generator

Good to know. The whole point was that they are not made in the US. I don't know if I would feel any better about something being built in Thailand rather than China, though. Wonder why Honda didn't mention Thailand on their website? Unless, that was the China connection they do mention on the website.

The 2000 watt ratings on blue and red are 1600 watts! The big difference between them is Hondas engine is larger...Forget the Honda and Yamaha 3000s... Too damned HEAVY,! I cannot lift thes. Advantage Champions at under #90 lbs!.

GrandpaKip wrote:
What convinced me to buy a Honda was that it was made in the US.

RSD559 wrote:
My word. Look this stuff up before saying it. Champion generators are manufactured in China, but engineered in the US. Honda generators are made in China, Japan, France and India. Not in the US. I didn't find where they are engineered.

SoundGuy wrote:
My word indeed ... if you're going to criticize you might as well get your facts straight as well. :R Honda's EU2000i which up until a few years ago was built in Japan is now manufactured in Thailand.

RSD559 wrote:
This is where I got my information on the Hondas:
http://world.honda.com/power/generator/
If that is incorrect, you can't blame me. Where did you get your information?

I've owned 2 Honda EU2000i gensets myself, the first as indicated by it's age & serial number was manufactured in Japan, and the second in the Honda manufacturing facility in Thailand, also as indicated by it's serial number. This subject came up in this 2015 rv.net discussion in which long time forum member and Honda employee robert_at_honda said on Jan 12, 2015 -

"Facts About the Honda EU2000i:

1. Until about a year ago, the EU2000i was made in Japan. Now, they are made at a Honda plant in Thailand. This plant also makes the smaller Honda EU1000i. EU2000i units with a serial number EAAJ are from Japan; EAAT serial numbers are from Thailand. No Honda EU-series models have ever been made in China."

RSD559 wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:
What convinced me to buy a Honda was that it was made in the US. With over 30 years experience in building, I have never had a Chinese tool last like an American one.
My son in law has my 32 year old Generac 5000 watt generator and it still runs well.
Yeah, the Honda costs more. I think it was worth it.
Just an old fart's opinion.

My word. Look this stuff up before saying it. Champion generators are manufactured in China, but engineered in the US. Honda generators are made in China, Japan, France and India. Not in the US. I didn't find where they are engineered.

Sorry, but I am pretty sure it said made in the USA on the box when I bought it several years ago. Could be wrong. Don't have the box anymore. Guess I could look on the unit itself. Maybe the next time I'm near it. Really don't care all that much.

You will not really know until you have the TT, have some camping experience to determine your power requirements, what you need to be comfortable in the places and times you choose to camp.

If your RV is 30 amp service, 3600 watts continuous capacity (available from a 4KW genset or a coupled pair of 2000 watt inverter units) will provide as much power as you can get plugged into the grid. This will still not be enough if the air conditioner tries to start while your daughter is using her 1600 watt blow dryer on high and has her curling iron plugged in. But this will also trip the main breaker in your RV or the breaker on the generator or service pedestal, whichever heats up fastest for thermal loads.

If you never run air conditioning, don't use toasters, electric griddles or frying pans, or high wattage grooming appliances, a single 2KW genset (typically 1600 watts continuous) can work to keep house batteries charged during "generator hours" for storing enough energy to get you to the next charging period on your 12-volt loads.

It is a lifestyle issue. I used to get through a three day camping weekend on a pair of carbon-zinc D-cells (never used the spare set I carried) but now in my RV 1200 KWH might not get me through a cold winter's night, and come morning with the wife fixing breakfast and the daughters grooming hair, 3.6 KW might not be enough power to get me through the next 10 minutes. Considering that I live in a 60 year old house with only 7.2 KW service, same issues come up at home.

Power needs depend on lifestyle choices, not which RV your bought.

SoundGuy wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:
What convinced me to buy a Honda was that it was made in the US.

RSD559 wrote:
My word. Look this stuff up before saying it. Champion generators are manufactured in China, but engineered in the US. Honda generators are made in China, Japan, France and India. Not in the US. I didn't find where they are engineered.

My word indeed ... if you're going to criticize you might as well get your facts straight as well. :R Honda's EU2000i which up until a few years ago was built in Japan is now manufactured in Thailand. IIRC the EU1000i and EU3000iS are still built in Japan and I guess if I cared enough I could look it up to confirm but frankly can't be bothered with such silliness :W - a Honda is a Honda regardless of where it's actually built. :)

This is where I got my information on the Hondas:
http://world.honda.com/power/generator/
If that is incorrect, you can't blame me. Where did you get your information?

GrandpaKip wrote:
What convinced me to buy a Honda was that it was made in the US.

RSD559 wrote:
My word. Look this stuff up before saying it. Champion generators are manufactured in China, but engineered in the US. Honda generators are made in China, Japan, France and India. Not in the US. I didn't find where they are engineered.

My word indeed ... if you're going to criticize you might as well get your facts straight as well. :R Honda's EU2000i which up until a few years ago was built in Japan is now manufactured in Thailand. IIRC the EU1000i and EU3000iS are still built in Japan and I guess if I cared enough I could look it up to confirm but frankly can't be bothered with such silliness :W - a Honda is a Honda regardless of where it's actually built. :)

It seems as though most folks are discussing portable generators. Have a couple of questions:

Are there Travel Trailers or 5th Wheels that can come with ONBOARD generators similar to what are in Motorhomes? Do many of the dealers now offer that option with new units?

Are most TT's wired and plumbed for a generator even though they might not have one?

Is there an Inverter or a series of them that will run an RV AC? This may be an implausible question. However, I have never claimed to be a technician.

I'm quite sure that most RV owners, in Florida or Arizona, don't want an RV that does not have AC capability off the grid.

I have had the Honda and the Yamaha 2000 twins. I have had the Honda and Yamaha 3000 I.... just bought the Champion 2800 /3100 inverter.. Costco, 699... So far I love the Champion. Started first pull, quiet, rubber tires, Rv 30 amp plug, battery cables, two 15 amp plug ins, one USB i plug, runs the entire 5th wheel. Ac, tvs, etc.. The Honda and yammys are top drawer. However, at 2000 bucks I can replace 3 Champions. At 699 I don't care about resale value. Even two Champions running pararell are less than one Honda running 2600 watts and the Champions are hitting 5600 watts.. I'm not saying Champions are in the same league, just saying if they do the job, are quiet, and liftable at under 90lbs, I'll givem a try.. besides. If I don't like the Champion, I can return it to Costco!..what do I have to lose?

GrandpaKip wrote:
What convinced me to buy a Honda was that it was made in the US. With over 30 years experience in building, I have never had a Chinese tool last like an American one.
My son in law has my 32 year old Generac 5000 watt generator and it still runs well.
Yeah, the Honda costs more. I think it was worth it.
Just an old fart's opinion.

My word. Look this stuff up before saying it. Champion generators are manufactured in China, but engineered in the US. Honda generators are made in China, Japan, France and India. Not in the US. I didn't find where they are engineered.