EU1000 Versus EU2000

Wow! a 27 lb 1000 watt generator surging to 2700 watts (even for 3 seconds!) would make it extremely versatile for running a camper-style A/C on a C-Dory.

As someone who has spent quite some time trying to find the smallest practical generator for running the A/C, a few questions come to mind...

Question 1: Where is the dealer getting the surge info from? It is not available in the specs put out by Yamaha...

Question 2: Can it surge while in the econo mode? Otherwise, either the A/C will have to run continuously, or the generator will have to be at full throttle all the time to handle the on-off cycling of a thermostat conrolled A/C.

Question 3: At full throttle, what is the noise level, and what is the running time on a tankful of gas?

Of course, 2 generators in parallel would be just fine.

Personally, I have decided on a "Bob Austin" setup- a Honda 2000 with a 8300 BTU rooftop A/C.
 
The Honda (and the rest of the similar "generators" are basically an alternator powering an inverter. There is a very brief surge capacity in all of these. (I would be a bit surprised if the Yahama will surge to 2700 watts for any length of time). The Yamaha is the same technology as the Honda. All of the reviews, including one by Woodalls, gives the output of the Honda and Yamaha as the same--1000 watts max, 900 watts running. The Yamaha 2400, has a max output of 2400 watts, and continous of 2000 watts. However, it is 70 lbs--too much for me to move!

The Honda EU 2000 max output is 2000 watts, or 16.7 amps. Rated continous is 13.3 amp, 1600 watts. Will it surge slightly beyond this--perhaps for a very brief peroid of time, but not something to be counted on. If you are running a load near the peak of its capacity, you have to have the eco throttle off. This keeps the engine running at max RPM. The eco throttle lets the engine drop to a fast idle, and then power up RPM as necessary when more power is necessary. One of the problems, is that in some loads, you may have to have the engine spinning up, in order to start a marginal load--you can then drop the engine back to eco mode for running. But don't count on any load much over 16.7 amps. (I was looking at the "cheap" window air conditioners at WalMart--they claim to be 15 amps--so would be marginal for the EU20000. But, without putting a meter on the unit, it would be impossiable to know what the real load is.
 
Thanks for the thoughts on the reverse polarity light.


As a quick afterthought; I wanted to pass along another great thing about having a 2000W generator on board. We arrived back at port in Whittier, AK with our waste tank topped off. We finally found the pump out station, with at least a couple of people telling us good luck on finding it operational.

We found the pump unplugged. I tried all the surrounding outlets and still it didn't work. Finally I pulled my generator out on the dock and plugged it in. Presto!!!!! Fully operational waste pump out station.

Sure glad we had the generator so we didn't have to haul this mess home with us.
 
I wonder...

I feel I missed it, but, has anyone setup a workable solution to mounting the EU2000 on the CD25 with twins?

I have the Marine A/C Systems 12000BTU unit. Has anyone run this setup on the EU2000 and with what added loads?

I have successfully run this setup [along with the charger and cabin lites] on a 15Amp shore power service thru a 100' ,16/3, extension cord, plugged into my 30Amp , 50' power cord for the required length needed across a parking lot without any problem. Maybe I was lucky, but it worked. I pulled power from a building outlet when the 2 - 30Amp service drops at the dock were in use and I did not have a 50Amp adaptor. [ I will be building one soon. ]

I hope to place my Amp Probe on the power panel feeds at some point this summer to verify the loads, at which time I can report back.

NOTE: As I corrected some spelling in this I realized that I did not take the measurements. The effort was derailed with my heart attack in early June. Hope I can now follow up on this at some point soon.
 
Art,
One of the "Kill-a-watt" meters is great for measuring the loads--it is direct flow thru for amps/watts and also measures the voltage at the same time.

I have also a number of 13,500 RV AC units on 15 amp circuits. The difference is that sometimes the 15 amp circuit has a bigger breaker on it....Also you probably had voltage drop (which should increase the current flow)--but the EU2000 will shut down, rather than give low voltage for more than a few seconds. Susposedly there is a 12,000+ air conditioner by Coleman which will run reliabely on the EU 2000. Some RVers have gotten 11,000 and 13,500 compressors to run on the EU 2000, others have not had as good luck. You may be able to find information on the RV forums because there is a lot of experience with the Honda EU 2000i.

We have been talking about building a rack on the splash well for the generator. I envision using two Bimini top deck hinges mounted horizontally on each side. Putting external eye caps on 3/4" or 1" SS tubing and having either quick release or screw pins to hold these across the splash well. A Starboard platform could be placed on top of this "rack" and the generator strapped onto this, with the exhaust directed aft, between the engines.
 
Bob,
I have to check to see if there is the added load of a water pump for the Marine 1Ton a/c unit. I realize inverters are not too happy with excess load currents for the PWM most use and the load can knockout the driver/oscillator to the point it could fry the input filters or series caps to the doubler circuit on the preregulator. Either way, if it doesn't protect itself, I buy a new inverter.

So, if I am at that close of a margin, I see 2- EU2000s wired in parallel or 1- EU3000.

As to the frame support for this, it appears that space would dictate the EU3000. The hardware would therefore be 1" SS stock with a shelf located between the twins. This would have to allow removal so the OBs can be raised, if needed. Unlike the 255, the OBs are very close together. Homework is required to see how close all this really is.; especially if we would add the external fuel tank. [I don't know what the the vacuum pull is for the EU3000. I do have 2 RACOR filters under the starboard aft deck seat.]
 
Art-

I don't know offhand how the weight and dimensions compare, but Yamaha makes a single 2600 watt inverter type generator similar to the Hondas that might fit somewhat between the motors and provide the necessary wattage and surge capacity w/o having two units, although handling two smaller units might be easier than one large one.

Still might be worth looking into as an alternative.

500003836_2_M.jpg


On edit: looks like the 2600 has be reduced to a 2400!

Yamaha 2400i LINK---Click on features, specifications, and accessories

Joe.
 
The pumps for the marine AC units draw about an amp--so that has to be included--but there is not the same start up load with the small pump motor.

Joe, I had posted the outputs on the Yamaha EF 2400 is inverter type generator (there may also be a 2600 which I missed)--and it is 2400 max output and 2000 watts continous 16.7 amps continous but weight is 70 lbs, vs the 1600 watts and 13.3 amps for the EU 2000 i. There are folks definately running the 13,500 RV roof airs on the Yamaha.

I was looking at the splash well of my C Dory 25 today and I agree that it would be more difficult to build a rack which would keep the generator clear of the motors with twins. It occured to me that perhaps a rack over the engines would be better on that application---gets complicated?

There is also a Yamaha EF 2800i, which puts out 2500 watts--is lighter (64 lbs) but noiser (60 to 67 dB). It looks more like a "contractor" type of generator.

The EU 2000i will not pull gas up out of tanks which are more than a foot below the top of the built in fuel tank. I am not sure of the other's abliity, but I suspect that the RV literature has this. There have been problems with putting in a pressure fuel pump (overflow of raw gas has been reported). We try and keep our 6 gallon auxillary tank about at the same level as the EU 2000.
 
Hey Bob and all: I had been thinking of getting a "polling platform" built for C-Byrd to mount over the motor....like the skinny water flats boats have. My thought/concearn was adding another 70 lbs of gen, plus the weight of the platform itself which should not be all that heavy??? This may work on the CD 25s too?? No? Maybe Yes?? I know C-Pearl is also poking about looking for a solution too. Who knows... might get an order for about a dozen of them.

Options of aluminum vs SS for leighter weights?
 
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