Paralleling 3 Honda EU2000is generators - RV-Dreams Community Forum

EggerMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Paralleling 3 Honda EU2000is generators

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

My question is why do you think you need that many watts?

EggerMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Want enough to run 2 ac and tvs and maybe the micro if needed while boondocking
Marilyn

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

I was just thinking the same thing.....why would you need all that wattage,I guess if your going to have both A/C's on ....an electric dryer running with the blow dryer on in the bathroom while the electric hot water heater is running at the same time you might need it!!!

I have 4000 watts onboard and it pretty much is never running above an idle when its running.......3000 watts is more than enough for back up power on any rig unless you have an all electric kitchen

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

I was thinking if you ever needed to run a Margaritaville Blender it would be handy!

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

With just a little use management I see no reason why 2 2000's running parallel wouldn't be enough.Think a little about the extra fuel,maintenance and costs of a third generator.If it's worth it to you go for it but just throwing things out there.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Marilyn,

Do not trust a salesman on this. I was just on Honda's website and there is no reference there to any kind of parallel kit that will allow tying three EU2000's together.

Honda Web Page on Paralleling Generators

For the benefit of those not familiar with the Honda generators, even the EU3000IS generators have a max of 25 amps at 3000 watts. They also reference a rating of 2800 watts at 23.3 amps, which I think would be more in line of being a working wattage and amp rating. Their website mentions that one EU3000IS is enough for a 13,500 btu air conditioner. Many of the RV's have 15,000 btu a/c's, with ours having two 15K units.

Terry

EggerMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry

I had already been to that site and intend on calling Honda direct tomorrow to find out if in fact three can be paralleled. It may be a new kit, or may be something Wise rigged up.

Although , from everything I have read about Wise, they seem to be highly regarded and all the conversations we've had with them, they seem to be very knowledgable. I let you know what I find out tomorrow.

Marilyn

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yes, I agree that you should check with Honda. While it might be possible for Wise to fabricate something that would hook three EU2000's together, Honda might figure such an arrangement might very well void their warranties.

You are the ones to make the decision as to whether you have to have the bed cover, but I don't recall ever seeing very many trucks with fifth wheels having covers. I know some do, but is the cover enough of a need for you?

Terry

EggerMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

OK.... talked to Honda today.... got a lot of "hmmmmm , I'm not sure's" and a few.... "I don't really know". They don't make a parallel for more than 2 but they know there are others that do, and some folks that rig them up themselves.

I am still waiting to hear back from Wise, as I want to get the name of the manufacturer that makes the one they are suggesting. In the meantime, I have found the following:

From an electrical engineering forum:

The wiring schematic
for the EU2000i shows that the two paralleling lines are just single
conductor wires off of the two 120 volt inverter outputs. Their 'kit'
only bypasses the 20 amp circuit breaker used by the U ground
receptacles. With this information I would think that the only
limitation on the number of paralleled generators would be the current
handling capacity of the wiring.

And for those of you familiar with the Burning Man event in the Nevada desert every year I found:

BTW, you can connect more than two Hondas, I was running 3 together at BM '04.

You don't have to use the Honda interconnect terminals, inside the set they just hook directly to the power outlets. You can make up a double-male cord and plug one set into another, or make yourself a nice junction box.
You sorta gotta be sure you don't leave a live male end of a power cord unplugged where someone might touch it, though.

The deal with interconnecting the power output of Hondas is: Hook them together FIRST, THEN start them up. You can start or stop either set all you want... just don't make the connection while they are already running.

Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2003 9:34 am
Location: Seattle, WA
Burning Since: 2000
Camp Name: Got Sparkle, at Berlin

And also a You Tube video on how to do it.... hope this link works: ( If not, type in "How to triple parallel 3 Honda eu series generators)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKam1o_3t_w

I'll keep everyone posted on future information
Marilyn

Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Monday 13th of May 2013 06:14:09 PM

EggerMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry - I agree that I would not mix them but I'm thinking of 2 2000's and a companion 2000.

Marilyn

-- Edited by EggerMar on Monday 13th of May 2013 06:20:50 PM

-- Edited by EggerMar on Monday 13th of May 2013 06:39:11 PM

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Be careful, Marilyn.

From what I've read, paralleling the Hondas should be done when all are the same model. That YouTube looked like they hooked two EU1000's and an EU2000 together. That said, I'm not sure I'd put too much faith in what is said in it, simply because they didn't appear to be paralleling like models.

If nothing else, seek out a well-qualified electrician that is familiar with generators.

Terry

EggerMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just went back to the Wise.com website. They have a picture of the parallel kit to run 3 generators.

Go to Generators , Accessories, Parallel Cables and Kits and the last one shown in the Triple Parallel Kit

EggerMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

The name of the company is Duration Power - durationpower.com

Seems pretty straightforward to me. This would supply all the power needed to run everything one would want it would seem.
Marilyn

-- Edited by EggerMar on Tuesday 14th of May 2013 10:23:22 AM

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

total cost for 3 ...3000 watt generators with all the accessories and the aggravation of having to set them up and tear them down , maintain them

wouldnt it just be a little more prudent to have a 6000 or 7500 watt unit installed on the coach and be done with it.......just in the short term it would save money

Not to mention you would have to boondock in an area totally alone..........I would be one of those persons that would be rather upset listening to your 3 generators running all day to keep your A/C's on.

