Honda generators

[hobbs1949]

Just bought a Honda 2000i generator for my Airstream. Is it worthwhile to get the propane conversion kit. And can I use the tanks on the front of my Airstream for that and my barbecue grill. Also I was looking at these portable compressors with backup battery power. Are their any out there with enough power to run say the TV for a couple of hours? Thanks Bob

[lsbrodsky]

I have the equivalent Yamaha converted to propane and run it off of my trailer propane quick disconnect.
Larry

[Airtandem]

Our local farm store has a Champion 3000 watt generator for $799.00. I says 56 db at 27 feet. Any thoughts?
mike

[HowieE]

I just bought a Honda 3000 and bought a 3 way conversion kit from Central Maine Diesel at a good price. I don't intend to ever run it on gas because you can't drain the carb bowl and the gas will go stale in there.

Will run it on propane while camping and natural gas if the lights go out at home

[Luigi123]

What is the weight of the Honda 3,000

[r carl]

Originally Posted by HowieE

I don't intend to ever run it on gas because you can't drain the carb bowl and the gas will go stale in there.

You wouldn't of said that if you would of read the owners manual.
You can drain the gas out of the carb as easily as checking the oil.

[r carl]

Originally Posted by Luigi123

What is the weight of the Honda 3,000

134 dry I think.

[r carl]

Originally Posted by hobbs1949

Just bought a Honda 2000i generator for my Airstream. Is it worthwhile to get the propane conversion kit. And can I use the tanks on the front of my Airstream for that and my barbecue grill. Also I was looking at these portable compressors with backup battery power. Are their any out there with enough power to run say the TV for a couple of hours? Thanks Bob

Depends on your situation. For me just putting in gas and using it fits my situation. No regulator, hose, and tank to mess with.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Airtandem

Our local farm store has a Champion 3000 watt generator for $799.00. I says 56 db at 27 feet. Any thoughts?
mike

Honda EU3000is is 49-58 db, at 9 ft. (per a document on Honda's site). I think my Yamaha is a bit quieter than the Honda, but it may be the character of the sound or the direction my fellow campers have pointed their generators' exhausts in the past. Yamaha claims similar numbers to the Honda, but measured at 7m instead of 9 ft. I'm looking for a 3rd-party test of both to get comparable numbers.

Neither one approaches $799 new, however, unless it fell off the back of a truck.

[Arcticfox]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Neither one approaches $799 new, however, unless it fell off the back of a truck.

That's funny!

I'm not sure what either the Honda or Yamaha cost in the USA, but here in Canada they seem to be running around $2500.00 so it is not a small purchase.

As a closing question - is the consensus that one is smartest to purchase one in the 3000 range so you can also run an 15,000 AC unit. Or is that overkill?

TKS
Doug

[aftermath]

Not over kill at all. If you plan to use your AC when not connected the 3000 makes a lot of sense. I am torn about the propane option. I use gas and it hasn't caused much trouble for me. I like the ability to move it to my SIL's trailer if he should need it and also have the freedom to use it around my place at home. The propane would be nice but it would limit you to where you can put the generator. I often put the generator out in the woods, lock it to a tree and run the cord to it.

[J. Morgan]

A float bowl can be mostly drained by cutting off the fuel while the engine is running. When the engine stops, the fuel is for the most part "drained".

[mefly2]

Wait until your factory warranty expires on the Honda ... to consider propane conversion.

We started with one EU2000i ... then added a companion ... easier on the wallet that way; you know. Even though the Honda EU series is relatively easy to start ... sometimes the gen is cold and so are we ... the EU3000iS with electric start kept calling to us ... now, that is what is in the back of the TV. It is heavy; so, suggest that option only if you can leave it in place in the TV.

[Bruce B]

Just a quick heads up here for the dB measurment crowd....a change of 10db is equivalent to a doubling of volume. Something to remember when comparing specs.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Bruce B

Just a quick heads up here for the dB measurment crowd....a change of 10db is equivalent to a doubling of volume. Something to remember when comparing specs.

Not so.
A 3 dB increase is a doubling in volume; a 10dB increase is ten times the volume.

[Bruce B]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

Not so.
A 3 dB increase is a doubling in volume; a 10dB increase is ten times the volume.

My understanding is that it is not so simple. I refer to volume not sound pressure but my understanding is murky at best.

Here is a website that explains what I am trying to articulate...

Loudness volume doubling sound level change factor of perceived loudness decibel scale log compare intensities formula calculate power level noise levels volume logarithm dependence three four fold loudness sound - by what factor does level decrease

Anyway no matter if it doubles or multiplies by a factor of 10 there is a big difference in sound with a small change in db's. My intent was to point that out...
Bruce

[HowieE]

DB is a logarithmic scale. Not something the general public can get a handle on. Most just accept the fact that it is loader or quieter. To go beyond that you meter a meter.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Bruce B

Anyway no matter if it doubles or multiplies by a factor of 10 there is a big difference in sound with a small change in db's. My intent was to point that out...

It's even more cokmplicated than that. The dB or dBA rating is an average of the decibels produced at the center frequency of each octave in the range of human hearing. The dB rating is a straight average; dBA is a weighted average where higher frequencies contribute more to the average than do the lower frequencies. dBA more closely corresponds to the way the average person hears.

In either case, the important thing is it's an average. Two generators— let's call them Yamaha and Honda for the purpose of blind taste-testing— might have nearly the same dB or dBA rating. But one will seem louder to your ear than the other, and the other will seem louder to someone else. That's because one will produce higher dB in the octaves where your hearing is most sensitive, and lower dB in the octaves where your hearing isn't as sensitive, and the other might be exactly the opposite, fewer decibels in the octaves where your hearing is most sensitive.

[Bruce B]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

It's even more cokmplicated than that. The dB or dBA rating is an average of the decibels produced at the center frequency of each octave in the range of human hearing. The dB rating is a straight average; dBA is a weighted average where higher frequencies contribute more to the average than do the lower frequencies. dBA more closely corresponds to the way the average person hears.

In either case, the important thing is it's an average. Two generators— let's call them Yamaha and Honda for the purpose of blind taste-testing— might have nearly the same dB or dBA rating. But one will seem louder to your ear than the other, and the other will seem louder to someone else. That's because one will produce higher dB in the octaves where your hearing is most sensitive, and lower dB in the octaves where your hearing isn't as sensitive, and the other might be exactly the opposite, fewer decibels in the octaves where your hearing is most sensitive.

OK,
My head is full now may I please be excused?
Actually this makes sense. I am acutely aware of some sounds and our Honda EU 3000iS is much nicer sounding to me than the EU 2000iS. I know the day is coming when I will no longer be able to lift the thing but perhaps I will be old enough that I will be deaf to the objectionable noise of the EU 2000.... Then I will be happy again!
BB

[Bigskyrider8]

Newbie here,

I'm going to purchase a Honda generator but here's the question: I have a 23' flying cloud so I see this unit doesn't have a plug in or transfer switch (plug) for the generator, I guess 25' and up have this. So, my only option is to connect my generator directly to my batteries to charge?
Also, the dealer said not to leave the Airstream plugged into shore power for days as you may "overcook" the batteries, is this true? If so why is it that the converter has no float mode like my trickle chargers?

The owners manual seems to me to be a little light on details.......

Thanks!

Mike