Which size Honda generator - eu2000 or eu3000?

[keithwade]

Originally Posted by Lufetarg

I recently purchased a 1978 Trade Wind. I will be camping mostly where there are no electrical hookups but only for a few days at a time. The new marine batteries should power my lights and water pump throughout these short trips.

I am interested in purchasing a Honda generator to run the 13,500 BTU air conditioner during the summer and as a general on board power backup. I am quite partial to Honda generators so for the purpose of this thread, I will be referring only to the two models for which I am trying to decide; eu2000i and eu3000i. The price and weight differences between these two models is almost double. An extra $1,000 and an extra 80 lbs.

The Honda website states that only the eu3000 is large enough to power our AC but I have heard stores from a reputable source that the eu2000 can power this AC alone.

So to my questions: Will the eu2000i power my AC unit? Is this an adequate size for my minimal needs or must I upgrade?

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Good morning. I'm curious about what you ended up doing. We just got our first Airstream (a 44 year old 19 footer, which is also our first RV) and were considering the Honda eu2000 to run the 13,500 btu Carrier V. It's about the ONLY thing in the trailer which uses AC. I know we could get the 3000 or wire two 2000's together, but very interested to hear from someone who had luck with just one 2000. Best regards.

[TBRich]

Welcome to the forums! You'll find your answers here! I personally wouldn't try running our 13,500 BTU AC with a 2000w generator... If that was enough juice there would be hordes of Airstreamers running their 13,500 ACs with the Honda 2000w alone...and that's just not the case. Some say a 2400w generator will do it...some say "yes" to 2400 but barely...and that at least a 2800w is really needed....3000w is great...if you can deal with the weight. It's the age-old problem of power vs weight. There are tons of threads about this...poke around in the sub forums for more info...

[byamcaravanner]

Originally Posted by TBRich

I personally wouldn't try running our 13,500 BTU AC with a 2000w generator.

Correct... the 2000W unit is enough to run the A/C but it will starve the compressor on start-up... this will dramatically shorten the life of the A/C unit... and since the newer units are not made to be repaired that means buying a new A/C every few years.

[Jaxon]

A 2K won't work for your summer AC, period. You could do two 2KW for the summer/spring when you needed to run the AC along with any other devices... Then, in the winter & fall, just use one. Individually, they weigh less than the 3K and as a pair, expand your options.

But then again, they take up twice the space...

[65CV]

It makes sense that the current at startup of the a/c compressor is the major draw, by far. This article seems to address the spike in current draw with a hard start capacitor.

Has anyone tried this mod, with or without success?

RV Air Conditioner Hard Start Capacitor | ModMyRV

[rseagle]

Have you looked at the new Honda EU-3000 Handi? It weighs 78 lbs.

http://www.mayberrys.com/honda/gener...eu3000ihan.htm

[Ahab]

Two years ago I wondered too. Then at a local festival the Fire Dept. had a 25' trailer used for training kids to be firewise. They were using a 2000i to run the AC and LED lighting. I asked the Fire Captain about it and he said they had been using it for several years with no issues. Now I have been using one for two years with no issues. The newer AC units have rotary compressors and more efficient starting circuitry. Ours draws 12.8 amps full load, the 2000i is rated 13 amps continuous.

[Swanny]

Hey gang....as the debate rages on I figured I'd put in a plug for my set of EU 2000i Honda generators that are on ebay. I also have them on our Airforums classifieds. Light use (300 hrs) and good maintainance and these things do run forever!

Honda Generator---EU 2000i Great Condition - eBay (item 270423902164 end time Jul-16-09 21:18:49 PDT)

Honda Generator---EU 2000i and Parallel Cables - eBay (item 270423903091 end time Jul-16-09 21:23:00 PDT)

[Wingeezer]

Originally Posted by Swanny

Hey gang....as the debate rages on I figured I'd put in a plug for my set of EU 2000i Honda generators that are on ebay. I also have them on our Airforums classifieds. Light use (300 hrs) and good maintainance and these things do run forever!

Honda Generator---EU 2000i Great Condition - eBay (item 270423902164 end time Jul-16-09 21:18:49 PDT)

Honda Generator---EU 2000i and Parallel Cables - eBay (item 270423903091 end time Jul-16-09 21:23:00 PDT)

Ebay says both these items have been removed?

Brian

[dwayne423]

Sounds like you have pretty much ruled out the 3000 due to weight and expense, and with 1 2000 you may just barley squeak by at sea level possibly more so if you installed a hard start kit on the a/c but that 2000 will be working hard and there wont be much to spare once the a/c is running. If you go with 2 2000's you will probably spend around $2000 including parallel kit. You would have the luxury of having a back-up gen. but your fuel burn rate will be significantly higher, twice the maintenance, moving two generators around or twice the amount of locks security chains or metal security boxes which all relates to more $$, also having to carry/store more fuel or be siphoning out of the truck tank as needed. Don't get me wrong I think it's great to have a twin or back-up, got two myself allready and working on a third. I believe you should give some thought about the yamaha 2400is, I believe it has a surge to 2800, I have seen them priced at $1139.00. A great many people believe their honda's equal or very nearly so. I would recommend the 2400is, soft start kit for your a/c (just cause it wont hurt to have it) and then think about getting the tri fuel kit for the 2400is. Also know that if you wanted the luxury of a back-up gen you can parallel two 2400is's and they weigh 70lb's each.
V/R
Dwayne