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ScottG
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2020 07:51am
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I am in the process of buying our first off grid cabin, deep in the woods of southwest Virginia. No water or electricity. I have been looking at solar setups and generators. Solar will have to wait a couple of years due to the cost and too many unknowns about the property as far as sun exposure is concerned. So that leaves me with running a generator, not 24/7. I am looking at the Westinghouse igen4500df, currently unavailable due to covid and hurricane season. I like the dual fuel option and the electric start options of this model. But I really won't need this much power at least until next summer. Would it be wiser to buy the igen2500 now and another one to run in parallel when I need that much power. I like the fact that the igen2500 burns less fuel and is lighter. My plan is to wire the generator into a circuit breaker panel to run a few outlets and lights. The generator will also be stationary, I don't plan on taking this home with me every week. This cabin is going to be a recreational use place. I'm new to this so please bear with me. We have owned campers so this isn't totally new, DW is more dependent on electricity than me, haha.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2020 08:10am
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What are you going to be running? With out knowing your needs we would just be throwing kind of useless info around.
Unless you like hearing the generator running all day/night I suggest some type of battery system.
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ScottG
Member
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2020 08:17am
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We will be using some LED lights, radio, charging phones, and a couple of small appliances (coffee maker in the morning). It is not going to be needed during the night and most of the day. Eventually I would like to power a small air conditioner. The cabin is small, only approximately 240 square feet.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2020 08:33am
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Scott, all you need is a Honda EU3000is and you will be good to go. Actually, you could get by with the Honda EU2200i. Avoid any of those brands that dont have service centers, parts are not available, regardless of what they tell you. The 3000is would do the small AC unit.
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ScottG
Member
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2020 08:40am
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Quoting: toyota_mdt_tech Scott, all you need is a Honda EU3000is and you will be good to go. Actually, you could get by with the Honda EU2200i. Avoid any of those brands that dont have service centers, parts are not available, regardless of what they tell you. The 3000is would do the small AC unit.
Thank you for the info.
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PA_Bound
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2020 09:28am - Edited by: PA_Bound
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Overall I agree with Toyota's recommendation. The one point that may concern me is the thought that you are going to leave the generator at the cabin. The 3000is is great generator... but I would think it would also be a great target for thieves. Are you able to secure it well? I have a generator I leave at my cabin. It's a big Champion model. It's not very desireable and so big that no one person is going to steal it. But if someone does it's also not so expensive that I can't afford to replace it. I also have a Yamaha 2000w Inverter model (very similar to the Honda's, and more expensive than the Champion), but when I leave I take that with me. Just something to think about.
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ScottG
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2020 09:37am
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That is one of my thoughts also. This is one of the my reasons for thinking about 2 of the 2200 sized generators. They are lighter and use less fuel. One would supply my electrical needs for most of the year. The second one would only be needed for the air conditioning. I have a lot of stuff to buy soon so I am also trying to keep it as budget friendly as possible.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2020 09:38am
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There is no doubt a suit case style generator is a quick buck for the thief. Bring it home if you can.
A coffee maker is an electric hog. Get a stove top percolator. The rest can be ran off a cheap USB powered batter bank that fits in your pocket.
AC would still need a generator. 5-8kbtu should be fine for 240sqft. I'm not sure on how big of a generator you will need for that.
If you keep an eye out for lower cost solar things, even used they are not much money. My system is 220ah of useable power, 470w solar, 40a CC, xantrex pure sine wave 1200w inverter, 30a iota RV onboard charger and a 800w sportsman inverter generator. I'm into this less than the cost of a eu2200 generator by about $100, generator included. I bought the following used, solar pannels, inverter and RV charger. I would have got more used but solar is hard to find used here
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ScottG
Member
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# Posted: 27 Aug 2020 09:48am
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Brettny
All good info. I am really new to the solar stuff, still learning a ton from other posts and you tube videos. We haven't actually acquired the cabin and land yet so I'm not sure of the sun exposure, lots of trees. My plan is to start with a generator and build it up from there. I would definitely bring the suitcase style generators home.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 25 Jul 2021 09:37pm
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OK, just picked up a brand new Honda EU2000i companion, in the box, never opened, no oil or gas in it. I know the EU2000i has been out of production for a while, it will match my EU2000i I have now. Planning on running an AC unit and wasnt sure if I would need heavier gennie. So knew of this unit and inquired with the owner. Got it for $850
I had another EU2000i I sold to my sister, didnt want to part with it, but her and her hubby just bought a brand new 16 foot trailer and needed one.
OK, next weekend, open the box, add oil and fuel, light it off and report back. I already have the parallel cable kit.
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 25 Jul 2021 10:33pm
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I like the idea of a 'growable' set up. When the 2nd unit isnt needed the 1 will run cheap and efficient.
Except for a want/need to run some heavy draw stuff a 50-100ah LFP battery that you take home to charge up for the next trip would get you totally quiet elec power, take up less space and be lighter than the little gen.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 26 Jul 2021 11:16pm
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OK, finally opened the box for the first time since the factory sealed it.
