To Honda 2200i, or Stick with Honda 2000i?

ktmrfs wrote:
I'll add a bit of real world experience on the 2000 vs. 2200. First I have installed the micro air easy start on my coleman. works great. Now with the honda 2000 last year at 4000ft altitude mid 90's it would run the AC for about 10 minutes before overload. At sea level fine.
In both conditions AC starts fine with generator in ECO mode.

This last weekend I tried my honda 2200. sold the 2000 to my son. Again camping at 4000ft, mid 90's fired up the 2200, AC ran continously for hour or more no problem. Then though what margin do I have. turned the fridge to run on AC, and fridge at this temp pretty much runs continously. So I added about another 300W load. EMS showed the total load went up by about 3A, to 15. Now the EMS current reading is NOT very accurate, but 15A does come close to the AC load + fridge.

Ran the AC and fridge for another hour or so no issues. Went out and turned the 2200 off ECO to see what rpm increase I could hear. Yes, RPM did go up, so even at this the 2200 was not maxed out for rpm.

So, early conclusion based on ONE test ONLY is that the 2200 with the extra 200VA continous AND a 25% larger engine is addressing the altitude issue generators have.

Will take a few more trips to see if it completely solved the altitude problem.

Thanks for the real-world operating data!...I too have installed the Easy-start, and find it interesting that your air cond starts up fine when on Eco using the 2000i or the 2200i ...

Coleman rates my 11k btu unit running amps (with fan) at 9.0a at 95df and 9.6a at 115df, yet after 30+ minutes of run time, I measure it (using kill-a-watt device) to be 11.6a at about 85df with fan on low, so when on Eco, maybe this is why the inverter has to assist with each compressor start (??)...

As I’ve previously mentioned, we seldom used the air cond so its not clear to me why the running amps measure so high...I am able to see (via Xantrex LinkLite shunt meter) that when the inverter provides the start boost to resolve the compressors initial surge, the battery amp draw increases to about 40amps or so (at 12v), which at 120 v would equate to about 10 times that amount for about 1.5 seconds before handing the now running load back to the genny...

Another mystery, but based on your guidance I’ll soon be pulling the trigger on the 2200.

Thank You,

3 tons