Honda EU7000

[TavnAsh]

Ok this one is for you electrical gurus. Time to retire the two honda 2000s (see attached photos). They have been, and continue to be flawless. Conservatively they have 1000's of hours, and spend months at a time in the bed uncovered, running 20-40 hours straight between fill ups... But I need more bed space, and no longer want wires and fuel hoses to mess with...

The new fuel injected Honda EU 7000 looks interesting.... But I am not sure it will work. It is a dual inverter model, so it's like having two generators again, but in one nice package. My question for you gurus is if you know how they run each hot leg in either the 30/120 or the 50/240 plugs? It is rated for 5500 wats continuous, so that is like 2750 watts per inverter. I am wondering if the plugs somehow sync the inverters, it will not be enough juice per leg to run even a 30 amp rig on a single leg if they are not synced.... Any input from you geniuses?

[Wayne&Sam]

4 feet long and 262 lbs! And 60dB.

[TavnAsh]

Still smaller then the footprint 2 2000s and 12 gal fuel tank... Weight not a factor, except that maybe it will discourage it walking off .....

[mefly2]

Kudos for the EU3000is with electric start ...that is were we went after the pair of EU2000s.

[TavnAsh]

I love the 3000, but not enough juice for our application.... If I had the $$. I would be installing a permanent diesel 6000 in the bed of the truck.... Need a min of 4500 watts or preferably 6000 when I upgrade to 50 amp

[PharmGeek]

I am going to buy the eu7000 and use it for home use and for travel need

I have not 100% decided but I will want the option to boondock in hot summer

It's big and heavy and for loading and unloading I've spoken now with 3 owners that use one of those harbor freight lifts to load and unload but mostly

With it - I will also avoid the need to pay an electrician to put in 50amp service which turns out mucho pricey

We shall see - I may still buy the 2 x 2000's but the eu7000 will do all home needs and let me use my trailer at home for company in summer and have enough juice no prob




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[BAB]

I went from the two 2000's to the 3000iHandi last Spring. After a full summer with the new generator, I pronounce it a real winner. Granted, I can only use one of my two A/C units, but that didn't prove to be an issue, as the 15,000 BTU unit works fine for cooling the entire trailer after sundown. The generator fits perfectly in my truck bed (and it stayed there all summer). Last week when returning from the West coast, we did a couple of lunchtime rest stops when the temp was above 90. I just started 'er up and we had "cool lunchtime". Very easy on gas and no real sound issues. (I sold the 2000's to my nephew who just got a '66 Tradewind.)

[BoldAdventure]

Originally Posted by BAB

I went from the two 2000's to the 3000iHandi last Spring. After a full summer with the new generator, I pronounce it a real winner. Granted, I can only use one of my two A/C units, but that didn't prove to be an issue, as the 15,000 BTU unit works fine for cooling the entire trailer after sundown. The generator fits perfectly in my truck bed (and it stayed there all summer). Last week when returning from the West coast, we did a couple of lunchtime rest stops when the temp was above 90. I just started 'er up and we had "cool lunchtime". Very easy on gas and no real sound issues. (I sold the 2000's to my nephew who just got a '66 Tradewind.)

How would you compare the sound volume of the 3000 to the 2000?

I've got a 2000i and was thinking of selling it and upgrading myself so I could power our 15K BTU unit when boondocking out west.

I personally was surprised when we fired up the 2000i and it was quiter than my lawn mower. Curious if the 3000 is in the similar db level from experience.

[BAB]

I don't have the db rating at my fingertips, but it surely didn't seem bothersome. Pretty sure you can look this up easily.

[Phoenix]

BoldAdventure, you may wish to consider purchasing the Honda EU2000i "Companion" to parallel with your basic model (assuming that is the one you already have). Two 2,000's in parallel are actually capable of a few more Amps of output than either of the 3000 models, and they are individually lighter to move around (one at a time) than their much heavier cousins. Also, the cost for two 2000's is almost identical to the cost of a 3000.

We have two 2000's and carry both in the summer, in case we need to run the air conditioner. However, in the winter, we only take one with us.

Here are the sound specifications, extracted from Honda's Website:

• Honda EU1000i: Noise Level = 59 dB(A) @ rated load 53dB(A) @ 1/4 load
  
  
• Honda EU2000i: Noise Level = 59 dB(A) @ rated load 53dB(A) @ 1/4 load
  
  
• Honda EU3000i Handi: Noise Level = 65 dB(A) @ rated load, 57 dB(A) @ 1/4 load
  
  
• Honda EU3000iS: Noise Level = 58 dB(A) @ rated load, 49 dB(A) @ 1/4 load
  
  
• Honda EU7000i: Noise Level = 60 dB(A) @ rated load, 52 dB(A) @ 1/4 load

Reference: Honda Generators: Portable Generator Power for Home, Work, and Play

[TavnAsh]

Important to note however that two 2000's paralleled will not have enough fuel on their own tanks get you through a full night... Also to be fair, two 2000 or a 3000 will be running at around 1/2-3/4 load when powering an air conditioner, so they will be louder then the figures above.... Don't get me wrong, I have owned my 2000's for about 8 years and they have 1000's of hours on them. Great units, and when in the truck bed I do not notice the noise from the camper at all... You can not go wrong with a honda inverter generator, you just need to pick the application that fits your need the best.

[Phoenix]

Note: Sound data is unaltered, extracted directly from the Honda Website. I have no idea what the sound levels are at full throttle, although our Honda 2000s are noticeably louder under load.

