dougx wrote:
I don't think one can even buy replacement parts for the Harbor Freight generators or for welders and most any other power tool.
:D
I don’t care who you are but that is a real knee slappin’ funny comment..
You obviously didn’t take a good look at the link I posted of Honda 2000W inverter gen replacement parts?
If your Honda quits making power you have several choices as to what the problem is.. One choice is the INVERTER (which is the “brains” of the gen), that part ALONE is $432 PLUS shipping and you are GUESSING whether that is the problem (the “stator” is the other half of the problem and is not listed on the replacement parts..)
Lets see.. Used Honda Gen with bad inverter is worth scrap since no one will be in their right mind to pay any substantial price for a broken gen and you most likely will not want to toss nearly $500 into a USED gen and “hope” it works..
New HF gen at $499 vs $423 plus shipping for a Honda replacement inverter on the hopes it fixes a USED gen?
$423 plus shipping is HALF the cost of buying a NEW Honda and basically about the same as a new HF gen..
Noise? For some reason lots of folks seem assume the worst case, thinking everyone looking at the lower cost gens are planning to camp in campgrounds..
I don’t, since I personally do not use my gen in that way..
My Chinese gen spends most of it’s life as my standby home gen and when I do go camping it is only used while on the road at rest stops or overnighting in a parking lot just long enough to cool down my TT..
I personally will not camp in any campgrounds which does not have commercial power AND ALLOWS the use of gens even with restricted hrs..
To me the thoughts of hundreds of gens running at the same time within a few acres of area gives me pause..
No matter how quiet a Honda might be, if you put hundreds of them together in even a few acres running at the same time it WILL end up sounding like a lot of lawn mowers running.
If you don’t like noise then perhaps you might want to skip camping in any campground.. Pretty much every campground I have been around even with commercial power IS NOISY.
A/C units on top of RVs are extremely noisy, kids running around screaming, dogs left alone in popups barking for hrs at a time, cars, trucks, motor homes moving about all day and add in the mix golf carts too boot, not to mention folks with booming car stereos and even the occasional owner of a popup turning their junky OEM stereo up to concert sound levels for hrs on end..
Even had the pleasure of a dozen highly intoxicated rednecks partying at one campsite about 20 campsites away from mine until 3 AM.. EVERY NIGHT FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK :M
My house which sits only 50ft from the centerline of a very busy two lane road is often quieter than many campgrounds..
If it wasn’t for wanting to take my kid to places like my Dad did when I was a kid I would say forget about camping altogether if I let campground noise spoil the trip..
For those who are concerned about no low oil sensor, well the schematic in the manual clearly shows a low oil switch, as to the function (shuts down automatically) the manual does not say..
The manual does however mention that the engine speed IS controlled according to the load, what is missing is the switch to disable that mode (might explain as to the comment in one of the reviews which mentioned it would not start their A/C)..
So to recap the differences.. The HF has a little higher power rating, does have Econo (although no switch to disable), does have low oil switch (not sure if that shuts down or just lights the low oil light), a little higher noise rating, no parallel capability, repair parts availability questionable (but keep in mind HF does have a pretty good return policy but read it first), HALF the price of the Honda (making possible lack repair parts argument null and void)..
If you are OK with the above pros and cons then go for it.. Just check HF return policy before buying if you are not sure if it will work for you..
