Honda EU Series Inverter Generator

The internal "inverter" is just a fancy voltage regulator on the generator head, that allows the motor to run at different RPM for light loads, saving fuel. It's not an inverter like you would have in an RV or truck, and cannot be used separately from the generator.

Thanks, GordonThree... I was trying to figure out how that could possibly work, unless it was hooked up to the 12V system at all times. Good idea though... in theory... one less thing to worry about. Maybe some day...

Whether it's an inverter generator or regular generator, they need to be running to power your rig. When the generator is not running you will need an inverter to convert your rig's 12 volt DC battery power to 120 volts AC for items that require AC voltage to operate.

The eu series will power your 120v appliances while it's running. The inverter is a pure sine wave inverter. So yes it will power your cell phone charger and such. Just start it up and plug your trailer shore power into the generator and it will be almost like plugging into an outlet in the campground. Yes all your 120v outlets will work when it is running.

I say almost like plugging in because you cannot run multiple high wattage devices at the same time. It will power your microwave, it might power your air conditioner. But it will not power them both at the same time.

The downside to a generator is that it makes noise. Also when it runs out of gas, or campground rules prohibit it running, you will have to turn it off and all the 120v outlets will go dead again.

The short answer to have AC power when you want it you need both.

Jim

The eu series is very quiet and dependable. We dry camp a lot and I watch rivers who dropped 5 figures on a nice tv and a nice TT or fiver only to spend a few hundred for the loudest generators that you get from the home center. The ranger was telling my neighbor to turn off his gene while mine was still running and they never knew it. I have the eu 3000i. This is large enough torun the a/c with a hard start kit. To answer your q, you need the Ginny for 120. You need to buy a separate inverter to get 120 when genny is off. Don't forget to add another battery or go to two large 6volts.

Happy trails

Another plus for the EU series Honda portable generators is they are the only one with a fuel pump. Why does that matter? You can connect a auxilary fuel tank to them (I use a 3 gallon outboard tank on my EU1000) that the others cannot do. Small thing but nice to not have to worry about adding fuel for a week of boondocking while the 1000 charges my batteries.

thanks all, that answers my question, I will need both..

If you need to use a 12 V DC to 120 V AC inverter, you need to buy one, sized to your need.

"Inverter Generator" describes the technology used by the Honda EU series to provide clean, regulated AC power, but it is not necessarily 12V input from the mechanical generator side, nor is the inverter accessible to you.

FWIW all those generators you see in the wind farms are inverter generators, the inverter technology enables slaving the output power to the grid. Same way solar cell farms are slaved to the grid.

Where are you planning to go boondocking in New England?