Honda generators

I almost bought a Honda EU2000i generator at the state fair 2 years ago (best price I'd seen) but I passed on it, mostly because I'd taken the bus to the fair and didn't want to wag the thing home on a bus.
Anyway, I'm getting interested in them again, and might buy one after hurricane season is over and before winter (ice storm season) sets in. But nobody lists their prices online. Is that a Honda thing? What is the street price of a EU2000i -- ignoring the current Hurricane Ike situation. Know any good dealers?
I also can't find any specs on expected engine life of the little Hondas. I know some of the really cheap 5000W generators are only rated about 500 hours, and you could burn that up in a month during an extended power outage.
I also can't find any small 1800 rpm diesel generators that might be a contender. There /are/ small diesels (Yanmar and Chinese knockoffs) but they all operate at 3600 rpm, which should have most of the durability problems of 3600 rpm gasoline engines.
Thanks, Bob

On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:45:33 -0500, zxcvbob wrote:

I almost bought a Honda EU2000i generator at the state fair 2 years ago (best price I'd seen) but I passed on it, mostly because I'd taken the bus to the fair and didn't want to wag the thing home on a bus.
Anyway, I'm getting interested in them again, and might buy one after hurricane season is over and before winter (ice storm season) sets in. But nobody lists their prices online. Is that a Honda thing? What is the street price of a EU2000i -- ignoring the current Hurricane Ike situation. Know any good dealers?
I also can't find any specs on expected engine life of the little Hondas. I know some of the really cheap 5000W generators are only rated about 500 hours, and you could burn that up in a month during an extended power outage.
I also can't find any small 1800 rpm diesel generators that might be a contender. There /are/ small diesels (Yanmar and Chinese knockoffs) but they all operate at 3600 rpm, which should have most of the durability problems of 3600 rpm gasoline engines.
Thanks, Bob

My brother-in-law has a Honda generator he aquired several years ago, 15 or so, and it is still going strong and is very quiet. We were on a island several years ago when he heard someone in the wee hours of the morning, so he got up, gave it one pull, and the lights went on. They didn't even know it was from a generator! If I had the money I would go for the Honda.

zxcvbob wrote in news:6jglidF39225U1 @mid.individual.net:

I almost bought a Honda EU2000i generator at the state fair 2 years ago (best price I'd seen) but I passed on it, mostly because I'd taken the bus to the fair and didn't want to wag the thing home on a bus.
Anyway, I'm getting interested in them again, and might buy one after hurricane season is over and before winter (ice storm season) sets in. But nobody lists their prices online. Is that a Honda thing? What is the street price of a EU2000i -- ignoring the current Hurricane Ike situation. Know any good dealers?
I also can't find any specs on expected engine life of the little Hondas. I know some of the really cheap 5000W generators are only rated about 500 hours, and you could burn that up in a month during an extended power outage.

I've used eu2000s for a lot of years. I've had failures after 3-4 years of around 6 - 10 hours a day use. And then it was usually just the timing belt which you can fix. We used the crap out of them and they'll keep starting, and the power is clean and they're quiet as hell... and sip the fuel.
If you only need 2000 watts and can afford them they are the way to go. I've had the best deals from my local honda dealer.
I'm a big fan of these gens.. and they're light .. basically they kick ass.
I think I paid around a grand for the last one .. like $960 or something, but this was several years ago.

On Sep 18, 10:45�pm, zxcvbob wrote:

I almost bought a Honda EU2000i generator at the state fair 2 years ago (best price I'd seen) but I passed on it, mostly because I'd taken the bus to the fair and didn't want to wag the thing home on a bus.
Anyway, I'm getting interested in them again, and might buy one after hurricane season is over and before winter (ice storm season) sets in. But nobody lists their prices online. �Is that a Honda thing? �What is the street price of a EU2000i -- ignoring the current Hurricane Ike situation. �Know any good dealers?
I also can't find any specs on expected engine life of the little Hondas. �I know some of the really cheap 5000W generators are only rated about 500 hours, and you could burn that up in a month during an extended power outage.
I also can't find any small 1800 rpm diesel generators that might be a contender. �There /are/ small diesels (Yanmar and Chinese knockoffs) but they all operate at 3600 rpm, which should have most of the durability problems of 3600 rpm gasoline engines.
Thanks, Bob

The honda can last 15000 hours if run easy, RPM is load dependant so at 100w it might only run 900 rpm, it also has as clean or cleaner power then your utility co, alt.energy.homepower is where folks are that have gotten 15000 hours, bull full load it and maybe you get 2-3000

On Sep 19, 9:47�am, Mike Dobony wrote:

On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:32:03 -0400, Stormin Mormon wrote: The (below) link does show some parallel kits. Also lighting kit, and tri fuel so you can run LPG.
� �http://www.google.com/products?q=+Honda+EU2000i+&btnG=Search+Products...
I like the idea of LPG. �You don't have fuel sitting in the tank or carb or anything. �A little oil fog at shutdown for storage and it is good to go next time. �With gas or diesel you have greater potential for fuel problems.

