power hookups are the way to go, but several rally sites we go to don't have hookups. I don't want to mess with hard-start capacitors or turning off the ac to use the microwave or other items. So, I am looking for something that will handle the entire demand ... AC, microwave, stereo, water pump, lights, refrigerator, on-board inverter, etc. I am now wondering if I should spend the extra $1,000 and go to a Yamaha EF4500ise. The EU6500is is an option as well, but is another $1,000 above the Yamaha and its size and weight are a bear, not that the EU3000is or EF4500ise are light. The Yamaha seems to bridge the gap between the EU3000 and the EU6500.

Another option is a bridged pair of EU2000's, but the setup with a supplemental, external fuel tank are not appealing.

[Mtelkman]

The Yamaha 4500 should handle all you are thinking of and then some. A 13.5k a/c uses 2750 watts to start but less to run. The microwave use 650 watts or so. Add the wattage of your lights, TV, stereo etc and you still are in good shape.

While they are great generators, that Yamaha is heavy at almost 200 pounds! Good thing it has wheels.

You can find numerous wattage charts online that will help you determine just how much power you need. And remember that you don't "have to" run everything at once. Many of us make do with smaller generators. It isn't hard to turn one thing off before using something else.

[BrianSF-GA]

Originally Posted by Mtelkman

The Yamaha 4500 should handle all you are thinking of and then some. A 13.5k a/c uses 2750 watts to start but less to run. The microwave use 650 watts or so. Add the wattage of your lights, TV, stereo etc and you still are in good shape.

While they are great generators, that Yamaha is heavy at almost 200 pounds! Good thing it has wheels.

You can find numerous wattage charts online that will help you determine just how much power you need. And remember that you don't "have to" run everything at once. Many of us make do with smaller generators. It isn't hard to turn one thing off before using something else.

Yea, I found a nice "calculator" on Honda's website ... came out to 3,230 running watts and 4,650 starting watts. Obviously, everything won't be starting at once and the only items that require starting are the AC and fridge. The only thing I couldn't figure the wattage on is the on-board inverter and the water pump.

You are about right, a 13,500 AC unit requires 2,800 watts to start and 1,800 watts to run ... that is just so close to the peak of the EU3000is.

The EF4500 is about 60# heavier than the EU3000is and the wheel kits are additional $100 for the EU3000is ... so $900 more for the EF4500

[Mtelkman]

Yamaha makes good inverter generators. I have the ef2400is which I converted to tri fuel. Quiet, always starts easy and sips fuel.

[NCL6694]

I also researched the Idea of a genny. Although my choice was champion 3100 watt inverter it run very clean and very little noise. in my comparsion with Hondas I put them side by side and the noise level very close. In Addition for the price it does an excellent job. Plus it will power up your Air very well.

[BrianSF-GA]

Originally Posted by Mtelkman

Yamaha makes good inverter generators. I have the ef2400is which I converted to tri fuel. Quiet, always starts easy and sips fuel.

... nice to hear you are happy with yours.

[BrianSF-GA]

Originally Posted by NCL6694

I also researched the Idea of a genny. Although my choice was champion 3100 watt inverter it run very clean and very little noise. in my comparsion with Hondas I put them side by side and the noise level very close. In Addition for the price it does an excellent job. Plus it will power up your Air very well.

I am familiar with the Champions. A rally neighbor a few years ago had one of those Sam's Club deals on a 2000w for $475 and it ran great and was very quiet. Honestly, that was the first inverter I had ever seen. Those deals are long gone, but, the more I looked into the Champion, the more I read that they were hit or miss in getting a good one. There seems to be a lot of refurbished units out there. It's good to hear you have had good luck with yours.

[Prothos]

3100 Watt Inverter Generator - Champion Generators 75531I - Portable Generators - Camping World

[Brett Rahn]

When i bought my 2014 275 work and play they told me to absolutly stay away from Champion stuff, apparantly the dealer has had many issues with trailers coming in with stuff burnned up, and also they don not have a 30 amp plug? you need an adapter? I dont know?
I have 275 work and play and did some research, I drag race bikes and wanted something that I can sleep in at track etc. I have a Honda 3000 watt Generator, and it works ok, I run it through a serge box before trailer, Pain in Arse and it will NOT power air and Micro at same time,
So with lots of research, I did the Yamaha 4500 inverter, NOT Cheap, NOT LIGHT TO MOVE and does NOT fit on trailer tongue, So you either need 2 big dudes to lift in back of truck or it rolls in and out of the back!
These are quit machines with great performance! I can run everything and fans and charger for bike and miny air compressor! no issues,
If you plan on staying in national parks an Inverter is a deff. need, and a lot of camp grounds that do not offer a hook up demand them now, or you need to turn off the loud generator at dusk or something?
listen the last thing you need is to be out there and a cheap unit craps out! buy a quality unit! Brett

[EnduroRdr]

I would save the extra cost - the Honda EU3000is - is plenty enough to power your rig with a 13000 a/c. I have a buddy that powers his camper with one and he has a 15000-btu a/c, and he says it even runs his 900w micro for a short 30sec warm up as long as a/c doesn't try to start at same time micro is running (cause the kids forget to conserve). But to be safe he tells everyone to shut off a/c if using micro.