Immediately after purchasing our Hondas, I bought a portable marine gas tank, outboard motor hoses, and fuel fittings; and I built an extended-run setup for using our air conditioner. However, I have never used it. We figure (except for emergencies or in a campground with hookups) if we need air conditioning, we are camped in the wrong place and need to drive farther north or higher in altitude where it's cooler.

Besides the constant noise, generators powering an air conditioner 24/7 will suck gas! Even with an extended-run tank, it's inconvenient to buy gasoline and refill the tanks everyday. With a six gallon portable tank and a little less than a gallon of gas in each generator, one filling would probably last about 16-20 hours (estimated). This means that two Honda EU2000i's powering an air conditioner will consume about eight gallons of fuel per day.

That's why we rarely use our Bambi to boondock in the desert in the summer.

[xrvr]

Thirty bucks a day for running a generator? I'd rather stay at a full service campground if available. Jim

[BoldAdventure]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

Note: Sound data is unaltered, extracted directly from the Honda Website. I have no idea what the sound levels are at full throttle, although our Honda 2000s are noticeably louder under load.

Immediately after purchasing our Hondas, I bought a portable marine gas tank, outboard motor hoses, and fuel fittings; and I built an extended-run setup for using our air conditioner. However, I have never used it. We figure (except for emergencies or in a campground with hookups) if we need air conditioning, we are camped in the wrong place and need to drive farther north or higher in altitude where it's cooler.

Besides the constant noise, generators powering an air conditioner 24/7 will suck gas! Even with an extended-run tank, it's inconvenient to buy gasoline and refill the tanks everyday. With a six gallon portable tank and a little less than a gallon of gas in each generator, one filling would probably last about 16-20 hours (estimated). This means that two Honda EU2000i's powering an air conditioner will consume about eight gallons of fuel per day.

That's why we rarely use our Bambi to boondock in the desert in the summer.

I may get a second, but I think I'll just wait and see how things are. I'm from Virginia Beach originally, and now living here in Clearwater, FL till we go fulltime, so I'm personally used to higher temperatures and living in areas where the humidity is high.

As for the dB levels, I've found that sometimes the numbers are a good gauge but personal experience is subjective. What's loud to you, might not be loud to me and vice versa. Good to hear others experiences. Thanks for the answers guys.

[robert@honda]

Originally Posted by TavnAsh

The new fuel injected Honda EU 7000 looks interesting.... But I am not sure it will work. It is a dual inverter model, so it's like having two generators again, but in one nice package. My question for you gurus is if you know how they run each hot leg in either the 30/120 or the 50/240 plugs?

There are four receptacles on the EU7000is. #4 is the 240V receptacle, and it has two powered legs, 4A and 4B. Note the voltage selector switch: it has two positions, "120V only" and "120/240V."



The EU7000is has two power generating circuits. In the "120V only" position, they are connected in a parallel circuit for maximum power @ 120V to all receptacles. In the "120/240" position, the two power circuits are connected in series (120 + 120 = 240) to create 240V to receptacle #4.



The actual power works out like this:



Notes:
In the "120V only" position, make sure the load on any single receptacle does not exceed the values in the preceding table. In the "120/240" position, balance the load between receptacles; here's another table with specifics:

[PharmGeek]

I will want to buy one perhaps next year - funds are looking good for the purchase

Robert - how can you hook up RV 50amp plug into this?

Also - remote start option?? Wants it


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[Al and Missy]

Pharm Geek,

See http://www.rvpowerprotection.com/Lin...%20Service.pdf

Apparently 50A service is really 100A service in that there are two 120v legs, each capable of delivering 50A. You only get 22.9 on each leg per the table that Robert provided. But that should be adequate for running two air conditioners since usually they are wired on opposite 120v legs of the 240 circuit.

I was unaware that 50A service was two 50A 120v legs. So if that is true, then any generator smaller than 12kw can't deliver true 50A service.

Al

[TavnAsh]

Robert, thanks for that reply it was the information I was looking for. I believe that the Honda 7000 will be perfect for my application as currently we run 30 amp service, and I use every bit of that power. I am going to rebuild our ac side in the next year and upgrade to 50 amp, and I believe 22.9 per leg will be more then adequate. Thanks again great looking generator!

Pharm Geek, I believe the generator will work for your 50 amp bunkhouse. I suspect Al is correct that each air cond are wired on the separate legs of the 240 volt circuit. Each heat pump should run on a 20 amp breaker, so there should be enough in each leg to get you over the initial air cond startup. You may however be limited in running other stuff when ac is on its leg is in use.... You can test this by checking your amp draw on each leg at the 50 amp plug...

[PharmGeek]

I have spoke with a couple 6500 owners and they seem very happy - the AC units are something like 12-14 amp draw each (as I recall) so it's enough .... I hope to see one in operation from a friend in January and I'll report back


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[TavnAsh]

Originally Posted by PharmGeek

I have spoke with a couple 6500 owners and they seem very happy - the AC units are something like 12-14 amp draw each (as I recall) so it's enough .... I hope to see one in operation from a friend in January and I'll report back


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I can't wait to see the run time you will get with two AC's and the new 7000. I think it will be just fine, I added the external tanks to our two 2000's because they would only give us around 6 hours on hot summer nights... Since we usually stay in truck stops or flying J's on the road, I wanted to be able to pull in, grab dinner, shower and sleep without having to refuel a hot generator during the night!!