buying a used Honda eu1000i

[nickclifford]

hey folks, I've never owned a generator before, so hoping for a little advice !
Found on used, owner says 20hrs, they have a counter clock assume ?
what should I look out for when buying used? Home Depot have new for 750.00, this guy is offering at $649! Made an offer of via email without seeing yet of coourse, for $500.00, seems fair ?

thanks in advance

[kscherzi]

No clock, so he's guessing. The Honda 1000 isn't that useful a generator. It could recharge your trailers batteries, but that's about it. Can't run the microwave nor many cooking appliances such as a normal crock pot or the proverbial blow dryer. Suggest the Honda 2000 as it's only a couple hundred more and not much heavier. It can do all the above. Basically makes your outlets operate like at home.

[FCStreamer]

For $500 I'd be looking at the 2000 watt Champion inverters new.

[nickclifford]

I see that at Home Depot for about 500.00 , hows the noise compared with Honda ?

[FCStreamer]

Originally Posted by nickclifford

I see that at Home Depot for about 500.00 , hows the noise compared with Honda ?

I haven't bought mine yet. They have several models. Some of their models are rated at the same DB as the Honda, and I have read posts saying they are similar. 59db I believe. I have decided to get the 3500 watt dual fuel model so I can run my AC. It is rated at 59db and its $1,100. Just waiting for the funds...

[TouringDan]

I think $500 is a fair price for a 1000 watt Honda generator. I have one that is about 15 years old and it works great. I use it very little, just to recharge the batteries which is very rare, since I have 2 golf cart batteries. It won't operate a microwave except for the 600 watt Westinghouse model I just found that operates on only 850 watts of power.

It is only 28 lbs, so much lighter and smaller than the 2,000 watt model and it uses less fuel. I am quite happy with it.

Dan

[nickclifford]

Originally Posted by kscherzi

No clock, so he's guessing. The Honda 1000 isn't that useful a generator. It could recharge your trailers batteries, but that's about it. Can't run the microwave nor many cooking appliances such as a normal crock pot or the proverbial blow dryer. Suggest the Honda 2000 as it's only a couple hundred more and not much heavier. It can do all the above. Basically makes your outlets operate like at home.

well for not much more, makes sense even if don't have a microwave or hair dryer ! It's really for keeping the lights on etc .. charging batteries & phones. we're just long weekend type campers but would be handy to have at home for power cuts, to keep fridge running ...

[NY24]

I'd second the vote for a 2000W generator (or bigger; needs seem to increase over time). ALL the "listed ratings" are PEAK output. In practice, you'll get 10~20% LESS actual power. I recently saw Briggs & Stratton Inverter / Generator models at Menards. Several hundred less than the "big" name models. I would recommend that you spend the extra money and stay with either a Honda or a Yamaha. They're simply the best and, a decade+ later (with minimal maintenance) will still be going strong. Get a hardened chain (cables are easy to cut) to lock up whatever you buy.

[Nomad518]

I used to have a Honda 1000 generator and used it pretty much just for keeping our AS batteries charged when dry camping. It was in like new condition but had lots more than 20 hours use. As others have said there's no meter to show time used. I sold it for $450 on Craig's List and bought two Honda 2000 generators as many others here have done. Lots more capabilities with the 2000 generators.

[Bill M.]

I have a 2000. I keep it in the pickup bed and run it there. I can lift it out if I have to but prefer not. I run it in the bed. I see you have a 31 so will probably have a capable TV. The way I would opt for the 1000 is if I had a SUV or some other arrangement that involved lifting the generator a lot. Some people actually carry them in the trailer and move them each night. The Hondss were and are a good generator. But there are so many more on the market now and I have not kept up with what is quiet and what is not. But I doubt you will find another as quiet as the Honda or as easy to transport and use. I have run the microwave on the gen when we were charging but would not start the gen for that. My 2000 will just run our microwave and the converter. I have kicked the breaker doing that.

