Honda EU2000i Review

Overall Rating

I have over 3300 hours on my EU2000i to date.(2-9-07) I faithfully change the oil every 100 hours +/- 20% and an occasional cleaning of the air cleaners and spark arrestor. I bought it to offset the running of my larger Diesel generator during times I don't need the higher power. It turns out that it runs most everything in my house and guest house except the large microwave oven, the electric oven and the gas dryer (startup). It'll run two refrigerators (21 & 14 CuFt.) and the furnace blower in the house for around 11 hours/tankful - The two `fridges made it to almost 15 hours alone. I'm at 5800 feet and I hadn't re-jetted it yet, so it runs slightly rich. I see no degredation from when it was new except a wear spot on the pull start cord.

Fuel fill - be careful as you can't see the level very well when you get near the top. Fortunately, the overflow mess on the generator cleans up easily.

Starter cord wear where it exits the engine. Then again, so many hours, I would be well worn there also.
The tiny orifices in the carburetor don't take well to storage and needs to be kept clean. Make sure if you store it that you use a fuel stabilizer. Mine never had the problem but it doesn't rest more than a week.

I plan to get another one so I can run the other things. The oven will need a 220V transformer to work it. (Outback or Xantrex) You would wire it just as if you had a single 120V inverter and needed 240V.

The smooth sine wave output is as clean as ac utility power as far as I have experienced. The exception is the motor start of the refrigerators and furnace fan. When the eco-throttle switch is on, the engine needs to quickly compensate for the load when these appliances start up.
With these and if you have a satellite system (TV or internet..), a video game or of course some computer equipment, it's best to have UPS' connected to them for the power "dip". Just power down the UPS's themselves when they're not in use of course.

The (Whirpool) gas dryer motor just takes too much to start it with this generator. I even tried it with the ECO-Throttle off and a short cord.
The (Whirlpool) washer worked connected that way through all cycles.

Perhaps the Yamaha 2400W? generator with the high motor start (and electric start) will work out for this. But then again, that's a power step-up and a more thirsty generator. I'll just parallel mine and run the other when I need it.

I'm certainly happy with my EU2000i, as I don't have any commercial power at my place. I intend to use it as a main power source until my solar electric system is installed, then they may get some more rest!