The Honda EB2800 portable generator

[elagache]

Dear WeatherCat faithful,

Here in California we are rushing (like it or not) towards "Public Safety Power Shutoff" season.  Having suffered from the insult and injury of having your power deliberately cut off, we purchased a portable generator back in October 2019 as you may remember:



Shortly afterward, this generator mysteriously would stop producing electricity.  At first I thought it was some sort of grounding issue and each time, simply restarting the generator got the electricity flowing once more.  Alas, after 4 hours of the latest Public Safety Power Shutoff of last fall, once more the generator quit and I couldn't it to work even after several attempts.

Of course eventually the darn thing did start working, but only after the utility restored our power.  While the generator was still under warranty, I wasn't feeling good about this situation.  For starters, the failure was intermittent.  The repair shop might not be able to see the failure and thus would refuse to make any repairs.  Even if they did make some sort of repairs, that would leave me with effectively a "refurbished generator."  That's not the sort of reliability I had in mind.

The final straws were two-fold.  Champion discontinued this model - hardly a glowing endorsement.  Worse, Consumer Reports that once recommended Champion products also dropped all their recommendations.  It was time for a change.

However, I wasn't going to find getting a new portable generator as easy as I had hoped.  Thanks to COVID, the RV industry got a surge in interest and RV sales jump up 51%!  Of course, RV parks and campground didn't increase their capacity by 51% so there were many more people looking for sites to take their RV.  This in turn caused my RV owners to becoming interested in (as the RV slang goes:) "boondocking" (operating your RV away from hookups like electricity.)

RVs can cope without a good many things, but electricity is hard to leave without.  That's where portable generators suddenly come back into the picture.  A major niche in the generator market is to power RVs off the grid.  So when I started to search for a portable generator - I couldn't find any!! 

Lucky me, there is a class of portable generators that aren't easy to use for RV power: construction/job-site generators.  I finally settled on the Honda EB2800 generator:

https://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/models/eb2800i

As it comes out of the box, it just has a frame that rests on four rubber feet:



Apparently, some of these generators are installed in a quasi-permanent setup at a construction site.  If you want some sort of a wheeled cart you need to buy it as an extra and assemble it for yourself:



You can also buy a nicely made cover that allows you to move the generator while still covered:



These small engines have the same sort of break-in procedure.  You need to run them 5 hours before changing the oil the first time.  Since during a "Public Safety Power Shutoff," you would want to run the generator at least 8-10 hours, that would require you to change the oil without power - not something I wanted to do.  Instead, I made two test runs of a few hours to make sure all the appliances were getting enough electricity and after that I changed the oil.  Here is a photo of the generator in operation:



The new Honda generator worked flawlessly and the only annoyance is that changing the oil is a messy procedure.

So if I have been a bit scarce on the WeatherCat forum, it is because I had some other pressing obligations that needed to be resolved ASAP.  Now that we have a replacement generator, should we suffer yet another "Public Safety Power Shutoff" . . . . . .at least we'll be ready for it!

Cheers, Edouard 

[xairbusdriver]

I made two test runs of a few hours to make sure all the appliances were getting enough electricity and after that I changed the oil.

So that's where all the pollution is coming from!!! No wonder you have so much fog and smog in California!!!

We bought a Troy-Bilt/Briggs & Stratton powered portable generator for my wife's folks several years ago. It came with a folding handle that I managed to break the second time I ran it. Their rural electrification system has a tendency for lines to break. However, the only notice they get is usually a tornado siren or an ice storm forecast. At least you "guys" have schedules for the power shut offs!

[Blicj11]

Edouard, thank you for the background and the photos. I like your new choice. I have never liked Champion generators. When i lived in Houston, Tx (home of the annual hurricane or tropical storm) we had a portable Honda generator with an inverter that worked one a one-pull start every time I cranked it up. Our current residence has a propane-fed 7.5 KW generator with an automatic transfer switch to fire it up when the mains go down, and turn it off when the power comes back online. We have three 1,000 gallon propane tanks ready for emergencies. Couldn't live with it.   

[Steve]

That looks like it should serve you well. Those Honda engines are fantastic, BUT, run it frequently, and DO NOT let the gas get old. Those carburetors are real fuel sippers, but the jets are tiny, and color lacquer with old gas quickly. We currently have a Honda mower, snow blower (if you need a definition of what this is, let me know.  ) generator, and scooter.