[Brett Rahn]

And I say spend the money and dont worry about having to turn stuff on and off that is a pain
not only that you are sure to forget and bang could damage unit or ac or whatever, you spent money on the rig now finish it the proper way!
if you have kids or wife like I do they run everything from TV to lap top to curlling irons, You will be happy you have the power !

[BrianSF-GA]

I just realized something ... my toy hauler has a 30 amp box and main breaker. My understanding that is 3,600 watts max (120v X 30a). The Honda EU3000 is 25 amps rated maximum output and the Yamaha EF4500 is 37.5 amps rated maximum output. So I guess no matter what inverter I purchase, I will only be able to pull 30 amps (3,600 watts) through my fuse box.

Is my thinking correct here?

[jimmac28]

Originally Posted by BrianSF-GA

I just realized something ... my toy hauler has a 30 amp box and main breaker. My understanding that is 3,600 watts max (120v X 30a). The Honda EU3000 is 25 amps rated maximum output and the Yamaha EF4500 is 37.5 amps rated maximum output. So I guess no matter what inverter I purchase, I will only be able to pull 30 amps (3,600 watts) through my fuse box.

Is my thinking correct here?

30 amps is all you need, your main breaker will trip when you go over. Two Honda or Yamaha ES2000 will but you right at 30 amps.

[BrianSF-GA]

Originally Posted by jimmac28

30 amps is all you need, your main breaker will trip when you go over. Two Honda or Yamaha ES2000 will but you right at 30 amps.

... thanks. Just wanted to be sure I was thinking correctly.

[Tom Time]

After all my investigation of what would be good for me, looking at wattage, sound, area/space they take up, and weight I purchased two of the EU200I Honda inverter/generators. One is a regular inverter and the other is the companion inverter. I purchased these brand new, with the connector, from a guy off of ebay. I save $200.00 extra by buying it offline (Hey, The guy had a good rating, I took the chance, I paid through PayPal, it paid off). The companion inverter has the 30 amp connection.

The reason for the Hondas is that on all of the reviews I found no one had any complaints, except don't store them with fuel in them and should be said for all equipment!

As I said, I was concerned about the weight. I have seen my friends with there large 4500's or 6500's generators that weight around 200 pounds and having a limited area to transport these (No offense to someone who have these! The weigh was a big concern for me) Each of the Hondas only weigh 47 pounds (dry weigh). I can lift one in each hand and I can move them around very easy. As I get older I don't want to be pulling, dragging or lifting a heavy generator. I can load them into the bed of my truck or on my WPT30 garage area without any help or problems.

Both units together give a combined 4000 watts peak, and 3600 watts full time. These units power my 15000 A/C unit and all my lights, TV's and radios that I need (But I must say that on my TH if I have the A/C running with lights, refrigerator, radios and TV's playing, I need to turn something off if you want to run a another high wattage items such as a 1200 watt hair dryer, toaster/oven, etc), but I'm good with that! During the months I don't need A/C, I only need one generator running which saves me on fuel and generator hours. To keep one unit from building up more hours then the other I rotate them. To use the regular generator I have the 30 amp adaptor.

Also If I need a generator for other then the TH I can carry one to the site and just plug in.

Well, there are pros and cons to everything but in the end you need to figure out what your needs are and buy what is best for you.

Good luck!!!

[BrianSF-GA]

Originally Posted by Tom Time

After all my investigation of what would be good for me, looking at wattage, sound, area/space they take up, and weight I purchased two of the EU200I Honda inverter/generators. One is a regular inverter and the other is the companion inverter. I purchased these brand new, with the connector, from a guy off of ebay. I save $200.00 extra by buying it offline (Hey, The guy had a good rating, I took the chance, I paid through PayPal, it paid off). The companion inverter has the 30 amp connection.

The reason for the Hondas is that on all of the reviews I found no one had any complaints, except don't store them with fuel in them and should be said for all equipment!

As I said, I was concerned about the weight. I have seen my friends with there large 4500's or 6500's generators that weight around 200 pounds and having a limited area to transport these (No offense to someone who have these! The weigh was a big concern for me) Each of the Hondas only weigh 47 pounds (dry weigh). I can lift one in each hand and I can move them around very easy. As I get older I don't want to be pulling, dragging or lifting a heavy generator. I can load them into the bed of my truck or on my WPT30 garage area without any help or problems.

