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That was a very well made video. Straight to the point with no useless information. Most folks go on for a whole minute or two about useless junk. I enjoyed watching this video.
I ordered a Westinghouse iGen2500 in late 2018. Used it for the first and thus far only time for 36 hours straight when Hurricane Laura knocked out power with winds of about 50 mph where I live in Louisiana. Generator worked fine powering refrigerator, fan, TV, and light. I also used it briefly to run a microwave and toaster. Got about 9 hours on one tank of gasoline. Hope I don't need it again anytime soon.
I just purchased the new Honda EU2200i Companion. I also have an 18 year old Honda EB 3000. It can sit in my garage for a year or longer and it still starts on the first pull! My opinion, Honda is by far the best small engine on the market. ( I also have an older Honda powered high pressure washer, same thing, starts on the first pull). Never had an issue with either engine.
I just had work done on my Honda (eu7000is), and it was completely covered under warranty, at 2.5 years old and 4500+ hours. Honda all the way! It's worth the price.
I go with Honda. I have s EU2200i. Love it. Dependable, quiet and easy to store. Runs my A/C in our Lance 850 no problem. I also have the battery charge cords to charge up our car battery if needed. Not jump but charge it. Wouldn’t go with anything else.
I purchased a Westinghouse iGen2500 last year. I love Honda, but with the amount of intended use, it came down to price. I do like the added digital readouts on the iGen2500. Something to consider is that Westinghouse has great customer service! I did ask them what kind of engine they put in it and they told me it is a Ducar engine. I looked up that company and they appear to be the ones that manufacture the engine and housing, but not necessarily all the electrical components. The engine is smaller at 98cc. What the horsepower comes down to is the rpm at which the engine must rev up to to attain that power output. In this case, the idle down speed is around 3,100 rpm but under high loads, it'll rev to 5,500 rpm. A larger engine, like in the Honda, will not have to rev quite as high for the same power output.
We had a Honda i1000 generator in a repair shop where I worked. Literally cant say anything about it because it always started without any tinkering. Always started in a matter of a few pulls even when it sat for a month. But at 1000€ price tag, you really don't expect nothing less but a perfect generator.
Perfect comparison between the two. Three years ago I bought the Westinghouse WH2400i (around $600) because I couldn't afford the Honda but I've only used it once. I knew I'd hardly use it which is why I went with the cheaper of the two but so far haven't had any problems. Glad I have one just in case of an emergency.
I used to have a generator rental business. From large 120Kw trailers to the original Honda EU2000. The Honda's were abused beyond anything they were intended for. The users didn't care and they ran for thousands of hours - no issues at all. I just yesterday received another EU2200i for my personal RV. There is no reason to mess around with copy cats.
that doesn't make sense your comment. Yes Honda's been around for a while but Honda wasn't the first generator. So nobody's copying anything. And at the end of the day you can't even prove that Honda was the first generator like these. I'm sure somebody out there that can prove it but you can't.
I have owned the Westinghouse wh2200ixlt 2200 watt model generator for around 8 years now. I use it every year while camping and any time I have a power outage. I change the oil as recommended and have never had any issues with this little generator. It always starts in 2-3 pulls and runs like a champ! Its very quiet and sips the gas! I would definitely be interested in trying this newer model with the higher wattage output!
I just ran my Generac GP2200i (same design as your Westinghouse) for over 13 hours during recent power outage powering fridge, separate garage deep freeze, periodic induction cooking plate, USB charger, fiber optic modem and wireless router, household lighting and watched a movie on flat panel TV .. and it didn't skip a beat .. started on first pull. I posted a video on my site .. actually three and showed it on eco-mode whilst running. Cheers ... just saying, that for half the price, it did a very nice "quiet" job .. just being honest.
The big thing too is ever needing repair, Certified Honda repair shops are in every major town. I have had the 3000i for many years, it is just a beast that keeps on going. Honda all the way for the long term investment.
I have an old four wheeler that has a Honda clone 110 engine you can't kill it it's just as good as the Honda I have a 1983 Honda 50 which is still running as well. The only thing bad about the four-wheeler is the frame around it sucks. Any shop that can repair a Yamaha or a Honda Will repair one of these clones and it's cheaper to repair them as well.
Great review. I have the Honda 2200 a couple of years and love it. I usually dry camp at one of our local lakes and run it 4-5 days nonstop and it runs flawlessly. I just change the oil between trips.
David, we find that how we want to live in our new rv is closer to how you live than just about anyone on youtube. We always enjoy your videos and usually mod many of the same things in it as you have. We almost bought the westinghouse and just decided to go honda after all. The quietness and propane kit were huge in our decision, but a larger, stronger engine nearly always means less engine strain and more reliability. YOU have helped us more than you can ever realize with your vids, thanks.
Good video. You did miss a few salient points. The Honda generator has many accessories from many different sources and also a plethora of service centers, and parts are readily available.Where would you get a high-altitude carburetor needle for a Westinghouse and who would install it? UA-cam has many videos on repairing a Honda generator and they are fairly easy to work on. The digital readout means very little to me, but that is in my application. The Honda will surge to 2200 watts for thirty minutes while most brands will surge to their max for thirty seconds. This may be why the Westinghouse can get more wattage from a smaller engine. Another feature about the Honda is resale. I have run into some hard times and had to sell two Eu 2000i's to make ends meet. From the time I purchased the units until the time I sold them the Honda's had gone up in price and I to about five percent less than what I paid for it and they sell quickly. Take good care of these units, oil is cheap and I change mine even if it ran for fifteen minutes. The last item is the warranty, keep a detailed spreadsheet of the maintenance done, as I have read Honda may ask for this for warranty work. The main warranty item is setting the valve lash, have a shop do it for a good record or take pictures and document your work. Honda has been know to void the warranty if this is not done at 200 hours. Honda generators are made to produce clean power consistently, and dependably; as for me keep the bells and whistles I electrical power Thanks for the video, good luck.
Glad you are switching over to the propane kit with your truck being diesel you really don’t want to lug around a can of gas that you don’t use that often. Much safer to carry around propane over gas too. Myself I chose the companion model 1st because of the plug for the RV. I new eventually I would need to supplement it and later added the standard one. BTW compare the cost of Parallel kits. The Honda is a few dollars over the other brands hundreds of dollars.
This is exactly why we are doing the propane conversion kit, I'm tired of dealing with gasoline that we have no other reason to lug around. You make a good point there for getting the companion model first.
I’ve had two of the earlier version Honda generators (2000i) for 16 years. They still run like new. Both of mine have been converted to propane early in there lives. The only negative I have is since they don’t put out as much power on propane, I need to use both for A.C. Even with an easy start. One thing for certain is that Honda rates output very conservatively, as my 2000 watt units (1600 running) easily put out about 2000 watts more than that without overloading as long as I’m not above about 5000 feet. Others seem to be rated a little high, and usually can do it near sea level.
I have 3 Westinghouse inverters 2x Igen2500 and 1x igen2400 the 2400 runs my Makita 2" drills one at a time as well as my Bosch 2" drill it struggles a bit but works, the 2500's will not run them, the drills pull about 1740 watts and all the 2500's get an overload warning then click goes the breaker I sent 2 back to Westinghouse and these are the ones they sent back so 4 2500's will not exceed 1740 watts, I also have an EU 2200i Companion it runs the drill and lights at the same time I get about 2300 watts before the breaker goes I no longer use the Westinghouse generators since last year I am Honda all the way. Nice video. Also on the propane conversion kit.
great video, looked at the honda about 2 yrs ago but was outside of my budget. I ended up getting the igen 2500, 1473 hours later and it is still going, lots of oil changes, and a cpl spark plugs along the way, but still going strong.
I've got the Westinghouse. It ran everything but my trailer's AC. Added a hard start kit to that, and it runs it fine too. I don't care to buy anything more expensive.
As Thomas said, the Westinghouse is actually a generic Chinese-made generator. There is also a 3200W inverter version that is capable of powering 30Amp continuous shore power. They are good quality, and the replacement circuit boards are readily available. The boards are usually the first thing to fail in any inverter generator. I paid $520 Canadian for mine, whereas the 3000W Honda, or Onan that the RV dealer recommended, were in the $3000 Canadian range.
Good day friends, thank you for the effort in putting together the video. Very informative. I will rarely use my new Westinghouse generator. I just ordered one thru sams club for $349.00 plus tax. and free delivery. I have a honda eu1000i for about 6 years with 0 problems.
Excellent review of these two generators. I have the Westinghouse 2200, the smaller version off the one reviewed, and I'm very pleased with it. However, I only purchased it for emergencies and we'll probably not run 25 gallons of gas through in its lifetime.
I have both. I run 2 generators 6 days a week for 8-10 ,hrs a day. Have had to replace more on Honda. Years ago Honda king. No more. No problem for parts for westinghouse or any of the generators. They are not throw away.
