|
15-09-2014, 10:35
|
#1
|
Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Presently in Rogersville, Al
Boat: Mainship 36 Dual Cabin
Posts: 695
|
Which Portable Gen?
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?
__________________
Mainship 36 DC - 1986
Retired and Full Time Cruising the Eastern U.S. inland Waterways
www.FreeBoatProjects.com
|
|
|
15-09-2014, 10:48
|
#2
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Martinique
Boat: Fortuna Island Spirit 40
Posts: 2,298
|
Re: Which Portable Gen?
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!
|
|
|
15-09-2014, 12:21
|
#3
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6,619
|
Re: Which Portable Gen?
Quote:
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.
|
|
|
15-09-2014, 12:44
|
#4
|
Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Presently in Rogersville, Al
Boat: Mainship 36 Dual Cabin
Posts: 695
|
Re: Which Portable Gen?
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.
__________________
__________________
Mainship 36 DC - 1986
Retired and Full Time Cruising the Eastern U.S. inland Waterways
www.FreeBoatProjects.com
|
|
|
15-09-2014, 12:52
|
#5
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6,619
|
Re: Which Portable Gen?
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.
|
|
|
15-09-2014, 12:52
|
#6
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Toronto
Boat: CS36Merlin, "La Belle Aurore"
Posts: 7,557
|
Re: Which Portable Gen?
Quote:
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.
__________________
|
__________________
Rick I
Toronto in summer, Bahamas in winter.
|
|
|
15-09-2014, 12:54
|
#7
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: daytona beach florida
Boat: csy 37
Posts: 2,976
|
Re: Which Portable Gen?
Yes. Go to www.northerntool.com. Then enter 'ICI Industries' in their search box. Its ONLY $150!
|
|
|
15-09-2014, 12:54
|
#8
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6,619
|
Re: Which Portable Gen?
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
|
|
|
15-09-2014, 12:54
|
#9
|
֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 15,136
|
Re: Which Portable Gen?
tony, look at the noise ratings. I'd bet the Honda is 10-20db quieter than the disposable one.
|
|
|
15-09-2014, 12:59
|
#10
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6,619
|
Re: Which Portable Gen?
Don't forget to buy the extended oil filler attachment. Very nice to have, makes filling/changing oil a much cleaner process.
|
|
|
15-09-2014, 14:07
|
#11
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Martinique
Boat: Fortuna Island Spirit 40
Posts: 2,298
|
Re: Which Portable Gen?
Instead of the extended fill option... Simply buy a transmission funnel. It has many uses on top of filling the generator.
|
|
|
16-09-2014, 05:54
|
#12
|
Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Presently in Rogersville, Al
Boat: Mainship 36 Dual Cabin
Posts: 695
|
Re: Which Portable Gen?
Quote:
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
__________________
Mainship 36 DC - 1986
Retired and Full Time Cruising the Eastern U.S. inland Waterways
www.FreeBoatProjects.com
|
|
|
16-09-2014, 06:03
|
#13
|
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
|
Re: Which Portable Gen?
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
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
|
|
16-09-2014, 09:09
|
#14
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6,619
|
Re: Which Portable Gen?
Quote:
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.
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Advertise Here
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vendor Spotlight |
|
|
|