Our generator is the EU3000is, and I found a wheel kit for it that is four wheels that attach to the frame; two fixed and two swivel, like a shopping cart. Much smaller footprint that the cart you have. I have the same cover, too. Honda used to make a big deal about having a full sign wave inverter, (the "I" in the model bane), but no mention of it on the web site for either model.

https://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/models/eu3000is

The best thing I ever did for it was add on a Hutch Mountain Propane converter for it. I can run gasoline and propane at the switch of a lever. Took about an hour to install. One rime I just could not get the gasoline side to run, so switched to propane. That cleaner the carb enough I could run on gas. Best part is propane doesn't go bad, so I keep four tanks in rotation between my grille, generator, and squaredrop trailer.

https://www.hutchmountain.com

http://morrisgarage.com/gen.mp4

[elagache]

Dear X-Air, Blick, Steve, and WeatherCat "always good to be prepared" types,

Our current residence has a propane-fed 7.5 KW generator with an automatic transfer switch to fire it up when the mains go down, and turn it off when the power comes back online.

That's a very good setup for your location.  We might look into this if the health situation of family members decline further.  These days we are really dependent on the central air conditioner.  Should we find ourselves without power for an extended period of time it could be a desperate issue health-wise.  Even so, we really need a portable generator in case of earthquakes.  So I solved the absolute necessity for the moment and we'll see from there.

That looks like it should serve you well. Those Honda engines are fantastic, BUT, run it frequently, and DO NOT let the gas get old. Those carburetors are real fuel sippers, but the jets are tiny, and color lacquer with old gas quickly. We currently have a Honda mower, snow blower (if you need a definition of what this is, let me know.  ) generator, and scooter.

I think I'll be fine with gasoline.  I'm very fastidious about using fuel stabilizer and I'll make a point to run the generator periodically.  For the past 11 years, I also have a lawn mower with a Honda engine.  It is doing fine, so I seem to have a workable routine.

Our generator is the EU3000is

There are definitely some advantages to that generator.  Alas it is one of those generators that can power an RV.  I could not find any store that had one for sale!  As it turns out, the EB2800 is much lighter and has sufficient power for our needs.

Thanks guys!   

Cheers, Edouard 

[Steve]

As it turns out, the EB2800 is much lighter and has sufficient power for our needs.

I don't think they had that model when I bought mine, else I'd have saved a big chunk of change!

[Blicj11]

Very cool propane adaptor, Steve. Video is very convincing.

[elagache]

Dear Steve, Blick, and WeatherCat "mobile" types,

As it turns out, the EB2800 is much lighter and has sufficient power for our needs.

I don't think they had that model when I bought mine, else I'd have saved a big chunk of change!

I don't remember that model back in 2019 either.  However, we didn't buy our generator until October and many Californians had already bought one, so I had thought they were sold out.  Perhaps you are correct and Honda has moved into a new market.  They had to get special OSHA and other certifications to market it to job-sites.

The one downside is that it doesn't have an RV plug.  I don't know if your squaredrop is equipped for shore power or not.  That would be the only downside.

Cheers, Edouard 

[Steve]

The one downside is that it doesn't have an RV plug.  I don't know if your squaredrop is equipped for shore power or not.  That would be the only downside.

The Hiker Trailer does have shore power, but it is just a standard 115V 15A male receptacle that accepts an ordinary extension cord. But I'd never take the generator camping, anyway. Too big, too heavy, and I go out to get away from noise, not take it with me.

For the basic 12V DC electrical needs of the trailer (vent fan and LED lighting) I have an old Goal Zero 150W AGM "solar generator" with a 100W panel on the roof. For the refrigerator/freezer, which is in the Cruiser, I have a Bluetti (MaxOak) 700W Lithium Iron Phosphate solar generator with a 200W portable panel. Initial test on the Bluetti, which is a new product, ran the fridge inside the black truck for almost 43 hours without solar input.

So, no need for a genny for my travel needs. I got it for home use. At the time, two of the 3000 model were cheaper than the 6000, offered more hours per gallon when combined, and had the convenience of being somewhat portable and useable in two locations. I never ended up getting the second one and the special connector, but I do have that option.

If you Facebook, I did an initial review May 18: https://www.facebook.com/ExploringTheUSA

[elagache]

Dear Steve and WeatherCat "caravan" fans,

The Hiker Trailer does have shore power, but it is just a standard 115V 15A male receptacle that accepts an ordinary extension cord. But I'd never take the generator camping, anyway. Too big, too heavy, and I go out to get away from noise, not take it with me.