My friend lived off grid without power. For 4 years before he got solar (2010 til 2014) he ran his Eu2000i for 4-5 hours a day. During which he’d run appliances he needed / charge his deep cycle battery bank. All he did was follow the maintenance schedule. After 4 years still ran like a champ. He put over 5,000 hours on his Honda eu2000i over 4 years and still ran like a champ. No other small engine / generator would last like that. You get what you pay for with a Honda.
I can’t afford to have one fail on me when I’m running an event or when I’m remote. I need it to be reliable. Same reason I buy good tools and not harbor freight.
@@xzibit8614 Both generators can run out of gas, run low on oil or even get a fouled spark plug. Many things for reliability do rely on good maintenance. If you are running a nuclear power plant where failure is not an option, you spend as much money as necessary to guarantee no failure. Most people out camping in their trailers don't have that reliability requirement that you are talking about. If that is what you really need, then you will have to just pay the price for that reliability. I have nothing against Honda products except their price. Also I buy almost all my tools at harbor freight. The best tool is the one that I can find or have for the job. I have lost many tools over the years. Also 98% of the time any wrench will loosen that nut. If you need that special tool for a job you do constantly, then you pay the extra money for it. You better keep a good lock and key on those special tools because they will be the first ones stolen.
Thanks for a good video, when power goes out I use my Honda EU2200I in Eco-mode to run my 10,000 btu Haier portable AC unit & two fans without ever tripping the overload, plus it's great on gas, love my Honda Geny!
Excellent report David and I agree...You can't beat a Honda...generator or car. My Honda Civic is almost 21 years old and still run's like a dream. bill in Florida
David, you are the best! Both you and Jenny are so clear and thorough in your research and evaluations of products you test and recommend, as well as describing camping tips locations, situations that can occur for us RV'rs. Thank You So Much!
Good video David and good comparison. I have the Westinghouse 2200 and for 2 years no problems. Also I have found good technical support from Westinghouse. Points about the Honda are well taken but I was able to afford the Westinghouse. Good job!
Fate Unbound To make a generator last longer, change the oil every 25-30 hours because these generators have no oil filter and they lubricate with “splash lubrication”. Got this from the Westinghouse engineer. Also “train” or break in your unit by powering different wattages for an hour or so. I used an electric oil heater that allowed me to change the wattage. My Westinghouse required me to use a break in oil for the first 50 hours. Whatever you do being maintenance minded will hopefully make it last. Also I have tried to load the higher wattage and it worked well. No argument on the Honda quality. It’s just a lot more money.
I had an 1800 watt Coleman generator than never missed a beat. I only paid $300 for it. I should have kept it. I have Honda’s now but the Coleman did everything i needed and kept our house from freezing up at minus 50 on several occasions.
All I can tell you is I work for a large repair facility for a widely known company. In 3 years I've seen one or two Hondas come back, however the Westinghouse, Champions, Generic ive seen dozens.
Frank Bailey I haven’t even bothered to register my Honda. I doubt I’d need the warranty. Except I think I put fuel stabilizer in it twice by accident. It is running less rough after adding fresh gas. I didn’t know it is overhead cam and will need a valve adjustment. Glad I checked. It only has about 5 hours on it. I sold my Yamaha and got the Honda 2200i for the extra 200 watts.
Thanks for the awesome video! As a side note, you could potentially test the actual watts output between the 2 generators using an amp probe or a kill-a-watt to confirm actual max continuous duty output, to figure out if they meet up to the manufacturer claims.
I bought the Honda, and the companion. Another thought, search Honda Motorcycle. There are many dealerships everywhere. Each of them has a service department with a mechanic. You will be able to drive to a store/dealership talk to a person face to face and show them what your problem is. The mechanic will then fix your problem, or service, change the oil, or what ever it is. Those dealerships survive on product reputation and their ability to service everything that Honda sells. No I am not affiliated or work for Honda but I have had experience with Honda dealerships and many other Motorcycle shops and they all have one thing in common. Great service. Where is your local Westinghouse Dealership, sales representative or mechanic?
Most excellent review and comparison. Hard to find these days. I just went through a typhoon in Japan where we lost power for two days, a first for me in 35 years and close to 75 typhoons. We went with the Westinghouse because it will be rarely used and will serve our needs nicely. We tent camp but I may drag it along and run some electric vice propane camp lights to see how that all works out.
The Westinghouse generator's smaller engine probably runs at higher RPM's than the Honda generator's engine. Although higher engine RPM's will likely cause the engine components to wear more quickly (shorter engine life). But, if the generator isn't used very much (backup purposes or camping just a few weeks a year), engine life may not be that big of concern.
I have ran the crap out of two pulsar sets. Yes they are the same as Westinghouse, generac, ford and pbally a few others. I gave a friend my oldest pulsar inverter the 2000 watt version with 700 hrs of hard use. I also have the newer 2300 watt one and didn’t put an hour meter on it but pbally close to 200 hrs and have had zero issues.
I bought the Sportsman 2200/1800 Dual fuel generator from Home Depot $499. I plan to only run it on propane so I do not need to worry about stale fuel. I only camp 4 - 6 weeks a year. I bought it just charging my batteries if my 200 watts of solar won't do it. I went with the Sportsman after watching another full-time RV Y-tuber endorse it.
I would avoid the Westinghouse like the plague. If it breaks, good luck to ya.....I love the Honda simply because of build quality. But Yamaha also makes an excellent inverter generator that has the same build quality IMO
Great video and lots of great comments below! One thing I would point out is that Honda parallel capability is NOT just with a Companion model, an EU1000i can parallel with it as well as the EU2000i and the EU3000i. Honda is the way to go and good for you with the Hutch Mountain Kits, I have 4 EU2200i, 4 EU2000i, and 1 EU1000i and they all work well in paralel with each other. Also Great move the the Micro Air Easy Start, I've had one installed for 2 1/2 years and LOVE IT!!!! Cheers, Les
For the price of one Honda EU2200i, you can buy 2 Westinghouse units and parallel kit and end up with plenty of power to run the 15K btu A/C unit in a RV. The Westinghouse has a Chinese clone of a Yamaha engine. Tip: Run these on 100% gasoline and never worry about issues with ethanol in fuel.
@@suppaman12 Be careful though not all AC units draw the same startup load. If it doesn't start yours you can install a soft start unit or a victron multiplus inverter charger. Both help start larger loads. One helps the compressor start over a longer time with less amp draw, the other will boost startup loads from battery power.
@@allynonderdonk7577 thanks. I have a 10k btu portable. In Houston the storms always knock out our Power. I just want to be able to run that ac and a fridge. I’m hoping the 2500 will do since I just ordered it
@@suppaman12 It might unless they both try and start at once. It might even in that circumstance, but that is when the most stress will be on the generator. I would suggest starting the ac, letting it cool down the place, then starting the fridge. With luck it might not trip the breaker often or at all depending on how much the appliances require to start. It might run them both simultaneously, but you can run one at a time. I would bet they could both run if the starts were staggered.
The engine size power output difference is easy to understand. The Honda is depowered with lower compression to 1. make it last longer and 2. keep it quieter. So, yes, the Westinghouse CAN put out more power, very easily. But at the risk of more noise and less longevity in the engine.
I had to watch your video again with your installation of the product that keeps your air conditioner from drawing a huge amount of power on start up. It's an awesome video!
honda has been making extremely reliable internal combustion engines for a decades. im not aware of westinghouse's history in this area...honda tried and true and (imo) worth the extra cost. (very happy owner of a honda 2000 gen)
That similarity between brands screams Made In China! Like you said, there is one factory building the same crap for numerous wholesalers who put their own names on them for resale. You can see this on Amazon in particular among electronic items. I wish I had bought the Honda instead of a Yamaha. They seem much smoother running and more reliable. There is also a noticeable difference in sound level. Hondas are very quiet which is one of the most important features (right after reliability). Three decibels makes more difference than you would think.
@@kdwarner5 Honda makes motorcycle engines, car engines, lawnmower engines etc. it’s much more relevant experience than nuclear power plants which aren’t anything like these and aren’t mass produced for consumers. So the fact that Westinghouse makes nuclear power plants isn’t really relevant and maybe even undesirable because it means maybe they aren’t as focused on making the best engines to sell to consumers.
I did quite a bit of research on generators and agree with this review. However, you may want to consider a Champion 3400 Dual Fuel. It is similar to these units and priced somewhere in-between. The big feature for me is that you can run this on gas or propane. Propane is a cleaner fuel and you don't have to have a smelly gasoline can. You can also run a 1350 AC unit. Maybe Fate Unbound will do a review on that unit also
Yep, I wish they all came with dual fuel ability. I just wonder if the Champion is as solid, durable and reliable as the Honda?? I also wish they all came with fuel gauges. The Generac 7127 iq3500 has some very nice features like a fuel gauge. But it's not dual fuel. The other thing is when running the Champion on propane it loses about 10% or more power output due to propane packing less punch than gasoline. If the Champion 3500 is as well made as the Honda and with the high quality of the Honda components, and as quiet I really would consider purchasing the Champion. I already have one Honda eu2000i and may get the Honda eu2200ic which I can link together and have over 4000 watts. Two is always better than one. If one is down, I've got the other because I don't always need 4000 watts. I wonder if the Champion 3500 is as quiet as the Honda eu2200ic? I wouldn't doubt running two Honda eu s makes as much or more noise than one Champion 3500. Thanks
Great job on that comparison. You made some good points. There's pluses and minuses to everything I guess. Looking forward to your next video about the conversion kit.