New old stock (NOS) that a buddy of mine bought and never used. Its about 10 yrs old, EU2000i Companion. Exactly what I was after. Looking to get the new EU2200i companion, but no one had them, very hard to find. But remembering my buddy, I inquired and got it for $850
new in box. never opened
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breaking factory taped seal
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exposing top side
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remove inside liner
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 26 Jul 2021 11:18pm
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part 2:
out of box
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complete unit
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Service panel off to add Honda 10-30 oil
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2021 12:41pm - Edited by: gcrank1
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Just ran across this thread again and had another thought to add, given the genny is there.
If you have just the basic, so called, Marine 'deep cycle' 100ish AH battery at the cabin with a 300Watt pure sine wave inverter and a 20amp automotive type battery charger you can be charging that battery whenever the gen runs and have the bat/inverter power for the rest of the time for led lights, low draw elec stuff (usb port devices, small tool chargers, radio, small tv/dvd or vhs player, etc), all done quietly.
Fwiw, I tried 12vdc, then a mix of 12vdc and inverted to 120vac and settled happily on the above 120vac and psw inverter for our place. The simplicity of 120 and normal smaller gauge wires/fixtures/switches made it easy-peasy.
Of course, if you want to go 'all-in' do the same with the new-generation, but expensive, LFP battery and you will have 2x the AHs and at least 2x more battery life (ie, more cost effective over time). That is my 'go-to' when my old lead-acid bats die (soon, I expect, 1 of the last 4 just went to the recycler).
At some point when you find some deal on a 100w or more solar panel and a solar charge control you can hook that to the battery to keep it topped whenever the sun shines.
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Tim_Ohio
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2021 01:00pm
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I just bought this one for 385.00. I didn't think I could go wrong. You can run two in parallel. Or, you can just use this until you need more power.
There is a video in my "generator shed" post of how loud it is.
It's enough to run lights, charge a 12 volt battery to use on an inverter during the night (for quiet lighting).
It's easy to pick up and throw in the car so it won't walk off....if you know what I mean.
They were on sale when I bought mine, but apparently are sold out. Here is the link:
https://wenproducts.com/collections/generators/products/super-quiet-2350-watt-portabl e-inverter-generator-with-fuel-shut-off-carb-compliant-ultra-lightweight
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2021 03:45pm
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A tip on the 12v taps on gennys for 'charging batteries'; it will take Forever! Plug in a regular 'automotive' (or better yet a new type 'smart' charger) and get Waayyy better charging.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:12pm
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Even better is a onboard RV charger. You can get quality name brand ones for under $200 and that's for 40-50a. That being said I just got back from 2 full days at our property and didnt start a generator once.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2021 07:32pm
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Pretty much the same for me if I dont have to run some high-draw equipment, the 600w of solar runs everything else quiet and efficient even though I do not have optimum orientation and lose the sun after 1pm.
My key was to orient the array to get the early sun and recharge asap in the morning to replace the evenings use.
But when I had the solar all apart I ran the bat-bank as usual and let the little inv/gen top it up as I ran it through the day for tools on projects.
Watt Hours out/Watt Hours in, find your balance 
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Curly
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2021 10:20pm
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I don't intend to hijack this thread, but did you see that California this past weekend enacted a new law that "will ban the sale of all off-road, gas-powered engines, including generators, lawn equipment, pressure washers, chainsaws, weed trimmers, and even golf carts. Under the new law, these machines must be zero-emissions, meaning they will have to be either battery-powered or plug-in," according to the Los Angeles Times. This will be effective in by January 2024.
https://news.yahoo.com/california-law-bans-small-off-174600432.html
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 17 Oct 2021 11:09am - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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Curly, saw that. Nuts, its basically meant for smaller power equipment. Larger models available, ie pro logger sized chain saws. A simple solution, drive to a nearby state and buy what you want.
But no small generators is crazy, they are usually only used when camping or during emergency outages.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 18 Oct 2021 12:45pm
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Bet they make a 'no import' ban too.
They are keeping semi trucks out that are 'too old' from the state to even relieve the bottleneck at the docks.
Insane!
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redwolfguild
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# Posted: 22 Oct 2021 01:27pm
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In these small cabins, it is amazing how much power we don't really use. The EU2000IC does everything I need. Never needed a 2nd. I use a 30 AMP IOTA charger / Inverter to charge a 100 AMP AGM battery and I have 220 Watts solar with MPPT, I run the generator when I need to vacuum.
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ICC
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# Posted: 22 Oct 2021 02:06pm
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Quoting: gcrank1 They are keeping semi trucks out that are 'too old' from the state to even relieve the bottleneck at the docks
My understanding was that CA "CARB* rules prevent state registration of non compliant engines, in hd trucks which are older than about 2000. The rules have been in effect for over a decade. Many have had aftermarket conversions for years. Also, I thought it was a shortage of truck drivers that was the problem. Not enough drivers over 21 with a valid CDL. There was already a shortage of tens of thousands of CDL drivers in 2019, well before anyone heard of Covid.
The port of LA is also old and is not nearly as efficient as many ports in the EU, like Rotterdam. That is an infrastructure failure that goes back many years. Add to that is the not well publisized fact that there are more shipments coming to or already at the LA port than at any time in history. We are simply buying too much stuff.
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ICC
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# Posted: 25 Oct 2021 10:51am
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Just a note re the California small gas engine ban..... something to think about...
https://www.kqed.org/news/11310630/more-pollution-than-cars-gas-powered-gardening-equ ipment-poses-the-next-air-quality-threat
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