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Engel shx2000 horror story - engel reliability - not with gennies!

Submitted: Monday, Dec 03, 2007 at 14:03

redmeatgrr

Generator choice is hard, but it was hard to go past the Engel SHX2000. The plan was to run a small air cond unit drawing 500W with it in a caravan. Honda 2 KVa did it with ease and lots of extra to spare. So I bought an Engel. Googled the Engel model even with the words "engel, known problems, faults etc." Felt I'd done my homework. Decided to buy item. Then things went wrong.

1. Bought it, hooked it up to the a/c, and the machine lets out a piercing howling sound.

2. Turned it off, brought it back to the shop, we tested it there with lots of applicances, and all was ok, no howling.

3. Went back, tested it again with a/c, howling started again

4. Rang Engel Customer Service Line. Response: This machine is not designed to run any a/c:s. Our specs say do not run an a/c with it. It's a square wave machine, not pure sine wave (whatever that means...) They said Lots of people who have bought one have called us and said why is the gennie howling with some apps.

5. Rang shop and said can you take it back, I can't live with the noise. And it does not say anywhere in any brochures or ads for the machine, that do not run the unit with any a/c.They said we'll ring State Manager.

6. Rang Customer Service again. This time they said you can run an a/c with it as long as the load is below 1800 W! I said the gennie runs it beautifully, startup goes only to half load according to leds, a/c works but cannot live with the piercing sound from the gennie.

7. Half an hour later, another phone call from them, and on wed i'll be driving a 240 km inc return trip to a capital city to have it "assessed" by an expert company.

I'll let you know how I went.
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ThreadID: 52201 Replies: 4
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AnswerID: 274784   Submitted: Monday, Dec 03, 2007 at 14:51

brummie pete replied:

i am in the market for a gennie and i went to perth 4 wd drive show and i spotted one of the engel gennies and automatically thought must be good quality .
So had a good chat with the salesman and basically if i wanted to run aircon it would be better to go with the honda or yamaha ,fair play to the guy as he talked himself out of a sale but i shall remember him when eventually the sales come on in jan and i grab my yamaha .
Sorry to hear of your dilemma ,its a shame they just wont swop and you put the extra towards a new honda of yam .
Reply 1 of 4
AnswerID: 274871   Submitted: Monday, Dec 03, 2007 at 21:53

The Rambler( W.A.) replied:

my experience--Engel for fridges--Honda for generators.

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Roper Bar crossing
Reply 2 of 4
FollowupID: 538576   Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 04, 2007 at 10:34

Ron173 posted:

Saw a sales guy selling an Engel, and showing the direct comparison with the Honda next to it, he said they were re badged Hondas.

Dont know how true, I wasnt buying just observing from background, but looked pretty similair to me.

FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 538589   Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 04, 2007 at 12:02

Member - Ed. C. (QLD) posted:

Ron, according to Olbis, the electronics for both Honda and Engel generators are made by Sawafuji Electric Co. (the makers of Engel 'fridges & gennies), and I have no reason to doubt it, though apparently (according to some more knowledgeable than I), the waveforms are quite different...

Though the Englels do use Honda engines, I'd suggest that a salesperson saying they are "re-badged Hondas" is drawing a rather long bow..

Cheers:)


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Confucius say.....
"He who lie underneath automobile with tool in hand............
Not necessarily mechanic!!"
FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 274939   Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 04, 2007 at 10:39

TerraFirma replied:

Honda, Yamaha and if you feel brave Kipor. I have a Kipor 3000ti and take it away offshore every year on a boat, runs the hot water , re-charges batteries, lights etc etc and it's now 3 years old still going strong. That said if my life depended on it, Honda all day everyday..!
Reply 3 of 4
AnswerID: 275006   Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 04, 2007 at 18:42

time waster replied:

What sort of air cond do you have if it oly _Affordable_Storage_Drawers.aspx 500w is it evaporative?
Reply 4 of 4
FollowupID: 538660   Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 04, 2007 at 18:42

time waster posted:

only
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