Honda EU2000 or Companion?

[iwski]

I was able to try another person's Honda EU2000 generator with my air conditioner on my 2005 Arctic Fox 990 and it worked fine, so I think I'll get an EU2000 for myself. I'm trying to determine if it will be worth the extra $130 to get the Companion model. I never plan to get a second EU2000 to run parallel. As far as I can tell the only difference is the Companion model has a 30 amp plug and as a result you loose the DC battery charger plug (not needed for me). Other than plugging the camper in directly with no adapter needed, is a there any other benefit to having the 30 amp plug? The 20 amp household style plug will suffice as far as amperage because the generator is only rated at 13.3 amps. Possibly the adapter would heat up if I run the air conditioner using the 20 amp plug with adapter? Any other issues?

[Reddog1]

mkirsch wrote:

trail-explorer wrote:
Another thought, if you remote camp a lot and use the gen in the woods a lot, spend the extra coin on the camo model.
Why? It's not a red target sitting in camp for the thieves to target.

Umm, okay... The thief is going to hear the generator running, but he's not going to be able to find it because it's camo?

WHAT? You cannot hear my Honda 2000 running. It is red so I can find it, even when it is running. :B

Trying for a little humor.

[msiminoff]

Even if you have an EU2000 and decide to get a second, there's still NO reason to buy the "Companion". They make no more power than any other EU2000. Two will make about 26 amps, Companion or not.
And I don't know if anyone else noticed, but the 30-amp socket on the Companion is THE WRONG ONE! It's a twist-lock, not an RV30. So, you still need an adapter. What's the point?? It's just marketing hype.

X2 ! ! !
IMO, there is no reason at all to buy a companion… IF they offered it with a 30A RV socket, then maybe.
Those who complain about the 8A 12V battery charger clearly haven't used it to start a car with a dead battery… works like a charm! (true, it's not a practical way to recharge a deeply discharged RV battery)
Just get the regular EU2000i. If you ever decide you need more power just get a second one and buy (or make) a parallel kit with a 30A RV receptacle in it.

-Mark

[mkirsch]

trail-explorer wrote:
Another thought, if you remote camp a lot and use the gen in the woods a lot, spend the extra coin on the camo model.
Why? It's not a red target sitting in camp for the thieves to target.

Umm, okay... The thief is going to hear the generator running, but he's not going to be able to find it because it's camo?

[Carb_Cleaner]

While very, very tempted to try a Champion, I went with the Honda EU2000i Companion. It was only 30 bucks more, and I see the 12v charging option of a base EU2000 as superfluous. The twist lock 30 amp connector is the same on my 6,500 watt frame generator at the S&B, so that doesn't bother me. Besides, I bet I could reach in there and swap out the locking 30A receptacle to a RV style if I got really bored one day (probably while I'm securing a steel base plate to it for security).
Honda was my second choice behind Yamaha, but I couldn't conveniently, in a reasonable time frame, procure the Yamaha. That set the tone for future customer support from Yamaha.
Fudge it. I got a Honda and I've had zero cognitive dissonance about it. I plan to use the heck out of it camping, at the S&b, as well as on job sites and not replace it for a long time. I also like the convenient arrangement for adding an an auxiliary tank. I purchased it at a local Honda dealer I've patronized for 15 years. The Commonwealth of Virginia had a Hurricane Preparedness Tax Vacation for a week in May, which saved me 5.5%. The dealer also waved their standard "Start up/Pre-delivery Inspection Fee" (they put gas and oil it, then start it up) of 50 bucks. Out the door for less than $1,000 and I supported a local, family owned establishment.

[Wheelholder]

I bought the anti theft bracket. It fits right on the handle and would make it a bit harder to cut and remove a cable if that is how you secure it. It does rattle a bit though and can be annoying if you are standing near it while outside.

Guess it works as I still have the generator after 2 years of camping and securing it with a cable lock while on the road and stops at night with it in the hitch haul running for the a/c.

[69_Avion]

You definitely don't need the Companion model. You can still parallel two regular Honda 2000i generators with the kit. I bought the Companion because I got it for the same price as a regular 2000i. Since you aren't planning to parallel generators, save the money.

[burningman]

Even if you have an EU2000 and decide to get a second, there's still NO reason to buy the "Companion".
They make no more power than any other EU2000. Two will make about 26 amps, Companion or not.
And I don't know if anyone else noticed, but the 30-amp socket on the Companion is THE WRONG ONE! It's a twist-lock, not an RV30. So, you still need an adapter. What's the point?? It's just marketing hype.

[mlts22]

gregdennis53 wrote:
Buy a Coleman Polar Cub AC and your Honda EU2000 will run it just fine. If you are one of those lucky guys who owns a camper with 3 rooms and a wine cellar, you may find that the Polar Cub does not meet your needs, but for the rest of us, it works pretty well.

PS - has anybody tried the anti-theft adapter that Honda is marketing. Kind of a metal overplate for the plastic handle of the generator to keep creeps from cutting the handle to steal a generator locked by a cable? Camping World has them and they look pretty slick.

Happy Camping!

