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vidaliaman
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 09:25am
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question for off griders, spent our first weekend off grid, i now know to keep my wife interested with this weekend lifestyle she needs a TV, what is the quietest generator that could supply enough power to run a TV?
i had a generator up in the upper peninsula of michigan but i can't stand the noise for the 2 hours in the morning for her to take a shower
thanks
UP dave
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Steve961
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 09:45am
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The quietest quality generator that I would buy is the Yamaha EF1000iS. It is rated at 47 dBA at 1/4 load. It would be more than adequate to run a television set and many other small electronics and lights simultaneously. The only area where this would not be enough power is for many larger power tools. If you also wanted a generator to run some power tools, I would recommend the Honda EU2000i that's rated at 53 dBA at 1/4 load.
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groingo
Member
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 10:18am
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Two good choices by Steve 961.
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Beetlespin
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 10:22am
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Two thumbs up on the Honda.
These are basically the only two generators out there that aren't super loud. They still make noise, just not as much as many other cheaper units out there.
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OliveSheep
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 10:27am
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Third thumbs up for Honda EU2000i. That's what we run in the evenings at our off-grid cabin. We have a small shed (about same size as an out-house) about 40 feet from the cabin where the genny is kept. Most of the time, I can't even hear it running from inside the cabin.
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vidaliaman
Member
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 10:44am
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i have a briggs and stratton 6500, i can use that for power tools(too loud for tv), any votes between the Yamaha EF1000iS and the honda eu2000i?
thanks again
dave
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groingo
Member
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 10:52am
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I have the Yamaha 1000 but keep in mind it does only produce 1000 watts maximum while the Honda 2000 produces double and doesn't cost a lot more and also is very easy to sell if you need to where the Yamaha 1000 is in people's mind too small and therefore hard to sell... Speaking from experience.
As it turned out I was able to reduce power use and now the 1000 is indispensable.
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OliveSheep
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 11:14am
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Honda does come with 3 year warranty. Any problem, just bring it to authorized shop and they will fix it. Not sure about the Yamaha - might only be 2 years. I watched a bunch of vids to help me decide, and went with Honda based on that, and recommendations from other off-gridders.
https://www.google.com/search?q=ef1000is%20vs%20honda%20eu2000i&tbm=vid
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Steve961
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 01:00pm
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If I already had a generator I could use for power tools, I would get the Yamaha 1000. It's the quietest of the bunch, only weighs 28 pounds, and has a run time of 12 hours at 1/4 load.
I currently have the EU2000i, and it was essential for me when I built my cabin with power tools. Now that everything is done, I'm not sure I would want to lug a 50 pound generator to my cabin every weekend. Since I have a small solar power system at my cabin I don't have to, but if I was going to rely on a generator for my everyday needs I would want something smaller and lighter than my EU2000i.
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ColdFlame
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 01:52pm
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You could also go with the Honda EU1000i - 53dB at 1/4 load if you wanted to stick with the Honda brand but not have the full 2000watts. Personally, for the negligible cost difference, I'd say go with the EU2000i.
It's super quiet, super reliable, and will give you very clean power to run sensitive electronics, yet enough power to run any power tools that might be necessary at the cabin.
There is certainly not anything wrong with the Yamaha generators at all - they are consistently rated as high as the Honda's, so I really don't think you can go wrong either way. If there is a possibility you'll need the extra power, spring for the larger genset. You may regret it otherwise.
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cman47c
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 03:34pm
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My wife also needs the TV at the cabin. I do not like running the generator but my small solar power/battery/600 watt inverter system works well for a few hours of TV a day. The load gets to be too much for my small solar cell recharging if TV runs too many hours in a day. I can easily go the weekend with my 15" old tube type TV which draws 50 watts. Even better would be a newer 19/20" flatscreen which is about 30 watts.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 04:36pm - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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I would say if you want the 2000 watts, the Honda EU2000i is the most popular 2000 watter on the planet and for good reasons, there is none better. Dont worry about the 3 yr warranty, if you store it with alcohol free gas over the winter, drain carbs for long term storage, you wont ever need it. For the 1000 watter, the Yammie is the best. I based this off of Groingo and the factory rated specs, it has a longer run time. But both are excellent in the 1000 watters (Yamaha or Honda)
I use my Honda EU2000i and run a microwave from time to time at my cabin, the 1000 watter wouldn't do it. Just food for thought. IMHO, get the 2000 watter. I'd only consider a 1000 as a secondary gennie, ie I already have a 2000.