We have the Honda eu2000i, the older version of the eu2200i, for over 10 years. We can easily run our A/C from it with the Easy Start that David talked about. The Westinghouse looks like a great generator, and if I was only using it part time, I'd be severely tempted. But I've never regretted buying a Honda product. From our generator, to our PCX scooter, to my Goldwing, to my weed wacker, to my cars. They've always been super high quality, reliable products, that lasted FOREVER! I get that the difference in price is important. And the display on the Westinghouse is super cool. I wish the Honda had that, for sure. But if I have to buy another one in five years, I'd have been better off buying the Honda. Either inverter-generator is FAR superior to a job-site generator, that smells bad and make a TON of noise, and irritates your camping neighbors. We recently dry-camped at a very large event (600,000 people). Standing literally right next to it, we couldn't even hear our Honda AT ALL over the clattering noise of the job-site generator from the campsite across the road from us. Either of these generators are WAY better than a job-site generator. Camping Friends don't let other Camping Friends buy job-site generators.
One thing that I considered is it's easy to get the Honda serviced and parts are available. I bought mine at Southern Honda Powersports and if it needs anything I'll get them. For that reason I would consider a Yamaha also.
Honda dedicated themselves to producing utterly bullet proof equipment of this type, as well as lawn mowers and brush cutters, etc. It ain't gonna go wrong, almost guaranteed! I say "almost" thinking there must be one, right? *Sound of wind and tumbleweed meandering through the desert...* lol
Good comparison video. Something to be aware is the distances from which the sound level is measured. My old Honda 2000EUi was measured from 7 feet - most of the competition would measure from 21 feet. That makes a huge difference too. My Honda would run my 11,000 BTU A/C using a hard-start capacitor. Once the A/C was running, I could then switch over to ECO mode.
I wish in these comparisons, there would be some actually testing. For example, test the claimed output rather than stating you are dubious. Test the run time, test the db noise level. And the big one for me is test the claimed 'clean AC output' with a scope. I'm concerned about RFI/EMI levels because I am looking for an inverter to power an emergency radio transmitter/receiver. Some inverters claiming to be clean are in fact horrific.
Yes, except for the extra noise and as long as you don't cane it. Remember, the engine looks like toy parts. I heard the the Honda V-tec engine has never failed yet. Peace of mind if you're boon docking mega miles from town
@@yanasitta it’s easier to haul around propane, it burns cleaner, and keeps your generator from ever guming up, down side is at higher altitudes it’s not as efficient but at those altitudes you won’t be using it as much
Sams Club just had the IGen 2500 for $400 so I ordered one. It isn't the quality of the Honda, but not knowing how much I will need it, I think I will be OK for now.
I really like that "drain the carb" feature of the Honda. That's especially useful if you're running it on propane or seldom use the generator. You don't want the carb to get all clogged because the gas gunked up your carb in the 5 months you didn't use it. Running it dry will prevent that from happening and keep it ready to run when needed. Nice video!
Great review, thank you. I own a Honda EX650 which had a clogged main jet because it didn't have a way to empty the bowl and gas sat in it for a long time.
I live in Texas. Every resident should have the cheaper one if the power grid is going to fail every time it gets too hot or cold because ERCOT would rather price-gouge than maintain it. I was lucky enough to already have the Westinghouse one when the "snowmageddon" happened.
T-H-I-N-K pulling the starter cable. The Honda will reliably start after 2-3 pulls AFTER years/hours & hours of usage. EVERY video I've watched is a review of a brand new generator. Sadly, there are no videos that review generators AFTER 500 hours of usage.
I am right on the verge of buying a Honda EU2200i. I went to the dealer and they were out of stock due to the bad weather in NorCal last week. I asked her if converting to propane would void the warranty. Yes it will as Honda does not make a converter kit.
Thanks for a nice mix of specifications and opinions. I had spotted the Westinghouse doppelgangers and had the same concern about how much of it is actually 'Westinghouse.' Another subtle point concerning the warranty differences is that the Honda 3 year warranty (with no hour modifier) applies to both residential and commercial use but while the Westinghouse warranty specifies the 1000 hour limit for both residential and commercial use it lowers the commercial use warranty from 3 years to one year.
What really pushed it over the edge for us was.....that it cost basically twice the equivalent Westinghouse but if money's not really an issue and you need a generator for tons of use or work
Being able to turn the tank vent off should help the gas last longer before going bad and reduce the amount of moisture it absorbs. Moot point with your LP conversion though.
Parts. Specifically repair parts availability. A lot of the off brand generators have difficulty getting repair parts not far into their futures. Off brand companies come and go. Honda and others have been around for years. You decide if the sweet taste of low price doesn't sour pretty quickly.
I have the Igen2200 and like it so far. I do maintain it by running at least once a month and run synthetic oil. I doubt it will last like a Honda but at this point in my life Honda is put of my price range
Sam’s has a sale on the Westinghouse right now for around $400. We use a little ryobi on the job site to run sawzalls skilsaws and sump pumps. I think they are all about the same.. except the motor.. really handy little generators for low energy requirements. At 400 bucks it is really tempting; even though I can borrow the company’s anytime. Haha
If you cut me open, I bleed Honda Red :-) A couple points ..... the reason the Westinghouse oil alert shuts off the engine until you add more oil is because the Westinghouse is burning oil and the Honda isn't. That's a factor of tolerancing and manufacturing expertise. Oh by the way, Honda is also the largest engine manufacturer in the world. That same set of skills also makes the Honda pollute less than others as well. I did quite a bit of research on Easy Starts after watching your install video and noticed that Easy Start goes out of their way to clarify that the only generator they recommend for starting 15K BTU air conditioners with their product is the Honda. They site the engine size and available torque as being critical in getting the compressor to start. And let's talk about after the sale service, parts availability and resale value.
I hear mostly good things about Champion, except for the one thing that holds me back which islack of customer service: responsiveness to resolve an issue/ difficult to reach and/ or deal with.
We have 2 generators. A WEN 56200i which is our small 2000w unit. It has about 150hrs on it and has been great! And, they are only $430!! I can't say enough good things about that little genny. We also have a Westinghouse IGEN4500DF which is a dual fuel 4500w unit. This one has not been so great. Once its running, it does good but getting it to start when its cool or cold out is impossible without removing covers and using starting fluid. I have contacted Westinghouse multiple times but they really don't seem to care and have no answers as to why it doesn't start, they keep telling me that its working as designed. Apparently its designed not to start. Unfortunately we are just out $1100 and have a generator that won't start. Expensive lesson learned! We are buying a Yamaha to replace it and tossing $1100 in a trash can 😥
Good point but 1000 hours is over 41 days. Most people are buying these for emergent use. I bought a generator for storm emergencies 4 years ago and I’ve used it for a total of 20 hours... if you’re going to use it and abuse it, I do see how the Honda is the better choice but most of us will only ever use this on emergencies and that’s where the igen is the smarter choice at half the price
A more relevant comparison would be the Honda vs the igen 2200. Amazon price for the W iGen 2200 is about $375. Parallel kit is $50, about half the Honda price. I love Honda kit, but 2x iGen 2200 + kit is less than best price for 1 Honda. Other reviewers give Westinghouse support high marks. Cost can also be lower because when you add up total production for generac+Westinghouse+pulsar and any others the cost of the components can be less. I’d love the Honda but the numbers just done pencil out.
Two tests that would be v-e-r-y useful: 1. Noise test using a calibrated noise measuring instrument 2. Operation at altitude (6000'). I'm sorry for my going cheap a few years ago with a Champion. Small engine = anemic performance at 6k feet (850W microwave causes it to trip into overload at that altitude). Am glad I found your video asI was considering the Generac. But your description of its engine innards and size has dissuaded me. For quality, ya jus' can't go cheap!
Putting out more power from a smaller motor displacement just means there’s a greater load on the engine and more resistance being created by the magnets or brushes that creat the electrical current. Basically it like towing a big trailer with a 1/2 ton truck vs your turbo diesel- which one works harder?
@@batvette If your goal is to generate the same speed, the 454 works far less to move the beetle than the 1800cc single carb. So the total capacity of work (in this case Watts) is greater and the engine works less to meet the demand, as well as the fact that the structure of the 454 can absorb the demand with less mechanical stress than the 1800cc VW. There are ways of getting more power out of smaller displacements however that doesn't come without downside cost.
I am sorry. It only means one has a bigger inverter than then other.. Sheesh. These are only generating 12volts of power to the inverter. The inverter determines the output. I am sorry. This guy is obviously very biased. I own 3 igens, and have NEVER has a single problem with any of them.
You're assuming that working less hard is better. I read an article on Caterpillar's website about problems resulting from under loading their engines. They recommend you run them at heavy load.
