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Old 01-08-2019, 11:32 PM   #1
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Honda Generator for my TT

I am thinking of purchasing a Honda EU2200i http://https://powerequipment.honda....ll-new-eu2200i

and I have a couple of questions

1. Does anyone have one? Your review

2. Is there a chart anywhere of amps used for common Sunline items/appliances etc?
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Old 01-09-2019, 08:42 AM   #2
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I am sure someone else will chime in with exact amps but in order to be able to run everything including the a/c you need at least a 3000 watt generator. I know and have seen a number of campers using the Champion 3500 watt Predator and have no problems. Plus they are going for around $800.00.
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Old 01-09-2019, 04:35 PM   #3
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With no AC you can run pretty much anything with nothing bigger than a 2000 watt. Watts divided by volts will give you amps so 2200 watts will be 18.3 amps. Here is the caveat even the quietest generators are noisy at max load because they have to run full tilt to make the power.
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Old 01-09-2019, 06:39 PM   #4
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First, you need at least a 3000 watt generator (inverter) if you plan on running a/c. I have been using a Honda 3000 watt inverter for many years. I just upgraded to a 6500. Got it for $2k and sold my 3000 watt for $1k.
Second, even at full load, the Honda inverters are extremely quiet. Less than 60db I believe.
A friend of mine who was using a Honda 3000 purchased a pair of Honda 2200s. If he is using a/c, he runs them together in parallel. If not, he only uses one of them to save fuel. Their size makes them easier to pack than the bigger footprint of the 3000 or the 6500. You won't be disappointed in the Honda inverters. Well worth the money. Make sure you get the 30amp adapter plug.
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Old 01-10-2019, 06:56 AM   #5
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Yes the Honda 3000 is a very quiet generator it is a good bit quieter than a 2000 for a couple of reasons. It is heavy and bulky. The 2200 should run the AC it will take a hit when it first starts but 18 amps is a pretty good jolt. With a hard start cap in the AC unit a 2000 will run the AC but it's border line. If you are going to live in the camper then I would say a 3000 would be the way to go because you will be running the same sort of stuff you would at home microwaves etc. At that point you would need some type of shelter for the generator.
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Old 01-10-2019, 06:13 PM   #6
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Hi Joan,

I have the Honda EU2000i and have been using it for years. The folks who already posted gave great info that is right on.

I'll add a little to what was said.

As was said, the EU2000i or the EU2200i will run the camper short of the roof AC unit. Leave the water heater on gas. The microwave is the next big power hog, and either of those units will run it but it will kick into high speed when the microwave is on full power and noise will go way up. Since microwaving while boondocking is limited for us, the load noisy thing is tolerable. Once the microwave stops using full power, ours kicks back down in speed and the noise is very low and a non-issue. The way microwaves are made now; they time cycle full power on and off. So running at a power level of 30% instead of 100% only means there is a pause of loud noise generator noise until the timer times out and it hits 100% for a few seconds, it gets real loud and then kicks back down.

Since you camp out west, I'm assuming you want the AC unit to run at times. The 3,000-watt units or qty 2, 2,000-watt units with the parallel kit fill that need. But... the weight may be a big issue for you on the 3,000-watt units. I really do not know how you would be able to lift a 3,000-watt unit out of the back of the truck. Using the 2, 2,000 or 2, 2,200 watt units while more costly is less weight and you may be able to manage that weight.

In the end, this decision will come down to, do you want to run the AC unit and how are you going to lift it in and out of the truck bed?

Hope this helps

John
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Old 01-11-2019, 05:20 PM   #7
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Personally when I dry camp I have no need for much more electrical power that I can't provide with a 100 watt solar panel and two batteries. My camper is small and I don't camp in the winter. A 20 propane cylinder holds a huge amount of energy (like a 5 gallon gas can) In the summer I run a fantastic fan so all of that provides my energy needs.
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Old 01-17-2019, 02:09 PM   #8
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Love mine

