honda 2000 generator

The Honda is a good gen...(just be sure to buy the inverter gen)..there is non-inverter gens made by Honda in that size!!
Be-careful...be sure to BUY a HONDA GEN, not just a GEN with a HONDA motor!! There is alot of junk around (in the non inverter gens)!!
I'm sure it could run an appropriately sized AC, day and night for a few days A NON inveter 3000 watt gen should have about a 6.5 HP motor...most lily the Honda GX series....one word of warning...most of these gennys are better around 2800 watts...above that they stain, and if at higher altitudes and cannot make as much power. the inverter gens...I dod't have first hand experance..or enough to talk...but they are THE one to own..QUIET, EFFICENT, LIGHTER, COMPACT.
IMO as a Owner opp, it is a good option...I would use the 12v outlet on the gen to wire up a 12 auto fan...like a radiator fan that is OK on the 10 amps X 12 volts= 120 watts (so that is what is available from the statement above...not much)....that way if you mount it on the frame, like the above pic, you will have good airflow to keep it cool, and disperse the CO.....
My unit at home (a 3000 watt non-inverter with a Honda clone 6.5 HP) uses about 4 gallons of fuel in 8 hours with a 75% load or so....But it is not really what you want..too bulky, and too loud.
If you want a quiet gen....the Yamaha Inverter gens are quiet like the Honda 2000's....the 3000 watt Honda non inverter gens can get kinda loud under load. The Yamaha is also very compact and fuel efficient since it runs at the rpm needed, rather than 3600 rpms.
I think it should heat the block heaters fine in the winter....just keep an eye on the total watts...Good idea actually...much cheaper to use a quality gen, do a decent install. just be safe with the venting og the gen...you may want to modify the exhaust...kinda like on a RV where they add a extension to the exhaust....

if you spend the $$ on an inverter gen...(a good ideas IMO) here is one the RV'ers like....and it compare it to the Honda+Yamaha
http://www.rec-direct.com/boliy/
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/23543212/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1

one guy said

lots more gen stuff in the tech forums...some on AC use, etc.

I'm sure if you have 12v battery Items that you want to use, a battery charger will work fine....Just be-sure to hook it up right...I think most trucks are wired up in banks of multiple batts....so get some help...I would hate for you to use a 12v charger on a 24 v bank and do damage..since the battery's on a truck can be wired together in series or parallel....depending on if they wanted the 12v to look like one 24 volt or a pair just increase the capacity!!

Here is a chart I found listing inverter gens in the 3000 watt class!! like I said...they are much better than the LOUD non-inverter gens that run at 3600 RPM. They even have electric start on some now!!

Boliy Pro 3600Si & SI/E Honda EU300is Yamaha EF3000iSE
Max OutPut (Watts) 3300 3000 3000
Rated OutPut (Watts)3000 2800 2800
Dry Weight (lbs.) 68 (SI) or 75 (SI/E) 134 152
Noise # 1,000 Watts (dB) 53 60 58
Gallons per Hour 1/4 load 0.17 0.22 0.185
Inverter Techonlogy Digital Signal Processing Cyclo Converter Pulse WidthModulation
Dimensions (inches) 23 x 16.5 x 18.5 25.8 x 18.9 x 22.4 26.7 x 17.5 x 21.9
Retail (MSRP) $1,199.00 $1,999.95 $2,299.00

 

Thanx Zippy.

I will stick thou with the Honda 3000iSA coz af too many positive feedback. I don't buy China. No matter how cheap they are I will not buy China(it is just a personal decision I took a while a go). Plus, Honda has a vast network all around North America and if something happen I can go almost everywhere for parts or repairs.
I've heard the sound of one and is very quiet.
As I stated early I need the generator only for AC when is really hot and is impossible to sleep without AC, to charge batteries when I have to wait too long somewhere and to warm up a bit my engine in the winter. Nothing alse.
I need it only (let's say) in emergency situations.

Now u gave me some helpful infos and I can figure that the Honda will be a good work horse when I will need it. 134 lbs is not much and having a 5 gallon canister gasoline won't be a problem.

Thanx again for oppinions.

 

It is very hard to go wrong with a honda. that having been said, having to store, and transport gasoline, you are working to save the extra $$, and doing some of your own fabrication. Getting something set-up, and making it work....not sure if the planning, building, or implementation is more fun.
From what I have seen
1) the Honda is actually quieter than an idling car....
2) you will never have to track down a source for parts..Honda is not going anywhere, and they have a great track record!!
3) the costs are pretty low...leaving some wiggle room to spend $$ on other items. or experiment!
4)Honda Gens are well tested, and last time I went to NYC (can't stand the place, but the wife wanted to see a show, have a horse and carriage ride, etc) most of the street vendors were using honda 2000's to run their lights, etc...most looked like they were a million years old!!

