Generator review

[tmsnyder]

Just got back from Oshkosh EAA Airventure and one thing I noticed a lot of was the HF 3500 watt generator. This is a quiet invertor generator. While walking around the huge grounds, there were a ton of these things out there running, so I was able to compare them virtually side by side with other quiet invertor generators.

One thing that surprised me was that the Honda EU2200i generators are loud compared to the Predator! I know it's hard to believe but I witnessed it over and over again while walking around. I didn't think to download a decibel meter, next time.

A few weeks ago I camped with a friend that had the HF one, he ran it all weekend and honestly it burned very little fuel. He was running his A/C.

Now, how they are over time? Who knows? Maybe parts aren't available, where the Honda you could get fixed. Something to think about anyway....

 

[LQQKatJon]

Honda 2200 is lighter and louder and holds way less gas. You can carry it around.

the predator harbor freight 3500 is way heavier and holds lots of gas.

the two really can’t be compared.
The harbor freight is a clone of the honda 3000 inverter. There is no quieter or better generator then the honda 3000inverter. But the harbor freight is fraction of cost and seems to do very well and like you said is way quieter then a honda 2200.

I personally have a yamaha 2200. And it is louder. But it reallynis bare minimum and I am not really happy with it as it has issues supplying my power needs when temps are super hot. I personally think for our gmc’s you need a 2800 watt or greater generator.

i can borrow a honda 3000is whenever I want, but see comments that it is damn heavy and takes up space.

 

[tmsnyder]

Honda 2200 is lighter and louder and holds way less gas. You can carry it around.

the predator harbor freight 3500 is way heavier and holds lots of gas.

the two really can’t be compared.
The harbor freight is a clone of the honda 3000 inverter. There is no quieter or better generator then the honda 3000inverter. But the harbor freight is fraction of cost and seems to do very well and like you said is way quieter then a honda 2200.

I personally have a yamaha 2200. And it is louder. But it reallynis bare minimum and I am not really happy with it as it has issues supplying my power needs when temps are super hot. I personally think for our gmc’s you need a 2800 watt or greater generator.

i can borrow a honda 3000is whenever I want, but see comments that it is damn heavy and takes up space.

I wasn't comparing every characteristic of the different size generators. Just how quiet the cheap HF one was compared to the supposedly quiet Honda.

2200 watts isn't enough to run the rooftop air. I don' t remember seeing / hearing any honda 3000s. There were however, many 'pairs' of Honda EU2200i running hooked up to each other.

 

[pvfjr]

Thanks for the feedback, Todd. I've been hearing good things about them as well.

How often do you attend Oshkosh? I got to go in 2019. Hopefully I'll be sent again someday.

 

[tmsnyder]

This was my first. My dad has an ultralight he enjoyed quite a lot over the years, figured it would be a good idea to drag him out to it. It was quite an experience. Like no other. Hundreds of acres of campers. I think we saw 3 GMCs there.

 

[Matt Colie]

Mary's Canadian cousins used to go before the plague.
The are both sailplane pilots.

Matt

 

[LNelson]

This was my first. My dad has an ultralight he enjoyed quite a lot over the years, figured it would be a good idea to drag him out to it. It was quite an experience. Like no other. Hundreds of acres of campers. I think we saw 3 GMCs there.

Todd, next time you go, just to the northeast of the Ultra light field is "I-195". You will see 4 or 5 rows of Cessna 195's. We are pretty much in the same spot we have been in for 20 years give or take. I will be there this year. I do like walking thru Scholler and seeing the various rigs camped over there. At 74, I don't know how much flying I have left in me but who knows

 

[ScottC]

My neighbor at Michigan International Speedway brings his HF 3500 every year, it is quiet, he runs everything with it and has been going strong for the past 4-5 years. He loves it.

 

[TR 1]

Todd, next time you go, just to the northeast of the Ultra light field is "I-195". You will see 4 or 5 rows of Cessna 195's. We are pretty much in the same spot we have been in for 20 years give or take. I will be there this year. I do like walking thru Scholler and seeing the various rigs camped over there. At 74, I don't know how much flying I have left in me but who knows

I've always loved the -195... Round engines have a sound all their own. Once I get the rest of my kids off the payroll, I'd love to get back into aviation, and the 195 is without a doubt, on my short list of ways to do it....

 

[tmsnyder]

Todd, next time you go, just to the northeast of the Ultra light field is "I-195". You will see 4 or 5 rows of Cessna 195's. We are pretty much in the same spot we have been in for 20 years give or take. I will be there this year. I do like walking thru Scholler and seeing the various rigs camped over there. At 74, I don't know how much flying I have left in me but who knows

Thanks for the invite, we probably aren't going again. It was a bit too spread out for half our crew which is in the 75-80 year old range. And hot. We're planning a different adventure trip for this summer.