Both units together give a combined 4000 watts peak, and 3600 watts full time. These units power my 15000 A/C unit and all my lights, TV's and radios that I need (But I must say that on my TH if I have the A/C running with lights, refrigerator, radios and TV's playing, I need to turn something off if you want to run a another high wattage items such as a 1200 watt hair dryer, toaster/oven, etc), but I'm good with that! During the months I don't need A/C, I only need one generator running which saves me on fuel and generator hours. To keep one unit from building up more hours then the other I rotate them. To use the regular generator I have the 30 amp adaptor.

Also If I need a generator for other then the TH I can carry one to the site and just plug in.

Well, there are pros and cons to everything but in the end you need to figure out what your needs are and buy what is best for you.

Good luck!!!

Very good response and I thank you for taking the time to write it. You make alot of good points that I have already been tossing around. I have made the decision that I do not want anything that will limit my usage below the 30 amps (3,600 watts) that my main breaker is capable of. So I have decided a minimum of 30 amps (3,600 watts) of continuous power is what I want.

According to the manufacturers' specs, the 4,000 watt maximum power of the companion EU2000's & EF2000's is limited to 30 minutes with a rated continuous power of 3,200 watts. That is slightly shy of my goal and there is added cost and setup of a long term fuel tank and companion cabling. There is also an option of using two EF2400's for 4,000 watts of continuous power, but their cost + the parallel kit is right at $3,000 plus the hassle of hooking up 2 generators ... the cost of the EF4500.
As of right now, I like the ease of rolling an EF4500 down the ramp door, plugging it up, pressing a button on an optional remote start and voila, power with the ability to pull the full 30 amps for 5-15 hours per tank full depending on load. The TH has the perfect size nook in a back corner for it. A few d-rings and she is strapped right in.

[EnduroRdr]

I have 2 of the Honda 2000i (regular and a companion) I love these things - if I don't run the a/c I just run one of them. I got the gas non-vented gas caps with gas tubing so I could run both from and aux 6 gallon gas tank (no worries bout running out of gas in the middle of the night).
I can run both generators for over 24 hours straight on this setup - tested after hurricane Katrina.

Actually if you google the gas caps non-vented and converted to adapt the hoses you can use any remote gas can - as the gas in the generator tank starts to empty it creates a vacuum and draws the gas from the external tank - you just have to have you other end of the tubing at the bottom of the aux tank. Works like a charm! No need to have aux tank higher than generator - it will suck the fuel up and over into the gen, (besides its safer to have the aux fuel lower than the gen in case of leaks.





Note these can also be converted to run on propane with a kit - I did that with my little 2600 yamaha, and have thought about it with the Hondas too but so far having the extra gas can has worked out fine.

Honda EU2000i generator operating with propane - YouTube

This is my setup for the Yamaha 2600 which can run on either gasoline, natural gas, or as shown here running on propane. these are cool conversion kits.
Note the 2600 is just slightly too small for the trailer use - this is our hurricane mode setup - I stick a 12000 b.t.u. window unit in the living room of our house and all is well but it is too weak for the camper use so I purchased the hondas for camping in the TH.



Anyway - food for thought - but really if you have a 30 amp feed to your trailer - "that is max use" and rarely do you need to have continued 30 amps. (with 15K a/c running mine draws 23 amps measured at the plug. Micro off when measured) Nobody I have talked with that uses these combo 2000i units has ever out run the capacity for their 30 amp trailer - actually several folks I know get along with the 3000 units and never have an issue - I say this because I hate to see you buy more generator than you may really need. And like suggested above if you only need one (like when not using a/c) the fuel savings is great - they sip fuel! One unit usually runs 6-8 hours on the internal "one gallon" tank. Yes you have to connect an additional cable to run 2, and they are not electric start, but to me the compact portability makes it really nice using the 2 smaller units and my totla investment was under $2000 included parallel cable when purchased on-line. My 2 cents.

[Top B]

Another thing you might want to do is to get a hard start solinoid for your A/C. It will keep your generator from kicking down if you are close to the max amps when starting it. I use one of these for my Toyhauler with no problems. Best price I found was Sears. It has a battery start and pull start. I have used mine for 2 years with no problems.

[hrlyguy2]

I have a generac 6500 like 8k watt start up.More likely enough to power my rig
but loud.Seen guys make boxes to quiet it down.
ANY one done this before ?
Not trying to hijack a thread figure talking about generators

[Top B]

Originally Posted by hrlyguy2

I have a generac 6500 like 8k watt start up.More likely enough to power my rig
but loud.Seen guys make boxes to quiet it down.
ANY one done this before ?
Not trying to hijack a thread figure talking about generators

I made a box for mine so I could run it in the back of my pickup and vent the heat from the exhaust out the top of the box. My generator is pretty quiet, but it made it quieter (can barely hear it running). My box connects to the exhaust end of my generator, but I'm guessing you want yours to enclose your generator. I used plywood with metal shielding (facing in to protect from heat damage to the wood), L-brackets, fireproof insulation, and a home heating vent cover for the exhaust. You would probably need another one for the intake side if your going to enclose it.