Inverter Generator VS Regular Generator

honda eu2000 owner here..on my 4th year with it...had a couple times when were on the road where I had to use ethanol gas...and I'm now intimately familiar with pulling the genny down, and ping cleaning the small jet ports, etc.

just a single 2000 is not enough to do all we want...no air conditioner of course and even the microwave can be a problem (see other threads).but...I tend to crank mine in the evening for a couple hours while we watch our wide screen TV, run some fans, laptops etc..and it is also charging the batteries..and it just sits there on a low purrr...
lightweight so an old guy like me can move it around easily...if I thought we would have enough trips coming up where I'd really want the extra power.. then I'd buy the second 2000 and the jumper cable.
but 4 years into it..and we average a dozen weekends and 2 weeks a year cmaping...half of that off grid... I've just not gotten to a point to justify the purchase of the twin unit

To the OP's question; Generally, the inverter generators are quieter. The others fall into the "construction grade" IMO. Very noisy and not for camping.

There is only one generator more quiet than the Honda 3k,the Yamaha 1k...My pick for the best all around generator is the Honda 3k...Runs my air with ease.

We were out this past weekend and the batteries held up well. We camped for 3 days, we ran some lights, watched 2 movies, had a couple of showers etc. The monitor read 2/3 at the end of the weekend, down to 1/3 empty when the water pump was on. I know the monitors aren't great, so I am planning to run some stuff and read the batteries with a volt meter/ amp meter to see what is actually happening.

2manytoyz wrote:
See how many posts you can find from Yamaha and Honda owners looking to make their generators even quieter...

I guess I must be one of the exceptions ... :W

Honda EU2000i Noise Reduction Box - Pics & Videos

No comparison to a naked EU2000i! :B

I agree though - buy once. ;)

Not ALL Honda generators are quiet. The EU series are, the contractor grade ones aren't. They are every bit as loud as a Champion, etc.

The inverter generators do put out clean power, but that's merely a side benefit. The real benefit is it only will run as fast as the load demands. The non-inverter type must run a constant speed to make 60Hz. Consequently, the inverter types are MUCH quieter, and MUCH more fuel efficient.

Every 3dB is twice the sound energy. My generator is rated at 53-58 dB.

It's rare mine is ever running at full capacity. It will run a 5000 BTU A/C unit (window shaker) from idle, and incrementally increase RPMs as more loads are applied. It will also run that A/C unit for more than 8 hours on 1.5 gallons of gas.

To put this in perspective, 53 dB disappears into background noise in most neighborhoods. Now double the sound energy, equals 56 dB, double it again, 59 dB, again 62 dB, again 65 dB, again 68 dB. So to say the inexpensive generators are as quiet as the expensive ones just isn't accurate!

I've owned noisy generators, and cringed every time I had to use them. And before anyone asks, you can't make a cheap generator quiet by changing the muffler. The noise is part exhaust, part intake, and part mechanical movements. I spent $80 on a "quiet tone" muffler for my previous generator. It changed the sound of the exhaust, but not the intensity.

Here's a video of my generator running a 1.5HP pool pump (near full load test): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AzE7hL-QmE Note how quickly the sound drops off when not standing next to the generator.

I've had mine since 2006. No regrets. See how many posts you can find from Yamaha and Honda owners looking to make their generators even quieter... Buy once, cry once.

Templar1 wrote:
Also we are running led lights, so there isn't a huge draw on the batteries.

Batteries can last a long time if the load is nothing more than led lighting and water pump.

What kind of usage do you expect?

I agree about the noise! That's why I will be going solar, but in the mean time I have a trip coming up in a month that will see us camping without hook ups for 10 days. We are changing campgrounds in that time, so the truck will charging the batteries in between campgrounds. Also we are running led lights, so there isn't a huge draw on the batteries.

I'll probably pack the 1000w and my battery charger as a backup in case we need the help. Thanks for the feedback.

I've got a Honda E2000 genny I bought about 11 years ago and it's served me well. From what I've read here, the Champion line of inverter gennys work great and they have good customer support and a big following so I would have no hesitation buying one. As to your original question about inverter gennys; they tend to be quieter and more suitable for RV'ing. Avoid the cheap, open-frame gennys that are designed for construction use or home backup; they are basically as quiet as a gas lawnmower. Believe me, I've camped near and heard the $399 4,000 watt construction site special. Don't wish that on anybody.

If I were to purchase a generator it would be a Champion 3100 inverter generator. I've had the Champion 3100 Inverter now for 2 seasons and only have good things to say.

It's noise level is as quiet at the equally powered Honda. I listened in campgrounds side by side where I was running my Champion and my next door neighbor was running his Honda. For fun, we took turns running them one at a time and going back and forth between the two (almost identical) sites. Our 2 man jury declared no difference.

The champion is lighter at 80 pounds. Compared to a pair of twin 2000's (which you can do with Champion brand as well as Honda brand) I think the convenience of being able to run only one when you just need to charge the batteries is offset my the hastle of having to fuel two units or mess with an extended run kit. For me, the one Champion 3100 met my needs.

I did have one service issue when I first got it and their customer service was outstanding. We did some troubleshooting over the phone and the Champion tech concluded it would be easier for them to just send me a new unit and a prepaid slip to return mine (for no charge). The replacement arrived and has run perfect ever since.

Each off-season I run the last tank with Sta-bil and then run it dry until it dies. As usual this season, I filled the tank and it started right up and ran for hours. It starts and runs my 15K A/C without incident. I guess I'm now a yellow-box-bigot.