The anti-theft handle brackets are a must have. However, if I were to recommend a true anti-theft solution, I'd recommend the LowPro LockDown bracket. One part is held on by the screws that hold the generator's feet, the other part bolts to a secure surface, and a hockey puck lock ensures the two stay together. I like this since it can't just be cut with bolt cutters.

[gregdennis53]

Buy a Coleman Polar Cub AC and your Honda EU2000 will run it just fine. If you are one of those lucky guys who owns a camper with 3 rooms and a wine cellar, you may find that the Polar Cub does not meet your needs, but for the rest of us, it works pretty well.

PS - has anybody tried the anti-theft adapter that Honda is marketing. Kind of a metal overplate for the plastic handle of the generator to keep creeps from cutting the handle to steal a generator locked by a cable? Camping World has them and they look pretty slick.

Happy Camping!

[trail-explorer]

Some of the posts here are a bit misleading and are implying that you need the Companion model (with the 30 amp plug) in order to run the A/C. This is not true.

The 30 amp plug does not increase the output capability of the Companion model, it only gives the ability to get 30 amps when combined with a standard EU2000 model.

Me, I'd just buy the normal EU model There's no point in spending the extra money now. If years down the road you change RVs and need more more, then buy the Companion model to go with your standard EU

THese points are correct, thanks for explaining it Reddog1:

Reddog1 wrote:
.... The single honda 2000 will not put out 30 amps, so what is the point of a single Honda with a $160 30 amp adapter?

As for the Yamaha being the same generator but a different color, I have to ask how anyone could come to that conclusion? The Yamaha is cheaper, but also I believe it is much harder to find parts and a repair shop. I do have a 6000 watt Yamaha, and it has not had any problems for over 20-years. All most unbelievable. But, I have to order an air filter simply because the few Yamaha dealers in my area do not stock parts for nor repair the Yamaha generators.

Wayne

Saying a Yamaha is the same as a Honda, just a different color (which someone said earlier) is like saying a Ford is the same as a Chevy, they just have a different emblem on the grill.

THe Yamaha 2400 does not have the eco throttle like all the Hondas do. I see that the Yamaha 2k does have eco throttle switch.

Sometimes I need to hit the eco switch to run the gun at high rpm in order to start the A/C, then once it's running I enable the eco mode again.

Service on Honda - Like Reddog1 says, it's more available, either at a power equipment store or motorcycle dealer that carries Honda power equipment.

Another thought, if you remote camp a lot and use the gen in the woods a lot, spend the extra coin on the camo model.
Why? It's not a red target sitting in camp for the thieves to target.

I was at a campground in Oregon and the staff told me to keep an eye on my generator because thieves (meth-heads) come along and steal them to run the meth cook shacks out in the woods.

[mlts22]

I don't know if this is even possible, but I wonder about having a setting on a 11k or 13.5k BTU A/C where it could run at a much lower BTU level, so it could run at a lower setting for a 2000 watt generator. Not as much cooling, but better than that than no cooling whatsoever. Similar to how my Vornado space heater has a 1500 watt and a 750 watt setting. Maybe the ideal would be 15k BTUs, 11k, and 9000, and one can use a lower setting for more effective humidity removal.

[FredAr]

I think this subject has been kicked around to death for the last 10 years on this forum. The core issue is, the Honda 2000 is a perfect match for a TC by virtue of weight and DB factor, but Lance and other TC makers insisted (maybe not today) to put those big ACs in their TCs, in the range of 11,000BTUs + which are basically out of the H2000's ability. A very poor decision by the manufacturers of TC for too many years. A better choice would have been the Coleman 9200. Its not a right and wrong issue, its just business common sense.

[jaycocreek]

My Lance 8.5 had a 13.5 air on it, way to big by the way but it was new,but we always had an ATV trailer or snowmobile trailer behind it so it was know problem to have the Honda 3k aboard for the air.

I wouldn't even consider trying to use my Honda 2k on the 13.5 air conditioner.

[Butch50]

wwest wrote:
It's an unusual day when a 2000W genset, especially an inverter type, can rev up quickly enough to start an A/C compressor of the size typical to an RV.

I have a Honda 2000i and I can power my A/C with it and it revs up just fine. I have a voltmeter in the camper that I use and I watched it when I was trying out my A/C. The voltage would drop to about 107 to 110V and then jumped right back to 115V. I am starting 11,000BTU unit with it.

I also have a Yamaha 3000i SEB with remote start that I plan on carrying on my cargo trailer for the TC.

It would be nice if people that say the Honda won't start the A/C would state what size air they are trying to start. One poster that stated that is wouldn't start an A/C and I looked at his profile and he has a MH which I'm sure is a 13500 BTU. This is the TC thread and most of the TCers have either a polar cub (8200 to 9200 BTU ) A/C or a 11,000 BTU. There are some TCers that have the 13,000 units but not many.

To the OP I would get the standard Honda. No need to get the Companion when you don't plan on getting another unit. If you ever do decide to get another one to parallel you can build your own setup with the RV 30amp plug. I did that a number of years back and then decided I didn't need to run 2 so I sold the second one.