Generator questions

6supersport7

6supersport7

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Just wondering what the mobile guys on here are using for their generators. I am getting my mobile setup ready and I am not sure how powerful of a generator I will need. Here is a list of things I will need to power.
Rotary/RO polisher
Hot water extractor
Shop Vac
Electric Power washer
Water pump for tank
Work Lights
Possibly a steamer in the future.

Only things that would run at the same time possibly would be work lights with buffer/polisher and water pump with pressure washer. Would a 4000 watt be sufficient? Any quiet ones you would recommend? I like the Honda eu2000i but it is pricey and I am not sure it would be enough power. Thanks for the feedback
 
I'm just starting out as well but I went with two honda eu2000i's...I bought a 40 dollar coupler so that way I can combine them for 3300 total or keep them separate and get 2000 out of each! I know they're pricey but they're so worth it for their durability, their size and because they're ridiculously quiet! I figure when you're running quality equipment I don't think a generator is something to skimp on! Like I said I'm just starting out so I might be wrong...thought if share my two cents though! :xyxthumbs:

Bill
 
You need to sit down and figure out how many amps everything that is going to be running takes. Then go from there to find a generator that will fit your needs. I know several people who have Honda generators and they are very nice, you can't go wrong with Honda
 
Some equipment won't operate correctly on modified-sine wave inverters found on most inexpensive generators, especially digital devices such as desktop computers or digital clocks. The Honda EU series generators use a "pure-sine wave" inverter that produces 120/240vac that is as clean as or better than what you get at home. They may be pricey but in the long run, I think they are worth it.
 
I run a Ridgid 3400 Watt generator. Cost me a little more than $500. It has a commercial warranty and is a completely solid unit. All my equipment runs perfectly off of it, and I run almost everything you run.
 
I run a small 3500/4000 gennie. It's campground noise rated, so it's not too loud. It has handled my shopvac easily and steamer as well without a problem. I usually try to preheat the steamer when nothing else is running (while I'm washing.)

I bought mine for $300 at my local auto parts store, and it's great. It's louder than a honda for sure, but $2000 for generators wasn't in my budget. We've camped with this one too. You wouldn't want to run it all night, but it's not any louder than my vacuum.
 
The Hondas are fantastic, BUT very expensive if you're just getting started, something within the 3000+ watt will usually keep you covered. You can look on Craigslist and find something lightly used quite affordable. Generac makes a great unit and if many different sizes. Honda also makes the non inverter style generators (not nearly as quite as the inverted ones) but much more affordable. If you're setting up a van and or trailer, try to do your work in front of your unit, this will keep the noise away from your work area as much as possible Good luck !
 
Thanks for the info everyone. I wish that the 3000eu was in the budget, maybe next year. Looks like a 3-4k watt should suit my needs.
 
6supersport7 said:
Thanks for the info everyone. I wish that the 3000eu was in the budget, maybe next year. Looks like a 3-4k watt should suit my needs.
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IMO, this will do great. Mine is quieter than my pressure washer, and about as loud as the vacuum. If you're mobile at someone's house, most people don't care if you grab power and water there anyway, or that's been my experience.
 
2000w honda EU

its quiet and good on gas. you can get a lot more power for cheaper but it will sound like the world is ending when you pull the cord;

being a one man operation I'm never running multiple tools to require more juice. I probably could run multiple tools if I chose to as long as one of them wasn't the steam cleaner (the vx5000 is a power hog - I've blown fuses at clients homes so often I'll fire the gen just for the steamer so there are no issues)
 
Electric pressure washers use a lot of power. Even though they are 14-16 amps, they draw a lot more than that to start. With that band a water pump, you may have a problem at 3000 watts.

Sent from my MB886 using AG Online
 
Inverter is what I use. It cost me 800 or so after I picked all the cables and installed it myself. Instead of getting 4 long cables, I got 2 and 1 for ground because i bridged the positive. When you ground it make sure you ground it to your frame rail. Sand the both sides with a grinder then ground. I work construction and use rigid 700 power drives and it runs them well. Its 5000 watt continuous feed with 10,000 watt power surge.
 
Gurge said:
2000w honda EU

its quiet and good on gas. you can get a lot more power for cheaper but it will sound like the world is ending when you pull the cord;
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I'm not sure that's a fair statement. My $299 Champion is about as loud as my small shop vac.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMFysU4QWCI]Champion 4k Generator - YouTube[/video]
 
There is nothing a mobile guy can't run on the Honda 2000. I can let my steamer heat up while I run my vacuum or compressor. The little Honda is a beast.
 
rusty what about using it with a karcher PW its rated at 1560 watts running, wouldn't startup require more than a 2000 watt honda?
 
When I was looking at getting a generator I ran across some you tube videos of the Honda up against other generators. Some of those cheap 3000 and 4000 watt generators would not run some of the tools they were rated to and the Honda was running tools that it should have been to weak to run. The conclusion I came to is that that Honda is very conservatively rated at 2000 watts and other brands are overly generous with their wattage ratings.

I saw a few videos where guys had the Honda wired to their house fuse panel and it was running the whole house.

If you go to a local Honda dealer they should have a unit you can try out. Bring your power washer and what ever other equipment you are curious about.
 
rustytruck said:
When I was looking at getting a generator I ran across some you tube videos of the Honda up against other generators. Some of those cheap 3000 and 4000 watt generators would not run some of the tools they were rated to and the Honda was running tools that it should have been to weak to run. The conclusion I came to is that that Honda is very conservatively rated at 2000 watts and other brands are overly generous with their wattage ratings.

I saw a few videos where guys had the Honda wired to their house fuse panel and it was running the whole house.

If you go to a local Honda dealer they should have a unit you can try out. Bring your power washer and what ever other equipment you are curious about.
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Maybe you can link some of the videos here. I've seen plenty showing ~2000 watt inverter style "no name" generators that had issues pushing tools with high peak loads, but not with the bigger 4k units, at least not from the more reputable brands. If you check out the rv.net thread I posted, it has about 1000 pages about these little guys, and they run entire rv trailers, AC and microwave.

As to an EU powering a whole house... they are a great generator, but 2000 watts is 2000 watts. If you can run your whole house on 15 amps, then yes, it will run your whole house. I have two 200-amp panels at my house, I doubt my EU would run anything more than the lights and the TV, maybe a fan or two.
 
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