generators

[Alexandra B]

I own a '02 Casita and I am thinking I want a generator. There have been several listed here for sale but i do not really understand the difference between the two. Yamaha or honda? which is better etc. I want to just say that we would not use it all that much really, but would be great to have just in case. We have the AC and the Microwave options in ours.

thanks

Alexandra

[ronsmith100]

I own a '02 Casita and I am thinking I want a generator. There have been several listed here for sale but i do not really understand the difference between the two. Yamaha or honda? which is better etc. I want to just say that we would not use it all that much really, but would be great to have just in case. We have the AC and the Microwave options in ours.

thanks

Alexandra

The honda eu2000 is the one I have but is not enough for me.
It will not run the Casita (dometic) 1100 watt microwave at altitude (like 9,000 feet).
So I replaced the 1100 watt with at 700 watt and I'll know how that works this summer.
The eu starts and runs well at 10,000 feet but...
I never go camping in real hot weather but when I do it is usually at lower elevation and the EU runs the ac quite well.
You could rejet for high and low altitude if you want but I am waaaay too lazy for that.

Hope this helps

Ron

[Darwin Maring]

I had a Yamaha and found out it is almost impossible to get parts locally whereas the Honda seams to be everywhere. Just for that reason, I would eliminate any expensive generator that I could not find parts or a dealer for.

I had a McCullough 2000 Inverter generator and it would not run the small air conditioner on the Scamp. I will NEVER EVER purchase another Inverter model regardless of who makes it. By the way, the McCullough that was rumored to be a Kippur in another color uses the exact same case as the Honda. Honda Red and McCullough yellow. Who really knows who’s making what for these companies.

The Inverter model popped the circuit breaker every time the AC was turned on.
I’ve had years of experience with generators and think the old fashioned model that puts out AC and uses an old fashioned circuit breaker that you can replace is the way to go.

By the way, BJ’s Wholesale club sells a 3,500W generator for less than $200USD. It is a construction type and will be loud and no dealer but for the price you could buy several for the price of one of those Honda or Yamaha gen sets.

[Pete Dumbleton]

I suspect you just had something wrong with that particular one -- I don't follow them closely, but I can't recall reading about inverter failures except yours -- Who actually made the McCullough generator? It may just be another Chinese knockoff as so many of them seem to be.

What kind of problems were you having with the Yamaha? Was it inverter-based?

BTW, there is a thread on RV.NET entitled "3000W Chinese Gensets Info" that is currently 720 pages (Yes, pages, not posts!) long and still going!

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseacti.../pging/1/page/1

I personally prefer the inverter-based generators because they can loaf along at eco-throttle, sipping fuel, and then rise to the occasion with just enough throttle to handle the load -- A conventional generator has to maintain a fixed, relatively high, RPM to maintain 60 Hz -- In my own case, I would be just using one to charge battery (probably handle that without even coming out of eco-throttle mode) and run a cube heater and potentially a small m/w. I don't have a/c. Of course, not all inverter-based makes have the eco-throttle.

With some, one also has the option to hook two together, something almost impossible to do with conventional generator.

I've camped near people with construction generators and you get what you pay for -- Unfortunately the neighbors pay part of that price -- When I am doing my first tour of a new CG, looking for a site, avoidance of construction generators is right at the top of my list.

Alexandra, the trick with getting a generator is to first assess your actual needs -- The key one is what it takes to START, not just run, your air conditioner -- That's best done by calling the maker with all the numbers and asking them -- Also, check to see if Soft Start kit is available to decrease that starting load. You might also post your a/c's exact details and see if anyone here has specific info regarding it and particular generators.

Both Honda and Yamaha seem to perform well, but Darwin's experience with Yamaha parts/service bears some serious consideration -- Personally, I would tend towards the Honda as I have known several people who have successfully owned them, but I also wouldn't turn down a good deal on a Yamaha. I did talk to a factory service shop guy who handles both a few years ago and he said Yamaha tended to have more mechanical problems than Honda, but their electronics were "bulletproof".

