Honda Generator EU 2000

[Broke sailor SV Marcell]

I wanted to share with everyone my experience. I bought a generator to power up an AC unit on my boat, I think a 15000 BTU. Anyway it ran flawlessly and was able to handle the load on a 120V receptacle. We refuelded it at 2200 and it ran till 0700 the next morning with the thermostat set at 72 degrees. We spent the night anchored at Tobacco River off the Potomac.

 

[Ross]

If the power rating on the name plate

for the AC indicated a lower demand than the rating for the generator it should have performed flawlessly..Just be careful to keep the exhaust far away from the intake side of the AC.

 

[Don s/v Tellico]

What make is the a/c?

And how old is it? Been told the newer ones have much lower power demands.

 

[Broke sailor SV Marcell]

Had it installed last winter

at Norton's Yacht Center. Can't remember the brand name, it's some french name.

 

[rsn48]

Be safe

Be safe and install a carbon monoxide detector so you don't have to worry quite as much as to what is happening to your generator exhaust in relation to your AC.

 

[Gary]

Me not so lucky...

My 16K BTU Cruisair choked the EU 2000 down in short order. It's an older unit and, as Don pointed out, they draw much higher amperage. Wish I could find someone who would trade me a smaller unit. Glad for you broke sailor..count your blessings

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

What do you mean by "installed?"

'Cuz portable generators--which is what the Honda and others like it are--are not designed to be run in an enclosed space...they need more air than is available in any enclosed space on a boat. Plus, their electrical components are not spark protected, and they run on gasoline...which is a LETHAL combination in an enclosed space.So I dunno what you mean by "installed," but if you run it anywhere except on the deck, or swim platform, your boat is an explosion waiting to happen.

 

[Matt]

Now you need an extended runtime tank ;-)

Cool!I recently added a honda eu2000i generator as well to run my Mermaid 12k btu a/c unit (aka snow-blower) that I installed last year. I used it for the first time over memorial day and like you, I was able to get about 8 hours out of the 1 gallon integral tank. So, we ran out of cold air from the "snow-blower" sometime in the early morning hours.However, we just returned from a trip to the outer banks and used the generator several times, but this time I took with me an extra goodie. I had modified an extra generator gas cap with an outboard fitting and hooked it up to another outboard tank with greater capacity. I could have run that thing for days... Made it nice because on mine, when the compressor kicks in while in eco-throttle mode, the generator doesn't seem to rev up fast enough so the a/c compressor doesn't start; At full throttle the generator doesn't even flinch when the compressor starts. With this arrangement, I can leave the generator on at full tilt and just not worry about it - plus I don't have to worry about refilling the integral gas tank anymore as all gas is isolated to the outboard tank. The bonus? I use the same tank for my Honda outboard for the dinghy! If you're interested (and haven't yet found it), there's a Yahoo group for the Honda EU2000i generator. They've got a lot of useful information on their site... Enjoy!mattBtw, we also added a CO2 detector for safety, but haven't had any problems. Currently, we put the generator up at the bow while at anchor and run the shorepower cord up to it. Where does everyone else put it?

 

[Benny]

Hey Matt can you post a picture of...

the cap modification? Seen a cap modified for a Merc 3.3HP outboard, but the operator had to operate the bulb pump every so often. The eu2000 fuel is gravity fed; are you making use of vacum to transfer fuel from outboard tank to the generator?

 

[Broke sailor SV Marcell]

"Installed"

Hi Peggy. I meant the AC was installed last winter. The generator was on deck at the bow. Next time I think I'll put it aft tied off on the swim platform. Would be easier to refuel.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Whew! Had to ask...

People have made the mistake of thinking they could put a portable genset in the engine room or a locker. If you're gonna run it overnight, the bow is the safest place for it, 'cuz it puts the exhaust above the cabin. On the swim platform, it's at water level, which can allow CO to get into the boat. Do be careful with any gas engine. We had a tragedy here on the river over Memorial Day weekend...4 people on a 23' cuddy running a portable genset to power fans overnight...in the morning 2 were found dead from CO poisoning, 2 were near death. I never heard whether they survived. If they did, brain damage is highly likely.

 

[Jack Hart]

What river Peggie?

Hi Peggie, what river are you near?ThanksJackPS...how is you dad doing?

 

[Matt]

gas cap

Hey Benny,I'll have to get a picture the next time I'm at the boat. I bring the generator home with me, but I left the modified gas cap at the boat. You're right, the generator is gravity fed, but with a tight seal on the modified cap it will pull gas into the generator from the outboard tank via vacuum. It's pretty sweet. I used a Honda male outboard quick connect fitting, a couple of bronze washers, some rubber washers, and a few bronze plumbing fittings from the Home Depot and drilled out a Honda gas cap for the proper width. It took all of about 5 minutes to assemble... I highly recommend it.matt

 

[larry w]

A/C and generators

I'm SO GLAD I live in So. Cal. and don't need A/C and still sail all year long.

 

[Jared]

Bow and wind

If you are at anchor, the bow is going to be upwind of wherever you are. Is anyone worried about the exhaust working its way into the cabin? Does the exhaust rise and cannot sink into the cockpit to be pulled into the a/c unit that is downwind of the boat. I wonder because my wife and I were thinking about one of these units after rafting up with some powerboater friends of ours that had one this weekend. We did not use for our a/c (window unit in companionway), but it ran the blender like no tomorrow (so we didn't even remember if it was hot or not). We don't have a swim platform, but figured this was the best place. Good advise though if the wind was nil, it could work into the boat. CO detector seems like a very good idea.

 

[Capn Dave]

CO is just slightly lighter than

air, in other words it will float. It does not take alot of CO to kill. A small anount of moving fresh air will dilute the effects of CO. If you have a open hatch and the generator in the cockpit you more than likely will be ok. I would suggest a CO detector anyway. Also CO is present all the time in the air we breath.I can put the Honda in the cockpit have the front hatch open and the CO detector never goes off. You will get more CO in the cabin from your stove. Yes it is working, CO detector, I have tested it.Fair WindsCap'n Dave

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Arkansas River...

I'm in Little Rock...the river runs through it.Dad's doing pretty well now, physically. Mentally, not so good. He's in a nursing home now, and will end his days there. He's getting excellent care there, and he's content there, which is good, and means I no longer have to spend part of every day with him, I can see him 3x/week. So after a couple of months of chaos, life has finally settled down to a manageable routine again...most of the time anyway.Thanks for asking!

 

[ed]

ok my story

I nearly killed my oldest daughter by making a a dumb mistake with co. I had an outboard running in a well in the back of the cockpit. this was a thru hub exaust engine. so i thought i would be ok. but the upper exaust opening let out enough to slowly fill the cockpit then it went over the step and down into the cabin where my daughter was sleeping. and turning blue. I went below to check on her and could hardly breathe in the cabin. but no visible smoke.I learned never but never run a motor in the cockpit while sleeping. i think the co sensor should be mounted at bunk level too. I was able to use the motor by putting tubing on the upper exaust opening and running it down to the cavitation plate. as long as i was going it would exaust out the back but when you stopped it still would bubble up around the engine.Crappy arangement. but the same deal applies with these generators. im not to sure about behind the boat either where the breese does not carry away the exaust.Several deaths have occured from house boats with generators installed and the exaust coming up behind the boat where kids were swimming.