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MJW
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2013 10:35pm - Edited by: MJW
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Had an interesting conversation today and would like to hear your thoughts...
I have a job I want to do that is requiring me to hire someone to assist. A tablesaw will be required so I am looking to hire someone that has one and would be willing to use it on the job.
Had a guy tell me today that he wouldn't be willing to do the job because using a generator like a Honda 2000 "ruins your power tools because they don't provide enough power."
I told him he was crazy. 
Is he?
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OwenChristensen
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# Posted: 3 Jun 2013 11:56pm
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Yes and no. I've been using a 2000 watt Honda for five years and eighteen cabins . Although I use a small DeWalt table saw. I even have found that little wonder will run two Circle saws at the same time.
Maybe a large amp saw wouldn't work well, but I don't think he has one that draws 2000 watts.
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Truecabin
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# Posted: 4 Jun 2013 12:00am
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not real crazy any 15a tool will pull down a honda 2000 a table saw for sure
you have to get 2 hondas and pair them or your friend is right it might cost more than the job is worth
~~~ i pasted this before ~~~~
I see a lot of discussion about small generators. I understand the necessity for a remote cabin, or for seldom usage and light construction.
Here's my advice for lightweight equipment. You should never operate a tool in such a way that it is "pulling down" the tool or the generator. Pulling down is not good anyway, but it's way worse on a generator than on shop current. If it slows the generator, then the voltage is dropping and the amperage goes way up. Wires in your skillsaw, for example are sized for a certain number of amps. Whenever the saw is under load, such that it's pulling the generator down, at that time the amperage thru those wires is going way up. Low voltage creates high amperage, needing bigger wires. Your tool is built with "small" wires for proper voltage and low amperage. For lighter hand weight and for lower cost. It's built at the limit for its intended usage, intended voltage. Coils in the motor with this perfectly sized wire will get hot and breakdown the insulation at high amperage, and shorten the life of or ruin the motor.
It's nice to have a small generator, they are easy to carry easy to start, quiet, efficient. Those are very useful benefits that make it easier to get a small job done. Using a small generator is prudent and a worthwhile endeavor if you are observant and don't load them down. It can be done but pay attention to the motor and to the generator and don't operate it in a way that it's pulling the generator or the tool down. If you have a compressor attached to this generator you don't know when it's gonna start up so that is a dangerous condition. It could start up while your in the middle of a board, then you're instantly in a bad place for your lightweight equipment. Compressor can be a troublemaker in this case, unplug it before starting the saw. You pretty much have to be working solo too, if you have "help" two or 2 guys will on gang outlets will ruin tools. I cringe a little to see folks using these little generators as if there is no problem. You can do it but you have to know what to be careful about.
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MJW
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# Posted: 4 Jun 2013 09:24am
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Thanks for the replies..
We have used our Hondas to build our entire place. Saws (table, skill, reciprocating, etc.) compressors, everything.
Yes, a couple of times it overloaded and shut off. Once that happens a time or two, you learn the "power management" techniques that truecabin speaks of. Once you figure that out, no problems.
I just found it interesting that the guy made an across the board statement that small generators wreck your power tools.
He says he won't even run his skill saw with one.
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GomerPile
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# Posted: 4 Jun 2013 09:51am
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I use a the honda 2000i and it has run everything I have thrown at it with the exception of a piston type compressor. I use a pancake compressor and its fine.
The person that says you are going to ruin tools is only right in extreme conditions. If you were using a saw to make lots of difficult cuts for a long time you might see the saw run a bit hotter than normal. If you need to do that kind of work borrow a companion or something. Otherwise running your tools off a 2000i is not going to hurt them.
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cbright
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# Posted: 4 Jun 2013 12:45pm
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My Honda 3000i never misses a beat...
I ran a 6 gallon compressor, electric impact gun and a concrete mixer all day Sunday.... not all at the same time, but the generator itself was running for 6+ hours.... a 2000 might have a bit of trouble, but a 3000 sure doesn't.
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DaJTCHA
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# Posted: 4 Jun 2013 02:49pm
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I was curious...hooked up the eu2000i to my craftsman table saw 15amp motor. Cycled it once than threw the switch on and let it go. The generator revved a bit and then calmed down after the initial power pull at startup...I gingerly ripped a 2X4 through the new blade and it seemed to handle the stress of cutting fine. I was impressed to say the least because 1. This craftsman table saw is a POS, old and needs replaced. 2. I was at the upper reaches of the generator's capability.
I don't think I would use it for hardcore construction, but in a pinch...it can take the abuse of a single tool at a time.
There's a blog that I'm following (Bodega Build) where an eu2000i was hooked up to a 5000btu AC unit and without problems. Chris said it didn't even rev higher when the compressor cycled. I found that surprising...but maybe the energy efficiency of these new small AC units extends an advantage?
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GomerPile
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# Posted: 4 Jun 2013 03:18pm
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Ya thats my blog.
I was shocked that it ran so easily. I'm thinking that there might be some kind of soft start electronics in the thing. I might open it up and see whats in there because I'm just a bit curious.
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Truecabin
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# Posted: 4 Jun 2013 03:34pm
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Quoting: MJW He says he won't even run his skill saw with one.
