1KW generator or 2KW generator?

[El and Bill]

my vote is for no generator at all. - Bauer

A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone. - Henry David Thoreau

Nice to know a rich guy, T.R. As the Aussies say, "Good on ya."

 

[Sea Angel]

Just a few cents/dollars worth... :roll:

After experiencing a power outage of 8 days from a hurricane some 4 yrs
ago, shortly after some heart work- I decided to add a home generator to
the home plan.

I settled on the Guardian, water cooled, 15KVA w/ natural gas. We have
gas heat and hot water. It came with an automatic change-over switch,
along with the weekly test run of 20minutes. This unit also allows us to
run our central air and clothes dryer. Now you know we're spoiled.

Just a note on the home generator.. be aware of the exhaust venting.

1. Get a water cooled unit verses an air cool , it runs slower and quieter.

2. A natural gas unit normally requires an upgrade to the gas service of
the home to a 2psi level. Here in VA. it cost $300 to move a gas meter
and $300 to upgrade the service, in addition to the plumber fees. If
you move and upgrade at the same time the gas co. will only charge
the $300.

3. Mount the generator frame as high as practicle to keep any water from
it. Our genset is 10" above yard level.

4. Select your primary circuits on the chande-over panel with some
flexibility in mind in case situations change after installation.

We have lost power here abt 7 times since the installation, the longest of
13 hrs. I have not had to replace the freezer or refrig contents, yet. One
occurance did happened while we were on vacation.

The 'turn-key' price ran abt $9600, and for me and our piece of mind was
well worth every penny.

Back to the 1kva or 2kva... You can't add to a 1kva when needed, but
you don't have to use all the 2kva.. AH! GO for the 3kva and be done with
it.

Art

 

[Hunkydory]

As Rogerbum stated from the start of this thread both the Honda 1KW and 2KW have there +'s and -'s :lol: .

We went with the 2KW mainly due to knowing we wanted to use it on a future Truck camper along with the present boat. If not for that the 1KW would have fit our needs for a generator that would be a back up source to the motors to charge up the batteries if needed when on our lonesome in some very remote area. Yes one can most certainly do without a generator we did up till our last extended cruise, but sure glad we had it on our 2007 wilderness cruise adventure. Lost the charge coil on one motor and then the other motor altogether and with the generator was able to continue on with the cruise after losing the one motor charge coil and then able to make it from Juneau to Skagway, Alaska on the motor with out a charge coil with the generator to keep the batteries topped. On future remote cruises will make room for the generator.

When running in fairly calm water had it set like this.

When it was rough bungied it on top of the ice chest and against the stainless steel used for mounting fishing pole holder ect. Was in some pretty rough water set up like that. In this photo we had the generator mounted on the ice chest.


Jay

 

[toyman]

Does anyone else have photos of how they mount the Honda generators ?

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I stopped by Camping World to check on a solar panel and saw a different kind of Honda Generator. It's a 2500 watt, but does not have the fancy case, just in a square tube frame. Member price was $519. Anyone on the list have one of these?

 

[patrick and linda]

i purchased a new honda 2000 about two years ago. byrdman put together a cruise on the cumberland river and me and the little lady made plans to attend. thought the generator would fit the bill. last minute change and we were not able to attend, so, the honda still sits in the original box, never had gas or oil put in it. i was however using a 5000 watt generator, land based, that is, until an unknown broke into my garage several months ago and stoled it. probably be firing up the honda this boating season.
pat

ps: hope the unknown sob, located in somerset ky, fries himself into a crispy critter, falls into the lake, drowns, hits his head on a rock, breaks both arms, crushed both hands, has a once in a life time shark, swimming in fresh water, bite off both legs, and then at the very last minute, remembers what he had done to me!

 

[thataway]

Don't have photos here, but the Tom Cat has it mounted on top of an plastic "mik crate" on the engine bracket. The 6 gallon fuel tank can also be on a plastic crate. I have boards with cleats on the bottom and holes for the feet of the generator on the top, with a bungee cord to hold the generator in place.

On the C D 25, we have two SS bars in the cockpit (removable) which can take an ice chest or the generator (1 kw on the 25)-2 kw on the Tom Cat.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

...... stuff clipped .....

i was however using a 5000 watt generator, land based, that is, until an unknown broke into my garage several months ago and stoled it. probably be firing up the honda this boating season.
pat

ps: hope the unknown sob, located in somerset ky, fries himself into a crispy critter, falls into the lake, drowns, hits his head on a rock, breaks both arms, crushed both hands, has a once in a life time shark, swimming in fresh water, bite off both legs, and then at the very last minute, remembers what he had done to me!

Pat, don't hold back tell us what you really think.

Actually, I am sorry that happened, and I agree the SOB should get a couple weeks in the electric chair.

Steve

 

[Adeline]

Does anyone else have photos of how they mount the Honda generators ?

Not a Honda but she rides up in the bow

The Yamaha allows me to shut off the fuel supply and run the float-bowl dry. No leakage or fumes! Sits on a "tray" and secures with poly-cords.


Sits here for operation. Controls oriented toward cockpit (and out of salt-spray). Exhaust pointed aft. A nylon lock-strap secures handle to downrigger boom.

 

[bshillam]

Well, this winter we broke down and purchased a 2k as I need enough to run a refrigerator for the few times we loose power. With a deep freeze in the future and two other refrigerators more power would be better. So I can use it in the case of power failure at home and on the dock. If I was only going to use it dockside 1k would be enough.
:teeth

 

[TyBoo]

So I can use it in the case of power failure at home and on the dock. If I was only going to use it dockside 1k would be enough.
:teeth

Same here. I got a 2k for the power outs. I haven't used it on the boat yet. Later this spring I will be using it next door to you on Sand Island. It's a Honda so it shouldn't be too noisy for you.

 

[hank schneider]

Will the 1KW unit run a small AC?
Hank

 

[GOYO]

2KW HONDA 3YEARS OLD. NO A/C BUT PROVIDES FOR ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME. AT THE DOCK IT IS SET ON THE SWIM STEP AND SECURED WITH ADJUSTABLE STRAP AND CABLE LOCK AROUND RAILING (CD25). SHORT CUSTOM CORD TO SHORE POWER CONNECTION. RUNNING IT IS STORED IN THE COCKPIT WITH THE FUEL VENT TURNED OFF. WORKS WELL FOR POWER OUTAGES AT HOME ALSO.

 

[drjohn71a]

If you look on my Tom-a-Hawk photo album under the genset album are photos of my Honda i2000 genset mounted inside an aluminum box from Tractor Supply. It runs fine and stores safely inside this box. I use it when camping on the road and in the water.

Can the 1000 watt run an A?C unit? All around - "no". Maybe on a cool day with a small A/C with a slow start, rotary compressor.

I can run my 9,000 BtU roll around A/C (with slow start, rotary compressor) unit in the "economy" setting (about half throttle) on fairly cool days, but if the temps and humidity are in the 90's even the HOnda 2000 genset cannot come up with enough power fast enough and it shuts itself off. In other words, on very hot days, I have to keep the Honda 2000i in high speed throttle to keep the A/C running.

I use the genset a lot in cool weather and I really like the larger Honda 2000 for that since it just idles most of the time and only runs up rpms when the coffee pot, microwave, etc., come on.

John

 

[marvin4239]

This isn't a very good picture but it's a custom generator rack Gene at Mobile East Marine made for the Honda 2000. As for the 1000 running and A/C unit I think Dr Bob says he runs a 5,000 window unit in the front window with a 1000 watt Honda.

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