Well I’m going to Honda route

[pedroescobar]

Initially I was thinking about buying one of the champion 3400 inverters but decided to go the Honda 3000 route, with the potential of getting a second one next year so I can run 2 in parallel in eco mode. The RV I have has as 13500 BTU AC so we should be good. I’d love to get some input on maintaining generators that make the trip out to the playa. Anyone have experience with these by the way?

[Token]

First thing I’d do is get the RV and new generator to 5000’ elevation and see if it all works when it’s 90 degrees outside.

Don’t know where you at so maybe not possible.

My story: My trailer will sometimes overpower two Honda 2000 generators in parallel on the Playa due to elevation and heat de-rating. Not always, but sometimes.

Things you can’t control like the house battery charging at the same time, someone leaves a light running all day etc. or atmospheric pressure and humidity in the mix.

A 13500 is a big unit and will push a 3K.

Can you get specs of the plate for locked rotor current? You may be able to add a start capacitor to help with startup.

Locked rotor current is the key.

As for maintaining:

Bring spare air filter.
Learn how to change oil - easy with the right accessories to route and capture the old oil.
Get a spare gas tank cap, modify it so an external marine gas tank can be plumbed to it. - never refuel again - so worth it.

That’s it. Rest is detailing and cleaning off the Playa dust.

[Molotov]

I have the modified fuel filler caps on both of my parallel connected Honda 2000i's and have them plumbed to a marine fuel tank. I carry one spare 5 gallon gas can, but don't remember the marine tank ever running out. The trick for best performance of the remote fuel system is to fill the generator's on-board fuel tanks almost to the top. That seems to help set up the vacuum flow from the marine tank. Plus it gives you some additional run time. I use ethanol specific fuel stabilizer in all fuel purchased for the generators.

Sometimes I run one genset, sometimes both. I try to keep the operating hours balanced between the two Hondas. I have installed hour meters powered by an inductive wire wrapped around the spark plug leads to schedule maintenance intervals, since I use them year-round, but regardless of time, I always change the oil and clean the air filters after returning from the playa. I carry two spare spark plugs and a wrench, too.

[pedroescobar]

Wonder if it would be worth going with 2 of the new 2200 models in parallel and getting an extended run tank instead. Gives me an extra bump of power and should be able to run a decent amount of time at the same cost. I had planned to do a second 3000 next year but I don’t know if I need the 5500w. I’m planning on running solar ground lights around the RV so the generator is only for powering AC and interior lights, plus charging phones (our cameras for the week).

[Token]

I’ll say this on having 2 x 2k devices ...

Even a crippled gimp like me can pick one up and get it where it needs to go.

Don’t know how much year-round use you got for a generator, but having three in the sticks where I live is mighty handy.

Can configure a big bank for extended outage or do spot power wherever I need it.

The down side is maintenance x 3, but I got time plenty for that.

[pedroescobar]

Not a lot of need in the Seattle metro area. It will literally be for BM and random camping trips.

[tatonka]

never had a generator before , but I wondered why these were so cheap?

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A% ... FX739jZiBw

[TT120]

That seems too good to be true Tatonka. Why are they so cheap?

[Token]

Scammers.

Based on Internet registrar:

"Shanghai Meicheng Technology Information Development Co., Ltd."

Owns about a hundred sites that are pretty much all set up the same. They create about five new sites a week, as the older ones get shut down. They are all phishing sites. They want your bank info, name, address, email, etc.

Stay away from these.

[Captain Goddammit]

While I have no data, that HAS to be a scam.
I’m not gonna be the first one to give them $100 and my bank card info...

[tatonka]

figured to good to be true thks guys

[Captain Goddammit]

I’d like to second Token’s point.
An EU2000 (ok now they’re EU2200) is under 50 pounds.
An EU3000 is 140 pounds and big and awkward.
The 3000 is a terrific unit and if your situation is such that you don’t need to move it around or load/unload it, I’ve got nothing but praise for the thing.

But... a pair of 2000/2200s weigh less even both together, and you only ever have to lift one at a time.
They also make more power.
They’re easy to connect to an external fuel supply right through the gas cap, the 3000 is not.
At BM, I run mine from a 50-gallon truck tank and never fuel them even if they run 24/7 the whole event.

You can shut one down when demand is low, like at night when the AC isn’t needed, and lower your fuel consumption.

A note about running a pair of 2000s; usually if I have a moderate electric load that is within capacity of a single gen, I’ll run both anyway because two of them barely above idle sounds nicer than one throttled up.

[pedroescobar]

Yes, Token's logic changed my mind and I was going to go with the 2x 2200's then plans changed a bit and we are now camping with the people I camped with last year. We weren't on their grid last year, but we will be this year. I'm debating still picking up the genny's (as backup w/ an 5 gal extended tank) but I haven't decided yet.

I’d like to second Token’s point.
An EU2000 (ok now they’re EU2200) is under 50 pounds.
An EU3000 is 140 pounds and big and awkward.
The 3000 is a terrific unit and if your situation is such that you don’t need to move it around or load/unload it, I’ve got nothing but praise for the thing.

But... a pair of 2000/2200s weigh less even both together, and you only ever have to lift one at a time.
They also make more power.
They’re easy to connect to an external fuel supply right through the gas cap, the 3000 is not.
At BM, I run mine from a 50-gallon truck tank and never fuel them even if they run 24/7 the whole event.

You can shut one down when demand is low, like at night when the AC isn’t needed, and lower your fuel consumption.

A note about running a pair of 2000s; usually if I have a moderate electric load that is within capacity of a single gen, I’ll run both anyway because two of them barely above idle sounds nicer than one throttled up.

[DoctorIknow]

Most every thread mentioning generators has a suggestion to keep it off the surface of the playa.

Even if most of the air for the carburetor comes from vents on the side, these drain holes in the bottom (identified by zip ties) should make it clear one should keep the genny OFF THE PLAYA SURFACE.

Hopefully, the visual will remind you next year:

honda bottom.JPG

[StupidCarpenter]

All the above advise is spot on, dual 2200’s is the correct route, leaves lots of options for only taking one when winter camping.

As a side note, if you want to be a cheap skate, buy 3 used 2000’s and parallel all three for the cheapest win! FYI there is a flashing light that will indicate on start up hour range generator has run, useful info when buying used. Also there is a hidden fuel filter that sometimes plugs up!

Good luck!

[Captain Goddammit]

I recommend buying these new, only because resale on them is so high. I sold my 12 year old EU2000 pair for $1400. Then ordered myself a brand new pair for $1800. (I think the price has gone up $100 each since then).
I didn’t need to, they still worked fine, but resale is so high I figured why not. I think the buyer was a fool.

If you can score some nice EU2000s for $500 each, go for it. But good luck finding that deal. Typical used price is too close to new price.
Because of that, I think you should just get the new ones.