[banderabob]

Ditto the recommendation from Nomad518.

[tjdonahoe]

1000 is too small, get no less than a 2000 Honda..

[ralphcompton]

Keep in mind also that gasoline engines loose 3% of efficiency for every 1000 feet of elevation above sea level. My Honda 2000 could not operate my 1500 watt microwave above 5000 feet without some serious straining, dropping my voltage into 90's. So I promptly quit using my microwave at altitude. But then I bought a second 2000i, the companion, and I can run my microwave at altitude or my A/C at closer to sea level. But setting up the 2 2000's and carrying them both around in the truck is somewhat a nuisance. I am going to go to a Honda 3000 which will do what the twin 2000's will do with less equipment to haul around. Hope this info is helpful

[nickclifford]

Originally Posted by ralphcompton

Keep in mind also that gasoline engines loose 3% of efficiency for every 1000 feet of elevation above sea level. My Honda 2000 could not operate my 1500 watt microwave above 5000 feet without some serious straining, dropping my voltage into 90's. So I promptly quit using my microwave at altitude. But then I bought a second 2000i, the companion, and I can run my microwave at altitude or my A/C at closer to sea level. But setting up the 2 2000's and carrying them both around in the truck is somewhat a nuisance. I am going to go to a Honda 3000 which will do what the twin 2000's will do with less equipment to haul around. Hope this info is helpful

very useful ! My kids think I'm a total nut for not buying microwave meals ! We're just weekend campers and tend to cook meats outside & cook from scratch where possible .. & I don't have enough hair left to worry about a hair dryer
Do these 1000 watt units work for simply lights & charging ? TV screen maybe ? what else could i be missing ?

[sheriff1]

Point of reference, a Honda 2000 will run the microwave but not the convection over.


2015 F350 CC 4X4 6.7 Diesel
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[kscherzi]

I have a 300/600 watt inverter hardwired. It powers the TV, the vacuum, the blender. And even a small slow cooker! The only things left are the microwave and air conditioner. Some people, a drip coffee maker. So what I'm saying is that items drawing less than 600 watts can be fed by an inverter off the trailers batteries. No noise whatsoever. Higher drawing appliances like the coffee pot and microwave will exceed sensible inverter limits and the capability of a Honda 1000. So to me, the only use for such a low powered generator is to recharge batteries.

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by nickclifford

Do these 1000 watt units work for simply lights & charging ? TV screen maybe ? what else could i be missing ?

Lights and charging of cell phones and iPads is powered directly from 12v.

I am installing a 1000w inverter that will power our fan, tv, blender, toaster, hair dryer and the 600 watt microwave.

The 1,000 watt generator will just be used for charging the batteries.

Dan

[robert@honda]

Later production EU1000i do have an hour meter function.

Check the serial number...EZAG-1224009 and up and EAAT-1000001 and up have the hour meter feature:



Also, if you'll drop me a PM with the full serial number, I can get you a few details (aprox. date of manufacture, selling dealer, service bulletin / safety recall status, etc.).

If you do buy a used Honda generator, I can also update the master Honda database to show you as the new owner. This can be helpful in the unlikely event there's ever a product safety recall, and Honda needs to contact you.

[Airtandem]

with that post by Robert@honda, it is nice to have people in industry on the forum. This gives a NEW meaning to customer service. Now IF someone from Airstream would do the same. There is also Rich from GM, Lewster, Tireman to name a few.

[robert@honda]

Originally Posted by robert@honda

EZAG-1224009 and up and EAAT-1000001 and up have the hour meter feature:

Oh, a bit of trivia:

EZAG prefix = unit built at Honda's plant in Japan
EAAT prefix = unit built at Honda's plant in Thailand

The Thai-made units have been in the pipeline for 2+ years now, so highly unlikely you'll stumble across a new unit with the EZAG prefix. Really doesn't matter, as both plants use the same manufacturing standards and have the same engineers running the operation.