My twin Honda EU3000is Generator Install

Scott & Heather · November 26, 2015, 04:31:44 PM

Our genset is quitting. 5th unit in that many years of full timing. Always bought cheap harbor freight or Coleman junk. Thing is, I don't really want to deal with a loud and complex diesel gennie. I'm about to pull the trigger on a Yamaha 6300. Runs at 54-62 dB and is fuel efficient. Honda equivalent basically. I know there has been banter on diesel vs gas gennies. Obviously diesel is more efficient and built well and long lasting, but I'm happy with the fuel sipping and quiet of the Yamaha specs. Will I be happy with this? Can I put it in the old condenser bay without it overheating? Easiest way to run exhaust out the side?

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Seangie · November 26, 2015, 05:10:05 PM

Quote from: Scott Bennett on November 26, 2015, 04:31:44 PM
Our genset is quitting. 5th unit in that many years of full timing. Always bought cheap harbor freight or Coleman junk. Thing is, I don't really want to deal with a loud and complex diesel gennie. I'm about to pull the trigger on a Yamaha 6300. Runs at 54-62 dB and is fuel efficient. Honda equivalent basically. I know there has been banter on diesel vs gas gennies. Obviously diesel is more efficient and built well and long lasting, but I'm happy with the fuel sipping and quiet of the Yamaha specs. Will I be happy with this? Can I put it in the old condenser bay without it overheating? Easiest way to run exhaust out the side?

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Scott - Ill sell you my 15k diesel when I see you in Feb

Scott & Heather · November 26, 2015, 08:47:47 PM

Way too much juice for me. No need to drink out of a fire hose

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Oonrahnjay · November 26, 2015, 09:20:20 PM

Quote from: Scott Bennett on November 26, 2015, 04:31:44 PM... I'm about to pull the trigger on a Yamaha 6300. Runs at 54-62 dB and is fuel efficient. Honda equivalent basically. ...

No idea on installation or fuel consumption but I'd think hard. How many watts were you generally pulling from the "Harbor freight or Coleman" junk gennies? The "plastic shell" (Yamaha or Honda) generators are very nice in a lot of ways, but I get the idea that they're happiest when they're not run too hard -- they'll give plenty of power but it seem hard on them to be run at/near full power often and for long periods. I'm thinking of getting a small Honda or Yamaha as a "backup" but I am sure that they won't pull the kind of power I'm used to using (coffee maker, microwave, water heater, etc.). That's what I have the Onan 10K for.
If you need "lightweight power" and are OK with carrying a separate container of gasoline, etc., it might work for you but I'd be concerned about depending on one for "full house" power; then again, full house power is a different thing for different people.
Just my kinda rambling thoughts but HTH. BH

sledhead · November 27, 2015, 01:00:32 AM

I went to the dark side ..... I installed a honda 7000 fuel injected gas gene and it is awesome . most of the time it is running at 2500 - 2600 rpm with 1 a/c unit . very quiet and very good on fuel . at idle it runs at 2400 rpm

I put it in the old condenser bay .

send me a pm and I will get you some pics on how I installed it

dave

OneLapper · November 27, 2015, 02:10:16 AM

Ummmm.... i thought we all used a small Honda generator when we didn't want to run the diesel generator. Ive been doing this for years. My Honda EU1000 will will run almost forever on a tank of gas, keeping the house batteries topped off, and is literally silent from inside the bus. If I don't need AC, I can usually get away with using just the Honda when we're boondocking.

We're in Vermont for Thanksgiving and the little Honda is all we've needed so far. I can even run one block heater on it to warm up the engine!.

belfert · November 27, 2015, 03:41:32 AM

I had one of the Yamaha 6300 inverter generators for a couple of months. I got a real good deal on Craigslist and was able to sell it for what I paid later. I wanted it as a backup to the bus generator one year when I was running a food booth at a desert event.

It worked great when I tested it at home. It is definitely louder than the small Honda generators, but not nearly as bad as the cheap open frame construction generators. I seem to recall I had to turn ECO mode off to start all three rooftops in my bus.

