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Old 08-14-2018, 01:17 PM   #1
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Honda EU2200i vs EU200i Companion

I am about to buy myself a generator and i know i want the Honda. The 2200i is $999.00 the 2200i companion is $1099. the only thing i see that is different is that the companion has a 30 amp outlet as a plug vs the 2200i has the 120v plug. is there any reason i need the companion?
I would just use my 120v to 30 amp dogbone for the 2200i. i assume (i know don't assume...) i will get the same amount of power from each. is having the companion with the 30 amp outlet just a convince? or am i missing something.

and if i read everything right both can be linked to another one if i want 4400 watts of power. Which i don't need or want.

and while i have you here reading.... should i spend some extra cash and get a propane kit for either one. Hauling a gallon of gas around seems ok.
Note i have a SUV not a pick up truck so the gas will live in the Airstream while traveling. I don't want a gas can in the SUV.

any advice will do.

thanks

Brad
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Old 08-14-2018, 01:29 PM   #2
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As I understand it, you need the Companion and the parallel connection cord to get a full 30 amps out of the pair and make the right connection. IMHO, a $100 difference in price is a trivial cost for proper safety and properly-rated connections.

The standard duplex outlets have circuit breakers on them that will shut them off before you get to 30 amps, and pulling 30 amps will overheat the dogbone adapter--it's not designed to do that.

That said, I use a Champion Dual Fuel 3400 watt generator. Runs on propane or gasoline right out of the box. It has a 30-amp RV connector on it, push-button start, and many others are successfully using them. Search the forums for details. I have adapted mine to directly connect to the AS propane bottles with a nice long hose and quick-connect fittings. Keeps what noise it makes far away from me...
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Old 08-14-2018, 02:06 PM   #3
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I bought a companion several years ago because it was on sale for the same price as the one without the 30 amp outlet. I have used the twist lock and the duplex for charging the batteries and powering small appliances in the trailer.

add edit:
IMO, if you plan to run anywhere close to the maximum load, like the AC unit with the soft start, it might be better to use the 30 amp twist lock.
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Old 08-14-2018, 03:17 PM   #4
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Just to be overly pedantic, the RV-30 outlet is not a twist lock receptacle like on other (contractor) generators. It's two flat blades (at an angle) and a U-ground prong.

There are so many standard (and non-standard, for that matter) receptacle/socket pairs it's getting hard to make sense of it without a cheat sheet handy.
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Old 08-14-2018, 03:54 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rmkrum View Post
Just to be overly pedantic, the RV-30 outlet is not a twist lock receptacle like on other (contractor) generators. It's two flat blades (at an angle) and a U-ground prong.

There are so many standard (and non-standard, for that matter) receptacle/socket pairs it's getting hard to make sense of it without a cheat sheet handy.
My companion has the twist lock 30amp (type-NEMA L5-30), so I have to use an adapter regardless of which plug I use.
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Old 08-14-2018, 04:14 PM   #6
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The funny thing I've noted is that most contractor-type generators don't necessarily have a twist lock 30amp (type-NEMA L5-30) on them either. They have some other NEMA twist lock plug that has 4 prongs, and I think does 220 volts across two of them...

"Standards are nice because there are so many of them to chose from."--some engineer, somewhere.
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Old 08-15-2018, 09:20 AM   #7
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Because of indecision, I took the Black & Decker approach. I actually found a new 3000i inverter generator on e-bay for $750 delivered. It works really well and is quiet. I'm happy.
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Old 08-15-2018, 09:35 AM   #8
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We purchased the EU2200i because we needed it on the spot and that's all we could find available in the store. If we had the option we would have purchased the companion first. Just for the convenience of the 30amp plug.
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Old 08-15-2018, 10:22 AM   #9
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I have both but decided to leave the companion at home due to space and payload considerations. We use the single generator when we’re dry camping to charge the batteries and have a few conveniences. You cannot runnthe AC or the microwave (or any other heat generating device) with the single generator but that has worked fine for us. I fill it with a gallon of gas and that can usually get us through 2-3 days. Once while we were boondocking in 20 degree temps, I was even able to run the furnace most of the night in eco mode. It will run 4-6 hours in standard mode on full (1gallon) tank and 12 hours in eco mode.

Hope this helps.
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Old 08-15-2018, 10:29 AM   #10
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You might be interested in this. Check this one out. https://www.samsclub.com/sams/4375w-...lp_product_1_2
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Old 08-15-2018, 10:43 AM   #11
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Are you sure you need 2 of the 2200's to run the 13500 AC?

Quote:
Originally Posted by bhkintx View Post
I have both but decided to leave the companion at home due to space and payload considerations. We use the single generator when we’re dry camping to charge the batteries and have a few conveniences. You cannot runnthe AC or the microwave (or any other heat generating device) with the single generator but that has worked fine for us. I fill it with a gallon of gas and that can usually get us through 2-3 days. Once while we were boondocking in 20 degree temps, I was even able to run the furnace most of the night in eco mode. It will run 4-6 hours in standard mode on full (1gallon) tank and 12 hours in eco mode.

