This evening I was at costco and strolled down the generator aisle - expecting to see a Champion generator - which I did - but also was another generator.Smarter Tools was the brand name with a "Yamaha" engine driving the 2000W surge/1600w continuous duty. It weighs in at 44lbs dry - but what caught my eye more than anything else was the sound. 51dbs. I didn't see the distance it was measured at. It advertises a parallel option for doubling the output.Has anyone seen one of these beasts out in the real world yet?I found a youtube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN1FKcxgadM and excluding the diatribe and the fact the guy never started it, it's a good clear picture of the generator and what it looks like. Thoughts on this one?

This generator can be viewed here on AMAZON... Has included reviews... All the photos I find under this part number has model AP2000i model number on the unit. Could not find a photo on google search with GP2000i model number on the unit??? I guess they are the same...Smarttools ST-GP2000i 2KW Generator Roy Ken

My thoughts on these Chinese knock offs is you absolutely get what you paid for. "The joy of a cheap price is long forgotten while the pain of cheap quality lingers on."

jodeb720,,Last year I bought a Smarter Tools generator (7500 Watts) from Costco and immediately modified it to run on propane and added over-voltage protection. (This is for residential use as I'm not an RVer.I frequently contacted Smarter Tools Customer Support to obtain wiring drawings, determine thread size on oil drain, etc, etc.My purpose here is to tell you their Customer Support is absolutely awesome!If you want some individual contact names and numbers, let me know and I'll send them to you by private message.

""My thoughts on these Chinese knock offs is you absolutely get what you paid for. "The joy of a cheap price is long forgotten while the pain of cheap quality lingers on." ""I couldn't disagree more... I have a 2000 Champion and love it. It starts everytime, runs quiet, fuel efficient and was/is 1/2 price of Honda. The quality is excellent.Bottom line is if others have it and are happy, why not get it and enjoy the savings.

DesertFiver, you are absolutely correct, in my opinion. The quality of these Chinese CHONDA generators is very good and the prices are much less than the arguably over-priced Hondas.There are few threads here specifically tailored to the Chinese clones - one going back almost decade. There are literally hundreds of RVer who are just elated with their generators.I have found the Customer Service on my Smarter Tools generator to be simply outstanding!!!

Smarter Tools Inverter Generator at Costco? | Good Sam Community

FrankShore
Explorer
Aug 11, 2014
This is the specific model for sale at Costco now. They're only $599.99 at Costco and much more expensive through Amazon.

Smarter Tools Genny
Wayne_Dohnal
Explorer
Aug 11, 2014
Just offering opinion, unless the smarter tools generator uses an inverter module purchased or licensed from Honda, it's not going to work for two reasons:

1) The eu-series generators have a higher output voltage, in the 126-128 ballpark, than "everybody" else's 120 volt output. This would mean that the Honda would carry all of the load until it was close to overloading from low voltage.

2) The eu inverters use a frequency shifting algorithm to keep the parallel generators in synchronization. If the non-Honda's algorithm isn't compatible they aren't going to play well together.

Even if the inverter is licensed, it might be compatible, or it might not be.
2nakiller
Explorer
Aug 11, 2014
since this thread is a few months old, I was wondering if anyone has been able to parallel this smarter tools 2000 with a Honda 2000 inverter?

I too saw this unit at Costco and was wondering if it would work with the Honda Cable kit.
2oldman
Explorer II
Feb 27, 2014
DesertFiver wrote:
"The joy of a cheap price is long forgotten while the pain of cheap quality lingers on."
"Buy quality and cry once. Buy cheap and cry every time you use it."
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Feb 27, 2014
I would buy it and if you don't like it, take it back to Costco. They take anything back. Might be a good deal.
bikendan
Explorer
Feb 27, 2014
mbutts wrote:
Since the box has "parallel capable" plastered all over it, I called Smarter Tools to find out if/when/how much the parallel kit will be. He told me $50-75 and it should be available by the end of March at Costco.

that's something new then, because the previous model was not.
mbutts
Explorer
Feb 27, 2014
Since the box has "parallel capable" plastered all over it, I called Smarter Tools to find out if/when/how much the parallel kit will be. He told me $50-75 and it should be available by the end of March at Costco.
bikendan
Explorer
Jan 29, 2014
there have been numerous threads here, on this generator.
yes, it's powered by a Yamaha engine but is not a Yamaha product.
nor can it be paralled with another twin unit, like Yamahas and Hondas can be.
personally, i'd buy the Champion 2000w over this one because it costs about the same or cheaper and you can parallel it.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jan 29, 2014
A long-term comparison might be better.

Anyone can build a knock off, but will it last hundreds of hours? The only "major" service I've had on my 10- and 8-year-old Honda 2ks is new starter cords. And I use them a lot.
SaltiDawg
Explorer
Jan 29, 2014
DesertFiver, you are absolutely correct, in my opinion. The quality of these Chinese CHONDA generators is very good and the prices are much less than the arguably over-priced Hondas.

There are few threads here specifically tailored to the Chinese clones - one going back almost decade. There are literally hundreds of RVer who are just elated with their generators.

I have found the Customer Service on my Smarter Tools generator to be simply outstanding!!!