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rayyy
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 05:44pm
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I love my Honda eu2000i.I have a fan running behind me right now and my a/c running in the living room window and this computer all on it and I can't even hear the genny running out on the pourch.She is just purring along nicely.You get so use to the purring sound that you don't even think about it.I have bought cheaper gennies for half the money in the past but you get what you pay for.Hard to start,noisy,running rough,,,,,I am sold on HONDA!
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skootamattaschmidty
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 06:31pm
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I'm with the honda group. I have a bigger Honda EU3000i which will run anything I need to at the cabin but is way bigger than you would need. I've had it about 12 years now and spent $120 on it this spring for a carb clean, air filter and plug service. Other than that I change the oil regularly and have had no issues with it at all, even in the dead of winter. A very reliable machine to say the least. A bigger price tag up front, but over all, durability, efficiency etc I think the Honda pays for itself in no time.
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beachman
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 06:37pm
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Another generator question. I have a Champion 5000 which is great for tools, etc.. But the A.C. inverter would fry a smart battery charger and chargers warn you about using generators for this reason. Question - what charger can you use with this type of genny that will charge a 12v deep cycle battery?
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Steve961
Member
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 07:00pm
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Iota Engineering has a good selection of chargers that should work for you.
Iota Engineering 12 Volt Chargers
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 08:29pm - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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Quoting: beachman Another generator question. I have a Champion 5000 which is great for tools, etc.. But the A.C. inverter would fry a smart battery charger and chargers warn you about using generators for this reason. Question - what charger can you use with this type of genny that will charge a 12v deep cycle battery?
I suspect its the non inverter generators that can vary is cycles (Hertz/Hz/Frequency) and voltage while the Honda inverter units is rock solid stable. The non inverter generators can hunt (rpm unstable) when cold or low on fuel, this hunting caused voltage to drop low or high and same for frequency of the AC. Shutting them off also creates a low voltage/ac scenario. and they should be unplugged anytime you start or stop a non inverter type generator. A non inverter generator with a 2 pole generator needs to run about 3600 rpm, the higher cost units and diesel ones run at 1800 as they use a 4 pole set up.
The Honda inverter is a simple 2 pole, but the voltage and frequency is made electronically with a solid state inverter unit. It protects itself from a heavy load or any frequency variation outside of the acceptable range. If it goes out of those parameters, the generator output just stops producing. So voltage/frequency is just shut off as if if you turned off a switch. No taper or winding down both voltage and frequency as the generator is shut down.
On the Honda, if its ever overloaded, before the voltage or frequency can fluctuate, the output will turn off instantly, engine will drop to an idle and to reset it, you just turn the engine off, restart it. In other words, it protects sensitive solid state electronics from low voltage and preserves the inverter/generator too.
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bobrok
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# Posted: 28 May 2015 09:04pm
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Great way to explain in laymans' terms what a good idea it was for me to buy my EU2000i years ago.
And why current off-griders with sensitive equipment should opt for the best money can buy.
Muchas gracias, t_m_t 
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AK Seabee
Member
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# Posted: 29 May 2015 12:07am
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I have been using the eu2000 honda for at least ten years. I love it! It is light, quiet and sips fuel. It will run smaller tools but will not run my air compressor.
My brother in law just picked up the 3kw honda for his camper and it is even quieter than my 2kw. The only downfall to the 3kw is the size and weight.
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Pookie129
Member
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# Posted: 29 May 2015 05:05am
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Honda 2000 - has come in handy each and every time I have needed it.
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beachman
Member
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# Posted: 29 May 2015 05:57am
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Thanks for all the info. Just what I need.
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 29 May 2015 08:46am
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Quoting: AK Seabee It will run smaller tools but will not run my air compressor.
You can get a compressor that it will run. Get a diaphram type, not a piston type compressor. I have the Porter Cable 6 gallon pancake compressor and my EU2000i starts it up with ease and I always run mine in "eco mode"
For $199, I got it with a brad nailer, trim nailer and crown stapler.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Porter-Cable-6-gal-Portable-Air-Compressor-16-GA-Finish-Na iler-18-GA-Brad-Nailer-Crown-Stapler-Combo-Kit-PCFP12234/203471431
You can get just the compressor too. But if you are building, get a framing nailer. That and my trim nailer was my bread and butter nailers. The framing nailer can be set down to do siding/sheeting nails (8D) too.