The main reason the Honda has a larger engine is that it allows the generator to be quieter. The more powerful larger engine has to work less so it can run at a lower RPM for a given output.
I was at Burro Ck campground in AZ a couple of years back. There was a big notice stating that 4 Honda generators had been stolen the previous week, some chained. The Hondas and the Yamahas have good resale value, so you get something back when you move on, if it hasn't been stolen. Ray at "Love Your RV" made an interesting point about what kind of noise you are getting, a soft purr or more of a rattle. The Westy sounded so much like a lawnmower I could almost smell grass. The Honda in Eco was a pleasant purr.
Great info! David - I can picture you as the frontman for a company like Honda giving a presentation on camera for advertising purposes. You really have a good camera presence.
David you do such a great job as a teacher and keeping your explanations clear. Over the past years I have learned so much. Only one down side to this video.... no Jenni
Thank you Ron!! And I'll try to work Jenni into next week's video somehow which is the propane conversion install. Maybe I'll walk her through it and have her do the install hmmm 🤔
Honda being a major player in the small power generator industry, I'd take the honda just because we had an old 2200w (I think so) that was a squared one with non steering wheels that ran smoothly for almost 20 years without problems. And I live in Dominican where back in the 90s electricity was so unreliable that anyone that could had a generator at least for the fridge.
You can also buy an external fuel kit on amazon for the honda and hook up a 5 gal tank for more run time. If i am not mistaken the honda has a fuel pump and a 30 amp plug on the companion.
Meaning what? Are you saying that if the tank full or 50% and it runs for 8 or 10 hours that with an external tank it could go for another 8 or 10 hours nonstop? Are you for real? Won't it burn up the engine?
Good afternoon. Thank you for this awesome comparison video! We are awaiting our Outdoors RV travel trailer to be built next week and delivered a week or so later. I will also be putting a robust solar system in it. We will almost exclusively, be boondocking for 1-2 weeks, monthly, for the next 5 years until we quit work. So, we are in the market for an inverter generator for those cloudy periods, or when we are in the shade of the national forest. You hit tons of great points! Thank you very much. For us, too, like most others, it is between the bigger dollar Honda vice a cheaper one for basically half price. I will soft start our 15k a/c, so any of these models that are > 2000 watts should work; at least for just a few hours per day to take the hot sting out of the air. So…..I currently remain indecisive hehehehe
From what I've researched to this point, spending $1000+ is wise. Long Long Honeymoon reviews (and I think recommends) the Champion inverter generator) which is remote start. They recommend it over Honda. However, it's a matter of preference as you stated. I'd prefer duel fuel because of the benefits of propane over gas. Not so much the remote start because I'll be out with my pup early anyway. Great job! Thanks!
I bought the Champion 3400 Dual Fuel (not remote start) and I LOVE IT. Runs my single ac fine without an easy start install. Did great at 8200' in the Rockies using propane and running the ac. I'd buy it again... instead of the Honda. Also has 30amp outlet which Honda doesnt. No need to buy an adapter kit for propane as you'll need to do for the Honda. Customer Service is also great... for Champion.
On other sites the value of the reliability of the Honda is well represented. Reliability is the biggest complaint for many owners of other models that have had to "trade up" to Honda.
As much as I dislike C's List, it has some really good values on used Hondas. People sell them with almost no hours to get bigger or smaller. "Best" is subjective. Best price? Best reliability? Best warranty, Best resale? I go Best Value, and I bought a Honda EU3000is. (used)
I don't see any value hondas on C list. Lowest probably 500-600 and in pretty bad shape. I got a perfect eu2000i for $50 from a friend, I owe him big time.
@@bigbrianusa Yes you do! I bought two EU3000is off C list, the first runs great but I found an almost new (7 hours with all the receipts) and couldn't pass it up. You do have to be patient. I'm a Honda fan because we had 25 that we used for work, ran them 15 hours a day, rain or shine, powering remote fiber systems and almost never had one quit. If they did, it was usually the spark plug or filter. When the company sold them I tried to buy one, but they all sold to one vendor. You can copy the vin number, call a Honda dealer and he can tell you everything about it. Can't do it online.
FWIW; Honda has a dealer/service network in almost all cities, which means you can buy or have your generator serviced almost anywhere in America. I defy you to try to find a nearby place that will service your Westinghouse generator. Westinghouse Dealers with Service Depts are few & far between. The Honda generator is #1 on the criminal elements wish list of things to steal. Leave your Honda generator unlocked/unguarded for 10 minutes & it will grow legs & be gone. That is because Hondas have the absolute highest resale/demand value of any generator ever made.
A most excellent review of these product, David. The evaluation was comprehensive, especially with your comparison of each generator. When you shared views from a generator expert, for me, this was the icing on the cake. A products specs and appearance are important when reviewing a product, but whats inside--quality in manufacturing, assembly and parts--becomes the deciding factor for me when considering a purchase.
Yes, I believe Honda is the "gold" standard. A group of 10-12 couples dry camp together for a week a year annually for many years. I run a Champion 2000 as it was 1/2 the cost and I only use it about 2-3x a year to charge my batteries. Honda's were rated for about double the running hours ( i believe 1200 hours) but mine was $499 vs ~$1k. In the group we have one Yamaha, 3 with 2 Honda 2000's, a couple more with 2000's; a Honda 3500 and 2 with Honda 7000's. All have been running with no issues except one bought a used Honda 2000 that may not have been maintained properly and is having carburetor issues. My understanding is the newer small Honda's are made in China or Thailand & not Japan anymore though. Honda has also had a recall on 200,000 of the new 2200's. In 2 years with ~25 hours on mine I have had no issues.
@@jshepard152 no, none at all. In fact we just got back from a 7 week trip. My solar charge controller went out about 2 weeks into it. Ran the genny about 8-10 times about 3-4 hours each. Starts with 1 or 2 pulls.
@@jshepard152 Cabela's did a few weeks back, but not sure for how long. Camping World does every so often as well. Check Amazon as well. Mine is the yellow square box looking. The new model is more slim & lighter.
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Hey Jen , it's Mat. It's been a while since I've heard from my most favorite DISPATCHER !!!
I yall are doing well.
Just Subscribed for your Honest and Straight talk in Reliability of Both Generator Components 👍👍
That was a very well made video.
Straight to the point with no useless information.
Most folks go on for a whole minute or two about useless junk.
I enjoyed watching this video.
I ordered a Westinghouse iGen2500 in late 2018. Used it for the first and thus far only time for 36 hours straight when Hurricane Laura knocked out power with winds of about 50 mph where I live in Louisiana. Generator worked fine powering refrigerator, fan, TV, and light. I also used it briefly to run a microwave and toaster. Got about 9 hours on one tank of gasoline. Hope I don't need it again anytime soon.
Wow totally not getting the gas usage
@@mdbritton9424 I am quite sure that wasn't even close to the 1/4 usage for fuel rating
I just purchased the new Honda EU2200i Companion. I also have an 18 year old Honda EB 3000. It can sit in my garage for a year or longer and it still starts on the first pull! My opinion, Honda is by far the best small engine on the market. ( I also have an older Honda powered high pressure washer, same thing, starts on the first pull). Never had an issue with either engine.
I just had work done on my Honda (eu7000is), and it was completely covered under warranty, at 2.5 years old and 4500+ hours. Honda all the way! It's worth the price.
you pay somebody overseas and you leave your people poor...
Wow. Chill dude..... I shop local whenever I can.
@@the88observer Nonsense comment.
my honda eu2200 is about 15 years old. still runs like a champ!
I go with Honda. I have s EU2200i. Love it. Dependable, quiet and easy to store. Runs my A/C in our Lance 850 no problem. I also have the battery charge cords to charge up our car battery if needed. Not jump but charge it. Wouldn’t go with anything else.
I purchased a Westinghouse iGen2500 last year. I love Honda, but with the amount of intended use, it came down to price. I do like the added digital readouts on the iGen2500. Something to consider is that Westinghouse has great customer service! I did ask them what kind of engine they put in it and they told me it is a Ducar engine. I looked up that company and they appear to be the ones that manufacture the engine and housing, but not necessarily all the electrical components. The engine is smaller at 98cc. What the horsepower comes down to is the rpm at which the engine must rev up to to attain that power output. In this case, the idle down speed is around 3,100 rpm but under high loads, it'll rev to 5,500 rpm. A larger engine, like in the Honda, will not have to rev quite as high for the same power output.
We had a Honda i1000 generator in a repair shop where I worked. Literally cant say anything about it because it always started without any tinkering. Always started in a matter of a few pulls even when it sat for a month. But at 1000€ price tag, you really don't expect nothing less but a perfect generator.
Perfect comparison between the two. Three years ago I bought the Westinghouse WH2400i (around $600) because I couldn't afford the Honda but I've only used it once. I knew I'd hardly use it which is why I went with the cheaper of the two but so far haven't had any problems. Glad I have one just in case of an emergency.
qqqq
I used to have a generator rental business. From large 120Kw trailers to the original Honda EU2000. The Honda's were abused beyond anything they were intended for. The users didn't care and they ran for thousands of hours - no issues at all.