[Bigfoot Mike]

I had a Yamaha and found out it is almost impossible to get parts locally whereas the Honda seams to be everywhere. Just for that reason, I would eliminate any expensive generator that I could not find parts or a dealer for.

I had a McCullough 2000 Inverter generator and it would not run the small air conditioner on the Scamp. I will NEVER EVER purchase another Inverter model regardless of who makes it. By the way, the McCullough that was rumored to be a Kippur in another color uses the exact same case as the Honda. Honda Red and McCullough yellow. Who really knows who's making what for these companies.

The Inverter model popped the circuit breaker every time the AC was turned on.
I've had years of experience with generators and think the old fashioned model that puts out AC and uses an old fashioned circuit breaker that you can replace is the way to go.

By the way, BJ's Wholesale club sells a 3,500W generator for less than $200USD. It is a construction type and will be loud and no dealer but for the price you could buy several for the price of one of those Honda or Yamaha gen sets.

I have searched high and low on BJ’s Wholesale and cannot find any generators for under $200. http://www.bjs.com/

I have a Yamaha and found that if you do a search on the Yamaha website, they will show you residential generator service close to where ever you are. I had good fortune with Yamaha getting information and service manuals. They were excellent with service.

Both my old EU2000i Honda and EF2400i Yamaha easily ran my A/C and everything in my Casita and Bigfoot.

Just my experience. I am selling my Yamaha because of needing space for a bicycle rack.

[Darwin Maring]

The GEN at BJ's is available in the store in Fredericksburg, VA.

When I needed a part for my Yamaha 1000 I could only find 1 dealer, 45 miles away and I ordered the part from him and did the work myself because he did not work on them.

The Honda seams to be available all over the place. Gander Mountain has them.

Some people on this web site have been unable to run their AC with a 2000 and I am one of them that is why I will never purchase another Inverter model. I simply do not trust the solid state electronic circuits that control them.

[Bigfoot Mike]

I'm sorry you have had so much trouble.

I looked up the specs on the McCullough generator and it has less power then either the Honda or the Yamaha.
McCullough doesn't seem to make a 2000, they make a 1800 that really only rated to out put 1600 watts (max 1800 watts). http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=371135

Also, the McCullough 1800 is noisier then either the Honda 2000 or the Yamaha 2400. Several people on Casita Club have had poor experiences with the McCullough.

A/Cs and Microwaves require more power to start them.

I hope this helps.

[Tom Trostel]

I'm not sure which McCulloch Darwin had, but I own a McCulloch FG2000Tc. I paid about $500 for it three years ago. I don't think it's still sold. It looks exactly like this Kipor and has the same specs.

http://www.kipornorthamerica.com/Sinemaster2.aspx

My son has a Honda EU2000i and I've used it several times. It's a great generator. Placed side by side, one can tell no difference in their noise levels. The Honda has a overload delay of several seconds that allows it to start an air conditioner that the McCulloch will not start. After I installed a hard start capacitor in the 5000 BTU window unit, the a/c in my trailer runs happily with the McCulloch. The McCulloch will run a 1750 watt hair dryer, 1500 watt cube heater, or 700 watt microwave with no problem.

[Bigfoot Mike]

Thanks Tom. That sounds much better.

[Darwin Maring]

Yes Tom, Mine was a McCulloch FG2000Tc also and side by side with the Honda, the only thing different was the color.

I installed the same cap you did only it did not do the trick.

I think the overload cutout solid state crap in the McCulloch was 2 sensitive.

Yes, they do not offer that model any more.

[Lizbeth]

Alexandra, I can not say anything bad about my Honda eu2000. We've used it mostly to run the window AC at 8400 ft. It will also run the coffee maker!

The wise sales deal seems very convenient. I know that several people on the board have taken advantage of it.

[Alexandra B]

thankyou all for all your information and when we have figured out how to get through this recession we will most likely feel great about getting either one that is the deal at the time. Since we are borh in fear of getting laid off this week we are holding onto our pennies. We also tent to camp where there are hook ups for power at this time. However no matter how bad the economy gets we are not selling the trailer as we might just live in it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not sure how my dogs would like it though.