I am putting my Honda EU2000i in an aluminum truck type tool box on the rear of my Toyota. I would like to be able to run it with the box closed. I have most of it figured out, wiring, exhaust and such. But am not sure of what to do for fan for drawing heat from box. I have done several search's and not finding what I am looking for online.What I would like to do is use 3 120mm computer/case fans that are capable of moving 70 CFM each for a total of 210 CFM. Bad/good idea?Most of what I see are using electric automotive radiator fans, which many say they are using a rheostat to run the fan at slower speeds. Those fans to me seem capable of moving waaaay too much air for this purpose unless governed down. Just trying to remove heat from box, not freeze it. Any thoughts, ideas, links, input, wisdom, criticism or wisecracks greatly appreciated.

I would think that two computer fans would work great. One pushing air in and the other one pulling air out.

I have an aluminum tool box on the back of my trailer.I have the end of each generator that blows exhaust and hot air pointed out the ends of the box (holes are cut out).For fresh air, I have a couple of rectangular louvered vent covers (building supply) mounted on the front facing side of the box.Tie down straps for each generator inside the box.Also, have plywood floor with round cutouts for the rubber feet on the generators.I have a custom made (by me) tarp for the tool box.Seems to work ok.PatAlso, I used rubber vibration reducing spacers to reduce vibration.

I wonder how one knows the generator is not getting enough air for cooling before it burns itself up. The Honda EU2000i Generator sure is an expensive test jig...Roy Ken

I tried the same thing Jay Pat did except had only 1 Champion 3100 in it.I put large vents in both ends, a large drop door on the side to access operating panel. Also put in two large fans plugged into generator for exhaust.It all ended up being an embarrassment cause it failed. Generator kept overheating. Had no way of attaching an extended exhaust, and sides of cargo area were toooooo close for exhaust to escape. Oh, ah, ya and even left cover wide open.Now we just use box for generator container for travel. When we want to power it up, we just lift it out of box and everything seems fine.Just my two cents worth.

Honda generator enclosure fan question | Good Sam Community

ICamel
Explorer
Jul 14, 2016
You could power the fans using the 12V outlet on your Honda generator.
colliehauler
Explorer III
Jul 14, 2016
jjrbus wrote:
I am putting my Honda EU2000i in an aluminum truck type tool box on the rear of my Toyota. I would like to be able to run it with the box closed. I have most of it figured out, wiring, exhaust and such. But am not sure of what to do for fan for drawing heat from box. I have done several search's and not finding what I am looking for online.

What I would like to do is use 3 120mm computer/case fans that are capable of moving 70 CFM each for a total of 210 CFM. Bad/good idea?

Most of what I see are using electric automotive radiator fans, which many say they are using a rheostat to run the fan at slower speeds. Those fans to me seem capable of moving waaaay too much air for this purpose unless governed down. Just trying to remove heat from box, not freeze it.

Any thoughts, ideas, links, input, wisdom, criticism or wisecracks greatly appreciated.
No such thing as moving way to much air, you either have enough or not enough with not enough having severe concequnces. I don't think computer fans would move near enough air.

Someone on the forum with the math skills could probably figure how many btu's of heat is generated by burning X amount of fuel per hour and how much air it would take to remove X amount of heat.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Jul 14, 2016
Clearly some are under the mistaken impression that fan forcing cooling air is necessary so a genset such as the Honda EU inverter series won't overheat. Such is not the case with a properly designed enclosure, the best engineered DIY example I've come across being forum member jauguston's EU1000i Quiet Box which did not have any fans of any kind. However, his was intended to work out in the open whereas mine was going to be sitting inside my Avalanche's closed cargo compartment so I did mount a single 120 vac 5" muffin fan on the box's intake end to draw cooling air into the compartment from the outside world and thus into the box. The only better designs I've seen come from Japan where examples can easily out cost the generator it encloses. :E Anyone seriously interested in building a properly designed quiet box for an EU series genset would do well to read through this discussion and refer to the links provided therein rather than base their design on WAGs. :R
Houston_Remodel
Explorer
Jul 14, 2016
Following the manufacturer's specs, I found an automotive radiator fan which provides the 665 CFM needed. It was installed to push the air past the genny and keep the electronics of the genny cool. The fan is powered by the 12 V outlet on the genny. The fan came with spade connectors that plug directly into the face of the genny.

