Honda engineering

[ronsmith100]

About the time I asked my first question about generators I sent out an SOS to a couple of respected engineering friends of mine. Here is what I learned:

Most 110-120v single phase 60Hz generators turn RPMs that will equal one phase per cycle. Ergo Most generators make sure the engine that runs them turns at or near 3600RPM. That will provide 60Hz! An appliance will forgive a small amount of variations in cycle... not much, but some.
Ok.. so why did Honda go to inverter? So they could multiphase at 4500RPM and its real hard to get 60cycles per second out of 4500 RPM (do the math) but they did it for noise considerations. If they had a smaller engine running faster they could reduce the noise because horsepower can be increased by ramping up RPM and reducing displacement.. This makes the number of exhaust explosions per second higher due to RPM increase but the size of the bang-pop-noise smaller. due to smaller displacement.
This is why they convert to DC so the can invert electronically to clean AC.

A second reason was so they could accommodate the eco-mode which turns the rpm way down and quiet.

Or so I was told... makes sense to me.

[Paul from NWOnt]

I always figured it was also the easiest way to produce consistent voltage while allowing the generator to throttle itself. I can see the marketability in sticking a 2kw genny next to a Honda rated the same way, but with cleaner looks, great fuel efficiency, and almost no sound in comparison.

While I agree with your hard data, I'd say marketability had a larger role to play.

[ronsmith100]

I always figured it was also the easiest way to produce consistent voltage while allowing the generator to throttle itself.

Well you are right as far as I can tell. It runs full blast (4500rpm) when its asked to and idles (throttles) back to very slow (1200 rpm?) when on eco mode. Is that what you mean? That can't be accomplished without an inverter system.

I love the generator,... it starts on first pull after sitting for two weeks. And on second pull after sitting three months.