 

I don't know about them....from what they say, it is fine...but MANY truck APU makers have gone under in the last few years, and most sounded good.
My observations....
1)It does have a 2 cylinder Yanmar (3 is an optional)...not a bad engine from what I have heard, and since it is a 2 cylindar, the vibration should be less that with a single...and it will sound better...ever listen to a one cylinder die seal gen...PUT---Put--Put--...would be hard to listen to all night...definatly not a Purrrrrrrrrr like a Honda.

2)at 3.7 Kw or 6 Kw (for the 3) there should be pleanty of power for most folks...IF you are careful.....the 6 should make more than enough to run the block heater, and electric heat in the cab, and almost any size AC. The smaller one...you would have to be more careful, but I'm sure you could make an AC work..less BTU's, but should still be fine...heat might be harder..less options when it is fridged.(I would add some extra insulation to the roof of the cab, the factory foam is crap..just replace it...with something like that refelective buble wrap stuff..honest...it is good, light...home depot/lowes sells it!) For heat...a cab combustion heater/bunk heater still makes the most sense...saves wear and tear on the gen....electric heat is kinda inefficient....but a rooftop RV style AC unit that also works like a heat pump would be fine till below 32...but then extra heat...like electric coils, or the bunk heater would be needed.
They do sell a heating cooling system....to go with it...it is 134A, so any shop can fix it....some units use exotic industrial gasses..so you need a special place to work on it!

3)EPA Tier II and EU compliant ...not sure what this means for you CA guys...but I think it will not work in the future...good for now...but in a few years. You would have to do more resarch, but last time I checked,the Kubota had the same approval...and making it reach the next level was a problem...that is why many vendors going forward are going to batterys!!

4)Ultra Cold Weather Package -If you are gonna run a diesel gen in the cold...do yourself a favor...that way you KNOW it will start in the cold. it does have an engine pre-heat for colder days..so it might not be needed till below -20 or something...ASK!!

5) weight...listed weight is 425 + 30lbs for the HVAC on the small one
So for most states that let you go 400lbs over with an APU...you are loosing some load carrying...and that is the small one...the big one...they don't list....
6) I don't know their track record, or how well they are integrated....ANYTHING can look great on the web! Do your homework!!

If you poke around the site...they also have a Carrier "PRO-HEAT" or "comfort-Pro" with a kobota...more traditional truck APU, with a Kuboda and Alternator + inverter...big name company too...

 

the 3000 mounts very nicely onn the frame rail...keeps the fuel+oil OUTSIDE.
Do you really want to put it away, HOT in the cab...and if the cap leaks...See my point. A locking tool box ,might be good!!
The 2000 is a good unit...you will need to do careful research to determine what it can run for cooling....they can also be run in piggy-back mode with a special cable...so 2 gens from Honda will function as 1!! It works as a master/slave...kinda neat!!
The Espar heater should drive you out of the cab....it will make tons of heat...
Just chain and cable the Genny down...then run an extension cord...and hope nobody put sugar or Pizz in the tank....I guess an appropriate battery changer would keep the batts topped off...and let you run the heater and 12V stuff for a longtime...and run the laptop, etc...But IMO, get the 3000i, frame mount it for security, and take it to the next truck!!
Check the amp draw on the AC unit....then use that to calculate the watts...or better yet call the maker...and ask the starting/running watts!!
2000 watts is getting pretty weak...but you might be able to run a 2500 or a 3000 BTU home AC unit....or maybe the ducted ones that sit on the floor...with the tube that runs outside....It comes down to doing the math!! 2000 does not give you much wiggle room...heck, on a hot day...it could shutdown on you if it overheats if it is running near MAX load....
It is a nice quiet unit....might be interesting to experiment!!
Lots of RV guys use them..check the site I mentioned earlier...Lots of gen info in the tech sections!!
The roughneck AC unit they sell needs 1950 watts and 14.8 amps, and is 13,500 BTU's...too much IMO for a 2000 watt gen....0 headroom...if it is hot, humid...or you are 2000 feet above sea-level...you will not have the juice...and you most likely will not have the surge capacity to run it!! It might work...for a VERY short time...but I bet it would burn out the gen quick!!
I bet the 3000i would be perfect though!! Even the off brand would do it and save some $$ if it is the driving factor in using the 2000.

 

I read one guy wanted to smash one,yrs ago when we used to do the flea markets a guy across from us was using a chepo gen that was real noisy & I couldn't sleep & finally figured out what to do,I had a qt of oil & dumped in his gas it was funny hearing it died & I felt relieved thinking I could sleep,well he comes out pulls & pulls ,wouldn't start,goes back in his bus & comes out w/another gen luckily that wouldn't start.It was real funny hearing him ######## the next day what somebody did to him.I told it was pretty loud & maybe he shoulda just brought more blankets like we did.

 

In my opinion, you can get a grant for an APU that covers most of the cost. The Thermoking is equipped with a yanmar diesel engine which are known for their reliability. Parts are easily accessible. The only thing that scares me is getting into an accident with gasoline jug on board.

KH