Honda portable generator question - RV-Dreams Community Forum

poweredbytheholyghost · RV-Dreams Family Member

Honda portable generator question

D and J · RV-Dreams Family Member

I need two Honda 2000's to run my 15K air conditioner. I also need to run the hot water heater and fridge on gas when running the A/C

Darrell and Judy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Al,

I have a Honda 2000 and I cannot run either the 15K or the 13.5K air conditioner. It runs everything else however you can't run several things at once; like and hair dryer and toaster or microwave. But the generator has been all I have needed for our first year on the road. I wanted the 3000 watt but it was too heavy - actually, two 2000 watts weigh less than one 3000 watts and you can link them together getting 4000 watts. Anyway, I am very satisfied with the Honda 2000 watt generator.

Darrell

SoCalToolGuy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just curious. Why do so many folks use portable generators instead of having the built in units that can be started by pushing a button? I had thought about the dual Honda 2ks but don't want to have to pull start them. Can you explain your thinking? I'm still trying to make up my mind. Our rig is gen prepped but haven't bought a generator yet. Thanks,
Ray

SKOOBDO · RV-Dreams Family Member

SoCalToolGuy, I had the generator prep option on my 5th wheel and thought I would get a built in generator since I was fulltiming, however, when I "really" started traveling, I discovered that I spent a lot of time at campgrounds more than boondocking. However, while traveling I do stop over at walmart or casino parking lots etc....but not enough to justify getting an expensive built in unit that uses a lot more propane just to start up and run the basic things I use. So, I decided on a yamaha EF2400IS which will run one of my A/Cs if I ever needed it. I've only used it twice so far, but plan to use it for 2 weeks in Quartzsite in January. But, generally, I'm hooked up to electric, and have no need to use the generator. If you boondock a lot, then the built in unit would be the way to go. Otherwise, a portable one would work out very well. If you're not a fulltimer then you could use it at your home during an extended power loss also. Good Luck with your decision. Allison

Darrell and Judy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Excellent question SoCalToolGuy,

I was orginally going to get a built in unit but decided not to once I saw how much space it took up. Also. weight was an issue. So, I took a look at our lifestyle and determined that the projected usage did not justify the loss of space and the extra weight that a built in unit takes. Over the past year we have only used our portable generator three times so that means it was a good decision for us. The built in unit costs around $5,500 and my Honda only costs me $885 so there was some dollar savings as well. The Yahama unit sounds a little more suitable for RVing and is also a great generator . My Honda will not run an air conditioner. Also, both are very quiet while they are running. If I were you I would consider spending the money for an inverter system like Howard just installed rather than an onboard generator, the Yamaha and Honda are both able to recharge the batteries.

Darrell

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

Great suggestions. I wish we would have gone that way.
We knew nothing when we started and took the approach that bigger is better, and had the Onan 5500 installed for over $5K.

Turns out our lifestyle has become almost exclusively in CG's with electricity, and the generator has only about 30 hours on it after 18 months.

Boy, would I love to have the $4500, 300 pounds, and the room it takes up.
Portable is the way to go.

Fred

RVDude · RV-Dreams Family Member

There is also the Onan JuiceBox hitch mounted genset solution...

http://www.cumminsonan.com/rv/products/hitch

-- Edited by RVDude at 12:34, 2007-09-03

SoCalToolGuy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well, I guess that about answers my question. What about having to go out and pull-start the generator? Do they start pretty easily? Where do you all store them? I was concerned about the possibility of theft. My truck has a Roll n Lock cover but it isn't always locked.

SkooBDoo, what is the weight of the Yamaha and it's dimensions? You say it will run your A/C, do you have a 13.5 or 15K A/C?
Thanks all, I didn't mean to hijack this thread. Ray.

D and J · RV-Dreams Family Member

One of the reasons we went full time was to avoid cutting grass and blowing snow. My leaf blower would take 10-15 pulls to start. . .2-3 for the lawnmover, and heck, I gave up pulling the motor for the snowblower and added an electric start.

I have only owned my two Honda generators for a little over a month, and am still amazed that they start with just one, easy pull!! once in a while it takes two pulls. (three if I ran them out of gas!!)

I hope I am this happy with them in a year or two, but so far, so good!

edit: as far theft concerns, I bought an 8' long steel cable, each end has a loop, and I run the cable through the handles on the generators and padlock them to my tow vehicle, or around one of the front legs on my 5th.

-- Edited by D and J at 15:27, 2007-09-03

Darrell and Judy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree with DandJ that the Honda starts on the first pull most of the time. I kept ours in the Tool Box in the back of the truck but have since moved it into the front compartment of the RV. That way when we stop overnight in a parking lot I can get it quickly and use it for our computers - we are addicted to being online. We can also watch some TV if we want and then stow it quickly before we hit the hay.

Darrell

SKOOBDO · RV-Dreams Family Member

SoCalToolGuy wrote:

Well, I guess that about answers my question. What about having to go out and pull-start the generator? Do they start pretty easily? Where do you all store them? I was concerned about the possibility of theft. My truck has a Roll n Lock cover but it isn't always locked.

SkooBDoo, what is the weight of the Yamaha and it's dimensions? You say it will run your A/C, do you have a 13.5 or 15K A/C?
Thanks all, I didn't mean to hijack this thread. Ray.

I've used it to operate my 2nd A/C (13.5btu). Never tried it on the main one. Some folks have lucked with using it on the 15 btu A/C when they didn't use anything else. I don't actually care much for A/C but use it when its really HOT! There are many threads on various forums about the Honda and Yamaha units. All the specifications are on the below site, and also I do like the fact that ALL the controls are on the front and the gasoline fill cap is larger than the Honda's. But like I said before you can't go wrong with either. They're both reliable. I have the thickest kryptonite cable lock on mine hooked up to the bed or my truck. If I was boondocking I would only have it out when I was at my campsite. I'm a female and can lift it, but I can run it in my truck in the rear driver's side with the exhaust going towards the middle. When its not in use I have it covered and I also have a tonneau cover. I do have an alarm on my Truck which is very sensitive to movement. I don't worry about it, because if somebody wants it that bad, I'll file a claim and buy another one. You can buy about 5 of these for the price of one 5.5 Onan installed. I rather have any portable unit than not have any at all. You just never know when you might need it. Campgrounds lose power too

Website below:

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outdoor/products/modelhome/475/0/home.aspx