Honda EU3000iS vs Yamaha EF3000iSEB?

[dieselenthusias]

We are ready to purchase a generator. Our main reason for getting a generator is so it can run our roof top A/C unit. Please give me your experience and/or opinions comparing the Honda EU3000iS and Yamaha EF3000iSEB. I've been on their websites and compared specs, but I want personal testimony. At the moment, I am not biased or partial to one over the other. We are hoping that your feedback will sway us in one direction! Also, since we are ready to buy, let me know if there are any good deals that are currently going on. Thanks for your help!

[alexleblanc]

I recently upgraded to a pair of EU2000 Honda's to be able to run my A/C when I go to the track (I just bring one for early summer or fall camping when its colder out).
I really wanted to go with the 3000w Honda or Yamaha but with the Super Duty's low bed height I couldn't fit the bigger units with my tonneau cover.
I ended up with this pair for a fraction of the cost of what they are new and sold my previous 2000w Yamaha for top dollar. (that was a fantastic unit too for the 4 years I used it.)

[mlts22]

I have an Yamaha 3000 iSE. It is heavy, but it has performed faithfully for me (knock on wood... time to fire it up later today after not using it since April.)

My only bad item with Yamaha is parts availability. Honda parts are everywhere. Yamaha parts, I have to buy online, and the shipping can be more than the item itself. Service is also difficult to find. So, if one is 50/50, this will push into red territory.

Were it to do it all over and buy another portable generator, I would go with the Honda EU6500iS. It has the same noise rating as the eu2000, and with the slight bump in wattage (5500 watts running), would have no trouble starting a 15,000 BTU A/C.

[JordanH]

I have the Honda 3000 and I love it, just got a compliment from a fellow camper this weekend that he couldn't even hear it going in his trailer.

[hddecker]

Highway 4x4 wrote:
I bought my Honda E3000is back in 02. Just change oil and air filter. 1 new battery for the electric start. No issues, always runs. I think I paid about 1800 for it back then. I have not found a better gen yet.

And I can say the say for the Yamaha, so it becomes a matter of personal choice.

[Marcusjolaine]

I bought the Champion 3100w with wireless remote to run my 27ft TT w/13500 BTU A/C. It has surpassed my expectations. Runs everything great, it's quiet, light (110lbs) and half the price of the Honda and Yamaha. Paid $1079 w/free freight.

I would highly recommended it.

http://supergenproducts.com/shop/3100w-inverter-wireless/#lightbox/0/

[ttkeeler]

No experience with the Honda EU3000 but my Yamaha EF3000iSEB last November on our elk hunting trip started putting out 85-90 volts and took out our microwave. Anyone else had this problem? I believe I bought it back in 2002. I have the service manual on order to see if I can figure out what happened. The replacement parts appear to be expensive enough that trial and error parts swapping isn't an option. Up to last fall the generator had worked flawlessly. The electric start is nice, I added wireless remote start/stop which is very nice. Really the only reason I got the 3000 was to be able to run the roof air which it does fine. If the part(s) cost get close to the price of a new 2,000 I might just go that route instead, for now at least. The biggest con with the Yamaha EF3000iSEB is the weight..it is heavy.

[Winged_One]

I cannot give you any experience with the ISE, but I can with the ISEB.

Runs my 15k A/C with no issues while running other electronics also.

One of the hardest things it runs, my 1950's or 60's toaster. Man that thing draws amps. Best toast though! 🙂

[Huntindog]

dieselenthusiast wrote:
I was able to read several reviews from those who own the Yamaha EF3000iSEB with the tri-fuel kit from US Carburetion. I also watched a few videos and read further reviews from others who have installed similar kits from Central Main Diesel. In short, these generators work as advertised using natural gas and propane. In these kits, the propane consumes about the same amount of fuel (gallon to gallon) as gasoline. Also, there is no lose in power as proven by real world data. And no, you can't compare these generators to gasoline car engines.

Based on my research, I felt very comfortable ordering the Yamaha EF3000iSEB tri-fuel kit from US Carburetion (a Yamaha dealer). It came with FREE shipping and Yamaha threw in an additional 1 year warranty for FREE (for a total of 4 years). I will run gasoline under moderate load for 3 hours (break-in period), then switch to propane for long-term use. After using the generator for a few months, I will post up a review and report my real-world data so others can make more informed decisions.

There is nothing magical about a generator motor. It has pistons, rings and a crankshaft like most other engines including cars.

What are saying is simply impossible without magic.
The ONLY way to do it is to run the motor lean. They will produce more power that way.... For awhile.:E You might want to read the fine print on the Yamaha warranty.

[dieselenthusias]

I was able to read several reviews from those who own the Yamaha EF3000iSEB with the tri-fuel kit from US Carburetion. I also watched a few videos and read further reviews from others who have installed similar kits from Central Main Diesel. In short, these generators work as advertised using natural gas and propane. In these kits, the propane consumes about the same amount of fuel (gallon to gallon) as gasoline. Also, there is no lose in power as proven by real world data. And no, you can't compare these generators to gasoline car engines.

Based on my research, I felt very comfortable ordering the Yamaha EF3000iSEB tri-fuel kit from US Carburetion (a Yamaha dealer). It came with FREE shipping and Yamaha threw in an additional 1 year warranty for FREE (for a total of 4 years). I will run gasoline under moderate load for 3 hours (break-in period), then switch to propane for long-term use. After using the generator for a few months, I will post up a review and report my real-world data so others can make more informed decisions.

[Travels_with_Yo]

Huntindog wrote:

Travels with Yoly wrote:
Also, being able to adjust RPM as described is pointless since all generators have to run at a set 3,600 RPM in order to produce 60 cycles per second. Anything above or below that won't produce a proper sine wave.

That is correct for standard type generators.

The two generators in question are both invertor types. They do not run at a fixed RPM. They idle up and down depending on the load. Not sure exactly how they do it, but the power is regulated electronically somehow.

Oh yeah .... I forgot about that part :B

[wrenchbender]

Pick the color that matches your rig.I have had both and can not say a bad word about either one.

[bfast54]

Not sure it's worth Bringing any more FACTS to light, Looks like "Internet posted,so must be True".....is at work.......( ie..he's a french model)

PROPANE has less BTU.... so, you Must use More....to get the same "Burn" as Gasoline..:S....I.E....... it will use MORE PROPANE.. for a given situation,than a Gas Generator.....THIS is proven....

..so, If you ASK FOR OUR IDEAS, actual Use Specs......and then try to dis-miss them.......Then ....you appear to not Really want it.:h

But,it happens ALL the time.:W

[_DJ_1]

I just went through this selection process earlier this Spring.

The biggest plus for the Yamaha was the boost. The biggest minus was the wheels as I would have to remove them and make some sort of feet but that is just because of the way I was going to mount it.

The Honda does not have the boost but the feet I wanted. It is also a tiny bit quieter and runs a bit longer on the same amount of fuel.

Either one would do a stellar job. Just consider how portable you want it and if the wheels would be a help or a hindrance.

I bought the Honda and am very pleased. My camping buds can't believe how quite it is!! Of course they have Champion and Onan!!!

[Huntindog]

Travels with Yoly wrote:
Also, being able to adjust RPM as described is pointless since all generators have to run at a set 3,600 RPM in order to produce 60 cycles per second. Anything above or below that won't produce a proper sine wave.

That is correct for standard type generators.

The two generators in question are both invertor types. They do not run at a fixed RPM. They idle up and down depending on the load. Not sure exactly how they do it, but the power is regulated electronically somehow.