Honda EU2000 parallel operation

I do as the manual states actually I put the one away that I am not
using. Less chance to be stolen

marc71 wrote:
To clarify, the camper is plugged into the 30amp plug on the generator and it's not running, the companion generator is running. Thoughts on this?

Recipe for disaster if AC tries to start or someone tries to use microwave!!!!!!:S:E



C.B.

No, not a recipe for disaster. the one unit will either stall or cut out.

But I think the non-running unit is drawing power so you are wasting fuel and so on,, Best to disconnect as per the owner's manual.

marc71 wrote:
I have two Honda EU2000 generators that we occasionally operate in parallel operation. The owners manual states to disconnect the cables when not running both generators. I've noticed other campers running one generator while the cable was still connected to the other. To clarify, the camper is plugged into the 30amp plug on the generator and it's not running, the campanion generator is running. Thoughts on this?

Your statement is a bit confusing. When you refer to COMPANION GENERATOR, you must be referring to the accompanying generator as a support for the other standard 2000i unit to handle a bigger load.

However, (as you stated) only the companion is running and the 30 Amp plug is plugged-in to the standard unit 2000i.

The standard 2000i doesn't come with the 30 Amp plug. . . only on the 2000ia Companion Model. Note the difference between the 2000i and the 2000ia.

Now, to give you a bit on how these inverter generators work:

The old technology and most older RV generators (and the cheap ones) are equipped with non-inverter type. They generate power and deliver the energy direct from the stator. The inverter type generates DC first and then inverted to AC, hence the word inverter.

This provides better control by controlling the DC portion and also convenience for paralleling operation.

The manual tells you to disconnect the parallel cables when using only one. This is just as logical as one can get doesn't it?

By running only one (assuming you have the RV plugged-in to the 30 Amp twist lock) and the parallel cables are connected to the non-running unit, you are simply energizing the armature to create magnetic flux within its winding. Without the generator spinning, it will not make electricity because you are not breaking the magnetic flux for the stator to create energy.

Leaving them hooked up will be an added demand from the running unit and will shorten the running time of the generator.

Honda may have reasons for advising against something for reasons other than damage will surely occur. Examples are that paralleled generators need to have the same power rating, or that only two generators can be paralleled. We've read multiple reports from users violating both of these restrictions without any reported problems. If having one paralleled generator running with the other stopped caused a problem, wouldn't that create a huge problem for Honda and the users if one ran out of gas before the other? I think it's a safe assumption that this has happened! Similarly, the paralleled generators aren't normally started at precisely the same time. My guess is that the restriction is more likely to be a safety issue, rather than an electrical issue. Notice that the eu2000i's Owner's Manual also says Honda approved parallel cables are "required". How many users violate this restriction without consequence? I personally would not believe a claim that the stopped unit draws power unless someone has made an actual measurement, which is not a difficult thing to do.

Run the the Honda generator that has the 30 amp plug
Dis connect the other Honda generator
Live wires to a non running device are a bad idea

Now to specifics, no the other inverter armature is Not being energized
Because it is not connected to the a.c. Output is connected to the inverter input
Inverter generator heads make high voltage dc power that goes to the inverter electronics

The non running generator has 120v on its inverter output from the live running one
I don't have the specific details on Honda inverters, (those are a closely guarded secret), but I know enough to know that most likely there are triacs (electronic switches ) in the output lines of the inverter, those are designed to switch power going out of the inverter, not stop power coming in from the wrong direction
Yes I'm simplifying the explanation ,
Any way I think it's better to unplug the parallel kit from the running generator, the one with the 30 amp plug, and leave the non running one totality isolated
Running the one that does not have the twist lock, to power the harness and send power to the other one is doing it backwards

Too simplified.

Either model is not rated for a max 30 Amp load. That's the reason you can't have just the one with twist lock (2000i Companion model). Either one is only rated 2kVA.

I've just been to Camping World and bought the Standard 2000i. I asked for the Companion with the twist lock. . . and Tech support told me I can't have the one with 30 Amp. and expect to hook it up as a single unit and draw 30 Amp energy. I have to have the Standard 2000i if I intend to run only one unit.

The Companion has to have another 2000i (well, as Honda says), it has to have a companion.

You can verify with tech support and find out for yourself. Let me know what you come up with and I will return the unit I just bought.

The reason I wanted a twist lock plug is, I have my old system with 30 Amp. twist locks. . . obviously that didn't work out for me.

I have to have the Standard 2000i if I intend to run only one unit.

The Companion has to have another 2000i (well, as Honda says), it has to have a companion.

There is so much fiction out there about the eu-series generators! The standard and companion eu2000i is the same darn device except for the outlet configuration. If you read through the companion's Owner's Manual you run across multiple references to running it by itself, including one about what started this thread:
"For single generator operation, the parallel operation cable must be removed".

Honda does not engineer their products based on voodoo and fortune teller's glass balls...let alone based on fiction.

road-runner wrote:
Notice that the eu2000i's Owner's Manual also says Honda approved parallel cables are "required". How many users violate this restriction without consequence?

Me. And I've run just one leaving the parallel hookup sans consequence.

road-runner wrote:
If having one paralleled generator running with the other stopped caused a problem, wouldn't that create a huge problem for Honda and the users if one ran out of gas before the other?

correct.