Hope this helps.
I posted this earlier in another thread. I have the Champion 3400 Dual Fuel I use with propane and it works great, but it weighs 95lbs.... My friend has a new 23'AS and also just bought the new Honda 2200 which was converted to propane by Genconnex. He brought it up to MT few weeks ago and we went up to Glacier then on to Banff; at altitude of 4k-6k. We tried the new 2200 with the propane conversion and it fired up my 13500 AC with no issues; I cycled it a few times and it did not have any problem running that AC. I also tried it with my 1500 AC and it did start, but it bogged down when I cycled the 1500. I am not sure you really need "3" of these 2200's? My friend has the EasyStart installed on his 23' AS; I do not have the EasyStart, so the 2200 was able to run the 13500AC in our test without any obvious strain.

Anyone else tried this? Comments? I am considering selling my Dual Fuel and getting the 2200 with the propane conversion now. Much easier to move around 45lbs!
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Old 08-15-2018, 10:43 AM   #12
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We have the 30 amp plug and it works fine. You do have to have an adaptor. I had the idea that we would end up with 2 generators so I bought the Companion first. After 10 years we still have only 1. We do not travel in the south in the summer. I did add the Easy start and it does work with 1 gen. The Honda’s are still nice generators which ever you get.

Our generator gets used 1 or 2 times per year. It sometimes took a lot of pulls to get it started after 6 months down time. I am careful to only store it with non ethanol gas. Now to start it the first time after a long rest I use a single shot of starting ether into the air filter. Usually starts first pull and then first pull for as many days as I am using it. After 10 years I am still happy with it.
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Old 08-15-2018, 10:45 AM   #13
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thanks bhkintx great info. We plan to use the FC a lot in the winter for skiing and need to run the furnace at night. Great to know one gallon will keep us warm up in the mountains!
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Old 08-15-2018, 10:45 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bradley G View Post
...and if i read everything right both can be linked to another one if i want 4400 watts of power.
When you pair two generators, you don't get the sum of outputs, instead you get 2 X the lesser one. Otherwise there would be an imbalance.
So if one (not you) paired a 3000 with a 2000, the result would be 4000.

Since the Honda is pretty much bulletproof, check Craig's list in your area and find a clean used one. If you can get the serial number, call a Honda dealer and they can tell you everything about it.
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Old 08-15-2018, 11:35 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gypsydad View Post
I posted this earlier in another thread. I have the Champion 3400 Dual Fuel I use with propane and it works great, but it weighs 95lbs.... My friend has a new 23'AS and also just bought the new Honda 2200 which was converted to propane by Genconnex. He brought it up to MT few weeks ago and we went up to Glacier then on to Banff; at altitude of 4k-6k. We tried the new 2200 with the propane conversion and it fired up my 13500 AC with no issues; I cycled it a few times and it did not have any problem running that AC. I also tried it with my 1500 AC and it did start, but it bogged down when I cycled the 1500. I am not sure you really need "3" of these 2200's? My friend has the EasyStart installed on his 23' AS; I do not have the EasyStart, so the 2200 was able to run the 13500AC in our test without any obvious strain.

Anyone else tried this? Comments? I am considering selling my Dual Fuel and getting the 2200 with the propane conversion now. Much easier to move around 45lbs!

Maybe I was a bit too "detailed" with my earlier post here? Has anyone else tried the new Honda 2200 single, to run your 13500 AC or microwave? It worked fine when I tried few weeks back...and it was with propane conversion...
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Old 08-15-2018, 03:25 PM   #16
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Converted the “pair” of 2014 Honda 2,000 watt generators to propane only. (One has the duplex outlet and the other the 30amp outlet). So we are not carrying gasoline in either the 2015 23D International Serenity or the Mercedes tow vehicle. Either generator can operate off of the trailer front propane outlet and start and run the 13.5K BTU air conditioner as we have a Magnum hybrid MSH3012 inverter that can draw any needed extra power from the 300 amp hour Lithium battery to start the air conditioner. We added a second power inlet to the 23D with a real automatic transfer switch above the propane line like on our 25FB. I made a custom six foot power cable so the generator can be chained the the front “A” frame by the propane outlet. There are also five 100 watt solar panels on the roof.

The 600 amp hour lithium battery in our 2014 Classic can start and run the rear 13.5K air conditioner during a road side stop for lunch. The nine 100 watt solar panels can recharge the battery as we travel down the road.

A 30 pound propane tank can run both Honda generators at the same time and the pair can recharge the battery, if necessary, of either trailer.
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Old 03-22-2019, 04:05 AM   #17
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FYI

Click on orange arrow to go to new thread.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BoCox View Post
For those who own the 2200. FYI.

[URL="https://powerequipment.honda.com/support/recalls-and-updates"]

American Honda is recalling about 200,000 portable generators that can leak gasoline from the fuel valve, posing a fire and burn hazard. The Consumer Product Safety Commission sayst Honda has received 19 reports of fuel leaks involving EU2200i and EB2200i portable generators.
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Old 03-23-2019, 09:35 AM   #18
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FYI

Click on orange arrow to go to new thread.
Propane conversion not affected...gas only; this has been out a while. Not a big deal to get fixed, according to my friend who has one of the early 2200's converted to propane....he elected not to take his in since he is using propane.
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Old 06-04-2019, 12:28 PM   #19
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When you pair two generators, you don't get the sum of outputs, instead you get 2 X the lesser one. Otherwise there would be an imbalance.
So if one (not you) paired a 3000 with a 2000, the result would be 4000.
Not sure I believe this. I have an eu2200i companion and an eu1000i that I pair to run my 80's Coleman Delta TX a/c unit. The eu2200i will run it alone but it struggles. When I pair the eu1000i both generators are happy. So far, I've got a couple hundred hours of experience doing it this way without issue.

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