Picked up another Honda gennie....

[jwicker]

Just days before we picked up our 23' Skamper TT, I found a Honda EU2000i generator for cheap on Craigslist.

After hours on here and Google, I figured out that I could not likely power the 13,500 BTU AC unit.
During one of my Amazon shopping sprees, I picked up a hard start capacitor. I have yet to install it.... when all of a sudden, today, I find a steal on an EU3000is Honda gennie.
So - after several emails, I now have another one in the garage.

I expect the 2000 to fail on AC start-up, even with the HS cap.
If so, I'll have it back on Craigslist and use the (much heavier) 3000.

Dear wifey might have to eat some Wheaties, but it's still much smaller and lighter than the Generac 5500 we have for a house backup.

Maybe, just maybe, I'll find the EU2000 Companion gennie on CL tomorrow. haha

Just as she gets home from work today, I say, "I spent some money today."
And she replies: "Of course you did."
And as I point to the dusty Honda in the corner she says, "We are officially generator poor."

[jwicker]

Well. I did it again.
I picked up yet another Honda gen.
Another eu2000i.
Not the companion model, but I ordered the Sidewinder parallel cable set with the 30amp rv plug.

Should be here in a few days from Wise.

I just checked the sticky for the Honda recalls and sure enough, this one is included.
I'll contact a Honda dealer tomorrow for service.
EDIT. I just watched a YouTube video for the 2 minute inspection and fix.
I'll take care of it tomorrow.

And no... I'm not hoarding these things.
Another situation where I couldn't pass it up.
I put up a CL ad looking for a second unit and got an email 2 days ago.
Drove 30 min to get it.
Looks Very good. One owner. Low hours (looks new too).

Guess I'll be selling the 3000 model.

Any interest?

[mlts22]

Texas is not as bad as the Gulf Coast area, but unless the humidity is out of the air, or the temperatures are below 70, it will be a miserable night.

If I wanted something to camp in that didn't have A/C or generator capability, I would buy a tent. A RV to me has to have a generator and A/C to be habitable, just for a decent night's sleep and not waking up sweaty.

In fact, I just don't bother camping from May to around October with my current TT. I can heat my TT from the onboard furnace, an electric heater, or crack a window and use a Buddy heater. A/C forces me to hookups or constant generator use.

[pnichols]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
At three dollars and something and a long drive to purchase fuel, a boondock site would have to be really something to convince me to pay that kind of money o stay there. Inside? All day and night?

Mex,

Have you tried drycamping in, say, Louisiana, or Missippi, or etc. in August?

We have ... and we had to run the A/C off the built-in Onan almost all night to get even a wink of sleep. (Our Onan is "kindof quiet" and is fed by a 55 gallon tank.)

80%-90% humidity is nasty stuff - even if nighttime outside temps are down as low as 75-85 degrees. We're currently way up North in the Puget Sound area with "only" 75-80 degree daytime temps and we can hardly tolerate these temps when combined with the way less than 80%-90%, but high, humidity up here.

I'd never own an RV without full built-in and quiet drycamp/boondock A/C capability. IMHO, high humidities seem to be a 800 pound gorilla in the room curse with millions of folks living miserable lives because of it ... while at the same time convincing themselves that it's no problem because they're "used to it".

[jwicker]

The TT rear bumper doesn't seem to be much more than a slinky holder.
The spare is on there and I'm not sure THAT is a great idea. ha

I would have to have someone weld onto the frame at the rear and fashion some sort of mount for a rack.

So - I'm leaning towards selling the eu3000is and picking up a Companion model of the 2000. I can load those into the rear of the Blazer without much lower back pain and the caps seem to seal off all fumes.

I just don't know how loud 2 of them would be running all night in the Summer.
Of course, I hauled my 5500 Generac to a family boondock 2 weeks ago.
The 25' RV cord and a 30 amp extension cord got it away from the TT but I had no problem hearing it all night.

Compared to the Generac, a dozen Honda's would be better.

^^^^^^^^^^ I think I just talked myself into the second 2000 !
haha

Besides, we plan to only camp at CGs with full hookups unless boondocking on our own rural property or other family gatherings - again on private land.

Looks like I have an eu3000is for sale.

EDIT - Why didn't i think of just running the 2000 and the 3000 side by side to get a feel for what 2 x 2000's will sound like.
Duh ! (slaps self in forehead)

jw

[MEXICOWANDERER]

The School of Hard Knocks has taught me that different people hear "noise" in different ways. All Honda products are quieter than much of the "competition". I had an old belt driven fully open 1,500 that I loved. A worker of a friend begged me to sell it to him. I rue that decision even after 25 years.

Needing to run a genset for a few warm afternoon hours is a whole lot different than needing it all night or 24/7. At three dollars and something and a long drive to purchase fuel, a boondock site would have to be really something to convince me to pay that kind of money o stay there. Inside? All day and night?

Having a ton of room, materials and tools, I made a sound enclosure for my Yamaha 5500 ESD. 3/4" plywood, 4" foam, baffles. Not even Juanito (age 10) could hear it running from a distance of 3 meters. His dad insisted on getting all the used oil from changes. He mixed it 50/50 with diesel and painted fence posts (heart of palm) ends buried in the ground. At .15 gallon US what a racket I had. Now it's three dollars a gallon and change down here.

[dave17352]

I can only tell you I have had many people that were amazed my generator was running. They walk up to say hello and after a bit they will notice it and then comment on how quiet it is and how they didn't even notice till now when they were right in my camp area. Mine is a eu3000. I have been very happy with it. Mine is on cargo rack. Which goes either on the front of pickup in a receiver hitch with the truck camper or on the back of my fifth wheel.