The TRI fuel kits are great you can even run them off home NG at a cheaper cost.

In alt.energy.homepower Neon John wrote:

On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:45:33 -0500, zxcvbob wrote:
I almost bought a Honda EU2000i generator at the state fair 2 years ago (best price I'd seen) but I passed on it, mostly because I'd taken the bus to the fair and didn't want to wag the thing home on a bus.
Anyway, I'm getting interested in them again, and might buy one after hurricane season is over and before winter (ice storm season) sets in. But nobody lists their prices online. Is that a Honda thing? What is the street price of a EU2000i -- ignoring the current Hurricane Ike situation. Know any good dealers?
Yes, that's a honda thing. If your needs fit an inverter generator (most people's don't), I recommend the Yamaha line, partially because of the honda thing. The Yamahas are actually better units and Yamaha doesn't have that same price-fixing attitude of honda.

It is obnoxious to find honda stuff online, as they seem to not want their dealers to sell outside their territory. For just plain engines, I like a place called Helmuth Repair. They don't pull shipping price scams either.
What's better about the yamaha generators? Are these the ones with a blue housing?

On Sep 18, 10:45�pm, zxcvbob wrote:

I almost bought a Honda EU2000i generator at the state fair 2 years ago (best price I'd seen) but I passed on it, mostly because I'd taken the bus to the fair and didn't want to wag the thing home on a bus.
Anyway, I'm getting interested in them again, and might buy one after hurricane season is over and before winter (ice storm season) sets in. But nobody lists their prices online. �Is that a Honda thing? �What is the street price of a EU2000i -- ignoring the current Hurricane Ike situation. �Know any good dealers?
I also can't find any specs on expected engine life of the little Hondas. �I know some of the really cheap 5000W generators are only rated about 500 hours, and you could burn that up in a month during an extended power outage.
I also can't find any small 1800 rpm diesel generators that might be a contender. �There /are/ small diesels (Yanmar and Chinese knockoffs) but they all operate at 3600 rpm, which should have most of the durability problems of 3600 rpm gasoline engines.
Thanks, Bob

www.Propane-Generators.com

On Sep 18, 11:45�pm, zxcvbob wrote:

But nobody lists their prices online. �Is that a Honda thing? �What is the street price of a EU2000i -- ignoring the current Hurricane Ike situation. �Know any good dealers?

Honda has a good thing and they know it. Nobody else can come close to the reliability, durability, sound level, and power quality, even though they claim to do so, and price their products accordingly.
What Honda is doing is encouraging you to work through local dealers rather than allowing online companies to blatantly undercut the local dealers. They do it because they can.
This is pro mom-n-pop stores, not anti-consumer.
If you have a camping world in your area, and know someone with a president's club card, you can get the 2000 for $929, IIRC.

"zxcvbob" wrote in message
Yep, Honda does not allow Internet price advertising, so you need to call around and do your own shopping. As I recall, you can thank our current administration for allowing that particular consumer unfriendly behavior.
Join the EU2000i Yahoo group http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Honda_EU2000_Generators/ and ask there where folks are buying lately. I have seen new EUs on e-bay, but I am not quite brave enough to send that kind of money to a blind account and get...what?
I own one, they are great products. I bought mine here: http://www.sunelec.com/ Give them a call and get a price. Let us know where you finally buy.
-- Vaughn
......................................................... Nothing personal, but if you are posting through Google Groups I may not receive your message. Google refuses to control the flood of spam messages originating in their system, so on any given day I may or may not have Google blocked. Try a real NNTP server & news reader program and you will never go back. All you need is access to an NNTP server (AKA "news server") and a news reader program. You probably already have a news reader program in your computer (Hint: Outlook Express). Assuming that your Usenet needs are modest, use http://news.aioe.org/ for free and/or http://www.teranews.com/ for a one-time $3.95 setup fee. ..........................................................
Will poofread for food.

On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:45:33 -0500, zxcvbob wrote:

I almost bought a Honda EU2000i generator at the state fair 2 years ago (best price I'd seen) but I passed on it, mostly because I'd taken the bus to the fair and didn't want to wag the thing home on a bus.
Anyway, I'm getting interested in them again, and might buy one after hurricane season is over and before winter (ice storm season) sets in. But nobody lists their prices online. Is that a Honda thing? What is the street price of a EU2000i -- ignoring the current Hurricane Ike situation. Know any good dealers?

Yes, that's a honda thing. If your needs fit an inverter generator (most people's don't), I recommend the Yamaha line, partially because of the honda thing. The Yamahas are actually better units and Yamaha doesn't have that same price-fixing attitude of honda.