I just yesterday received another EU2200i for my personal RV. There is no reason to mess around with copy cats.
that doesn't make sense your comment. Yes Honda's been around for a while but Honda wasn't the first generator. So nobody's copying anything. And at the end of the day you can't even prove that Honda was the first generator like these. I'm sure somebody out there that can prove it but you can't.
I have owned the Westinghouse wh2200ixlt 2200 watt model generator for around 8 years now. I use it every year while camping and any time I have a power outage. I change the oil as recommended and have never had any issues with this little generator. It always starts in 2-3 pulls and runs like a champ! Its very quiet and sips the gas! I would definitely be interested in trying this newer model with the higher wattage output!
I believe most of the Westinghouse are good, and a few duds slip through. The reviews you see tend to support that.
I just ran my Generac GP2200i (same design as your Westinghouse) for over 13 hours during recent power outage powering fridge, separate garage deep freeze, periodic induction cooking plate, USB charger, fiber optic modem and wireless router, household lighting and watched a movie on flat panel TV .. and it didn't skip a beat .. started on first pull. I posted a video on my site .. actually three and showed it on eco-mode whilst running. Cheers ... just saying, that for half the price, it did a very nice "quiet" job .. just being honest.
They are not "half the price" at all, don't know why people keep saying that..
@@adamharris2674 you are correct. They are less than half the price. $549 vs $1199
The big thing too is ever needing repair, Certified Honda repair shops are in every major town. I have had the 3000i for many years, it is just a beast that keeps on going. Honda all the way for the long term investment.
I have an old four wheeler that has a Honda clone 110 engine you can't kill it it's just as good as the Honda I have a 1983 Honda 50 which is still running as well. The only thing bad about the four-wheeler is the frame around it sucks. Any shop that can repair a Yamaha or a Honda Will repair one of these clones and it's cheaper to repair them as well.
Great review. I have the Honda 2200 a couple of years and love it. I usually dry camp at one of our local lakes and run it 4-5 days nonstop and it runs flawlessly. I just change the oil between trips.
Awesome good to hear! Honda is definitely the gold standard
Same here I do clean the spark arrestor also easy to do.
This guy is excellent He really gets to the core of the issue why is it so much more for a Honda.
Had a Honda that I used for 4 months on a daily basis after the hurricanes in Puerto Rico. No issues. Will pay extra again for the known reliability.
Man, this guy plus his knowledge and ability to explain it are priceless!
Thank you!
David, we find that how we want to live in our new rv is closer to how you live than just about anyone on youtube. We always enjoy your videos and usually mod many of the same things in it as you have. We almost bought the westinghouse and just decided to go honda after all. The quietness and propane kit were huge in our decision, but a larger, stronger engine nearly always means less engine strain and more reliability. YOU have helped us more than you can ever realize with your vids, thanks.
Good video. You did miss a few salient points. The Honda generator has many accessories from many different sources and also a plethora of service centers, and parts are readily available.Where would you get a high-altitude carburetor needle for a Westinghouse and who would install it? UA-cam has many videos on repairing a Honda generator and they are fairly easy to work on. The digital readout means very little to me, but that is in my application. The Honda will surge to 2200 watts for thirty minutes while most brands will surge to their max for thirty seconds. This may be why the Westinghouse can get more wattage from a smaller engine. Another feature about the Honda is resale. I have run into some hard times and had to sell two Eu 2000i's to make ends meet. From the time I purchased the units until the time I sold them the Honda's had gone up in price and I to about five percent less than what I paid for it and they sell quickly. Take good care of these units, oil is cheap and I change mine even if it ran for fifteen minutes. The last item is the warranty, keep a detailed spreadsheet of the maintenance done, as I have read Honda may ask for this for warranty work. The main warranty item is setting the valve lash, have a shop do it for a good record or take pictures and document your work. Honda has been know to void the warranty if this is not done at 200 hours. Honda generators are made to produce clean power consistently, and dependably; as for me keep the bells and whistles I electrical power Thanks for the video, good luck.
Glad you are switching over to the propane kit with your truck being diesel you really don’t want to lug around a can of gas that you don’t use that often. Much safer to carry around propane over gas too.
Myself I chose the companion model 1st because of the plug for the RV. I new eventually I would need to supplement it and later added the standard one. BTW compare the cost of Parallel kits. The Honda is a few dollars over the other brands hundreds of dollars.
This is exactly why we are doing the propane conversion kit, I'm tired of dealing with gasoline that we have no other reason to lug around. You make a good point there for getting the companion model first.
I’ve had two of the earlier version Honda generators (2000i) for 16 years. They still run like new. Both of mine have been converted to propane early in there lives. The only negative I have is since they don’t put out as much power on propane, I need to use both for A.C. Even with an easy start. One thing for certain is that Honda rates output very conservatively, as my 2000 watt units (1600 running) easily put out about 2000 watts more than that without overloading as long as I’m not above about 5000 feet. Others seem to be rated a little high, and usually can do it near sea level.
Make sure you always store with fuel stabilizer, I have had my Honda for 15 years, got me through many hurricanes
Downsizing Makes Cents Exactly! Ive got a 40 year old Honda generator. Still runs.
Better yet, get the fuel out of it.
I have 3 Westinghouse inverters 2x Igen2500 and 1x igen2400 the 2400 runs my Makita 2" drills one at a time as well as my Bosch 2" drill it struggles a bit but works, the 2500's will not run them, the drills pull about 1740 watts and all the 2500's get an overload warning then click goes the breaker I sent 2 back to Westinghouse and these are the ones they sent back so 4 2500's will not exceed 1740 watts, I also have an EU 2200i Companion it runs the drill and lights at the same time I get about 2300 watts before the breaker goes I no longer use the Westinghouse generators since last year I am Honda all the way. Nice video. Also on the propane conversion kit.
great video, looked at the honda about 2 yrs ago but was outside of my budget. I ended up getting the igen 2500, 1473 hours later and it is still going, lots of oil changes, and a cpl spark plugs along the way, but still going strong.
I vote cheap. When it gets stolen, you won’t cry as long.
I've got the Westinghouse. It ran everything but my trailer's AC. Added a hard start kit to that, and it runs it fine too. I don't care to buy anything more expensive.
As Thomas said, the Westinghouse is actually a generic Chinese-made generator. There is also a 3200W inverter version that is capable of powering 30Amp continuous shore power. They are good quality, and the replacement circuit boards are readily available. The boards are usually the first thing to fail in any inverter generator. I paid $520 Canadian for mine, whereas the 3000W Honda, or Onan that the RV dealer recommended, were in the $3000 Canadian range.
That's crazy money for the Honda. They are about $1200 USD at Home Depot.
Good day friends, thank you for the effort in putting together the video. Very informative. I will rarely use my new Westinghouse generator. I just ordered one thru sams club for $349.00 plus tax. and free delivery. I have a honda eu1000i for about 6 years with 0 problems.
Excellent review of these two generators. I have the Westinghouse 2200, the smaller version off the one reviewed, and I'm very pleased with it. However, I only purchased it for emergencies and we'll probably not run 25 gallons of gas through in its lifetime.
I have both. I run 2 generators 6 days a week for 8-10 ,hrs a day. Have had to replace more on Honda. Years ago Honda king. No more. No problem for parts for westinghouse or any of the generators. They are not throw away.
My friend lived off grid without power. For 4 years before he got solar (2010 til 2014) he ran his Eu2000i for 4-5 hours a day. During which he’d run appliances he needed / charge his deep cycle battery bank. All he did was follow the maintenance schedule. After 4 years still ran like a champ.
He put over 5,000 hours on his Honda eu2000i over 4 years and still ran like a champ. No other small engine / generator would last like that. You get what you pay for with a Honda.
Still, I would bet that 3 Westinghouse generators ($399 at Sam's Club) would outlast 1 Honda generator ($1,200 list cost).
I can’t afford to have one fail on me when I’m running an event or when I’m remote. I need it to be reliable.
Same reason I buy good tools and not harbor freight.
@@xzibit8614 Both generators can run out of gas, run low on oil or even get a fouled spark plug. Many things for reliability do rely on good maintenance. If you are running a nuclear power plant where failure is not an option, you spend as much money as necessary to guarantee no failure. Most people out camping in their trailers don't have that reliability requirement that you are talking about. If that is what you really need, then you will have to just pay the price for that reliability. I have nothing against Honda products except their price. Also I buy almost all my tools at harbor freight. The best tool is the one that I can find or have for the job. I have lost many tools over the years. Also 98% of the time any wrench will loosen that nut. If you need that special tool for a job you do constantly, then you pay the extra money for it. You better keep a good lock and key on those special tools because they will be the first ones stolen.
Very good video. We run the Honda EU 2200 and the companion. I love them. They start on every pull and they run so quiet.
Thanks for a good video, when power goes out I use my Honda EU2200I in Eco-mode to run my 10,000 btu Haier portable AC unit & two fans without ever tripping the overload, plus it's great on gas, love my Honda Geny!
