I'd threatened to write this post a week or two ago.
I know it's an apples to oranges comparison to some degree, but I thought I'd write my observations.
That eu2000i was a remarkable unit, highly portable, reliable, efficient, quiet, and extremely well built. details in construction were outstanding. We all know specs and stories from other posts so I'll forego those here.
Received the yamaha yesterday. It's the big brother to their 2.4 kw model.
There are real design differences between the two brands that I think BITOGers will pay attention to.
Yamaha is traditional alternator off the crankshaft design. Honda eliminates the crank and replaces the flywheel with the alternator. honda is smaller and lighter as a result.
yamaha has all controls on one side, honda on 2 sides. lots of folks like yamaha's one-side approach from an operator perspective.
Honda was easier to access all service points, hands down. One panel comes off with one screw and carb, fuel control, oil drain and fill, drain spillway, all right there. Yamaha-- I haven't gotten in to yet, but i can tell you right now that the engine drains in to the genset pan, which is lined in foam rubber, and there's a rubber knock-out to let it drain from there. This is kind of disappointing. I forsee some plumbing work in it's future with a captive hose-- otherwise it will forever have oil in the foam after OC #1.
Yamaha is covered in thin metal, honda in thick plastic. We all like metal, but after living with a plastic generator I have no problems with it. the metal is thin and flexes easily. it will show its age after a few bumps.
Yamaha is metal-framed to support the weight of both major components. nice and solid. very solid. In the case of the 3k, it's not a one man carry, or even man+wife carry. 150 lbs plus fuel. I think the 2k variants have the yami at 70 lbs and the honda at ~50.
They are both quiet. I think the hondas will all spin at higher rpms max than the yamahas. eu2000 maxes at 4400 sustained rpm. I'm pretty sure the yami 2k is like the 3k at maxes out at 3600. one might be a little buzzier than the other tone-wise.
honda has more HP in reserve to spool up under surge loads without bogging. But, yamaha has more rotational mass in the alternator head so it won't drop its rpms as quickly under surge. I think they are likely equally designed in this regard. throw out my earlier HP arguments.
So it basically comes down to preference. hondas are a bit more portable, won't dent, and have much easier service access. Yamahas are made of metal. Both are well built.
I'll post back after I've had a chance to use mine.
I know it's an apples to oranges comparison to some degree, but I thought I'd write my observations.
That eu2000i was a remarkable unit, highly portable, reliable, efficient, quiet, and extremely well built. details in construction were outstanding. We all know specs and stories from other posts so I'll forego those here.
Received the yamaha yesterday. It's the big brother to their 2.4 kw model.
There are real design differences between the two brands that I think BITOGers will pay attention to.
Yamaha is traditional alternator off the crankshaft design. Honda eliminates the crank and replaces the flywheel with the alternator. honda is smaller and lighter as a result.
yamaha has all controls on one side, honda on 2 sides. lots of folks like yamaha's one-side approach from an operator perspective.
Honda was easier to access all service points, hands down. One panel comes off with one screw and carb, fuel control, oil drain and fill, drain spillway, all right there. Yamaha-- I haven't gotten in to yet, but i can tell you right now that the engine drains in to the genset pan, which is lined in foam rubber, and there's a rubber knock-out to let it drain from there. This is kind of disappointing. I forsee some plumbing work in it's future with a captive hose-- otherwise it will forever have oil in the foam after OC #1.
Yamaha is covered in thin metal, honda in thick plastic. We all like metal, but after living with a plastic generator I have no problems with it. the metal is thin and flexes easily. it will show its age after a few bumps.
Yamaha is metal-framed to support the weight of both major components. nice and solid. very solid. In the case of the 3k, it's not a one man carry, or even man+wife carry. 150 lbs plus fuel. I think the 2k variants have the yami at 70 lbs and the honda at ~50.
They are both quiet. I think the hondas will all spin at higher rpms max than the yamahas. eu2000 maxes at 4400 sustained rpm. I'm pretty sure the yami 2k is like the 3k at maxes out at 3600. one might be a little buzzier than the other tone-wise.
honda has more HP in reserve to spool up under surge loads without bogging. But, yamaha has more rotational mass in the alternator head so it won't drop its rpms as quickly under surge. I think they are likely equally designed in this regard. throw out my earlier HP arguments.
So it basically comes down to preference. hondas are a bit more portable, won't dent, and have much easier service access. Yamahas are made of metal. Both are well built.
I'll post back after I've had a chance to use mine.
