Purchased a Honda EU-3000is today!

[overlander63]

The 3000 Handi is 80 pounds, but it costs more than the regular 3000i (about $300 more), and has a smaller fuel tank. The 3000i seems to be about $2000. I had a 2000, and went with the 2000 Companion and parallel kit, for a total price of $2050. The 2000i weighs about 50 pounds each, and together you have 4000 watts, instead of the 3000 from the single larger generator.

[danlehosky]

Bruce, It's interesting you are a Vespa dealer. The outfit I bpught my Airstream from (Nature&Me RV) in Traverse City Michigan also sells them. There is a huge dealer in Seattle and you see them everywhere. Are they still made in Italy? I know they have been around forever but it seems like they have really entered the American market in a big way.

Dan

[Scott J-24]

We have the Honda Handi and love it. The Handi is a great choice, you won't regret it at all.

[Bruce B]

Originally Posted by danlehosky

Bruce, It's interesting you are a Vespa dealer. The outfit I bpught my Airstream from (Nature&Me RV) in Traverse City Michigan also sells them. There is a huge dealer in Seattle and you see them everywhere. Are they still made in Italy? I know they have been around forever but it seems like they have really entered the American market in a big way.

Dan

Dan,
They are still made in the same factory in Italy.
They are very nice....
Bruce

[Rich of SCal]

The a/c on the 16' is only 11000 btu. I would think the Yamaha 2400 would work fine with it. That's what I'm considering. I ran my a/c on my house current and recently at an rv park through an rv digital voltage monitor and was surprised at how little current it drew. With just refrig about 2 amps and with a/c running a whopping 12 amps. Far below 30.

[polarlyse]

I have a Honda 2500w gen. From my experience it is NOT adaquate for the AC in my 30' Excella. I think it's the 13500 btu unit. I go with the school that believes that you need the 3000w minimum for AC usage.

[Rich of SCal]

Originally Posted by polarlyse

I have a Honda 2500w gen. From my experience it is NOT adaquate for the AC in my 30' Excella. I think it's the 13500 btu unit. I go with the school that believes that you need the 3000w minimum for AC usage.

I'm sure you are right, for a 13500 unit. Especially an older that probably draws more current than the later models. But those with smaller units like the OP and I have, can easily get by with less, I think. He should be good to power his 16' plus another rv with 3000. Also it will make a nice house back up.

I have a very lightweight setup, so weight is a major factor for me. Anybody here use the Yamaha 2400 to run their AC? What are your obervations?

[Rich of SCal]

Actually, the Yamaha EF2400iSHC compares very favorably to the Honda EU3000i Handi, and costs about $1100 less. It weighs slightly less, and runs almost an hour longer at a quieter level. Max current is 20 amps compared to the Honda's 25 (but it is a 3000 watt unit). Both have a 3 year warranty.

The Yamaha is looking better and better for me. I guess Camping World agrees, since they just recently started carrying them.

I am not dissing the trusty Honda's at all. Just saying there seems to be a contender, or at least a reasonable alternative.

Oh yes, and the engine on the Yamaha is slightly larger, which is probably why it is almost as heavy (but still $1100 lighter in the wallet).

Of course the is model is a much beefier unit than the Handi. And is less than $1000 more than the Yamaha (but 134 lbs)

Apples or oranges, anyone??

[slowmover]

I have read every post on Generators on this site!

My kind of guy.

As to fuel quality: a good friend of mine has an outdoor power equipment repair business. Railroad, municipality, utility, oilfield . . all and sundry . . I believe he may have seen it all. So, along with fuel stabilizer and ethanol-free fuel he also recommends using mid-grade gasoline as well.

I've lusted after genuine Kubota walk-behind lawn mowers seen at his shop as well as Tanaka edgers . . but the air-cooled HATZ diesel on portable power ram was the coolest yet. Built in the early 1950's by best guess.

Be sure to check around for service. Honda's have some notoriously expensive parts, so the quality of the judgment of what is needed is crucial.

As the next trailer will have twin 15K A/C units I'm resigned to finding an old slow-turning ONAN commercial generator unit to mount in the pickup bed.

Good luck with your new toy.

.

.

[TBRich]

Originally Posted by Rich of SCal

Actually, the Yamaha EF2400iSHC compares very favorably to the Honda EU3000i Handi, and costs about $1100 less. It weighs slightly less, and runs almost an hour longer at a quieter level. Max current is 20 amps compared to the Honda's 25 (but it is a 3000 watt unit). Both have a 3 year warranty.

The Yamaha is looking better and better for me. I guess Camping World agrees, since they just recently started carrying them.

I am not dissing the trusty Honda's at all. Just saying there seems to be a contender, or at least a reasonable alternative.

Oh yes, and the engine on the Yamaha is slightly larger, which is probably why it is almost as heavy (but still $1100 lighter in the wallet).

Of course the is model is a much beefier unit than the Handi. And is less than $1000 more than the Yamaha (but 134 lbs)

Apples or oranges, anyone??

Rich ... my guess is that you'd be fine with a Yamaha 2400. We have two different friends who use the 2400w Yamaha on thier rigs... Coincidnetally, both have newer 25' rigs. One of them is "Frank&Mike" here on the Forums ... you could check with them to get their thoughts. If it's enough power for your needs, it's a great generator. Both Hondas and Yamahas are well-respected and much-used gennies in these circles.

