Generators
I'm thinking of purchasing a generator. Attempting to decide between a Honda EU2000 x 2 or Yamaha EF200is x 2. My rig is a 29" TT and want to be able to run the AC and microwave at the same time. Can anyone help in the decision making?
Forum Discussion
- If you want the most quiet generator out there and are worried about the noise, go to a camp site and plug in. But IMO the for the power and versatility, weight and fuel consumption you can't go wrong with the Honda. JMO.
- I got to hear a pair of Honda 2000's at full tilt for the first time a few weeks ago. They are significantly louder than my Yamaha 2400. Of course, more capable too. At low draw, they were very similar in volume.
Adam-12 wrote:
gdreese wrote:
I prefer the yamaha. with the yamaha you buy 2 of the same gennys, The honda you need 2 different gennys at about $100 more. But it really boils down to what color you like better, red or blue?
Where you get'n that at??? With Honda, one does NOT need to buy "2 different gennys." That is only an option! One can buy two "regular" Hondas plus the "specific" parallel kit; or, buy the "regular" plus the "companion" model (30a RV plug) and the specific parallel kit for those two.
The Hondas have an internal fuel pump, which allows a NON-GRAVITY FED external fuel tank. From what I read here, Yamaha doesn't NOT have a fuel pump. If this information about the Yamahas is true, that means the external fuel tank would ALWAYS need to be positioned above the generator on some type of platform. What a royal PITA!
Honda all the way.
Additional info on the extended tank use with the Yamaha. A while back the manufacturers that made the kits offered them for both reds and blues. But with the blues NOT having a fuel pump, it was unreliable. Too many customer complaints/returns.
I haven't seen a kit for the blues for some time.gdreese wrote:
I prefer the yamaha. with the yamaha you buy 2 of the same gennys, The honda you need 2 different gennys at about $100 more. But it really boils down to what color you like better, red or blue?
Where you get'n that at??? With Honda, one does NOT need to buy "2 different gennys." That is only an option! One can buy two "regular" Hondas plus the "specific" parallel kit; or, buy the "regular" plus the "companion" model (30a RV plug) and the specific parallel kit for those two.
The Hondas have an internal fuel pump, which allows a NON-GRAVITY FED external fuel tank. From what I read here, Yamaha doesn't NOT have a fuel pump. If this information about the Yamahas is true, that means the external fuel tank would ALWAYS need to be positioned above the generator on some type of platform. What a royal PITA!
Honda all the way.Jayco23FB wrote:
I just did the same thing. I choose the Yamaha for the following reasons:
1. Yamaha has a longer EPA engine life rating (twice that of the Honda).250 vs. 500 hours"
This is a expected lifespan of the emission system provided to the EPA. Basically, it's saying how long the manufacturer expects the emissions to be in compliance. It should not be an indicator of overall engine life. Neither Yamaha or Honda provide any "hours of engine life" warranty.
The difference between being in compliance or not could simply be a spark plug! Nobody knows for sure.
Hondas are well known for long life. I read here once of a concessionaire that had over 15,000 hours on his EU2000!
I know that I have several thousand on mine.
Point is that durability just isn't a issue between the two.
2. Yamaha has an easy to access fuel shut off which allows you to run the fuel out of the carb each time. (my hondas had hard starting due to fuel issues)
3. Yamaha has a fuel gage - Honda has none.
4. Yamaha uses a traditional head design (2 pcs) Honda has a 1 piece cylinder and head design.
5. Yamaha has a steel cam shaft, Honda uses a plastic design with a cam drive belt.
6. The Yamahas are the same unit. This allows me to equal the run time when I only need 1 unit running. If you have a Honda companion and a standard 2000 you will need to switch connections on the gen. ( not a big deal but a nice convenience).
One can buy two of the same Hondas. Either a regular, or the Companion, or even camo. Not sure what the point is of this. Hardly a disadvantage to having more choices.
Which ever unit you pick I would suggest getting hour meters. Both units are excellent machines. I have 2 hondas at work and 2 yamahas for camping.
So there is your break. You took a quote out of context from the EPA. They DO NOT do engine life testing. Only emissions.