-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Tuesday 14th of May 2013 03:49:06 PM

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have a logistical question.Where are you going to carry all the fuel required to operate 3 generators as much as it sounds you want too do.If you are boondocking it's not like you can run to the corner station and get it.I'm not trying to be negative just wondering how you plan to handle that.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

3 honda 3000 watts with accessories cost roughly 6500.00 free shipping......(Wise)

1 onan 20,000 watts cost 4989.00 free shipping......(Calibex)

I would think for 1000.00 or less it could be installed in the 5ver with a factory prep in place......and the change left over would pay fuel for almost a year

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mike,

They are looking at two EU2000I generators at roughly $1150 each and one EU2000I Companion at $1280. Not the EU3000IS models. The three at "new" price would be around $3500.

I'm not an electrician, so I don't know about the advisability of paralleling 3 units when Honda only refers to paralleling 2 units. However, another consideration is that at 46 pounds each, they would be easy for someone to steal. The tank size also is actually a bit less than 1 gallon on the EU2000I, so I wonder how often one would have to refill them.

Terry

EggerMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our fifth wheel is not prepped for a generator. Because of a height restriction in our truck bed with the cover we would have to go with the Honda EU2000's. Lifting weight is also an issue so the 2000's are just a better choice. Once we arrive at our destination they would be chained to the hitch in the back of the truck using grade 70 chain and a special lock we bought that the chain links fit through and the locking mechanism is curved inside. Our truck also has tie down bolts ( kind of like eye bolts) which we can chain them to. Not sure what you call the style of the lock but it sort of resembles a silver hockey puck. When not in use or if we were out of the area everything would also be locked under the metal truck bed cover.

And yes, we are referring to boondocking which to me means no one close by. We are in the south where summer humidity can become unbearable. Until we retire full time and get out of here most of our excursions will be in the area and that requires air conditioning in a major way.

We will start with two paralled and depending on our needs may get a third and go for the triple parallel. Cost from Wise with free shipping is $2139 for one Honda EU 2000is and a companion plus the cost of the parallel cable.
Marilyn

PlacerLode · RV-Dreams Community Member

I've used the eu1000, eu2000, eu3000 and the eu6500 in various situations. I actually prefer triple eu2000's when I need big power because they are easier for my back to manage than the eu3000 or the eu6500 even though I have both models on carts. Most of the time I run dual eu2000's (one is the companion model with the 30 amp twist lock receptacle) and I use the $49 set of Honda parallel cables and draw power from the 30 amp outlet, When I run 3, eu2000's I use the custom triple parallel kit from Wise Sales. With this kit it has it's own 50 amp 115volt receptacle so you don't need to have an eu2000is companion. I run ISI Berg 6 and 12 gallon (Atwood tanks) extended run systems on all my Honda gensets. The dual or triple eu2000's just don't seem to work as hard as my eu3000 or eu6500 for some reason they are much quieter and seem to handle the load much easier. I bought all my generators new from Alamia sales in Denver (except the eu6500 I got used) and received fantastic service from them as well as lower prices than Wise and Mayberry's. The eu2000 is $950 delivered (Free shipping) and the eu2000 companion is $995 delivered.

defo · RV-Dreams Community Member

I do not see the problem with hooking up two different model Honda generators. I do have an electrical background but do not consider my self a pro, but am well versed in the field. Having said that I have studied the electrcal schematics of both generators. In this case the EU3000is and the EU2000i, both standard and companion. It does not appear that anything will go wrong under normal and wise operation. More on that in a bit. After researching this online and watching YouTube videos and seeing many people hooking up different models and more than two, I've seen up to four, I decided to try it with mine....and it works fantastically. I constantly checked voltage and amperage with my Fluke meters and never observed adverse numbers. Now being responsible and keeping within known power parameters, again I don't see a problem. But to the guy that doesn't keep these things in the back of his mind and just does what he wants I can see a problem brewing. One generator is rated at 3000 peak the other 2000. The circuitry for the 2000 is made to handle a 4kw load. But not 5kw. This is where I believe Honda says it can't be done. It's not that it can't be done. It's that in the hands of a dumb ass it can be unsafe. Therefore to aleviate their responsibility of being liable, they just say it can't be done. So enough from me, does anyone have any input on the subject in regard to my take on it? I've been wrong before but after testing it myself, this seems legit. My only true worry on the other hand is these units are very expensive. It would truly be deviating to destroy one or both testing this.

defo · RV-Dreams Community Member

Devastating

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Defo,

This thread is about 4 years old, and it is appreciated that comment to threads that are over 1 year old are not made. The main reason is that many times, earlier comments in old threads may have out of date information or even that some products are no longer available.

When looking at posts on threads, look at the date of the posts that are under the username and avatar at the left side of the forum page.

Terry