Excellent report David and I agree...You can't beat a Honda...generator or car. My Honda Civic is almost 21 years old and still run's like a dream. bill in Florida
David, you are the best! Both you and Jenny are so clear and thorough in your research and evaluations of products you test and recommend, as well as describing camping tips locations, situations that can occur for us RV'rs. Thank You So Much!
Good video David and good comparison. I have the Westinghouse 2200 and for 2 years no problems. Also I have found good technical support from Westinghouse. Points about the Honda are well taken but I was able to afford the Westinghouse.
Good job!
If the cheaper option is performing well then that seems like the best case scenario! Saving money is the best. Good to hear from you again Dave 👍
Fate Unbound To make a generator last longer, change the oil every 25-30 hours because these generators have no oil filter and they lubricate with “splash lubrication”. Got this from the Westinghouse engineer. Also “train” or break in your unit by powering different wattages for an hour or so. I used an electric oil heater that allowed me to change the wattage. My Westinghouse required me to use a break in oil for the first 50 hours. Whatever you do being maintenance minded will hopefully make it last.
Also I have tried to load the higher wattage and it worked well. No argument on the Honda quality. It’s just a lot more money.
I had an 1800 watt Coleman generator than never missed a beat. I only paid $300 for it. I should have kept it. I have Honda’s now but the Coleman did everything i needed and kept our house from freezing up at minus 50 on several occasions.
All I can tell you is I work for a large repair facility for a widely known company. In 3 years I've seen one or two Hondas come back, however the Westinghouse, Champions, Generic ive seen dozens.
Frank Bailey I haven’t even bothered to register my Honda. I doubt I’d need the warranty. Except I think I put fuel stabilizer in it twice by accident. It is running less rough after adding fresh gas. I didn’t know it is overhead cam and will need a valve adjustment. Glad I checked. It only has about 5 hours on it. I sold my Yamaha and got the Honda 2200i for the extra 200 watts.
@Frank Bailey Great info. How does Yamaha (EF2400ISH) compare for repairs?
Thanks for the awesome video! As a side note, you could potentially test the actual watts output between the 2 generators using an amp probe or a kill-a-watt to confirm actual max continuous duty output, to figure out if they meet up to the manufacturer claims.
I bought the Honda, and the companion. Another thought, search Honda Motorcycle. There are many dealerships everywhere. Each of them has a service department with a mechanic. You will be able to drive to a store/dealership talk to a person face to face and show them what your problem is. The mechanic will then fix your problem, or service, change the oil, or what ever it is. Those dealerships survive on product reputation and their ability to service everything that Honda sells. No I am not affiliated or work for Honda but I have had experience with Honda dealerships and many other Motorcycle shops and they all have one thing in common. Great service. Where is your local Westinghouse Dealership, sales representative or mechanic?
Most excellent review and comparison. Hard to find these days. I just went through a typhoon in Japan where we lost power for two days, a first for me in 35 years and close to 75 typhoons. We went with the Westinghouse because it will be rarely used and will serve our needs nicely. We tent camp but I may drag it along and run some electric vice propane camp lights to see how that all works out.
The Westinghouse generator's smaller engine probably runs at higher RPM's than the Honda generator's engine. Although higher engine RPM's will likely cause the engine components to wear more quickly (shorter engine life). But, if the generator isn't used very much (backup purposes or camping just a few weeks a year), engine life may not be that big of concern.
I have ran the crap out of two pulsar sets. Yes they are the same as Westinghouse, generac, ford and pbally a few others. I gave a friend my oldest pulsar inverter the 2000 watt version with 700 hrs of hard use. I also have the newer 2300 watt one and didn’t put an hour meter on it but pbally close to 200 hrs and have had zero issues.
The Pulsars seem pretty loud. What say you?
@@jshepard152 not really on video they sound much louder. Are they the quietest No but for the price and power they are great.
@@caseymaples19xx
Thanks much.
I bought the Sportsman 2200/1800 Dual fuel generator from Home Depot $499. I plan to only run it on propane so I do not need to worry about stale fuel. I only camp 4 - 6 weeks a year. I bought it just charging my batteries if my 200 watts of solar won't do it. I went with the Sportsman after watching another full-time RV Y-tuber endorse it.
How's it holding up?
@@jshepard152 I haven't needed to run it. But I'm glad I have only run it on Propane, so no old gas issues.
I would avoid the Westinghouse like the plague. If it breaks, good luck to ya.....I love the Honda simply because of build quality. But Yamaha also makes an excellent inverter generator that has the same build quality IMO
Hyundai also.
@@TheCrankshaftRotator Also Kubota makes a very marvelous one here in Oxfordshire, UK.
Crankshaft Rotator have a Hyundai 2800 for 2 years and has over 600hrs. On it . Runs like a charm
@@williamkunte5361 I've not seen a Kubota gen in the US. They do make a fine lawnmower.
@@jshepard152 If you've lived here long enough you'd have seen it.
Great product and price for our needs. RV and power outages arrived in time.
Great video and lots of great comments below! One thing I would point out is that Honda parallel capability is NOT just with a Companion model, an EU1000i can parallel with it as well as the EU2000i and the EU3000i. Honda is the way to go and good for you with the Hutch Mountain Kits, I have 4 EU2200i, 4 EU2000i, and 1 EU1000i and they all work well in paralel with each other. Also Great move the the Micro Air Easy Start, I've had one installed for 2 1/2 years and LOVE IT!!!!
Cheers, Les
For the price of one Honda EU2200i, you can buy 2 Westinghouse units and parallel kit and end up with plenty of power to run the 15K btu A/C unit in a RV. The Westinghouse has a Chinese clone of a Yamaha engine. Tip: Run these on 100% gasoline and never worry about issues with ethanol in fuel.
My igen2500 runs a 16k AC no problem, plus a marine water pump.
@@allynonderdonk7577 exactly what I needed to hear!!
@@suppaman12 Be careful though not all AC units draw the same startup load. If it doesn't start yours you can install a soft start unit or a victron multiplus inverter charger. Both help start larger loads. One helps the compressor start over a longer time with less amp draw, the other will boost startup loads from battery power.
@@allynonderdonk7577 thanks. I have a 10k btu portable. In Houston the storms always knock out our Power. I just want to be able to run that ac and a fridge. I’m hoping the 2500 will do since I just ordered it
@@suppaman12 It might unless they both try and start at once. It might even in that circumstance, but that is when the most stress will be on the generator. I would suggest starting the ac, letting it cool down the place, then starting the fridge. With luck it might not trip the breaker often or at all depending on how much the appliances require to start. It might run them both simultaneously, but you can run one at a time. I would bet they could both run if the starts were staggered.
The engine size power output difference is easy to understand. The Honda is depowered with lower compression to 1. make it last longer and 2. keep it quieter. So, yes, the Westinghouse CAN put out more power, very easily. But at the risk of more noise and less longevity in the engine.
I had to watch your video again with your installation of the product that keeps your air conditioner from drawing a huge amount of power on start up. It's an awesome video!
Thank you Mitch I appreciate that!
Fate Unbound You are so welcome! I love all of your high quality videos.
honda has been making extremely reliable internal combustion engines for a decades. im not aware of westinghouse's history in this area...honda tried and true and (imo) worth the extra cost. (very happy owner of a honda 2000 gen)
That similarity between brands screams Made In China! Like you said, there is one factory building the same crap for numerous wholesalers who put their own names on them for resale. You can see this on Amazon in particular among electronic items.
I wish I had bought the Honda instead of a Yamaha. They seem much smoother running and more reliable. There is also a noticeable difference in sound level. Hondas are very quiet which is one of the most important features (right after reliability). Three decibels makes more difference than you would think.
Thanks again. I am binge watching some of your older videos for hints and tips as I rebuild our motorhome.
Ya can’t beat Honda Period! I wouldn’t even think of another name if you want reliability 💯 great review ✌🏻🇨🇦
Westinghouse builds nuclear generators
@@kdwarner5 Honda makes motorcycle engines, car engines, lawnmower engines etc. it’s much more relevant experience than nuclear power plants which aren’t anything like these and aren’t mass produced for consumers. So the fact that Westinghouse makes nuclear power plants isn’t really relevant and maybe even undesirable because it means maybe they aren’t as focused on making the best engines to sell to consumers.
@@diamond_h0us I work for a Honda for 15 years I know Honda inside and out thank you very much
I did quite a bit of research on generators and agree with this review. However, you may want to consider a Champion 3400 Dual Fuel. It is similar to these units and priced somewhere in-between. The big feature for me is that you can run this on gas or propane. Propane is a cleaner fuel and you don't have to have a smelly gasoline can. You can also run a 1350 AC unit. Maybe Fate Unbound will do a review on that unit also
Yep, I wish they all came with dual fuel ability. I just wonder if the Champion is as solid, durable and reliable as the Honda?? I also wish they all came with fuel gauges. The Generac 7127 iq3500 has some very nice features like a fuel gauge. But it's not dual fuel. The other thing is when running the Champion on propane it loses about 10% or more power output due to propane packing less punch than gasoline. If the Champion 3500 is as well made as the Honda and with the high quality of the Honda components, and as quiet I really would consider purchasing the Champion. I already have one Honda eu2000i and may get the Honda eu2200ic which I can link together and have over 4000 watts. Two is always better than one. If one is down, I've got the other because I don't always need 4000 watts. I wonder if the Champion 3500 is as quiet as the Honda eu2200ic? I wouldn't doubt running two Honda eu s makes as much or more noise than one Champion 3500. Thanks
Propane isn’t as efficact
Great job on that comparison. You made some good points. There's pluses and minuses to everything I guess. Looking forward to your next video about the conversion kit.