And that is "The rest of the story"Huntindog wrote:
Well I might have learned something.
I wasn't aware that the EPA tested engines for durability????
If this is so, there goes our govt. spending money they don't have for a task that they were not supposed to be doing.
As for the OPs question. I have the red ones. They have several thousand hours on them.
The main difference comes down to paralleling them. Not sure if the blues can still do this. I know some models have lost this feature.
But even if they can, they do have a drawback. They do not have a fuel pump, so a extended run tank cannot be used.
The reds CAN be used with a extended run tank. I made my own for about 40.00, but there are several nice premade setups available.
With 6 extra gallons of gas, I can run both at once for 36 hours!
Or if only one is needed, 72 hours!!
The blues do have the fuel shutoff, that is nice. I know of some that have modded the Hondas for this feature. Basically the on/off switch controls both the ignition and the fuel pump. A toggle switch is wired in to the fuel pump power wire. Turn off the toggle switch and the pump quits, while the Honda continues to run until the fuel is gone from the carb.
Another way is to just let it run out of gas.
Myself, I don't worry about it as I use mine a lot, so the gas never has a chance to go bad.
Both are fine units, that are quiet and reliable. Just couple of differing features between them.
Give me a break....I can see why you bought the RED ones- Well I might have learned something.
I wasn't aware that the EPA tested engines for durability????
If this is so, there goes our govt. spending money they don't have for a task that they were not supposed to be doing.
As for the OPs question. I have the red ones. They have several thousand hours on them.
The main difference comes down to paralleling them. Not sure if the blues can still do this. I know some models have lost this feature.
But even if they can, they do have a drawback. They do not have a fuel pump, so a extended run tank cannot be used.
The reds CAN be used with a extended run tank. I made my own for about 40.00, but there are several nice premade setups available.
With 6 extra gallons of gas, I can run both at once for 36 hours!
Or if only one is needed, 72 hours!!
The blues do have the fuel shutoff, that is nice. I know of some that have modded the Hondas for this feature. Basically the on/off switch controls both the ignition and the fuel pump. A toggle switch is wired in to the fuel pump power wire. Turn off the toggle switch and the pump quits, while the Honda continues to run until the fuel is gone from the carb.
Another way is to just let it run out of gas.
Myself, I don't worry about it as I use mine a lot, so the gas never has a chance to go bad.
Both are fine units, that are quiet and reliable. Just couple of differing features between them. - x2 I went with two Yamaha EF200IS like JAYCO23FB for the same reasons.
- Honda IMO is the way to go. I have had the 2 2000i units and love them. The 2 2000 units weigh less than one 3000 unit and have more power when linked together. If you need to run just a few things one will run just fine. I also have an external tank so I can get more run time out of them if needed. But this is like anything else, you ask 5 people and you will get 5 different answers. This is only my 2 cents. I have over 500 hours of run time on each of my units and they don't miss a beat. Keep the oil fresh and change the plug every 100 hours, they should run for a very long time. I live in Florida and also have Yamaha generators (2 6600 units) as we need these during hurricane season. Nothing wrong with Yamaha generators.
- I went with the Yamaha 3000iseb. at 150 pounds I can lift it and put it in the bed of my truck..the wife and kid can't..they are just to short. BUT I was looking at the Hondas and Yamahas 2000...went with the 3000 cause I picked it up off CL for 1150 and used 3 times. Still had original break in oil. and first tank of fuel..
BUT Neighbor picked up two honda 2000s and the cable. Put both of ours together for a noise comparison. one honda and mine on low idle..mine was a little louder..but not much..then the wife started the AC and mine kicked up to high idle..neighbor had to start the other honda then they could start the AC..with two Hondas and my yamaha, mine was quieter. My wife shut off the AC mine idled back down..they shut off the AC, then had to get out and turn off the other honda.
there is a little more work with the Hondas (even more with the external tank) but they both do the same job...and one honda is like 45 pounds...weight is a factor with them. The Honda does not have electric start and no fuel gauge..the Yamaha 3000 does...
have no experience with the yamaha 2000.
hope this helps.
