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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / Any less expensive alternative generators to Honda?
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hamish
Member
# Posted: 1 Aug 2018 20:52
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Well seeing as this thread has been resurrected........
Finally my Kipor KGE-2000, with 3217.4 hours on the meter finally crapped out. Motor is still fine, just the inverter unit gave up the ghost. I had to adjust the valves twice and did regular extented interval oil changes (almost very 200 hours). Over a decade of service it owes me nothing.
So sad that it cost me $100 on Kijiji and a new inverter unit for it will cost me $350!!

ILFE
Member
# Posted: 1 Aug 2018 21:43 - Edited by: ILFE
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Buy a Honda EU2000i. I have two of the 230vac / 50hz version, called an EU20i. I have owned them for over one and a half years. They are tough as nails.

Pay the money once and have good, reliable, stable power delivered to your circuits and sensitive appliances.

It's like when people buy $5,000 USD worth of solar batteries, then connect a cheap Chinese controller to it. I just don't get it.

ICC
Member
# Posted: 1 Aug 2018 22:40
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Quoting: ILFE
I have owned them for over one and a half years.


I have an Eu2000i from 2002, a made in Japan, first production run, 49 state version with over 2000 hours total runtime. It still works fine and has required nothing major done to it. I also have several other Honda products and have never begrudged the spending of the bigger dollars for any of them.

Gary O
Member
# Posted: 2 Aug 2018 01:49
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I believe it's our third season with our Eu2000i
6-8 hrs a day
The only issue has been the pull cord fraying a bit
Replaced it with paracord
Not so easy to change out
But so worth it

ILFE
Member
# Posted: 2 Aug 2018 02:46
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There you have it. Honda may cost more. But, you get what you pay for.

Mine were $888 US, each, out the door. March / April of 2017.

Borrego
Member
# Posted: 2 Aug 2018 10:48
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+1 for Honda. Starting 3rd season with my 3000. Compared to my old generator it is like a Rolls Royce! $1999 online, no tax, free shipping. I went with the 3000 over two 2000's only because of the keyed start.

redwolfguild
Member
# Posted: 2 Aug 2018 11:31
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Quoting: Borrego
I went with the 3000 over two 2000's only because of the keyed start.


Exactly, if it is not being moved in and out of a truck very often, the 3000 is "The Cats Meow". I went with two 2000's becuase of moving them around, but in all reality, never ran them in parrell, one EU2000 powers any tool I have at my cabin.

Borrego
Member
# Posted: 3 Aug 2018 18:00
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Quoting: redwolfguild
one EU2000 powers any tool I have at my cabin.


Including a table saw or Skil saw? I wasn't sure they would, another reason I got the 3000, but I'll maybe get a 2000 for my other place.
Wonder why they don't offer a 2000 with a electric start.....?

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 3 Aug 2018 20:33 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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Dittos on EU2000i (now superseded by the EU2200i) powered everything I had. I used a diaphragm or oil-less piston type compressor, piston type require more current on start up. Also a table saw, I made sure the one I used was going to work on my EU2000i and it did. Was a 7 amp motor. I find my shop vac is probably the biggest load while my worm drive Skil saw was the second. The worm drive, when cold especially, I would just wait till the blade reached full speed before getting into the wood. When cold, I would spool it up and let it run for a minute or so and it was fine the rest of the day then.

Borrego, I suspect no electric start was to keep weight down. Its still very portable, but a battery and starter motor would add a bit of weight.

rayyy
Member
# Posted: 6 Aug 2018 09:19
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I have tried several other brand inverter generators.Turns out they windup being noiser,harder to start,recoiled wear out quickly and you can't set them up to run on an external fuel tank.I have a Honda eu2000i and run it 6 to 12 hours each day.It's 5 years old and going strong.

WY_mark
Member
# Posted: 6 Aug 2018 09:31
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I know this is an old thread but i thought id add my two cents...


I have a 4000watt champion non-inverter generator. It is loud, not as efficient but man it takes abuse and has been happy and reliable for 4 years one day the whole engine will come out in an oil change. There is always metal in my oil. Im not big on disposable life but for the $ this works great. Happily powers my elec chainsaw or a circular saw at 7700 feet elevation.

Last year i bought a 2000 watt champion inverter generator on a steal of a deal. I am surprised at how quiet it is. Not honda quiet but much more quiet than other discount models. It starts easy, runs easy, is clean to handle and store and seems efficient, have had several overnight runs where i am surprised how much gas is left in the am. Knowing that generators lose power at altitude my only dissappointment is size. I should have bought bigger. It cant run my air compressor, i wont even try a saw but it bogs a bit with my good drill/driver under load. It does make coffee in the hot pot and does not want a hairdryer plugged in it.....for the $ id buy it again.

ILFE
Member
# Posted: 6 Aug 2018 10:10
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I have to admit, I would like to see the results of inverter model generators, including Honda's, after having been put on an oscilloscope.

Nate R
Member
# Posted: 6 Aug 2018 13:23
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Quoting: ILFE
I would like to see the results of inverter model generators, including Honda's, after having been put on an oscilloscope.


Google can be your friend on that.

http://wa5bdu.blogspot.com/2016/06/honda-eu2000i-generator-waveform.html

ILFE
Member
# Posted: 6 Aug 2018 22:28
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Quoting: Nate R
Google can be your friend on that.


Thank you for that bit of wisdom. However, I was referring to more of a comparison among all current manufactured inverter generator brands.

hamish
Member
# Posted: 6 Aug 2018 22:53
Reply 


The Honda Inverter series are pwm, as are all other inverter based generators.

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