1000W may be able to run a skilsaw they are what 7amps? of course 2000i can runs a skilsaw easy
but 2000 will have trouble on a table saw if your shoving boards thru it. no way will a 2000 be able to cut a wet pressure treated 2x6 except bogging down and by the time you notice the tool getting hot on the outside the insulation on the coils is way hot inside and thats the life of your tool
everything else about the honda 2000 is easy so its not totally stupid you are getting the benefit but for a pro i'm not sure especially because they are always going to run a compressor and thats where the problem is
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 4 Jun 2013 04:11pm - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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My Honda EU2000i runs everything. When he says is ruins your tools, he has no idea how the inverter works. First off, voltage is constant same as cycles (Hz) and if for any reason, ther gennie load is greater to drop it off from the target volts/cycles, the system shuts off (electrically, engine remains running) while a conventional 2 pole generator, too big of a load, the voltage and cycles drops off, tjhis is where the tool danger lies.
It ran all my powertools, compressor etc. like I was plugged into the grid. The biggest load I encountered was my worm drive magnesium skill saw. I just had to pull the trigger, wait about 2 seconds, once spooled up, would eat right into the wood. The non worm drive saws, this doesnt apply. So my only inconveneince was the 2 second wait on my worm drive. It ran the compressor with ease.
I might add, I did all this in "eco mode" too. I suppose I could of turned the eco off, and the saw would eat into the wood right away, but the 2 second wait was worth the barely audible sound of the little Honda.
As for table saw, I bought one of those fold up Porter Cable ones, it doesnt even make the generator work on start up. Old table saws consume much more current. My blad runs right off the motor, old ones, had a drive system that cvonsumed lots of amperage/energy.
So in short, tell him he is thinking old non inverter generators. This inverter system protects all electronics by design.
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rayyy
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# Posted: 5 Jun 2013 06:35am - Edited by: rayyy
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An older style generator could damage electric motors in power tools because they relied upon high rpm speed to produce the power(60 hz)needed to run.These modern electronic style generators don't work like that.They generate the 60 hz electronicly.That's why your generator can still run things at an idle speed and not need reving up to a high speed like a lawnmower engine.
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Dillio187
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# Posted: 5 Jun 2013 09:17am
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Quoting: DaJTCHA There's a blog that I'm following (Bodega Build) where an eu2000i was hooked up to a 5000btu AC unit and without problems. Chris said it didn't even rev higher when the compressor cycled. I found that surprising...but maybe the energy efficiency of these new small AC units extends an advantage?
I run a 5000btu AC off my EU1000i, and it works fine. The generator loads for a second upon compressor start up, and then settles down to about 50% throttle and will run for about 6-7 hours until it runs out of fuel.
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Truecabin
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# Posted: 5 Jun 2013 11:14am
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another thing to know is a big old 5000w generator that it actually has 2 legs and 2500w per leg. If you are running 240v you get both legs but if your running 2 120v tools both off 1 leg you only have 2500w and the other 2500w leg is untapped
be careful using one extension cord from one leg, you should be sure your using power from each leg. big old style 5000w have this problem and i can't tell you how to know except look at the gen output panel and balance your loads on the panel
a lot of old contractors who burned out their tools dont know this and thats why they dont trust generators
agreed the inverter generator is much better for tools but i would not let any old fool use my tools on a 2000w generator i would do it myself though
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 5 Jun 2013 03:59pm
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Quoting: Truecabin another thing to know is a big old 5000w generator that it actually has 2 legs and 2500w per leg. If you are running 240v you get both legs but if your running 2 120v tools both off 1 leg you only have 2500w and the other 2500w leg is untapped
I built a 220V plug/cord that woudl run to a 2 gang box with 2 110V outlets, one from each leg. I did sell that gennie. My Honda EU6500is has a switch I flipped if I use the 240 VAC plug which I oply use to power up my home.
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duster
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# Posted: 20 Sep 2019 05:23pm
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I have a 3000 watt Champion generator that I bought new in 2014. It has always run my power tools (drills, grinders etc. without a problem)
Last Saturday though I tried to use my 15 amp Skilsaw with it and it almost immediately burned out the saw.
Anyone know why, and whether buying a lower amp saw could fix the problem? I'm off grid so the generator is the only power source I have.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 20 Sep 2019 08:35pm
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Quoting: MJW I told him he was crazy. Is he?
Nuttier than a squirrel turd.
Now some table saws, ie the real old ones has lots of start up demand. I have a Porter Cable, fold up type and it barely loads the gennie and only on start up, I said "barely".
Now I would even run it when the compressor is working. But I have a Porter Cable 6 gallon pancake compressor and it also uses little start up power. Now I might avoid using a tool when the compressor is running. My biggest load is my worm drive saw on start up on a cold morning when gear lube is thick.
I have used my gennie for all these tools, it doesnt it flawlessly and I run it on "eco mode" to boot.
Standard generators of the non inverter types can vary on cycles and voltage, this could be an issue for some items. But the Honda EU2000 and 2200 have a safety feature, if voltage or cycles vary a smidge, the system just shuts off. I mean, the power is stopped instantly. The way to reset it is to just shut the generator off and start it back up.
In short, an inverter Honda is designed to actually protect your power tools by not allowing low voltage, over-voltage or cycles that deviate above or below 60Hz
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 20 Sep 2019 08:37pm
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Quoting: MJW Yes, a couple of times it overloaded and shut off. Once that happens a time or two, you learn the "power management" techniques that truecabin speaks of. Once you figure that out, no problems.
Bingo! Dead nuts on!
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 20 Sep 2019 08:40pm
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Quoting: DaJTCHA where an eu2000i was hooked up to a 5000btu AC unit and without problems
I had a rooftop 9000BTU polar cub AC on my enclosed utility trailer and it ran it, it needed to be off eco mode and it not much room left for modest loads after that, but lights, no issue.
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