Generators

[Baidy]

Can anyone tell me if you can parallel a Honda 1000 with a Honda 2000?

[Tequila]

Cdaddy wrote:
Changing direction a bit I see you tube reviews and such saying people are running heat or AC 13500 btu With a 2000. But other times I read that it's not possible

My honda 2000 will run my 13.5 A/c, but i have to do a few things.

1) I put the fridge & water heater on gas
2) I installed abreaker so i can prevne tmy convertor form tryign to charge the battery
3) all led lights in trailer
4) I turn on the fan first then switch to A/C

Doing all of that works.

[Gdetrailer]

xyzHollyxyz wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:
...
Honda is NOT "standing" in anyones way..

Just SELL your 1000i and then buy the 2000i

Honda gens are treasured as the "holy grail" of gens.. You will not have any problems selling it used and you will get most of your money back.

Then take the money you got from the sale of the 1000i and put some to it and walla.. You now have a 2000i for not a hole lot more money.

As far as Honda not wanting YOU to make the parallel cables, that is simple..

Honda parallel kit uses specially safety shielded cable ends which PREVENT STUPID THINGS HAPPENING like someone being able to tough bare terminations that potentially have LETHAL voltages present..

Go, find and price those shielded cable ends.. They are expensive.. But they are there for YOUR "safety"

Folks building their own parallel kits ARE taking risks to make it cheaper than a Honda kit.. DIY parallel setups typically use standard 15A plugs and both plugs are wired together.. This means you essentially have a "dead mans" cord (aka "suicide cord")..

If one plug becomes disconnected while either gen is running you WILL have ENERGIZED EXPOSED ENDS. This runs against NEC electrical rules AND logic..

If you don't like the price of Honda and their parts, then DON"T buy a Honda.. There are cheaper alternatives.

My example on the 2nd generator was purely theoretical, as a matter of point in this discussion. I do not want a second generator, and I couldn't lift the 2000 if I did. So, yeah, I was "kidding" you. No need to slap your head and call me silly...:R

What's "silly" is why some here say YES to the OP's question, and Honda says NO. Take the "cables" out of the discussion - they are irrelevant to the topic and the original question:

Baidy wrote:
Can anyone tell me if you can parallel a Honda 1000 with a Honda 2000?

Honda DESIGNED, BUILDS AND SELLS the generators..

Only HONDA KNOWS THE REAL REASON AS TO WHY THEY DO NOT ENDORSE PARALLELING A 1000i AND A 2000i.

Some poor soul decided to "experiment" one day with several thousand dollars worth of gens.. AND GOT "LUCKY" that it worked and did not end up in a heaping smoldering door stop..

Just "because" someone found out that it was possible, does not necessarily mean it is a "good thing" to do.

I have my own "theories" for the reason why Honda does not recommend, but because you are being rather snotty, I will not bother disclosing them since you obviously are just stirring the pot and most likely will not understand true electronic theory..

You are now on my ignore list..

[xyzHollyxyz]

Gdetrailer wrote:
...
Honda is NOT "standing" in anyones way..

Just SELL your 1000i and then buy the 2000i

Honda gens are treasured as the "holy grail" of gens.. You will not have any problems selling it used and you will get most of your money back.

Then take the money you got from the sale of the 1000i and put some to it and walla.. You now have a 2000i for not a hole lot more money.

As far as Honda not wanting YOU to make the parallel cables, that is simple..

Honda parallel kit uses specially safety shielded cable ends which PREVENT STUPID THINGS HAPPENING like someone being able to tough bare terminations that potentially have LETHAL voltages present..

Go, find and price those shielded cable ends.. They are expensive.. But they are there for YOUR "safety"

Folks building their own parallel kits ARE taking risks to make it cheaper than a Honda kit.. DIY parallel setups typically use standard 15A plugs and both plugs are wired together.. This means you essentially have a "dead mans" cord (aka "suicide cord")..

If one plug becomes disconnected while either gen is running you WILL have ENERGIZED EXPOSED ENDS. This runs against NEC electrical rules AND logic..

If you don't like the price of Honda and their parts, then DON"T buy a Honda.. There are cheaper alternatives.

My example on the 2nd generator was purely theoretical, as a matter of point in this discussion. I do not want a second generator, and I couldn't lift the 2000 if I did. So, yeah, I was "kidding" you. No need to slap your head and call me silly...:R

What's "silly" is why some here say YES to the OP's question, and Honda says NO. Take the "cables" out of the discussion - they are irrelevant to the topic and the original question:

Baidy wrote:
Can anyone tell me if you can parallel a Honda 1000 with a Honda 2000?

[Gdetrailer]

xyzHollyxyz wrote:

2oldman wrote:
From the eu2000i manual:

"Use only a Honda approved parallel operation kit (optional equipment) when connecting two EU2000i generators for parallel operation."

I would imagine the why would be liability. And, they like to sell them.

I get that on the cables. But what is Honda's reasoning to not parallel connect 2 different generators? The first answer to my questions was legalese - but what does that legalese protect Honda against? I'd like to get a 2nd Honda - an eu2000i. Can't do it because my 1st Honda is an eu1000i. Their disclaimer prevents me from buying a more expensive generator. That's not in their best interest from a financial standpoint.

