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!

[Travels_with_Yo]

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. Also the reference about difficulty in rejetting a carb for altitude is over-stated. The float bowl comes of with one fastener and the main jet is at your finger tips. Any engine, properly jetted will still lose approximately 3% of its available power for every 1000 feet of elevation, so that's also an issue for running and powering something at the rated load at high elevations.

Another consideration in choosing a generator is whether or not it has a forestry approved spark arrestor since any federal land prohibits running one without one (National Parks, National Forests etc.)

[Peg_Leg]

I've had my Yamaha EF3000iSE for over 10 yrs. It's heavy at about 150 lbs. The wheels are small but it rolls nicely. I use a couple of boards for ramps to load it onto a tray behind the 5er. It's sometimes a bit of a struggle to load with an artificial leg but I get-r-done.

My BIL bought the boost model 7 or 8 yrs back. A friend just got one with the remote start.

I would get the boost model if buying a new one. The remote is nice but a bit pricey. I think the Honda is a bit quieter but not enough to out weight the boost feature. Either will serve you well just a matter of picking the one that has the features you want.

[MitchF150]

Dunno about the whole propane vs gas deal, but my Honda 3000 that I have will run my 13.5k A/C just fine and when I'm home and my power goes out, I plug it into my homes transfer box and can power my fridges, lights, fish tank, computer, tv and it'll run all that for over 36 hours on about 2.5 gallons of gas.. 🙂

It's heavy, about #150.. But I made a dolly for it and it wheels around easily.. When I want to put it in the truck, I use a come a long winch in my garage and it makes it easy. At camp, I just run it from the bed of my truck.

If I'm not in camp, I don't really need the generator running the trailer, so it just stays in the truck.

That's just what works for me, so you gotta do what you gotta do.. 🙂

Mitch

[colliehauler]

A Onan 2.8 gas and a Onan 2.5 propane are the same generator except what fuel they run on. .3 difference between gas and propane.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

dieselenthusiast wrote:

Huntindog wrote:
There are more BTUs in gas than there is in propane.

Propane generators don't produce as much power as gasoline ones... That means less power to run the AC.

I also am skeptical of 20# of propane being the equivalent of 5 gallons of gas, for the same reason.

Propane as a generator fuel really only has one benefit.
No carburetor to gum up in storage.

"What is the fuel consumption of the generators on propane or natural gas?

This is the top question. The simplest answer is that the generators typically use about the same amount of propane(92,000 btu) as they do gasoline; gallon to gallon. For natural gas one therm (100,000 btu) is about one gallon of gasoline (110,000 btu). The biggest mistake most "experts" make in opinionating that a propane or natural gas generator will lose power is based solely on these figures and not on any data they personally have. When figuring power output of any fuel, the size of the engine has to be a significant factor of the equation. For instance, comparing a vehicle with a V8 engine to a generator with an 11hp generator attached can not be calculated the same. This topic is covered in detail on the Fuel Consumption page. Use the link on the left side of the page to access this further information."

http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/faq's.htm

Like I said, that would be impossible.

The amount of BTU's a fuel has is directly proportional to the amount of fuel used. It's like saying you can get the same fuel mileage with E85 as you can with straight gasoline. Not going to happen.

More reading for you.

More reading.

What the Dog was talking about.

Like I said, it's impossible to get the same work / gallon out of propane as gasoline or diesel.

[Huntindog]

dieselenthusiast wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
That would be impossible. Propane only has 73% of the energy of gasoline. That means you will use about 25% more propane than gasoline.

"Is there any power loss when operating on alternative fuels?

No, we have never had a single unit show a loss of power on alternate fuel. Though lower gallon-to-gallon in BTU content, sometimes they perform even better than running on gasoline (see also fuel consumption). The engine regulator we install has an external fuel mixture adjuster that can be turned with your fingers and can be fine-tuned to your elevation and to the fuel supply connected. That's why we include the Engine Hour/Tachometer Meter with every generator. You can watch the engine rpm output while turning the mixture adjuster for peak performance and high efficiency. This allows full control over the fuel mixture no matter what elevation. Unlike operating on gasoline where the carburetor is a fixed jet and it can not be adjusted only replaced. This is a big advantage that allows the engine to be reset at anytime. Engines would not use the same fuel mixture in different areas especially as diverse as say Florida would be to Colorado. Unlike gasoline, setting the mixture lean on alternative fuel is cool running, clean burning and efficient."

http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/faq's.htm

They are blowing smoke up your.....

Go to the Onan webite. They have been making RV generators forever. Most all of their units can be equipped from the factory to run on propane. ALL of them are rated for less power, and high propane consumption vs. their gasoline twins.

[dieselenthusias]

Huntindog wrote:
There are more BTUs in gas than there is in propane.

Propane generators don't produce as much power as gasoline ones... That means less power to run the AC.

I also am skeptical of 20# of propane being the equivalent of 5 gallons of gas, for the same reason.

Propane as a generator fuel really only has one benefit.
No carburetor to gum up in storage.

"What is the fuel consumption of the generators on propane or natural gas?

