Generator that won't break the bank..

Good catch. I use mine to run a 8,000 portable air conditioner that only draws about 800 watts.

That unit maybe a little undersized for the OP. The OP wants to run the AC when needed.

Thanks for allowing me to make my own choice. The OP asked for a bargain, not the quietest. If the extra noise, logarithmic or not, doesn't bother then this little unit might be worth a look. There must be a thread for the quietest somewhere. Solar is silent.

TomG2 wrote:
It is not quiet, but at 65 db rating, it is not terrible either. Output is similar to the Honda 2000i, which I have owned.

Presumably you realize that because these sound measurements are based on a logarithmic scale that a genset rated at 65 dbA is significantly louder than one rated at 58 dbA. :E Truth is, you've gotten what you paid for ... quite a step down for someone who has already owned an EU2000i. Of course, it's still your choice to make. :W

To the original poster asking about an economical generator, I may have found the most "Bang for the buck" this week at Tractor Supply. I purchased one of their Champion 1400/1800 units on sale for $179. It is souped up version of their 1200/1500 model that is sold everywhere else. It is not quiet, but at 65 db rating, it is not terrible either. Output is similar to the Honda 2000i, which I have owned. Fuel consumption is about the same, if the Honda is putting out 1,400 watts also. Under 60 pounds means that I can load and unload it easily. Five for the the price of one Honda may work for some, including me.

Soundguy wrote:
Not necessarily ... with the right approach one can successfully construct a generator quiet box that will dramatically reduce the noise, to the point where it truly is difficult to tell from as little as 20' away that it's even running. Proof is in the (video) pudding, when I built my own Honda EU2000i Quiet Box ... problem is, not many would bother and simply run their own "quiet" genset in open air where it can easily be heard by other campers

That setup is a thing of beauty. Nice work!

Clockman wrote:
Actually there really is near silent Generators made, they are Honda's that are rated for Movie set use, they are SUPER exspensive and are about as loud as your refrigerator running...

It's not the generator itself that is "quiet" but rather the enclosure it's mounted in that minimizes the racket - for obvious reasons. Nonetheless, irrelevant to this discussion. :R

Actually there really is near silent Generators made, they are Honda's that are rated for Movie set use, they are SUPER exspensive and are about as loud as your refrigerator running...

I just ordered a Powerhorse 2k inverter generator from Northern Tool. It comes with parallel cables, a 30A receptacle, and a $100 E gift card to Northern for $569. Seems very comparable to Honda 2k. I plan to use it to charge battery when we go to Glacier. If it is as good as the reviews I have read, might get another one so we can run air when it's hot out.

We use a "Campground Friendly" Boliy 3600 inverter generator. This unit is about $1400 and can power everything in the TT. Just can't run AC and microwave at same time. Very quiet unit! Unit has been virtually problem free for the last 6 years.