External Generator use on Class A

Ductape wrote:
We use a 2k Honda when boondocking because it is more fuel efficient than the onboard Onan. I leave the WH and refrigerator on propane because I prefer to not put that wear on the generator.

We run 2-3 hours a day usually to charge up.

I hate to rain on the Honda fuel efficiency myth, but look at the facts from the Honda and Onan specifications shown below.

Honda EU2000i
Full Load, 1600w:
0.28 GPH
5.82 KW per Gal
¼ Load, 400w:
0.11 GPH
3.49 KW per Gal

Onan diesel 7500
Full load 7500w:
0.96 GPH
7.81 KW per Gal
½ Load, 3750w:
0.49 GPH
7.65 KW per Gal
0 Load, 0.13 GPH

The easiest fact to understand is the KW per Gallon calculation. It shows that at any load, the Onan 7500 diesel is much more efficient than the Honda.

You may chose the Honda and all the hassle of a second fuel system because of its reduced noise, but you won't get better fuel efficiency.

By the way, both of these generators are invertor generators. They are much less efficient than constant speed generators, and the manufacturer's specifications show that fact. It should not be surprising when you consider that the invertor generator first generates AC current with no frequency control. Then it must convert that to DC with no voltage control. Then it must invert that to both frequency and voltage controlled AC. It's quite an amazing engineering job, but it isn't fuel efficient because of the multiple conversions.

Good Luck!
Wil