Generator question - worth it to sell Champion gen for Honda

ScottyP5947 wrote:
Does anyone have direct experience with these two gens in person? I want to know if you feel it's significantly quieter than the champion and worth the upgrade.

Honda EU3000is - 57 dBA
Champion 3100 - 58 dBA

Bonus on the Champion. It has a TT-30R receptacle in addition to a duplex 5-20R while the Honda has an L5-30R and a duplex 5-20R. If your RV has the standard 30A RV cord, you will need an adapter.

Quick and cheap way to quiet a generator.


EDIT - the Harbor Freight 3500W generator claims 57 dBA also,

Just an FYI, I have a Honda 1000 inverter genny I take along as well. The thing is so small and light, it really doesn't take up any space. I use it when I don't need the AC or microwave. It will run my DW hot rollers and hair blow dryer (on low) as well as full charge with the AC battery charger built in. I have solar too, but like you said, trees and clouds sometimes shadow a bit too much if it's been cold and the heater blower ran much at night and for more than 3 nights.

If I had the bucks and was starting over, I'd seriously consider the Honda 2200 and see if it could handle the AC. I know it will handle the microwave. But I have a Yamaha 2400 inverter genny and I doubt I could get enough for it to be cost feasible. It's not too loud, but I have been approached at Yosemite about it even though it was only running during the legal hours. It's tough to stay quiet when there are tent campers in the vicinity and I don't want to impose on anyone else's experience any more than I want them to impose on mine.

Wow! Thanks everyone for the input, that was my first post and I can tell I've found the right place.
I'm fairly certain that all my research points to the fact that I should go for the good Honda gen and be done with it. I'd mount it in the bed of my truck and run it from there.
I haven't filled out my signature at all so you all know nothing about my rig. I have a 2017 Mallard 245, I do have 200w of solar that I travel with. Even just 100w of solar kept the gen off for 3 days and all I have are 2 12V batteries - I haven't tested the second panel yet. My family and I don't like RV parks, so we camp a lot without hookups, in national parks, etc with a lot of tent campers so we want to be respectful. We also camp at a lot of concerts, and there's no hookups there either, with a lot of tents.
The generator is mainly for air conditioning, and to pop some popcorn and to top off the battery if it's been cloudy. That's it. I would like to add a third battery while these are still in good shape, then when they all fail together I'll upgrade to 6V batts. I have a 1500w inverter as well that I haven't installed yet. I have questions about that too of course ;). I'd like to install it so that I can run a TV and DVD player (kids!) And so that I can run the microwave on a limited basis.
In my approximation I think I should be able to add the third deep cycle 12V battery up front with the other stock two (any easy solution for this??), add the inverter in the front storage area, and somehow wire it into the 120v circuit in the coach. How is this typically done? How ought I penetrate the front storage area with the cables for the inverter?

Thanks again! I'll fill out my signature soon, again this seems like a great place. A lot of solid info. :)
Scott

Hi,

If the 3100 is an inverter generator I'd keep it as the Honda will be just about the same noise level.

Invest the money in a good hybrid inverter/charger instead.

I'm very good at finding campsites with noisy children and obnoxious parents next to me. I bought a Champion 3100 generator to drown them out . Ahhhh , peace n quiet .

Time to review the full strategy.

Do you camp in the sun ever? 200+ watts solar would reduce generator time for charging a battery and maybe put the generator out of business.

Do you really need the microwave or air conditioner to run on generator? MW is convenient and still all can be heated on the stove or oven. I honestly look for hookups if the air is needed.

How many batteries do you have and what converter is doing the charging? Many OEM converters just trickle charge at 13.6 volts. You could cut your generator time in half or better upgrading the converter. More battery can also make generator time more productive.

LED lights are the easiest way to conserve battery, do you have them?

Trading generators might still be part of the plan. I am just suggesting to look at all areas to improve your experience.

I can't tell you about the champion but I have a 3000 Honda with remote start bolted at the front of my truck bed. The first year of using it I didn't have solar so I ran it for all my charging while boondocking.

I built a ventilated metal cabinet out of 12 gauge steel with a hinged top and a vent at the top drivers side and a 10 inch 120 volt axial fan at the passenger side. I usually opened the lid at a 45 angle or so but often ran with it closed. A few times people asked me how I was doing it because they never heard the Genny. We always had lights on, 40 inch television, satellite etc.

I had the 12 gauge sheared to size and welded everything myself. The fan was pricey so the whole thing cost about $200.

Now that I have a lot of solar I removed it for weight saving. Even without the cabinet when I park the truck with the hood to the pinbox we forget that it's running. I routed a 10 cable with twist lock that is about 25 ft long from the transfer switch out under the bedroom overhang past the pinbox.

Depending on how and where you use it you might try a few other tricks like foam shielding etc.

Somewhat involved

Easier

The 3000 is quite quiet.

That said, batteries and an inverter are much quieter.

the 3000is is a nice generator. very quite, etc. Several camping friends have them. But they all do agree they are HEAVY. several have said if they had to do it over they would just get a pair of honda 2000's, now the honda 2200. Cost is about the same for a pair of 2200's and you can carry them around easily.

It is one of the quitest generators around, even quiter than the honda 2000/2200.

If the weight isn't an issue, it's a very good choice.

Haven't been around the champion so no way to compare.

I've used both in business and the Honda is quieter to my ear. If you haven't listened to a Honda 3000, maybe a dealer will have a demo you can try. Bring your Champion and test them side-by-side. A smart phone app that has a sound meter could compare their output sound levels against each other.
The specs state that the Honda is also 20 pounds lighter.

I think the weight difference is a bigger issue than the sound issue personally.