Honda or Yamaha <span class="highlight">generator</span>?

I've got both. In my opinion the honda wins as it's quieter, easier to handle and more fuel efficient. Honda make great engines.

Have the EU20i, love it. No dramas. Good value for money. Simple to service.
regards

thanks for the replies so far and thanks for the correction on the Honda.

As we are just learning about generators, can anyone comment on whether we should simply be heading for the maximum power...the Yamaha given it's rated at 2000w as oppose to Honda EU20i at 1600w? The most I could ever see us running off them is an aircond (yes I know - not exactly roughing it however with a 12mth old and another on the way, a cool breeze may save us all in a month or so), 'standard' camper with microwave, lights, small fridge, med sized engel and the air con with normal input current of 1400w and maximum (start up?) of 1450w. If it simply means turning microwave etc off before starting up the genny this isn't an issue..

I'm not quite sure what size/W we should be heading for although it's starting to seem as though the 1600w Honda may not be enough (?)

thanks

Hi Sarah,

Not sure if the new Yamaha EF2000is is on sale yet here is a look at it, we have the Honda eu20i and have been very happy with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-0eb6tsuw8

Christian

hi Sarah
We don't own either but know people who do. Don't know any who runs the aircon from a Honda, oh it will do it, screeming it's t-ts off! So people just don't bother. The Yamaha will do this job easier but weighs more and is much more bulky. Like all things in camping it is a compromise. If I was never going to run a aircon I'd go the Honda for sure. You could always get the 3 kw Honda on wheels, just need lots of ROOM :)
Cheers Lyndon

I suppose in marketing the name helps a lot but in reality there is very little between the three main name brand generators Honda, Subaru and Yamaha.

I always wonder who spends the most money to market the product and do people align with Honda and Yamaha more because of the bike racing and other high profile activities.

We sell both Yamaha and Subaru and fit the electric start models with wireless remote control and we also run our own 3200Subaru on gas.

Honda certainly jumps to the front in a lot of discussions and as stated before they are all nose to nose at the finish line.
Ian

I purchased the Yamaha 2800kv for less than the cost of the Honda 2.0. More power but a slightly more bulky. Weight is almost the same, as are decibels.
Better value IMHO.
Cheers Jack

Sarah
I have a caravan and at times also need the A/C going and was in the same boat as to what to buy as one couldn't try first .So I brought a Yammy EF2800i and it had two power outlets and will run at the same time the Air Con , Microwave oven and the one electric ring on the gas stove. now I tested this in my back yard proberbly never need the power but I now know that elec jugs.toasters ect will not be a problem either.
Just because one is on holiday it don't mean one has to rub two sticks together to light a fire
Genny goes into canopy on back of Hilux

Yes they are not quite Apples for Apples, in my opinion you need to establish what capacity you really need as the extra capacity of the Yamaha could come in very handy. If you don't need the extra capacity the Honda wins, but in terms of watts for $$$ tghe Yamaha wins.

We had a Honda 2kva and needed it only to run the caravan aircon when it got too hot. We found that the Honda couldn't cope when the temperature was over 40 degrees. The handbook confirmed that the unit won't run in ambient heat over 40 degrees.

So we bought the Yamaha and it is great. Yes it is heavier but we can live with that. The noise levels are similar.
Chris

I was told that it isn't a case of buying the biggest capacity generator you can afford. Whist it's true that you don't want it to scream it's head off all the time I've also been told that if they have it too easy the pistons glaze over and that it's not a good thing at all.

We had a small Honda generator for camping which we were pretty happy with, although it was a shame it couldn't boil a normal kettle etc. Next gennie we get is likely to be a backup for the house when the power goes out (rural so need to run the pump for water etc) and my choice will be Yamaha I reckon, purely becuse they have a model that looks like it would suit to a t. From memory the model we would be buying is noisier than a honda but more capacity and it doesn't have the pretty plastic housing which probably means it's more affordable too.