We have the Honda eu2000i, the older version of the eu2200i, for over 10 years. We can easily run our A/C from it with the Easy Start that David talked about. The Westinghouse looks like a great generator, and if I was only using it part time, I'd be severely tempted. But I've never regretted buying a Honda product. From our generator, to our PCX scooter, to my Goldwing, to my weed wacker, to my cars. They've always been super high quality, reliable products, that lasted FOREVER! I get that the difference in price is important. And the display on the Westinghouse is super cool. I wish the Honda had that, for sure. But if I have to buy another one in five years, I'd have been better off buying the Honda. Either inverter-generator is FAR superior to a job-site generator, that smells bad and make a TON of noise, and irritates your camping neighbors. We recently dry-camped at a very large event (600,000 people). Standing literally right next to it, we couldn't even hear our Honda AT ALL over the clattering noise of the job-site generator from the campsite across the road from us. Either of these generators are WAY better than a job-site generator. Camping Friends don't let other Camping Friends buy job-site generators.
Thank you Larry. Do you think the eu1000 will run the ac?
One thing that I considered is it's easy to get the Honda serviced and parts are available. I bought mine at Southern Honda Powersports and if it needs anything I'll get them. For that reason I would consider a Yamaha also.
There’s reasons why every generator is comparing to Honda..think about it
i have the honda best thats it
It’s red. Everybody loves the color red.
You got it buh!
Honda dedicated themselves to producing utterly bullet proof equipment of this type, as well as lawn mowers and brush cutters, etc. It ain't gonna go wrong, almost guaranteed! I say "almost" thinking there must be one, right? *Sound of wind and tumbleweed meandering through the desert...* lol
Yes, but if you don't happen to have 1000 dollars to spend you gotta go with the cheaper one.
Good comparison video. Something to be aware is the distances from which the sound level is measured. My old Honda 2000EUi was measured from 7 feet - most of the competition would measure from 21 feet. That makes a huge difference too. My Honda would run my 11,000 BTU A/C using a hard-start capacitor. Once the A/C was running, I could then switch over to ECO mode.
I value your opinion and common sense to your reviews .
I wish in these comparisons, there would be some actually testing. For example, test the claimed output rather than stating you are dubious. Test the run time, test the db noise level. And the big one for me is test the claimed 'clean AC output' with a scope. I'm concerned about RFI/EMI levels because I am looking for an inverter to power an emergency radio transmitter/receiver. Some inverters claiming to be clean are in fact horrific.
I can afford either one and bought the Westinghouse. I have yet to use it while camping so at that rate either one should last me forever.
Exactly, sounds like you made the right choice for your rarely used situation.
Yes, except for the extra noise and as long as you don't cane it. Remember, the engine looks like toy parts.
I heard the the Honda V-tec engine has never failed yet. Peace of mind if you're boon docking mega miles from town
Convert it to propane
@@Rynoyes Is it more efficient?
@@yanasitta it’s easier to haul around propane, it burns cleaner, and keeps your generator from ever guming up, down side is at higher altitudes it’s not as efficient but at those altitudes you won’t be using it as much
Sams Club just had the IGen 2500 for $400 so I ordered one. It isn't the quality of the Honda, but not knowing how much I will need it, I think I will be OK for now.
I saw that sale. Kinda sad that I didn't jump on it.
I really like that "drain the carb" feature of the Honda. That's especially useful if you're running it on propane or seldom use the generator. You don't want the carb to get all clogged because the gas gunked up your carb in the 5 months you didn't use it. Running it dry will prevent that from happening and keep it ready to run when needed.
Nice video!
Great review, thank you.
I own a Honda EX650 which had a clogged main jet because it didn't have a way to empty the bowl and gas sat in it for a long time.
I live in Texas. Every resident should have the cheaper one if the power grid is going to fail every time it gets too hot or cold because ERCOT would rather price-gouge than maintain it. I was lucky enough to already have the Westinghouse one when the "snowmageddon" happened.
great comparison, didn't know about the propane conversion kit! Thinking that in it self has me leaning to the Honda
T-H-I-N-K pulling the starter cable. The Honda will reliably start after 2-3 pulls AFTER years/hours & hours of usage.
EVERY video I've watched is a review of a brand new generator. Sadly, there are no videos that review generators AFTER 500 hours of usage.
I believe it. Imagine if Honda teamed up with Westinghouse, the combination would yield the most efficient high powered unit
I am right on the verge of buying a Honda EU2200i. I went to the dealer and they were out of stock due to the bad weather in NorCal last week. I asked her if converting to propane would void the warranty. Yes it will as Honda does not make a converter kit.
Home Depot sells them.
Thanks for a nice mix of specifications and opinions. I had spotted the Westinghouse doppelgangers and had the same concern about how much of it is actually 'Westinghouse.' Another subtle point concerning the warranty differences is that the Honda 3 year warranty (with no hour modifier) applies to both residential and commercial use but while the Westinghouse warranty specifies the 1000 hour limit for both residential and commercial use it lowers the commercial use warranty from 3 years to one year.
I bet they're all residential use when Westinghouse asks that question.
What really pushed it over the edge for us was.....that it cost basically twice the equivalent Westinghouse but if money's not really an issue and you need a generator for tons of use or work
Being able to turn the tank vent off should help the gas last longer before going bad and reduce the amount of moisture it absorbs. Moot point with your LP conversion though.
Parts. Specifically repair parts availability. A lot of the off brand generators have difficulty getting repair parts not far into their futures. Off brand companies come and go. Honda and others have been around for years. You decide if the sweet taste of low price doesn't sour pretty quickly.
I have the Igen2200 and like it so far. I do maintain it by running at least once a month and run synthetic oil. I doubt it will last like a Honda but at this point in my life Honda is put of my price range
Hey if the less expensive unit works for you then that's awesome!! Saving money is the best 👍
Sam’s has a sale on the Westinghouse right now for around $400. We use a little ryobi on the job site to run sawzalls skilsaws and sump pumps. I think they are all about the same.. except the motor.. really handy little generators for low energy requirements. At 400 bucks it is really tempting; even though I can borrow the company’s anytime. Haha
Sam's will occasionally have a really good sale on the Westinghouse. I've seen the better model that goes for about $550 go on sale for $399 recently.
170 hours on pulsar pg2000is no issues yet. Honda is by far the better brand if u can afford,one.
If you cut me open, I bleed Honda Red :-) A couple points ..... the reason the Westinghouse oil alert shuts off the engine until you add more oil is because the Westinghouse is burning oil and the Honda isn't. That's a factor of tolerancing and manufacturing expertise. Oh by the way, Honda is also the largest engine manufacturer in the world. That same set of skills also makes the Honda pollute less than others as well. I did quite a bit of research on Easy Starts after watching your install video and noticed that Easy Start goes out of their way to clarify that the only generator they recommend for starting 15K BTU air conditioners with their product is the Honda. They site the engine size and available torque as being critical in getting the compressor to start. And let's talk about after the sale service, parts availability and resale value.
Prefer my Champion Dual Fuel. Ran 13.5k ac at 8200' in the Rockies on propane ... no issues.
I hear mostly good things about Champion, except for the one thing that holds me back which islack of customer service: responsiveness to resolve an issue/ difficult to reach and/ or deal with.
We have 2 generators.
A WEN 56200i which is our small 2000w unit. It has about 150hrs on it and has been great! And, they are only $430!! I can't say enough good things about that little genny.
We also have a Westinghouse IGEN4500DF which is a dual fuel 4500w unit. This one has not been so great. Once its running, it does good but getting it to start when its cool or cold out is impossible without removing covers and using starting fluid. I have contacted Westinghouse multiple times but they really don't seem to care and have no answers as to why it doesn't start, they keep telling me that its working as designed. Apparently its designed not to start.
Unfortunately we are just out $1100 and have a generator that won't start. Expensive lesson learned! We are buying a Yamaha to replace it and tossing $1100 in a trash can 😥
You said the Westinghouse warranty was only good for 1K hours and Honda’s was unlimited. You already have your answer.
Good point but 1000 hours is over 41 days. Most people are buying these for emergent use. I bought a generator for storm emergencies 4 years ago and I’ve used it for a total of 20 hours... if you’re going to use it and abuse it, I do see how the Honda is the better choice but most of us will only ever use this on emergencies and that’s where the igen is the smarter choice at half the price
@@suppaman12 Bingo. For the guy who might use his generator 50 hours in twenty years, the cheaper sets make sense.
