Parallel Hondas

SoundGuy wrote:

DarkSkySeeker wrote:
I have the Honda EU2000 and am considering buying a Honda Companion to get the power to run AC.

No longer necessary to parallel two 2K gensets or run a larger 3K to power your A/C ... instead of wasting $$$$ to buy a second EU2000i spend far less on a soft starter kit for your A/C unit, such as the Micro-Air Easy Start Soft Starter Kit. :)

Search rv.net for Micro-Air Easy Start and you'll come up with discussions like this.

I installed a similar soft start and my AC easily starts on one Honda EU 2000 at 3500 feet in 90+ degree weather. The problem is running the AC. A single EU2000 just can't run my AC when it is hot out. Maybe if I was at sea level and the ambient temperature was 60 degrees (i.e.; the Oregon Coast in the summer), but not when I am at 3500 feet or higher and the ambient temperature is above 80 degrees. Just sharing my experience so others don't make the same assumption. Use two EU2000's (or a single larger generator) if you want to run a typical AC.

kerrlakeroo wrote:
I have seen several comments and ads for paralleling 2000 Honda generators. My question is why? a standard 4000 watt generator has 230 volt power available, so why screw around with 2 small generators and try to parallel them?

your RV does not use 230vac

RVs use 30amp 120vac service
or
a 50amp service which is (2) 120vac 50amp lines, aka (100amps at 120v)

you don't need or want 230vac

the 'inverter' style generators use less fuel and make less noise when at low power battery charging or watching TV

Champion makes qood equipment, you won't use 4000w unless you are trying to MW while the A/C is on, and that may not work if its too hot outside
A/C compressor surge is the biggest load any generator will see
even a large 1100 cooking watt MW only uses around 1600w input power
the lock rotor start up on a roof top A/C can be 54amps 120v
some newer A/C units use less power and have a lower start surge on the A/C compressor, the numbers you need to know are stamped on the metal plate on the A/C compressor, removing the cover and getting this info, is helpful to have around,

SoundGuy wrote:
instead of wasting $$$$ to buy a second EU2000i spend far less on a soft starter kit for your A/C unit

2oldman wrote:
I wouldn't call it wasting money. A single 2k Honda is working very hard to keep an a/c running. With two it's less loud and much easier on each one.

Yes, your kit helps with getting it started with one.

I would call it wasting money, and did ... and it's not my kit as I have nothing to do with Micro-Air in any way ... it's just a useful product that could really be a great solution for many RV owners.

SO - you know for a fact that an EU2000i "works very hard" because you've done it yourself? I have, and my EU2000i did not work very hard at all to keep the A/C running, it's starting the compressor that was the issue. Proof is in the pudding - I posted a link recently to a video of a test I did in which my 13,500 BTU Mach 3+ A/C ran just fine with my EU2000i running easily on ECO mode, with genset speed only moderately higher than the lowest ECO speed. The issue was starting the A/C compressor, especially once A/C head pressure had increased, and that's what the Micro-Air Easy Start soft starter kit is designed to solve. Maybe you ought to try a soft starter kit yourself before suggesting it isn't a viable solution that makes more sense than investing in 2 paralleled generators. ;)

kerrlakeroo wrote:
My current 4kw cheapie is no louder than my prior 8HP honda was, so I had not expected noise to be the issue.
The 4 kw is listed as 70db @ half load.

Ummmm, 70 dbA is ear shattering. :M Presumably you do realize sound level is measured on a logarithmic scale and as such an inverter genset running full tilt at say 58 dbA is dramatically quieter than another genset running at 70 dbA. :R

Easy start is a better answer IMO.

2Oldman Thanks, I never understood the "why" previously.

kerrlakeroo wrote:
Do the inverter units run at some type of varying engine speeds according to load?

Yes they do.

Full speed would indicate air conditioning, microwave, toaster.. high draw stuff like that. And yes, they can get loud at this usage, but that's intermittent.

Half-speed, an audible hum, might be your converter or anything around 500 watts.

Almost idle and very quiet is a TV, stereo, cell phone charging, etc. Sometimes you'll forget you're even running a generator. It's not just the engine noise, Honda has done a superb job of quieting the annoying whirr-whirr sound you hear from a standard generator - the mechanical unit that makes the electricity. That sound is gone. And that's the sound that, in my opinion, travels so far in a campground, irrespective of its db rating.

The Champion IC is likely to give you a bit more generator noise than the Honda, but they are a respected name on this board.

2oldman,,,,, yes I am... Am just setting up a new rig so reading a lot.
Do the inverter units run at some type of varying engine speeds according to load?
My current 4kw cheapie is no louder than my prior 8HP honda was, so I had not expected noise to be the issue.
The 4 kw is listed as 70db @ half load.

kerrlakeroo wrote:
I have seen ads for the 2k honda's and Champions at more cost than my single 4k Champion and never understood why go the extra cost or hassel unless the inverter operation was more stable, so was asking,,,,

You must be new around here! ;)

Non-inverter generators run at full RPM all the time. Inverter operation is quieter, which is a big deal in campgrounds. Some of us are willing to pay for that, some are not.

SoundGuy wrote:
instead of wasting $$$$ to buy a second EU2000i spend far less on a soft starter kit for your A/C unit

I wouldn't call it wasting money. A single 2k Honda is working very hard to keep an a/c running. With two it's less loud and much easier on each one.

Yes, your kit helps with getting it started with one.