Product Review: Honeywell 2000i Inverter Generator

Ramen N. Soup's Review Corner:
Honeywell 2000i Inverter Generator

Had a brief scare with a possible hurricane about a month ago, so I went online and found that a lot of Home Depots are selling this thing in-store for $300.

That seemed cheap - a little too cheap - but I figure I would only use this sparingly and felt it wasn't worth it to spring another $600 on top of that for a Honda eu2000i generator.

The hurricane never came, but I reckoned that the time to make sure it'll even start up is NOT when the excrement hits the fan.

After oiling the air filter and filling the tank with gas (typical 87 octane unleaded), it started on the second pull. I was able to run an HDTV, DVR, a fan, a lamp, and my laptop computer for about 12 hours of non-continuous use on one and a half gallons of gasoline. The two great things about an invertor generator is that 1) the electricity output is a pure sine wave and is much less likely to damage sensitive electronics and 2) fuel will be conserved as the engine only runs as fast as necessary to power what is plugged in.

The generator even ran the refrigerator while still plugged into the above appliances. I would let it get cold, unplug, and repeat every four hours or so. However, I would recommend that "eco mode" (the switch that makes the engine run full-speed to necessary output speed) be turned off without anything else plugged in. Allow for initial startup wattage to be twice that of normal running wattage. This will prevent possible damage to the fridge motor as it may not get enough electricity straight away.

I have the entertainment system on a battery backup, so unplugging the tv and such, turning off eco mode, plugging in the refrigerator, waiting a few moments, plugging the tv and such back in, and turning on eco mode was no problem.

It's much, much, quieter than other generators, but it's not whisper quiet either. With the generator cable locked to the swimming pool hand rail about 25 feet away and the patio doors closed, I hardly noticed it with the television on. Again, if you plan on using a portable generator often, the Honda eu2000i is a bit lighter and a bit quieter, though at the cost of additional expense.

Portable, though heavy (59 pounds), this generator would be perfect for motor homing or running a window a/c. Check your local Home Depot to see if they have them in stock. I went to one that didn't, while another had four, so it may be hit and miss.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Note: Extension cords that are of the flat kind will be easier to run under a door or close a sliding door on.

 

Oh, by the way, make sure you go to HomeDepot.com and sign up that you justed moved in and wait for the 10% coupon in the mail.

 

If nothing else, I should buy one for the name alone. Right up there with "flux capacitor" or "oscillation overthruster."

 

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

What the fuck? They are going for $699 up here.

 

The price is in-store only.

 

I'll have to swing by Home Depot this weekend.

 

God Damn Fayetteville is a shithole. Didn't have them. Told to check in Raleigh or order off the net. Not only that they didn't even have freakin water jugs.

And I am reminded once again why I shop at Lowe's and not HD. I couldn't find anyone who knew shit about gensets, but had 4 different people come up and annoy me about whatever promotion they were peddling (free estimates and credit or something).

 

Tease. I've called 9 stores now and no one even recognizes the brand. I'm beginning to wonder if this is just a FL thing.

 

If you're serious about purchasing one, I can check to see if my local store still has some in stock, then send it to you at cost (purchase price, tax, & shipping).

I just checked and UPS ground, Fedex Ground, and USPS parcel post and they all charge around a bit over $60.

If you're willing to wait a little longer, I'm expecting a 10% off coupon in the mail in a week or so.

 

So far the best I can find on the web is 395+ 40 S&H.... with that 10% that would actually be quite the steal...




Now to get the hag drunk and convince her that not only does she need my cock in her butt, but we also need a genset.

 

I reckon with a coupon, it'd be about $350 to your door.

Good luck with the other thing.

 

Dad is a big generator guy, I think he has about four. He's a big fan of his inverter generator, and yes it's hella quiet.

 

Yep.

Between my father and Pawpaw we always sat pretty high when power was out got a little one that will run the freezers, fans and most appliances, and a big one that plugged into the dryer outlet will run the entire house. Every so often they'd switch out.

Still doesn't stop my mother from wanting a permanent one running off NG. Unfortunately we don't have NG lines on our street. That might be changing though...

 

I miss my 12kW Kohler LP permanent backup generator.

Feeding off a 1,000-gallon in-ground tank, I could cut off the main switch and power everything in the house like there wasn't a problem.

 

How long you figure that would have lasted you if SHTF?

 

Oh, and in case anyone reading my post hadn't heard of doing this, MAKE SURE YOU TURN OFF POWER TO THE STREET.

If you don't, you will be pushing into the grid and can electrocute the workers who have come to restore power.

A friends father killed someone doing this in Ivan. Stupid mistake, and if the repairman had followed procedures it would have been caught a few times.

But that doesn't help you sleep much at night, so make sure you turn off street power before you hook a genset up to your house.

/PSA

 

From full?

6 months. Especially if it's a typical mild winter (no snow and 5-7 days below freezing).

 

Not that it matters to 99.9% of people here, but if you're running communication gear off generators, good grounding is essential. A huge number of problems clear up when you've got a good, solid ground.

 

Or buy a switching station and make sure it's installed properly. This will allow you to selectively power shit in your house and isolate it from the grid.

 

The utility companies in this area will set you up for free. For some reason, they're highly motivated to make sure it's done right.

 

That's what they've got.

 

Five weeks without power, my own company will I keep regarding hooking up the house.

 

Yeah, but considering electricity didn't make it out to Oklahoma until what... 93?, it's not like y'all were really dependent on it and didn't know what to do without it or anything.....

 

We beat the end of segregation in Alabama by at least a decade.

 

I'm sure all three negros in your state were happy for that.

 

You still got access to these? After a couple hours on the phone with the IRS, not only did they say they are mailing my check to me next friday, but that I get 124.67 in interest!

 

I spent nine years in Psyops with way too much time spent at Fort Bragg so I can confirm that Fayetteville is indeed a shithole. Oh, the upside if you're looking for pawn shops, fast food joints, or Asian massage parlors then Fayettville is your place. Come to think of it there were an abnormally large number of divorce attornoys advertising on TV as well.

 

I actually want to buy a steam generator that can produce power. Preferably, it would by coal and wood. It would DEFINITELY have to run off of wood.

My family farm is 95% pine. I wonder if there is anything bad associated with burning pine.

 

It burns very quickly and doesn't store as much energy as a hardwood. It also has pitch in it that can clog chimneys and create smoke. (IMO)