I have the Honda pair, original and companion. The single will run my lights, furnace, fridge and charge the battery. But to use the AC or microwave I need to connect the companion. I love them because they are small and light weight as well as being very quiet. I was at a National Forest campground and the host came over as I was unloading them. As soon as he saw what they were he gave me the okay, but said a bigger generator was not allowed because of the noise.
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Old 01-17-2019, 04:20 PM   #9
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Well he was almost right. In order to double the noise it would have to be a factor of 3 but two running Hondas are louder that one. So it is possible for one quiet big generator to be as quiet as two Hondas.
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Old 01-17-2019, 06:49 PM   #10
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I would not overlook the Yamaha Ef 2400is inverter / generator, as it will run and start most AC units. I have had mine for over 5 years now and hundreds of hours of use with no problems using it on our 27' Solaris. The 2400Watts is just enough to run the AC. ( probably not with a lot of lights on). It is very quiet and has ALWAYS started on the first pull. Truly amazing. Light weight too. Same as weight as the Honda, 47 lbs.but Just a few watts more makes a difference. Price is just a bit more than a Honda 2000/2200 .
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Old 01-17-2019, 06:54 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shepherds2 View Post
I would not overlook the Yamaha Ef 2400is inverter / generator, as it will run and start most AC units. I have had mine for over 5 years now and hundreds of hours of use with no problems using it on our 27' Solaris. The 2400Watts is just enough to run the AC. ( probably not with a lot of lights on). It is very quiet and has ALWAYS started on the first pull. Truly amazing. Light weight too. Same as weight as the Honda, 47 lbs.but Just a few watts more makes a difference. Price is just a bit more than a Honda 2000/2200 .
I agree often overlooked because they don't have a big advertising network. I had an Onan 2400 in a small motorhome it would run every thing.
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Old 01-18-2019, 08:15 AM   #12
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Yes, I run a Honda EU2000i and have for about 13 years. I am in Michigan and boondock in the summer months as well as for deer hunting season in fall. It gets cold here and the furnace fan gobbles the energy out of a deep cell battery in about 2 overnights. I bought mine online and found a deal for under $900, which I thought was pretty good at that time. There are, as several people pointed out, a number of imitators to what was an exclusive Honda quiet generator market years ago. I think I would look at the cheaper alternatives if looking now, and perhaps a 2,500 watt option so that I could run my A/C which will not run on a single EU2000i. At 50 pounds or so I can lift the Honda up into the RV easily and carry it out on my own. The EU3000i is pretty heavy and would likely take two people unless you brought along some sort of ramp to wheel it in and out of the trailer. Some of the cheaper alternatives also allow mating a second generator to the first one to enable using the A/C. In Honda's case, it has to be another EU2000i (you cannot for instance couple an EU1000i to a EU20001). I have seen other brands that allow their 1000 watt to be mated to a 2000 watt, so that option is obviously cheaper. One in the 2400 - 2500 range would eliminate the need for a second one. At that high a wattage (like for running your A/C) you will not be able to run the generator in econo-mode so it'll be louder and use more gas.

There are a couple times during summer when the temperatures and humidity in Michigan are high enough that I want to run the A/C. For those few days I will pull the trailer to a campground where I can plug in. In all this time I have not felt the need to buy the companion Honda.

What I cannot say is the long-term quality of the alternate manufacturers. Yamaha is a good brand. Walmart sells a couple of brands in this category online in the $350 - $500 range, and Harbor Freight offers a $500 inverter generator to fit this need, but no clue regarding their service life. As mentioned mine is now 13 years old. I change the oil every year and replace the spark plug every couple years, but besides that, it has not given me any trouble.
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Old 01-18-2019, 09:15 AM   #13
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The reason I like my Honda 2000's instead of one bigger model is that I'm a widow and a senior and they are small enough and light enough that I can easily load them into the back of my truck with no help. Usually I only need one without the companion.
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Old 01-18-2019, 03:32 PM   #14
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I agree with the yamaha EF2400. We had no problem running the air in our Sunline. If you were closer I'd give you a real good deal on it. Had to go with a bigger generator for our new trailer.
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Old 05-26-2019, 03:51 PM   #15
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Mine runs the AC provided you don't start the AC with the low idle econo mode on. The initial startup draw will trip the overload switch if you don't. You are right at the limit though.
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Old 05-26-2019, 04:21 PM   #16
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If you tow with a pickup and are real serious about camper power get the Honda 3000 and leave it in the pickup and plug the camper into it.
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