I just did a test of the capabilities of my generator. I'm very impressed.It ran the AC on high, PD9145 at full power output, and ran my 3 way fridge on AC. No overload light!RPMs must have been near max though, but it held

try again when the weather is hotter

I ran my hot water heater on 1/8th pound of propane FOR A MONTHDate: July 1982Place: Death Valley Junction(No I'm not joking)The gas supported a pilot light

JamesJudasPriest wrote:I just did a test of the capabilities of my generator. I'm very impressed.It ran the AC on high, PD9145 at full power output, and ran my 3 way fridge on AC. No overload light!RPMs must have been near max though, but it heldNo question Honda's EU2000i (of which I've owned two) is best in class, capable of maintaining a full surge load for up to 1/2 hour, no doubt partly due to it's 20% larger engine compared to the competition. However, one test alone doesn't tell the full story ... try starting that same A/C when outside ambient temps are in the 90s or 100s and A/C head pressure is much greater or when the elevation is much higher and you may not be so impressed. Great as it is the EU2000i is still limited by it's maximum rated output which is often not sufficient to meet increased A/C head pressure requirements and is still afflicted with the same restrictions as any gas aspired engine - loss of power as elevation increases. Enjoy it, but be realistic. ;)

I was actually disappointed with the capacity of my new Honda 2000 watt. My old ultra cheap (inverter) 2200 unit would work the A/C. all day every day. The Honda dies immediately, both times I tried. I didn't expect it to work the A/C based on people's comments on the low surge capacity of the Hondas, but still....The good points are quieter and ridiculously easy to start, but capacity and the price .... meh.

horton333 wrote:I didn't expect it to work the A/C based on people's comments on the low surge capacity of the Hondas ...LOW surge capacity? :h Honda's EU2000i has the BEST surge capacity of any 2K inverter genset currently available as it can easily maintain a full 2000 watt surge rating for 1/2 hour, primarily due to it's 20% larger engine. A Yamaha EF2000iS owner would be lucky to manage 20 secs at full rating, which is not surprising considering it's meagre 79 cc engine.

Honda EU 2000 ability = impressive | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

JamesJudasPries
Explorer
Aug 27, 2016
stevenal wrote:
JamesJudasPriest,

What brand/size AC do you run?

Im not sure to be honest. Its a dometic duotherm, on my class b 1990 Dodge rv.

1 day after full professional repaint!
marcsbigfoot20b
Explorer
Aug 10, 2016
3 tons wrote:
On our last outing in the hot Nevada desert at 7,400' the Honda wouldn't run the 11kbtu AC with the converter being on...

No kidding, -3% power loss for every 1000 feet above sea level.
So 7500 is 7.5 X 3 = 22.5% less power.... Not factoring in hot temps.
That is 1240 watts running or 1550 watts surge. Add in anything over 80 degrees and it's even less.
jalichty
Explorer
Aug 10, 2016
I have been lead to believe that it would take about 2,700 watts of surge to start a 13,500 AC and certainly a Honda 2000 or Yahama 2000 would not have 2,700 watts of surge. I tried to run my 13,500 AC using my Honda 2000 and it, indeed, would not start and the Honda died. However, we live at 5,000+ feet altitude and it was a pretty hot day. I was not upset at the Honda not being able to run the AC as I never thought it would, just wanted to find out for myself. However, when I parallel the old 20 with the Companion 2000, it starts and runs the AC just fine. I suppose that at lower altitude, somewhat lower temps and with some playing around with the AC, a 2000 would run the AC, but not here at altitude and higher temps. I really like my Hondas, but I also liked my friend's Yahama but they are both pretty expensive compared to the other smaller gens out there.
stevenal
Nomad II
Aug 10, 2016
JamesJudasPriest,

What brand/size AC do you run?
3_tons
Explorer III
Aug 10, 2016
On our last outing in the hot Nevada desert at 7,400' the Honda wouldn't run the 11kbtu AC with the converter being on...
road-runner
Explorer III
Aug 09, 2016
Huntindog wrote:

What amazes me, is that is is a very old design. I believe it was the first to market and has been in continuous production without any major upgrades... And yet the "new" competition still can't beat it.
This is one thing that they got right the first time.

X2 on that! I've had my eu2000i for a bit over 12 years. For it to not have been leapfrogged by newer technology is very unusual.
Huntindog
Explorer
Aug 09, 2016
road-runner wrote:
If it has the " the best surge capability of any inverter genset in this class" then how do you explain it not running a (13.5) A/C when others will....
Perhaps you've already done this, if you don't run the comparison test at the same time, same place, with the same air conditioner, the results don't have a whole lot of value. Altitude, atmospheric conditions, and the make/model of air conditioner are all variables that need to be controlled for a valid conclusion. I have an eu2000i, and I and others on the forum from time to time say the 30 minute 2,000 VA capability is bunk. Maybe at sea level on a cold day, but in real world conditions of mild temps and a few hundred feet of altitude, my observation is that they max out at about 1,900 VA, and won't produce 2,000 VA for any period of time greater than a few seconds. That doesn't mean I'm down on the eu2000i. I haven't heard of a 2,000 VA generator that's better, and the eu2000i seems to be head-and-shoulders above the other 2,000 VA gens in load starting capability.
I have the little Hondas.. They are the standard that all others try to match.
What amazes me, is that is is a very old design. I believe it was the first to market and has been in continuous production without any major upgrades... And yet the "new" competition still can't beat it.
This is one thing that they got right the first time.
road-runner
Explorer III
Aug 09, 2016
If it has the " the best surge capability of any inverter genset in this class" then how do you explain it not running a (13.5) A/C when others will....
Perhaps you've already done this, if you don't run the comparison test at the same time, same place, with the same air conditioner, the results don't have a whole lot of value. Altitude, atmospheric conditions, and the make/model of air conditioner are all variables that need to be controlled for a valid conclusion. I have an eu2000i, and I and others on the forum from time to time say the 30 minute 2,000 VA capability is bunk. Maybe at sea level on a cold day, but in real world conditions of mild temps and a few hundred feet of altitude, my observation is that they max out at about 1,900 VA, and won't produce 2,000 VA for any period of time greater than a few seconds. That doesn't mean I'm down on the eu2000i. I haven't heard of a 2,000 VA generator that's better, and the eu2000i seems to be head-and-shoulders above the other 2,000 VA gens in load starting capability.
drsteve
Explorer
Aug 09, 2016
What brand and model was the "other"?
horton333
Explorer
Aug 09, 2016
If it has the " the best surge capability of any inverter genset in this class" then how do you explain it not running a (13.5) A/C when others will..... Did you exclude the cheap ones to establish the 'class' or limit the class to only ones with a highly specific power rating or _____.
Anyway this is sounding too much like people in love with a brand, as opposed to buying a tool with pros and cons which is where I am coming from.