David, you forgot to mention the reduction in wattage/amperage output when running on propane.
You're right Burt! Thankfully it is only about a 5% drop in power output with the kit we are installing.
A more relevant comparison would be the Honda vs the igen 2200. Amazon price for the W iGen 2200 is about $375. Parallel kit is $50, about half the Honda price. I love Honda kit, but 2x iGen 2200 + kit is less than best price for 1 Honda. Other reviewers give Westinghouse support high marks. Cost can also be lower because when you add up total production for generac+Westinghouse+pulsar and any others the cost of the components can be less. I’d love the Honda but the numbers just done pencil out.
Two tests that would be v-e-r-y useful:
1. Noise test using a calibrated noise measuring instrument
2. Operation at altitude (6000').
I'm sorry for my going cheap a few years ago with a Champion. Small engine = anemic performance at 6k feet (850W microwave causes it to trip into overload at that altitude).
Am glad I found your video asI was considering the Generac. But your description of its engine innards and size has dissuaded me. For quality, ya jus' can't go cheap!
Putting out more power from a smaller motor displacement just means there’s a greater load on the engine and more resistance being created by the magnets or brushes that creat the electrical current. Basically it like towing a big trailer with a 1/2 ton truck vs your turbo diesel- which one works harder?
Some truth there but it assumes the smaller engine is inadequate for the load.
Imagine a 454 chevy in a vw beetle. Just wasting gas.
@@batvette If your goal is to generate the same speed, the 454 works far less to move the beetle than the 1800cc single carb. So the total capacity of work (in this case Watts) is greater and the engine works less to meet the demand, as well as the fact that the structure of the 454 can absorb the demand with less mechanical stress than the 1800cc VW. There are ways of getting more power out of smaller displacements however that doesn't come without downside cost.
I am sorry. It only means one has a bigger inverter than then other.. Sheesh. These are only generating 12volts of power to the inverter. The inverter determines the output. I am sorry. This guy is obviously very biased. I own 3 igens, and have NEVER has a single problem with any of them.
You're assuming that working less hard is better. I read an article on Caterpillar's website about problems resulting from under loading their engines. They recommend you run them at heavy load.
The main reason the Honda has a larger engine is that it allows the generator to be quieter. The more powerful larger engine has to work less so it can run at a lower RPM for a given output.
I was at Burro Ck campground in AZ a couple of years back. There was a big notice stating that 4 Honda generators had been stolen the previous week, some chained. The Hondas and the Yamahas have good resale value, so you get something back when you move on, if it hasn't been stolen. Ray at "Love Your RV" made an interesting point about what kind of noise you are getting, a soft purr or more of a rattle. The Westy sounded so much like a lawnmower I could almost smell grass. The Honda in Eco was a pleasant purr.
Think I'm gonna get a new Honda 2200 but put an ugly wrap on it with some random Chinese word on the side so it looks cheap! ha!
@@adamharris2674 Great idea. "VALUGEN"
I don't know, my Honda 1000watts is over 10 years old,running strong,using November to March , 4 -6hours daily, amazing product
Great info! David - I can picture you as the frontman for a company like Honda giving a presentation on camera for advertising purposes. You really have a good camera presence.
Hahaha thank you, this video wasn't sponsored by anyone though this was just my opinion of the Honda over the Westinghouse
David you do such a great job as a teacher and keeping your explanations clear. Over the past years I have learned so much. Only one down side to this video.... no Jenni
Good, I'm not the only one that was hoping Jenni would have a line or two in this episode :)
Thank you Ron!! And I'll try to work Jenni into next week's video somehow which is the propane conversion install. Maybe I'll walk her through it and have her do the install hmmm 🤔
Good video, thank you. I wanted the honda but thinking about it now, itll cost more and its easier for someone to run off with.
Honda being a major player in the small power generator industry, I'd take the honda just because we had an old 2200w (I think so) that was a squared one with non steering wheels that ran smoothly for almost 20 years without problems. And I live in Dominican where back in the 90s electricity was so unreliable that anyone that could had a generator at least for the fridge.
best comparison video ive watched yet. excellent content!
You can also buy an external fuel kit on amazon for the honda and hook up a 5 gal tank for more run time. If i am not mistaken the honda has a fuel pump and a 30 amp plug on the companion.
Meaning what? Are you saying that if the tank full or 50% and it runs for 8 or 10 hours that with an external tank it could go for another 8 or 10 hours nonstop?
Are you for real? Won't it burn up the engine?
Good afternoon. Thank you for this awesome comparison video!
We are awaiting our Outdoors RV travel trailer to be built next week and delivered a week or so later. I will also be putting a robust solar system in it. We will almost exclusively, be boondocking for 1-2 weeks, monthly, for the next 5 years until we quit work. So, we are in the market for an inverter generator for those cloudy periods, or when we are in the shade of the national forest.
You hit tons of great points! Thank you very much. For us, too, like most others, it is between the bigger dollar Honda vice a cheaper one for basically half price. I will soft start our 15k a/c, so any of these models that are > 2000 watts should work; at least for just a few hours per day to take the hot sting out of the air.
So…..I currently remain indecisive hehehehe
From what I've researched to this point, spending $1000+ is wise. Long Long Honeymoon reviews (and I think recommends) the Champion inverter generator) which is remote start. They recommend it over Honda. However, it's a matter of preference as you stated. I'd prefer duel fuel because of the benefits of propane over gas. Not so much the remote start because I'll be out with my pup early anyway. Great job! Thanks!
I bought the Champion 3400 Dual Fuel (not remote start) and I LOVE IT. Runs my single ac fine without an easy start install. Did great at 8200' in the Rockies using propane and running the ac. I'd buy it again... instead of the Honda. Also has 30amp outlet which Honda doesnt. No need to buy an adapter kit for propane as you'll need to do for the Honda. Customer Service is also great... for Champion.
On other sites the value of the reliability of the Honda is well represented. Reliability is the biggest complaint for many owners of other models that have had to "trade up" to Honda.
As much as I dislike C's List, it has some really good values on used Hondas. People sell them with almost no hours to get bigger or smaller.
"Best" is subjective. Best price? Best reliability? Best warranty, Best resale? I go Best Value, and I bought a Honda EU3000is. (used)
I don't see any value hondas on C list. Lowest probably 500-600 and in pretty bad shape. I got a perfect eu2000i for $50 from a friend, I owe him big time.
@@bigbrianusa Yes you do!
I bought two EU3000is off C list, the first runs great but I found an almost new (7 hours with all the receipts) and couldn't pass it up.
You do have to be patient.
I'm a Honda fan because we had 25 that we used for work, ran them 15 hours a day, rain or shine, powering remote fiber systems and almost never had one quit. If they did, it was usually the spark plug or filter.
When the company sold them I tried to buy one, but they all sold to one vendor.
You can copy the vin number, call a Honda dealer and he can tell you everything about it. Can't do it online.
FWIW; Honda has a dealer/service network in almost all cities, which means you can buy or have your generator serviced almost anywhere in America. I defy you to try to find a nearby place that will service your Westinghouse generator. Westinghouse Dealers with Service Depts are few & far between.
The Honda generator is #1 on the criminal elements wish list of things to steal. Leave your Honda generator unlocked/unguarded for 10 minutes & it will grow legs & be gone. That is because Hondas have the absolute highest resale/demand value of any generator ever made.
A most excellent review of these product, David. The evaluation was comprehensive, especially with your comparison of each generator. When you shared views from a generator expert, for me, this was the icing on the cake. A products specs and appearance are important when reviewing a product, but whats inside--quality in manufacturing, assembly and parts--becomes the deciding factor for me when considering a purchase.
Thank you Brian that's very nice of you to say! I'm glad I covered all (or most at least) of the bases 👍
I'm just now checking out generators and this was an excellent video to get me a basics start thank you
Yes, I believe Honda is the "gold" standard. A group of 10-12 couples dry camp together for a week a year annually for many years. I run a Champion 2000 as it was 1/2 the cost and I only use it about 2-3x a year to charge my batteries. Honda's were rated for about double the running hours ( i believe 1200 hours) but mine was $499 vs ~$1k. In the group we have one Yamaha, 3 with 2 Honda 2000's, a couple more with 2000's; a Honda 3500 and 2 with Honda 7000's. All have been running with no issues except one bought a used Honda 2000 that may not have been maintained properly and is having carburetor issues. My understanding is the newer small Honda's are made in China or Thailand & not Japan anymore though. Honda has also had a recall on 200,000 of the new 2200's. In 2 years with ~25 hours on mine I have had no issues.
Any problems with your Champion yet?
@@jshepard152 no, none at all. In fact we just got back from a 7 week trip. My solar charge controller went out about 2 weeks into it. Ran the genny about 8-10 times about 3-4 hours each. Starts with 1 or 2 pulls.
@@herb7877
Thanks a lot. I'm buying the Champion as soon as I can find one on sale.
@@jshepard152 Cabela's did a few weeks back, but not sure for how long. Camping World does every so often as well. Check Amazon as well. Mine is the yellow square box looking. The new model is more slim & lighter.