Need help figuring out generator options please

[danb2k]

Hi All:
We spend a lot of time at the mooring on our Catalina 36. We run the refrigerator whenever we are there, but of course it runs the batteries down. Since running the motor to recharge batteries is pretty much the worst thing you can do to a diesel, we're considering the purchase of a portable generator (like a Honda EU2000i) purely to run the onboard battery charger. I'm assuming we can use a pigtail to connect it to the shore power input, but I don't know. We don't want to power the boat, just the battery charger.
Is this a workable scenario?
What is the proper analysis to determine if this generator is up to the task?
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

The short answer is yes. The Honda can provide morethan sufficient power to run any charger you have.

Lots of discussion and details in the archives on this generator.

 

[Benny17441]

Very much so, you can connect a pigtail to the shorepower inlet fixture and power the
120V circuits. Mind you that you will only have available around 13 amps so you need to be careful about which loads you could run concurrently. No water heater, but you can surely run the battery charger and some lights or a TV and VCR. I don't think you have a/c needs in MA but it may be good to know you could run a small 6K btu unit. The Honda 2000 is a great unit and it will run even when left out in a down pour. Do try to place the generator in a location where the exhaust would be blown away from the boat and be mindful of conditions where current and wind may oppose each other causing the exhaust to be blown back in. Do get a Carbon Monoxide alarm to alert you of toxic fumes not only for the generator but for your diesel engine as well. As far as the analysis just look at the number of input amps your charger is rated for and it should be under the 13 amps the generator can produce. There should be no problems in powering any of the chargers currently used in our small pleasure boats.

 

[Stu Jackson]

The Honda 2000 WILL run a 1500 watt water heater.

I recommend that you use the search tab at the top of this page which will get you to what most folks call "The Archives" and read more in detail.

A 40A battery charger is more like less than 8A AC, and the 2000 output is clearly stated on Honda's website.

You do NOT use the 12V DC output of the generator. You build a pigtail to connect the AC output of the generator to the input of your shorepower on your boat.

Good luck, soooooooooo many people have done this that there is no reason to reinvent the wheel.

 

[Ron20324]

Get the 2000 with the twist-lock (30-amp) outlets so you can use your shore power cord.. The 110's are almost never used- in my book.

Not sure how you'd power just the charger, as it's probably wired into the boat electrical system.

 

[Mark Maulden]

If you get the twist lock plugs, you pretty much constrain the gen use to the boat. If you get the other config it can be used in other settings. Adapters are available.

 

[danb2k]

Great input guys, thank you for sharing your insights. We will likely move forward with this plan.

 

[Ron20324]

Point being, the generator vibrates, and the 110 plug can be shaken out of the outlet. Trust me on that one. If boat use is the primary intention of buying the generator, gear your set-up toward that. I've never used the gen as a battery charger, just to power the more efficient ship's charger.

 

[windward54]

We used a Honda EU2000 for years, and bought our long before there was the twist lock plug version. The vibration was so low on it with the eco throttle that I never worried about the 15-to-30 amp adaptor coming loose. And in all the years we used it, the cord never became unplugged. The new boat has a built in generator so the Honda is now the emergency backup for the house and on long trips, the boat. So for me, I prefer the 110 plug version.

 

[emergpa1]

Point being, the generator vibrates, and the 110 plug can be shaken out of the outlet. Trust me on that one. If boat use is the primary intention of buying the generator, gear your set-up toward that. I've never used the gen as a battery charger, just to power the more efficient ship's charger.

I often run my honda 2000 to power my 40amp ships charger, also can run the water heater with that. Also the TV and video player. Or I guess that's a DVD player. However if running anything else and my wife flips on the vacuum cleaner or the hairdryer then it's all over ha ha. Remember though, you must bring your batteries up to 100% charge at least every 10 days if not more often. The last 5% of charging your battery would require hours of generator time. So you want to have an alternate source for topping your batteries off. Consider adding a small solar panel with a good solar charger. More about that from Mainesail I am sure.

 

[emergpa1]

Point being, the generator vibrates, and the 110 plug can be shaken out of the outlet. Trust me on that one. If boat use is the primary intention of buying the generator, gear your set-up toward that. I've never used the gen as a battery charger, just to power the more efficient ship's charger.

I don't quite understand the comment about the different configurations for plugs. I simply have a pigtail adapter that allows me to plug the generator into the boats 30 amp receptacle. Or in other words there's a typical 110 plug on one end and a ships 30 amp plug on the other.

 

[RECESS]

I own both an EU2000 and 310W of solar panels. Why not go the solar route?

 

[kloudie1]

There is a version of the Honda 2000 that has a 30 ampere outlet and one 120V regular outlet. It is called the "Companion" It is convenient since your normal shorepower cord can plug in and lock.. It costs a good bit more than the 2000 that has two 120V outlets, so I simply made a short pigtail with a 120V plug on one end and a 30 ampere outlet on the other .. I have about 8 feet of 10 ga wire between the plugs to allow the generator to be positioned easily.

 

[Capt jgw]

I run a Honda 1000e, it won't run the water heater but it will run the coffee maker (priorities!). I strap it down next to the stern rail, near my shore power inlet. I used a short section of heavy extension cord to make a pigtail with the male 15A and female 30A ends. Works well and the plug does not come loose. I have used it at house during power failures too. The 2000 units on the shopping list, I found the 1000 used at a Honda motorcycle shop. Was traded in for a 2000. These things almost never come up for sale used.
I have heard the Yamaha 2000 is a little quieter, bit over never seen anyone running one.

 

[Ron20324]

There is a version of the Honda 2000 that has a 30 ampere outlet and one 120V regular outlet. ....

There was a previous thread challenging the "30 -amp" rated output of the 2000. It should be clarified thet the CONNECTOR is rated for 30-amp service, but the output is not 30 amps.:naughty:

 

[kloudie1]

Good point, Ron.. The connector is there so that two 2000's can be ganged to output 33 amperes surge and 26 amperes continuous.. with the high output coming from the one with the 30 amp rated connector.

 

[Capt jgw]

Same as the power on the dock. 30 amp connector doesn't mean there's 30 amps there. I've seen some that weren't.

 

[TENACITY CS36T]

We used a Honda EU2000 for years, and bought our long before there was the twist lock plug version. The vibration was so low on it with the eco throttle that I never worried about the 15-to-30 amp adaptor coming loose. And in all the years we used it, the cord never became unplugged. The new boat has a built in generator so the Honda is now the emergency backup for the house and on long trips, the boat. So for me, I prefer the 110 plug version.

Have the same setup and its be flawless as well