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razmichael
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# Posted: 29 May 2015 08:55am
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Quoting: toyota_mdt_tech ou can get a compressor that it will run. Get a diaphram type, not a piston type compressor. I have the Porter Cable 6 gallon pancake compressor and my EU2000i starts it up with ease and I always run mine in "eco mode"
Second that. My 2000 would shut down with the piston type compressor but when I borrowed a pancake model (think it was the same Porter Cable), it ran well. Mostly used my Paslode CF325 framing nailer and my Ryobi 18-Volt AirStrike so didn't need the compressor much.
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offgridjunkie
Member
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# Posted: 29 May 2015 10:12am
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vidaliaman,
I am with all the other honda owners, I bout the EU2000Ic to run power tools thinking I could parallel two of them for 4000 watts. Well that will never happen as the 2000i runs all my tools and the air compressor. One think I noticed, is it is a pain to move around even at 50lbs. Now I use it to charge my batteries if I have a high usage day and wish I had the 1000 due to weight. Now that my solar panels are up, most of the time I never take it with me.
Summation, if you are going to run the TV only and you will never run power tools, micros, and etc, save the weight and go with the 1000.
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AK Seabee
Member
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# Posted: 29 May 2015 05:38pm
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Thanks for the info Toyota and Raz. I shall purchase the Porter Cable as well. A second compressor will keep me from transporting the Emglo back and forth.
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rayyy
Member
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# Posted: 29 May 2015 06:42pm
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It's true,I think most people buy a huge generator of 3000 to 6000 watts to use on their electrical needs but if you are only using 200 or 300 watts at any given time you don't need such a noisy,gas guzzeling big genny.I am thinking about trying out an EU1000I Honda next time around.Right now I am running a 5000 btu air conditioner,a 20" house fan and this computer on my Honda and it is still at an idle.Maybe 600 watts at best.
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The Famous Grouse
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# Posted: 30 May 2015 11:12pm
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For a consistent use like running a TV, this would appear to me to be an invitation to go with some kind of solar system. I suppose it depends on how much you use your cabin, but the idea of having to crank up a generator of any kind just to watch tv...
On a simiar note, it might be worth looking at a true 12 volt TV. Much more efficient than running an inverter to power a 120V tv.
Grouse
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groingo
Member
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# Posted: 31 May 2015 01:22am
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Rayyy
If you're looking for a 1000 watt geny, take a closer look at the Yamaha 1000, it gets significantly better fuel mileage at 25% power than the Honda, mine typically gets 13 hrs at %25 at 0.65 gal.
One sad thing I have found is both the Honda and Yamaha 1000's have lousy resale value if that is a factor.
I sold my five year old Honda 2000 for more than I paid for it new while I had no interest in my Yamaha 1000, thankfully cause in the end it has worked out for the best.....KHARAMA I guess!
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KeithC
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# Posted: 31 May 2015 04:18pm
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I believe you get what you pay for most of the time, and with routine maintenance, the Honda or Yamaha line of generators
are pretty much bulletproof, and very quiet... which is huge to me. I have the Honda EU3000, because I wanted to be able to run the 13,500 BTU AC units common on most travel trailers.
Polaris now as a line of generators that are very nice too, and priced slightly less than the Honda/Yamaha models.
The only drawback to the Honda EU3000 is the weight. Full of gas it's 150+ lbs, and it can be a beast to lug in and out of a pickup truck. All things considered, I love my Honda. Brutally reliable, quiet and fuel efficient. Run them in ECO mode and forget it. Thinking about buying a Honda EU2000 myself just to have something more portable/smaller than the EU3000.
KC
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vidaliaman
Member
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# Posted: 31 May 2015 05:12pm - Edited by: vidaliaman
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great info!!!, we are starting with a travel trailer and my wife may want to run the microvwave, the yamy 1000 can't do that correct? but the honda 2000 can? still may go the the yamy 1000, i just love the quite
which is quieter? yamy 1000 or honda 2000?
thanks dave
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