A New Twist on the Honda E2000i Gererator

D

Dreamer

New member
While browsing in a big boy's toy store (Port Angeles Power Equipment) yesterday, I noticed a new look to the Honda E2000i generator. The face plate had a 30 amp twist lock outlet and a 20 amp blade type outlet. The output is still the same, 13.3 amps constant.

The advantage is that two units can be hooked up with a simple $ 39.95 wire harness instead of a $199.95 kit. Also, your 30 amp shore power plug would fit without adapter.

They're $999.00 at Wise sales as opposed to $899.00 for the old style. http://www.wisesales.com/
Honda_Gen.thumb.jpg

 
Roger,

That is good news. However, I hope anyone with the old design knows that you can buy that "yoke" for joining two 200i's and use it on only one genset. That, also will give you the 30 amp twist lock receptacle at the same amp output. That is what I have on my TomCat 255.

John
 
Jim,

It's been awhile since I read the instructions, but Yes, I think you need the 30 amp yoke to control the dual gensets. There is a diode or something in there to protect the gensets from one another. With this new model out, I am thinking you could buy that old yoke for less expense.

John
 
Remember that the two gensets have to be in phase, and that's what the original (expensive) connection did. I assume that there is now a way of slaving one of the new type of inverter to the other with just a normal cord.

Boris
 
JamesTXSD":1crbn2bu said:
Can you hook an older 2000i with the new without the pricey connection and still get 30 amps?
Click to expand...
Jim, If by pricey, you mean the $299 item, yes. You only need the $39.95 cable set. The circuitry that used to be in the $299 part is contained in the new model 2000i. Thinking of getting a second one?
 
Dreamer":2y1wfd43 said:
Jim, If by pricey, you mean the $299 item, yes. You only need the $39.95 cable set. The circuitry that used to be in the $299 part is contained in the new model 2000i. Thinking of getting a second one?
Click to expand...

I wonder if a mix of old 2000i and new 2000i will work with the cheaper cable set?

Don
 
Don,

The way they hook up, I am certain that as long as one has the 30 amp controller, the other will be OK. They just have these snap-in leads that connect to the yoke which isolates the input gensets. Just one isolator should isolate either genset or both.

This new change is certainly a great benefit to most users and should put Honda at the head of the pack for these small generators. The two, 2000i combo has greater performance and lower weight than the 3,000 i.

John
 
The Honda parallel connectors allow you to connect two gensets. The parallel connector yoke bolts rigidly to one of the gensets, allowing stable lock-in of the 30 amp boat plug. The power cord adapter of which you speak is a bit longer overall than the depth of the attached Honda yoke, so it takes up more room and leverages against the simple 110 volt receptacle so that the power cable will not stay in place while powering or in rough anchorages. You have to tape or tie the power cable in place without the yoke.

The Honda parallel connector also has a breaker, switch, and amp gauge.

I put my genset in an aluminum box and the Marinco power cord adaptor is too long to fit in that tight space, but the yoke brings the 30 amp receptacle just inside the walls of the box opening and the boat's power cord twist locks tightly in place and stays there thru rough seas and trailering very well.

To put it another way, the boat's 30 amp power cord and plug in are very heavy - too heavy to stay in place when plugged into a 20 amp, 110V receptacle via the Marinco adabpter unless tied or taped in place.

I have used mine for two years in all conditions without problems.

John
 
From what I can determine, the $40 part is just two cables to connect two old-style EU2000i gensets. No 30 amp connector. If I want the 30 amp connector I have to buy the $200 parallel cable kit. Correct?

See: http://www.wisesales.com/HondaAccessories_New.html

Also, which kit? The RV kit with the "30A125V NEMA TT 30R RV receptacle" or the Home kit with the "30A125V NEMA L5-30 locking plug receptacle"?

Wise Sales shipping charges are pretty outrageous. Hopefully I can find another dealer that does not charge as much for shipping.

Warren
 
Hi Roger,

Yeah, thinking about another 2000i. Not for the boat, but to carry in the 5th wheel. We decided against an installed generator because of weight, cost, and fuel (they recommend propane, since the 5th wheel already has that). Two Hondas would run the a/c and anything else we'd want. Since I already have one, for less than a grand I would be boondockable. :D

Thanks for posting that info.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Warren,

I have purchased ALL the past options in order to find a combo that would work on the boat, on the field (farmwork, spraying, etc.) and for the farmhouse (2 combined gensets). I am anchored out right now, but somewhere at home I have all the instructions. I am pretty sure you can read the manuals from Honda online. I did not get good info from the local Honda dealers in Wichita a few years ago when I was first searching.

The two simple cables allow you to plug in a variety of different 110V, 20 amp plug-ins, but limit the draw from each receptacle in a kind of complex pattern.

The yoke I bought has the twist lock, 30 amp connector, and it works great for the boat's marine power cord (30 amp twist lock). I bought an adaptor connector from twist lock to 30 amp RV for emergency use, but the diesel genset on the motorhome now has never failed.

So, I would order the 30 amp twist lock version. That is the most stable and easily adapted to the RV straight blade plug receptacle. If you got the RV straight blade receptacle, you could still adapt it to the twist lock, but the RV blade junction is not stable and loosens easily on a boat - and is less water resistant.

Right now I am at anchor up on the North end of Grand Lake, OK and it is in the low 40's outside with 30-35 mph winds, but I am warm and comfy inside the cabin (Wallas)with the Honda 2000i running on Economy mode just to run the computer, radio, and battery charger. Only on hot days running the A/C or running a 110V heater or microwave oven, 110 V coffee pot do I need the high speed on the genset.

I use a 12V coffee pot which still runs on low speed economy mode on the genset since the battery charger is slowly replacing the juice used by the coffeepot.

Another nice thing about the old Yoke setup is that it gives you extra, strong rails to hold the genset in place.

JOhn
 
I found a dealer on eBay that will sell the parallel kit for what Wise sells them for, and with free shipping! That will save me $40+.

After I put this kit, with the locking plug for marine use, on the genset, how do I use it with my RV? Is there a 30 amp locking-to-RV adapter or something?

This is a problem I assume Jim will encounter if he buys a 2nd 2000i -- or maybe not, since the new 2nd genset will have the 30 amp non-locking plug built in.

Thanks,
Warren
 
Warren,

Congrats on getting the genset. I think you will enjoy it a great deal. To me, the decision was either a huge bank of batteries and electronics that I'd have to charge, maintain, etc., or just a couple of house batteries and a small genset.

West Marine sells the marine twist lock to RV, but since marine requirements are more stringent than RV requirements, I'd go to a big RV catalog or parts store for the twist lock to RV adapter. The RV adapters are dark brown/black and the more expensive marine adapters are yellow with a threaded collar and sealing ring - not needed for one to run on an RV.

I just spent a couple of nights anchored out at below freezing temps, using the genset off and on to run the microwave, TV, computer, charge camera batteries, and make sure I had a full house battery charge before going to bed with the Wallas handling the cold. It had to be over 80 degrees in the cabin with that Wallas on ! In the morning I went out to the cockpit cooler in my swim shorts and T-shirt to get some milk for breakfast and, Wowee! - it was 26 degrees out there!

Without the genset, I'd not be able to run the Wallas all day and night without risking low batteries.

John
 
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