We considered a Yamaha 2400 and came very close to a Handi 3000, but ended up with two 2000s in the end, and are happy with that decision for our needs...we have a 13,500 BTU AC. For us part of the thinking was portability and space needed. We have limited space for hauling stuff because we have a tonneau cover on our truck bed... so not having to take both (or a larger, single) genny when we didn't need AC was a good thing for us.

Good luck! You can research and stress over generators forever... I know I did. What it boils down to is what power you need and how much room you have to devote to a generator.

[Rich of SCal]

Originally Posted by REDNAX

I've lusted after genuine Kubota walk-behind lawn mowers seen at his shop as well as Tanaka edgers . . but the air-cooled HATZ diesel on portable power ram was the coolest yet. Built in the early 1950's by best guess.

A few months ago I bought a Kubota GR2120 lawn tractor with their 3 cylinder diesel engine. I love it. I almost think it could pull my AS.

[Iowa Bumpa]

I found a EU3000 that a construction supply house was willing to sell me brand new for $1800. It was his last one and was going to start selling Generac because they are cheaper. I was in the right place, for sure. See my installation in my F350. Steve

[tkasten]

I just got the following from the Yamaha Generator website:

"NOTE: The EF2400iSHC will NOT run most RV a/c units and does NOT have a 30 amp electrical receptacle.

It also does not have electric start which does account for a bunch of the weight of the Honda 3000. FYI.

[Bruce B]

As you are looking for generators remember that some of these are much quieter than others..... This drove me to pick the EU 3000. It is not light but I can lift it. It is very quiet and it does the job!
Bruce

[Rich of SCal]

Originally Posted by tkasten

I just got the following from the Yamaha Generator website:

"NOTE: The EF2400iSHC will NOT run most RV a/c units and does NOT have a 30 amp electrical receptacle.

It also does not have electric start which does account for a bunch of the weight of the Honda 3000. FYI.

I don't know where you are reading that. I am looking at the site right now and one of the listed features for that model is...

"This model boasts High Current output which is designed specifically to increase motor starting capability and to improve air conditioner starting. This High Current model starts most high efficiency 13,500 btu AC in temperatures up to 110° F." (I imagine by "high efficiency" they are referring to late model ACs.)

But check it for yourself at
Yamaha Inverter EF2400iSHC Features & Benefits

As far as the 30 amp receptacle, I would plug in a heavy duty extension with an adapter to the rv, just like I do now to house current when I am home (on a 20 amp circuit, which seems to work fine so far). But, again, I only have an 11000 btu unit. Obviously it is not going to work for everyone. The devil is in the details, like everything else about RVing (or sailing, or 4-wheeling, etc, etc, etc.)

[dstalzer]

Originally Posted by Iowa Bumpa

I found a EU3000 that a construction supply house was willing to sell me brand new for $1800. It was his last one and was going to start selling Generac because they are cheaper. I was in the right place, for sure. See my installation in my F350. Steve

Steve,

I do not see any pictures of your generator installation. I am interested how you set it up since I have a 2012 F250 that would be similar to yours. With my older F250, the Yamaha 2400is would fit in the tool box I had, but I always had to lift it out in order to use it and that was a hassle even though it only weighs 70 lbs. I would like to have one that has electric start and has more capacity so I can run more than just the A/C even though the Yamaha 2400 runs the 15000 BTU A/C in my 2005 Classic with no problems.

Dennis

[murreywalker]

Originally Posted by tkasten

I just got the following from the Yamaha Generator website:

"NOTE: The EF2400iSHC will NOT run most RV a/c units and does NOT have a 30 amp electrical receptacle.

It also does not have electric start which does account for a bunch of the weight of the Honda 3000. FYI.

You found the above note on a web site that, in my opinion, is not correct.

I've had no problems running my a/c with the Yahama 2400.

A lot of other folks are making similar comments here:
EF2400iSHC Yamaha Generator 2400 WiseSales.com

[tkasten]

Rich of SCal - The info came from: Yamaha Inverter Generators | EF2400iSHC | yamahagenerators.com

On the official Yamaha-motors site it does say the following: High Current output — Increased motor starting capability and improved air conditioner starting. This High Current model starts most high efficiency 13,500 btu AC in temperatures up to 110° F."
yamahagenerator.com must have it wrong. I stand corrected.

[fastrob]

Originally Posted by Rich of SCal

The a/c on the 16' is only 11000 btu. I would think the Yamaha 2400 would work fine with it. That's what I'm considering. I ran my a/c on my house current and recently at an rv park through an rv digital voltage monitor and was surprised at how little current it drew. With just refrig about 2 amps and with a/c running a whopping 12 amps. Far below 30.

The start up is where the extra power is needed.
Moving a mass from a stop is greater than keeping it moving.
Or think of surge capacity.

[Rich of SCal]

Originally Posted by tkasten

Rich of SCal - The info came from: Yamaha Inverter Generators | EF2400iSHC | yamahagenerators.com

On the official Yamaha-motors site it does say the following: High Current output — Increased motor starting capability and improved air conditioner starting. This High Current model starts most high efficiency 13,500 btu AC in temperatures up to 110° F."
yamahagenerator.com must have it wrong. I stand corrected.

Yes, your website does say that. I notice it says "rv a/c" while my reference just says "a/c" units. That may be the difference. In the video they show a portable standup a/c unit like one for a construction job. Not the same as an rv unit.

Has anyone considered the next model...the Yamaha EF2800i? Just a couple hundred more, but more power, longer running and actually lighter/smaller than the 2400. It is a little louder, probably because it has a frame, but no case. On the application chart it shows it capable of running a 13500 a/c, but not the 2400! On the surface it looks like a better buy. Anyone bought one?