For the basic 12V DC electrical needs of the trailer (vent fan and LED lighting) I have an old Goal Zero 150W AGM "solar generator" with a 100W panel on the roof. For the refrigerator/freezer, which is in the Cruiser, I have a Bluetti (MaxOak) 700W Lithium Iron Phosphate solar generator with a 200W portable panel. Initial test on the Bluetti, which is a new product, ran the fridge inside the black truck for almost 43 hours without solar input.
. . . . .

Thanks for sharing your experiences.  A teardrop trailer would not need a lot of power under any circumstances, but many are equipped with room air conditioners.  Depending on where you are traveling, having A/C to sleep might be a very welcome luxury.  Running the A/C on solar power for a larger RV is something of a challenge.  I subscribe to RV Life magazine and recently, they had this email on the question:

http://portal.criticalimpact.com/vm2/ad0ca806f2fd22c0/25754/fa9a70d8d4981a27a6473c7b9fa19141/25754

In short, it is possible with the right equipment, but it is expensive!

I'm still daydreaming about a vintage Airstream trailer for my trusty wagon to pull.  However, between the current family health situation and all the uncertainties brought about by COVID, that dream will have to wait.

Thanks again!

Cheers, Edouard 

[Steve]

I’m familiar with folks running banks of Battleborn LiFePo4 batteries, 2000W of solar, and able to provide enough power to run A/C, residential fridge, etc. but with a trailer about the size of a sheet of plywood, I don’t have near enough real estate on the roof! I’d need to pack a portable solar farm. 😁

[xairbusdriver]

I don’t have near enough real estate...

I thought those gens had wheels! I've seen guys pulling boats behind their trailers. I'm sure the law would allow little generators!

[elagache]

Dear Steve, X-Air, and WeatherCat road trippers in style types,

Okay, definitely off-topic, but I'm not going to mind!   

I’m familiar with folks running banks of Battleborn LiFePo4 batteries, 2000W of solar, and able to provide enough power to run A/C, residential fridge, etc.

Thanks again!  I had never heard of Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries.  However, Wikipedia has an article on these as well:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery

Interesting that this type of battery doesn't need Cobalt.  Apparently, this is an issue with the batteries used in electric cars, because the refining process ends up producing a lot of greenhouse gases.

but with a trailer about the size of a sheet of plywood, I don’t have near enough real estate on the roof! I’d need to pack a portable solar farm. 😁

Yes, that's true, but even a conventional trailer won't deploy solar panels very efficiently if you just attach them flat on the roof.  I've seen vendors selling portable solar arrays that they deploy after arriving at their campsite.  I can't help but imagine some sort of a system that would raise the solar panels off the roof of a trailer or RV and track the sun - perhaps such a system already exists.  That's why I'm trying to learn as much as I can about my choices.  I was forced to rush into the upgrade of my trusty wagon and I sure would like to get some of my choices back.  I won't make that mistake again!

Cheers, Edouard 

[Steve]

The problem with roof mounted solar panels, is that here east of the Mississippi, most campsites or national forests where we boondocks are wooded. So I use my portable power station in the truck or trailer, and have the one 100W panel on the roof, but the 200W panel is portable with 50’ of cable and an adjustable angle kickstand. If I get half the rated power, that’s more than my fridge/freezer uses, so I’m good. In a conventional campground, I just plug in and charge everything.

I do have a portable 5000btu combo A/C heater. But I rarely take it with us. It is big, bulky, and loud. Mid-summer with 75 degree/85% humidity nights it is mandatory or Deb’s staying home.

[elagache]

Dear Steve and WeatherCat road trip in style wannabees,

The problem with roof mounted solar panels, is that here east of the Mississippi, most campsites or national forests where we boondocks are wooded.

  . . . . . That's why us folks in the west have a real "advantage" . . . . . . .   If you encounter woods, don't worry - just wait!  It won't be long before a wildfire burns them down! . . . . .

. . . . . . . 

Uh seriously . . . . .

So I use my portable power station in the truck or trailer, and have the one 100W panel on the roof, but the 200W panel is portable with 50’ of cable and an adjustable angle kickstand. If I get half the rated power, that’s more than my fridge/freezer uses, so I’m good. In a conventional campground, I just plug in and charge everything.

That's where your small setup really pays off.  I'm sure your fridge/freezer is extremely well insulated.  So you simply don't need that much power to keep things cold.

I do have a portable 5000btu combo A/C heater. But I rarely take it with us. It is big, bulky, and loud. Mid-summer with 75 degree/85% humidity nights it is mandatory or Deb’s staying home.

Okay, so I'll take the bait.  So how precisely do you power this particular device at 3 in the morning?

Thanks again for educating me and allowing me to indulges in still some more daydreaming!  . . . 

Cheers, Edouard