This is the top question. The simplest answer is that the generators typically use about the same amount of propane(92,000 btu) as they do gasoline; gallon to gallon. For natural gas one therm (100,000 btu) is about one gallon of gasoline (110,000 btu). The biggest mistake most "experts" make in opinionating that a propane or natural gas generator will lose power is based solely on these figures and not on any data they personally have. When figuring power output of any fuel, the size of the engine has to be a significant factor of the equation. For instance, comparing a vehicle with a V8 engine to a generator with an 11hp generator attached can not be calculated the same. This topic is covered in detail on the Fuel Consumption page. Use the link on the left side of the page to access this further information."

http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/faq's.htm

[dieselenthusias]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
That would be impossible. Propane only has 73% of the energy of gasoline. That means you will use about 25% more propane than gasoline.

"Is there any power loss when operating on alternative fuels?

No, we have never had a single unit show a loss of power on alternate fuel. Though lower gallon-to-gallon in BTU content, sometimes they perform even better than running on gasoline (see also fuel consumption). The engine regulator we install has an external fuel mixture adjuster that can be turned with your fingers and can be fine-tuned to your elevation and to the fuel supply connected. That's why we include the Engine Hour/Tachometer Meter with every generator. You can watch the engine rpm output while turning the mixture adjuster for peak performance and high efficiency. This allows full control over the fuel mixture no matter what elevation. Unlike operating on gasoline where the carburetor is a fixed jet and it can not be adjusted only replaced. This is a big advantage that allows the engine to be reset at anytime. Engines would not use the same fuel mixture in different areas especially as diverse as say Florida would be to Colorado. Unlike gasoline, setting the mixture lean on alternative fuel is cool running, clean burning and efficient."

http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/faq's.htm

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Huntindog wrote:
There are more BTUs in gas than there is in propane.

Propane generators don't produce as much power as gasoline ones... That means less power to run the AC.

I also am skeptical of 20# of propane being the equivalent of 5 gallons of gas, for the same reason.

Propane as a generator fuel really only has one benefit.
No carburetor to gum up in storage.

And the oil lasts forever in a propane engine. 🙂

[Huntindog]

There are more BTUs in gas than there is in propane.

Propane generators don't produce as much power as gasoline ones... That means less power to run the AC.

I also am skeptical of 20# of propane being the equivalent of 5 gallons of gas, for the same reason.

Propane as a generator fuel really only has one benefit.
No carburetor to gum up in storage.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

dieselenthusiast wrote:

bfast54 wrote:

dieselenthusiast wrote:
The Yamaha is starting to look appealing because I can get a propane kit for it!

http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/

You can get a propane kit ,for Honda also......WORD OF WARNING..... right from Tri-Gas propane......THE PROPANE GENERATOR IS VERY THIRSTY.....


Try,,100 lb cylinders......you know the Tall ones,outside Food Trailers,food trucks...
Take his advice.....and HE SELLS PROPANE....

The kit that I'm looking at does not consume a lot of propane. "For instance, a portable 20# grill type propane cylinder is equivalent to 5 gallons of gasoline." Plus, the kit also allows you to run gasoline and natural gas. You can read more about it here:

http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/

That would be impossible. Propane only has 73% of the energy of gasoline. That means you will use about 25% more propane than gasoline. Link

[Travels_with_Yo]

Propane engines run much hotter than gasoline engines of the same base model. For an engine to be multi-fuel, I have to believe that there are compromises somewhere. A propane engine often times has larger diameter head bolts, lower compression and different head gasket material than the same engine running on gas.

[dieselenthusias]

jaycocreek wrote:
Owe, didn't know that... That's cool...I always like lots of options if one should fail. I'll be looking into that for my Honda.

Thanks for the explanation.

No problem! Plus, they add a Tachometer/Hour meter to each generator. "In seconds you can dial in the correct fuel mixture for any elevation. This can save a lot of fuel. For instance, the gasoline carburetor has a fixed jet that cannot be adjusted for better economy; if it is rich it will be wasting fuel for no reason. The alternate fuel system is easily adjusted with one finger tip control. Watch the TACH and dial in the leanest, cleanest, and most efficient mixture for your current needs."

[samsontdog]

I had two EU2000 Hondas but they took up a lot of room . I ran across a deal on a EU3000 Honda for $1,100 which was like new, used one time. Sold the two EU2000 for $750 each. I bought both a yr or so before for $1,200 for both.
and run the 3000 from my p/up bed which has a shell. Later I picked up another EU2000 Honda for $300 which I use if I know that I will not need A/C. IMO you cannot beat the EU3000 Honda or two EU2000 Hondas

[dieselenthusias]

Atlee wrote:
Do you plan on keeping it in your truck. If so, either of those 3ooo's will do fine. I do not run my generators from the truck, since I want to use it to run around. That's why I have two 2000's. I can get them out of the truck.

You bring up a good point. We would keep it in the truck some of the time, but not all the time. The weight isn't too bad, my wife and I could lift and maneuver the Yamaha without too much difficulty.

Yamaha EF3000iS = 136 lbs.
Yamaha EF3000iSEB = 154.3 lbs.