[2oldman]

jwicker wrote:
Does anyone here have first hand experience how 2 eu2000i gennies compare to a single eu3000is regarding sound?

The 3kw is the quietest generator I've ever heard. Sometimes you can't even tell it's running. Now, whether the units I've heard are under a heavy load, I can't say for sure.

2 2k units are definitely louder than a 3k. And 2 2ks are *somewhat* louder than one 2k, but not much. Mine certainly run quieter when under a heavy load than one trying to do the same thing.

[jwicker]

Does anyone here have first hand experience how 2 eu2000i gennies compare to a single eu3000is regarding sound?

Obviously, 2 units running at 58db would be louder than a single unit running the same approximate db level.

But, just how much louder does it SEEM?

thanks

[jwicker]

The first one (2000 watts) had a Craigslist asking price that was fair.
But- when I went to look at it, it was smoking something fierce.
I backed off $200 and he agreed.

Went home to investigate and he had put his weedwacker gas (2 stroke) in it.
Drained and refilled and changed the oil.
Runs like a champ.

The second (3000 watts) had a low Craigslist price and I just happened to get there first.
One owner. Some scratches but works flawlessly.

Trust me when I say that lucky is NOT a word I represent regularly.

Ha


Jw

[flylipsdaddy]

I've got a ramp, I slide my 3000 Honda up into my truck bed and lock it in.Never have to take it out unless there's help.Its ever so slightly quieter than the 2000 and doesn't NEED an extended gas tank.20 hrs on a fill if your not runnin the air.A 2000 runnin an AC is Pushin it under any conditions and especially if its really hot outside.To stay away from trouble always have more Gennie than you need!

[2oldman]

Getting not one but TWO used Honda's for cheap. You sure have better bargaining skills than I do.

[Atlee]

My bad. I was reading 2 2000's, not a 3000 & 2000.

Honda definitely says you can't twin a 3000 & a 2000.

I bought an extended run tank in order to be able to run both gennies all night if the temperature and humidity requires to help with the gas issues.

There is the issue of having to maintain two engines, but I figure I have more time than I have muscle power, and healthy backs.

jwicker wrote:

Atlee wrote:
I would highly suggest you keep both gennies, and twin them to run the AC. One 2000i may or may not run a 13.5 ac, even with a hard start capacitor. And you will not be able to run any thing else with one 2000i, even if it can run the gennie.

Also, if you go in the mountains, that 2000i will probably not be able to run the AC at all. The out put drops 2.5% for every thousand feet you climb in altitude.

I just bought a Companion 2000i to go with my older 2000i. Now I can run the AC as well as other appliances with no problem. During early part of football season, when it's hot and humid, the AC is needed. later in the year after the temperatures are cool to cold, I'll only take one Honda with me to the games.

jwicker wrote:
Fail definitely meant lacking the amps to kick it in gear. haha

I believe the AC unit is original to the Skamper from 1991.

I'll def. try it with the hard start cap.
It faulted without it when I tested it prior to TT purchase.

The 2000 is a lot better on my back. Besides, I can pack it and hold a beer in the other hand.
🙂

Any hoo... I'll have at least 1 gennie that will turn over the AC.

The other will likely go back on CL.

I only have the one single eu2000i.
I just picked up a eu3000is yesterday.
I highly doubt that I can link these 2 differing models together.

Another 2000 Companion model would be nice, but then I'd have 2 engines to maintain. 2 tanks to keep full, etc.
The trade off is the weight of the eu3000is.

Decisions decisions.

[Atlee]

I like the 2000x2 set up better than the 3000 by itself.

1) I can move 2 2000i's, but I can't move 1 3000i. 2) 2 2000's deliver more power than one 3000. 3) depending on when you are camping, temperatures may not require the use of AC. If that happens, you only need to bring one 2000. if you only have a 3000, you'll have a lot more weight to move.

jwicker wrote:
I have certainly thought about selling the 3000 and piking up the 2000 Companion.
There are a lot of pros and cons about the whole 2000x2 vs 3000 decision.

BigCityPoPo - I'll certainly post on here if I decide to sell one of them.
Shipping to Cali might break the bank tho. Road trip to Indiana. ha

[jwicker]

Atlee wrote:
I would highly suggest you keep both gennies, and twin them to run the AC. One 2000i may or may not run a 13.5 ac, even with a hard start capacitor. And you will not be able to run any thing else with one 2000i, even if it can run the gennie.

Also, if you go in the mountains, that 2000i will probably not be able to run the AC at all. The out put drops 2.5% for every thousand feet you climb in altitude.

I just bought a Companion 2000i to go with my older 2000i. Now I can run the AC as well as other appliances with no problem. During early part of football season, when it's hot and humid, the AC is needed. later in the year after the temperatures are cool to cold, I'll only take one Honda with me to the games.

jwicker wrote:
Fail definitely meant lacking the amps to kick it in gear. haha

I believe the AC unit is original to the Skamper from 1991.

I'll def. try it with the hard start cap.
It faulted without it when I tested it prior to TT purchase.

The 2000 is a lot better on my back. Besides, I can pack it and hold a beer in the other hand.
🙂

Any hoo... I'll have at least 1 gennie that will turn over the AC.

The other will likely go back on CL.

I only have the one single eu2000i.
I just picked up a eu3000is yesterday.
I highly doubt that I can link these 2 differing models together.

Another 2000 Companion model would be nice, but then I'd have 2 engines to maintain. 2 tanks to keep full, etc.
The trade off is the weight of the eu3000is.

Decisions decisions.