I also can't find any specs on expected engine life of the little Hondas. I know some of the really cheap 5000W generators are only rated about 500 hours, and you could burn that up in a month during an extended power outage.
I also can't find any small 1800 rpm diesel generators that might be a contender. There /are/ small diesels (Yanmar and Chinese knockoffs) but they all operate at 3600 rpm, which should have most of the durability problems of 3600 rpm gasoline engines.

Before you buy a generator and before I can offer any advice you need to identify what you want to do with it. Sit down, ask yourself that, write it down and post it. Then we can look at some possibilities.
John -- John De Armond See my website for my current email address http://www.neon-john.com http://www.johndearmond.com <-- best little blog on the net! Tellico Plains, Occupied TN Daddy, why doesn't this magnet pick up this floppy?

"Neon John" wrote in message

Yes, that's a honda thing. If your needs fit an inverter generator (most people's don't), I recommend the Yamaha line, partially because of the honda thing. The Yamahas are actually better units and Yamaha doesn't have that same price-fixing attitude of honda.

I bought two 1000 watt Yamaha inverter generators for my employer (initially chose Yamaha because they were a bit cheaper & fit within my corporate credit card limit). They are wonderful jewels! Yamaha is every bit as good as Honda.
Vaughn

Vaughn Simon wrote: ....

Yep, Honda does not allow Internet price advertising, so you need to call around and do your own shopping. As I recall, you can thank our current administration for allowing that particular consumer unfriendly behavior. ....

And why should a company not be allowed to set whatever policies for their dealers/products they wish?
Surely if this particular peccadillo of yours were particularly user-belligerent it would be self-defeating and correct itself...
--

On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:01:44 GMT, "Vaughn Simon" wrote:

I bought two 1000 watt Yamaha inverter generators for my employer (initially chose Yamaha because they were a bit cheaper & fit within my corporate credit card limit). They are wonderful jewels! Yamaha is every bit as good as Honda.

Can they be run in parallel?
Z has given figures for Honda eu2000 life, I have had similar life for a Honda engined generic genset, do you think Yamaha will be as long lived?
Has anyone any experience of running Yamaha inverter gensets on lpg?
AJH

On Sep 19, 12:09�pm, zxcvbob wrote:

In alt.energy.homepower Neon John wrote:
Yes, that's a honda thing. �If your needs fit an inverter generator (most people's don't), I recommend the Yamaha line, partially because of the honda thing. �The Yamahas are actually better units and Yamaha doesn't have that same price-fixing attitude of honda.
I want to be able to run my furnace blower, gas oven ignitors, refrigerator, TV, laptop computer, and a few fluorescent lights during an extended power outage during the winter. Or during the summer, the same thing except a 8000 BTU (11 EER) window A/C instead of the furnace. � I also have a couple of freezers that might need to be plugged in a couple of hours each day, but I could unplug the fridge when I do that. � I think I could get by OK with a generator rated for 110V 1600W continuous power. �I could certainly get by with it a lot better than I could with no generator at all.
The Honda is also a nice size to throw in the back of a truck to take to a job site to run 110V power tools, like various electric saws or lighting.
I keep putting off buying a generator because the power here in town is so reliable. �But my parents down in East Texas near Houston have been living off a cheap 5000W generator for a week now and it's scary how fast it burns up the gasoline they had stored. �One gas station just opened up for business again a couple of days ago (all the other stations are still closed because they don't have power) and you have to wait for hours in line at the one Exxon station and hope they don't run out before you get to the front of the line. �We don't get hurricanes up here, but we do get tornadoes and ice storms (usually not at the same time)
That's why the tri-fuel conversion looks mighty good.
Bob

1600 watt, you will tax it to a short life and may not get everything running at once. A furnace figure 375-425 watts with 600 surge, A frige figure 120-500 watts with 1000 surge in defrost cycle my old frige uses near 600 watts, TV 150 -300 w. You need to calculate surge load and have at least 1000 watts reserve. A unit that small will be under near 100% stress load and things dont last long stressed. Hondas site has a good page on run and surge load of different apliances. To be correct you need to test everything for load and surge draw first. Old apliances and things nearing end of life can have surge loads Tripple, that could realy hurt you unit. There is also voltage swing, unless its a inverter honda a small gen will be hard to control to run everything safely

On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:45:33 -0500, zxcvbob wrote:

Anyway, I'm getting interested in them again, and might buy one after hurricane season is over and before winter (ice storm season) sets in. But nobody lists their prices online. Is that a Honda thing? What is the street price of a EU2000i -- ignoring the current Hurricane Ike situation. Know any good dealers? Have these guys send you a catalog, or visit one of their stores if

you have one nearby www2.northerntool.com/generators.htm specs, etc will be in there
The reason, to me, that you want a Honda generator is that you want the Honda engine. I have one of their Honda-powered Northstar generators and it has proven reliable since 2000. Have run it for 8 days during Isabel with a tree on the house. Just used it when a tree felled by remains of a storm took out power, phone, cable. No problems, ever. YMMV starrin