Diesel generators can be real quiet, but they are not cheap. My diesel is surprising quiet. I often can't hear it at events over the people running the open frame construction generators.

bevans6 · November 27, 2015, 08:36:02 AM

I've had a Yamaha 3000 watt inverter generator for five years, and it's been great. Electric start, very quiet. I carry it in the condenser bay, but I've been chicken to run it in there, the muffler throws off a lot of heat. I just open the door and swing it sideways so the arse end sticks out. FWIW and all that.

Brian

blue_goose · November 27, 2015, 08:51:29 AM

One year at the Arcadia rally the coach next to me had a Honda I think about 6 KW gas in the bay of his MCI. The gas fumes were so bad we had to move and I thought he was going to blow his coach up when he refueled and spilled gas on the hot unit.
If you have been through 4 cheep units and fixing to buy the fifth you are spending more than I did on my last coach with a 8KW diesel that is still running after 20 years. Five of those years we were full time in the coach and put oner 200,000 miles on it . I don't know how much time the generator had on it, but it was a lot
Jack

Scott & Heather · November 28, 2015, 10:50:24 PM

Good info. What's a good recommended 7kw diesel unit? I know Onan has the name but I truly don't want a ton of complexity nor maintenance...

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chessie4905 · November 29, 2015, 12:58:02 AM

I like that setup one lapper. I'll be able to slip up, grab it and run, well maybe when I was younger. You're right,they are really quiet. I have a Honda EU3000is that I have for around the house if needed and it is almost as quiet.

bobofthenorth · November 29, 2015, 05:59:29 AM

Quote from: blue_goose on November 27, 2015, 08:51:29 AM
If you have been through 4 cheep units and fixing to buy the fifth you are spending more than I did on my last coach with a 8KW diesel that is still running after 20 years. Five of those years we were full time in the coach and put oner 200,000 miles on it . I don't know how much time the generator had on it, but it was a lot
Jack

What he said. Watch your local Craigslist and be patient. I just checked Kijiji and this came up right next door to me. Its not as big as you wanted but I wish I hadn't checked because now I'm trying to think what I could do with it. 4k is more than enough to run a single roof air.
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-other/regina/4000-watt-generator/1118146413?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

belfert · November 29, 2015, 08:21:48 AM

Quote from: Scott Bennett on November 28, 2015, 10:50:24 PM
Good info. What's a good recommended 7kw diesel unit? I know Onan has the name but I truly don't want a ton of complexity nor maintenance...

A lot of people have said the newer Onan stuff is not that great. When the electronics break it costs a lot to fix.

Oonrahnjay · November 29, 2015, 09:15:14 AM

Quote from: chessie4905 on November 29, 2015, 12:58:02 AMI like that setup one lapper. I'll be able to slip up, grab it and run, well maybe when I was younger. ...

Down my way, they sneak up with a lawn mower at idle and slowly bring it up until it's making about as much sound as your gen -- then the gennie is gone. Tomorrow AM it's dead batteries and a $20 lawn mower next to your power cord.

OneLapper · November 29, 2015, 03:58:07 PM

Quote from: Oonrahnjay on November 29, 2015, 09:15:14 AM
Down my way, they sneak up with a lawn mower at idle and slowly bring it up until it's making about as much sound as your gen -- then the gennie is gone. Tomorrow AM it's dead batteries and a $20 lawn mower next to your power cord.

Well, so far I've been lucky in that you guys haven't swiped my generator! Actually, the only thing I've had stolen while boondocking was a ulu knife from my grill one night.

Truth be told, I can't really recommend a generator brand. I've been helping a driver with a new Powertech generator that's had several issues. First one was at 1.7 hours. Bad electric fuel pump, bad solenoid, loose fuel lines sucking air, broken flex pipe. It has 99 hours on it now and I've worked on it four times. I should send Jeff at Powertech a Christmas card.

The Onans are expensive to buy, and expensive to fix. But, there are many I see that have over 10k hours and nothing but maintenance (according to the owner operators). They are also the most common generator for the owner operators. Also very quiet, some are extremely quiet.

I have a non-electronic Westerbeke that runs great. It's not the most efficient, it's not the quietest, it certainly isn't the cheapest to buy parts for, but it's been reliable.