Honda is NOT "standing" in anyones way..

Just SELL your 1000i and then buy the 2000i

Honda gens are treasured as the "holy grail" of gens.. You will not have any problems selling it used and you will get most of your money back.

Then take the money you got from the sale of the 1000i and put some to it and walla.. You now have a 2000i for not a hole lot more money.

As far as Honda not wanting YOU to make the parallel cables, that is simple..

Honda parallel kit uses specially safety shielded cable ends which PREVENT STUPID THINGS HAPPENING like someone being able to tough bare terminations that potentially have LETHAL voltages present..

Go, find and price those shielded cable ends.. They are expensive.. But they are there for YOUR "safety"

Folks building their own parallel kits ARE taking risks to make it cheaper than a Honda kit.. DIY parallel setups typically use standard 15A plugs and both plugs are wired together.. This means you essentially have a "dead mans" cord (aka "suicide cord")..

If one plug becomes disconnected while either gen is running you WILL have ENERGIZED EXPOSED ENDS. This runs against NEC electrical rules AND logic..

If you don't like the price of Honda and their parts, then DON"T buy a Honda.. There are cheaper alternatives.

[2oldman]

xyzHollyxyz wrote:
. But what is Honda's reasoning to not parallel connect 2 different generators? The first answer to my questions was legalese - but what does that legalese protect Honda against?

I'll let pianotuna answer that. I don't know.

What I find strange about Honda's saying that is that they offer no explanation.

[xyzHollyxyz]

2oldman wrote:
From the eu2000i manual:

"Use only a Honda approved parallel operation kit (optional equipment) when connecting two EU2000i generators for parallel operation."

I would imagine the why would be liability. And, they like to sell them.

I get that on the cables. But what is Honda's reasoning to not parallel connect 2 different generators? The first answer to my questions was legalese - but what does that legalese protect Honda against? I'd like to get a 2nd Honda - an eu2000i. Can't do it because my 1st Honda is an eu1000i. Their disclaimer prevents me from buying a more expensive generator. That's not in their best interest from a financial standpoint.

[2oldman]

xyzHollyxyz wrote:
Why does Honda not recommend you make your own cables?

From the eu2000i manual:

"Use only a Honda approved parallel operation kit (optional equipment) when connecting two EU2000i generators for parallel operation."

I would imagine the why would be liability. And, they like to sell them.

[xyzHollyxyz]

2oldman wrote:
...By the same reasoning they do not recommend making your own parallel cables.

I can't find any posts on here of anyone who's actually done this, but youtube has vids on it, and that's good enough for me.

Why does Honda not recommend you make your own cables?

[2oldman]

xyzHollyxyz wrote:
I'm curious as to why you think it's okay (or so you indicated to the OP) when Honda clearly states DO NOT do it?

By the same reasoning they do not recommend making your own parallel cables.

I can't find any posts on here of anyone who's actually done this, but youtube has vids on it, and that's good enough for me.

[xyzHollyxyz]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

I said yes.

I did not say it was recommended. You are reading not a technical document from Honda--but a lawyer speak document.

I'm curious as to why you think it's okay (or so you indicated to the OP) when Honda clearly states DO NOT do it? If it's just "legalese", what possible result would their attorneys be protecting the company against?

[2oldman]

pianotuna wrote:
As someone else pointed out it is possible to tie 3 units together. I'm sure Honda doesn't even cover that.

Nope, but Youtube does.

boogie_4wheel wrote:
.. this is how running parallel power supplies works. A 10A and a 20A parallel will only give you 20A, not 30.

No it isn't. Parallel by definition adds amps as long as voltages are reasonably close.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I said yes.

I did not say it was recommended. You are reading not a technical document from Honda--but a lawyer speak document.

As someone else pointed out it is possible to tie 3 units together. I'm sure Honda doesn't even cover that.

Personally I went with a 2800 VA unit.

[SoundGuy]

xyzHollyxyz wrote:
From the Honda Power Equipment web site:

Parallel capability is an additional benefit of inverter technology.

Using a special cable or kit, you can link two EU1000i, two EU2000i, two EU3000 Handi, or two EU3000is generators together to get as much as double the output. (Please note: you can only parallel two identical units together.)


http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/generator-parallel-capability

Ah heck, you're spoiling all the fun here on the forum where the pundits know better than Honda what's OK and what's not. :S

[time2roll]

boogie_4wheel wrote:
Wait wait wait. This isn't going to work. Is it? You still cannot get more that 2000W from the pair.

1000 by itself is 1000
2000 by itself is 2000
2000 + 1000 is still 2000.

The smaller gen will go into overload, while the 2000 will be at half load.

I haven't done this before, but this is how running parallel power supplies works. A 10A and a 20A parallel will only give you 20A, not 30.

It does work by design.

As voltage sags the generators increase power.
125v they idle
120v both throttle up to maybe 25%
115v close to full throttle.
110v both at full throttle and close to overload 3000 watts output.

Actual voltage is different. The above is just for a simplistic illustration.

BTW check your converter main fuses. Probably 2 or 3 in parallel to cover the full output.

And utility scale generation does the same thing 24/7/365