Which Portable Gen?

[Tony B]

Honda EU2000 is always considered top of the line by me and so that is what I was thinking of getting. Then, I looked at NorthernTool.com and they have their own brand - Powerhorse. The specs are identical.
Does anyone here have any experience with the Powerhorse generator?

[travellerw]

I don't have any experience with that brand... but I own a company that imports generators from China...

Let me say.. I personally wouldn't own anything but a Honda on a boat. There is just no comparison. The Chinese brands are aimed at a completely different market. They are aimed at occasional use for remote power or RVs. Although the electronic control boards are potted, thats the only weather proof parts. The plugs, switches and other controls are off the shelf standard stuff. Personally, I don't think you would get 3 months before a failure!

[socaldmax]

Originally Posted by travellerw

I don't have any experience with that brand... but I own a company that imports generators from China...

Let me say.. I personally wouldn't own anything but a Honda on a boat. There is just no comparison. The Chinese brands are aimed at a completely different market. They are aimed at occasional use for remote power or RVs. Although the electronic control boards are potted, thats the only weather proof parts. The plugs, switches and other controls are off the shelf standard stuff. Personally, I don't think you would get 3 months before a failure!

I think this is excellent advice! I've only seen Magna, Kipor and Champion "knockoff" generators and none were as quiet as the Honda, even if their published specs were the same.

If you don't mind buying a used Honda, you can find them on CL for pretty reasonable. I've seen some that looked like they were brand new in the $600-700 range.

[Tony B]

Honda it is. Now for the next question........
Is there any way to easily set up for running the gen off of a 6 gal. gas tank for O/B motor? I am not even remotely interested in the "Extended Run Tank" for $170.
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[socaldmax]

Sure. Just buy the extended run gas cap (or drill the original and install a hose barb if you feel you're up to it) and just connect that via hose to your existing O/B tank, with the priming bulb installed in between. All you need to do is get the air out of the fuel line with the bulb, an the siphon will do the rest.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by Tony B

Honda it is. Now for the next question........
Is there any way to easily set up for running the gen off of a 6 gal. gas tank for O/B motor? I am not even remotely interested in the "Extended Run Tank" for $170.
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Honda EU2000i Auxilary Fuel Tank.wmv - YouTube

[onestepcsy37]

Yes. Go to www.northerntool.com. Then enter 'ICI Industries' in their search box. Its ONLY $150!

[socaldmax]

I'd love to know where he got all of those brass fittings for $5. That's more like $20 or more at my local HD store. LOL

[hellosailor]

tony, look at the noise ratings. I'd bet the Honda is 10-20db quieter than the disposable one.

[socaldmax]

Don't forget to buy the extended oil filler attachment. Very nice to have, makes filling/changing oil a much cleaner process.

[travellerw]

Instead of the extended fill option... Simply buy a transmission funnel. It has many uses on top of filling the generator.

[Tony B]

Originally Posted by socaldmax

Sure. Just buy the extended run gas cap (or drill the original and install a hose barb if you feel you're up to it) and just connect that via hose to your existing O/B tank, with the priming bulb installed in between. All you need to do is get the air out of the fuel line with the bulb, an the siphon will do the rest.

I assume I use the squeeze bulb to get the whole cycle started flowing. My next question would be....Do I have to evacuate any air in my Honda built-in fuel tank by filling to the top or what?
Thanks in advance

[a64pilot]

You don't need a squeeze bulb. I do fill my gens full to begin with. As the fuel is burned a vacuum is formed that will pull the fuel into the gen. The fuel cap of course must be air right to form this vacuum. This works on the Hondas as they have a fuel pump. Without a pump this would not work of course


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[socaldmax]

Originally Posted by Tony B

I assume I use the squeeze bulb to get the whole cycle started flowing. My next question would be....Do I have to evacuate any air in my Honda built-in fuel tank by filling to the top or what?
Thanks in advance

If you have a squeeze bulb, you don't need to have the genny topped off. If you have the genny topped off, you don't need the squeeze bulb, as a64pilot said.

As long as fuel gets siphoned into the tank before it goes empty.