Details here

When driving down 40 through Flagstaff on a 114ºF day, i thought it would have been a better idea to add an additional exhaust fan to the box. Still the genny cooled the TT while we traveled.
colliehauler
Explorer III
Jul 14, 2016
SoundGuy wrote:
Clearly some are under the mistaken impression that fan forcing cooling air is necessary so a genset such as the Honda EU inverter series won't overheat. Such is not the case with a properly designed enclosure, the best engineered DIY example I've come across being forum member jauguston's EU1000i Quiet Box which did not have any fans of any kind. However, his was intended to work out in the open whereas mine was going to be sitting inside my Avalanche's closed cargo compartment so I did mount a single 120 vac 5" muffin fan on the box's intake end to draw cooling air into the compartment from the outside world and thus into the box. The only better designs I've seen come from Japan where examples can easily out cost the generator it encloses. :E Anyone seriously interested in building a properly designed quiet box for an EU series genset would do well to read through this discussion and refer to the links provided therein rather than base their design on WAGs. :R
Interesting, they use the Honda's internal fan to pull air in and by placing it where the exhaust and hot air vent into another compartment it prevents the hot air from recirculating through the generator. A little more thought then just placing the generator in a box. :C

Do you know if the Champion 3100 vents out the back like the Honda?

I guess you can teach a old dog a new trick.
jjrbus
Explorer
Jul 14, 2016
ICamel wrote:
You could power the fans using the 12V outlet on your Honda generator.

I read on the internet so it must be true! That when using the 12V outlet that the genney cannot be in Eco mode?
jjrbus
Explorer
Jul 14, 2016
[COLOR=]No such thing as moving way to much air you either have enough or not enough with not enough having severe concequnces. I don't think computer fans would move near enough air.

Someone on the forum with the math skills could probably figure how many btu's of heat is generated by burning X amount of fuel per hour and how much air it would take to remove X amount of heat.

When the fan becomes as loud as the genset is what I meant by way too much air.
jjrbus
Explorer
Jul 14, 2016
SoundGuy wrote:
Clearly some are under the mistaken impression that fan forcing cooling air is necessary so a genset such as the Honda EU inverter series won't overheat. Such is not the case with a properly designed enclosure, the best engineered DIY example I've come across being forum member jauguston's EU1000i Quiet Box which did not have any fans of any kind. However, his was intended to work out in the open whereas mine was going to be sitting inside my Avalanche's closed cargo compartment so I did mount a single 120 vac 5" muffin fan on the box's intake end to draw cooling air into the compartment from the outside world and thus into the box. The only better designs I've seen come from Japan where examples can easily out cost the generator it encloses. :E Anyone seriously interested in building a properly designed quiet box for an EU series genset would do well to read through this discussion and refer to the links provided therein rather than base their design on WAGs. :R

very interesting thanks for posting!
SoundGuy
Explorer
Jul 15, 2016
ICamel wrote:
You could power the fans using the 12V outlet on your Honda generator.

jjrbus wrote:
I read on the internet so it must be true! That when using the 12V outlet that the genney cannot be in Eco mode?

I never once bothered to measure the DC output voltage of either one of my EU2000i gensets as I never had any need for it so I can't answer your question. However, insofar as powering fans are concerned there's no need to use 12 vdc fans when you can just power 120 vac fans from one of the genset's 120 vac output receptacles.
jjrbus
Explorer
Jul 19, 2016
Thanks for the input and info. I am progressing a bit with this and neglected to get some before temps on the honda. There are 2 kazillion articles on the web and I can not find one with operating temps. I know they are there I have saw them! Anyone have temps or a link?

Here is the humble beginnings a muffler extension and a aluminum box.

[img][/img]

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