Cheap Generator Better Than Honda? Predator vs Honda & GENMAX-Let’s Settle This!
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- Опубліковано 6 тра 2023
- Honda vs Predator and Genmax Inverter Generators compared for fuel efficiency, voltage drop during high energy demand applications, cleanliness of electricity (pure sine wave), noise, vibration, and engine wear. I hired an independent oil lab to analyze the motor oil for engine wear metals after almost 98 hours of engine use. Honda EU2200i, GENMAX GM2200i, Predator 2000.
I bought all 3 generators and everything used to test them to ensure an unbiased review. So, thank you for supporting the channel!
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➡ Products Tested In This Video (in no particular order):
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GENMAX: amzn.to/3Z7nUv1
Predator: Available at Harbor Freight
Oscilloscope: amzn.to/3Z8vHJ5
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This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Project Farm LLC - Навчання та стиль
This guy is truly doing everyone an amazing service. What a champion.
Thanks!
This channel is awesome
You are doing the job that Consumer Reports used to do.
I would go so far as Legend.
Truly is a hero.
One thing to remember on most of these generators is that the air intake for the cooling and the engine is through the bottom. So if you run them on gravel or grass, put some metal or plywood under them and the inside will stay much cleaner.
Good to know. Thanks for posting this.
+
Thanks for the feedback.
This is good info.
Robert L I've got mine sitting on a 2'X2' rubber pad from harbor freight, which they sell for ten bux for four of them, it also cuts down on transmitted vibrations.
I move it slightly on occasion as the feet tend to sink into the pad a bit, but it recovers.
I didn’t even know a generator review could be so well done. I’ve probably been watching generator reviews for the last eight years for various reasons and this is the gold standard.
Thanks!
This is the best comparison of any products online, least filler junk possible. I nominate your for a Emmy, Grammy, and a Nobel!
Thanks!
Project Farm is practically a messiah for the average consumer.
He compares various products, cuts through all the marketing stuff with actual testing, and allows us to decide which product is the best overall, best for value for money and the worst. God bless this guy for the work he puts in for his video 👍
Thank you very much!
@Dr Poo exactly he is the real Consumer's Report and I have purchase many items base on his testings
He’s on a mission from God 🤣🤣🤣
I completely agree...Thank you!
Messiah is a bit much. How about, “truth teller”?
Todd went this time the extra mile and sent the oil to the lab to ensure the most accurate results, this is turning from a UA-cam channel to a serious testing facility. Amazing work as always!
He does that all the time.
Not to mention and oscilloscope and vibration meter. And to think this guy started off his channel doing crazy experiments on a lawnmower engine. Now he's building up a testing lab
Thanks!
Thanks for the suggestion.
@@ProjectFarm i'd like to see more walmart stuff; hyper tough, blackmaxx (they have a generator at my local store for about $468), and so on. The stores are everywhere and the have numerous forms of credit like their Capital One card and affirm, which makes them pretty easily attainable options. But the question is, are they good?
My Honda EU2000i is over 20 years old, still running great. It got me through hurricane Charley in 2004 & IAN in 2022 in SW Florida. Getting 9 hours run time on a tank (ECO mode) powering large fridge, mini fridge, large chest freezer, fans and various lights & phone chargers. In 2022 I bought a EU2200 to have as a spare, haven't needed it yet ! Great testing, thanks.
Nice. You are welcome!
Can I run the Honda EU2200 outside during a rain storm?
@@petergriffin383 It's best to shield it from rain. I have run mine in the rain - although I did put a trash can next to it with scrap plywood board on top on the can to keep most of the rain off the front panel. My current house has a 3 ft soffit over hang that keeps most of the rain off - as long as the wind isn't blowing sidewise.
@@CoolBlue87GT Thank you for the reply
I was under the impression these Hondas came out in like 2015 😂 but that's when i first saw a review on my UA-cam feed
I would love to see some reviews and comparisons on whole house generators. Thank you for all of your videos, they have been a great help on countless things!
Thanks and you are welcome! Glad to hear! Thanks for the suggestion.
Honda, Yamaha & Champion are considered the big 3 in generators for job sites... would love to see Yamaha and Champion tested like this. Especially the oil test as nobody else does that and it's very indicative of engine longevity.
Thanks for the video idea.
@@ProjectFarm I'd love to see a dual fuel generator added to the mix to compare the benefits/tradeoffs of gas vs. propane.
Really amazed that Yamaha wasn't included or another brand like Generac (Generac's tend to be used as whole-house generators).
i would buy a champion over a honda any day The older Honda Generator were good and lasted there inverter generator are JUNK just to replace that one part is more then the generator itself and good luck buying that Inverter part unavailable and the warranty is also a joke good luck with that Honda Generators are very expensive boat ankers if you got to Tray fixes all youtube channel he has a very good video about Honda Generators and why not to buy them he speaks highly about Champion Generators and why they are worth the money over a Honda very over price equipment Harbor Freight is good but its a hit or missed you get a good product or a piece of junk product as for Yamaha never really worked on them not sure how good they are
My only experience with Champion generators is people who think it's a good idea to run one in a campground. Lots of watts for cheap isn't necessarily good. I've also camped next to someone with a pair of smaller Yamaha generators with the parallel adapter and, given their reputation, I was blown away by just how loud they were. For cost/performance/noise I like Wen generators as they are very reliable, quiet, good on fuel, and inexpensive.
as a generator connoisseur, this is the video where you surpass consumer reports. Amazing work!
I love CR!
Thanks!
Unfortunately Consumer Reports have gone way down hill over the past few years. Doing things like testing many products, but from only a couple manufactures.. all of which are very similar to each other. In the past they'd test products from many more manufactures which is much more useful that rating 20 "vacuum cleaners" (using as an example only) from only 3 manufactures. Canceled my subscription over a year ago. I find Project Farm does a much better job. Keep up the good work.
@@pfitz4881 These days, I consider "Consumer Reports" to be nothing more than
PAID-FOR BS falsehoods to get people to buy products."
This channel does the real thing, which is refreshing.
@@pfitz4881 couldn't agree more. we can say that about a lot of niche UA-camrs these days. budget doesn't dictate quality. and quality can't be driven by corporate relationships. PF is quality with authenticity.
I’ve had a Honda Eu2000i (paired) for years. Thought it was quite expensive for a recreational generator but knew it was one of the best in terms of stable-smooth power. Once again, your vids are absolutely fantastic and vendors should take NOTE of this channel. Thanks! -Nokki / Dallas, TX
Just witnessed the most thorough yet efficiently delivered comparison video ive ever seen.
Thanks so much!
On the vein of generators, I use propane/gasoline dual input generators since propane is a bit easier to store and keep stable I just keep several tanks around. Next time you do generators, a propane based one would be interesting to see in both power and noise. Great as always!
Great video idea! Thank you
I’ve seen videos where they convert the Honda to run on propane considered it for the storage benefit
A lifetime ago I worked at Penco making lockers and industrial shelving. The forklifts in the factory ran on propane because it was safer. I'd like to know the carbon monoxide differences between running on gas v.s. propane with a genny.
ya agreed I'm saving up for a duel fuel myself I'll take the performance hit of propane just need to get the bigger gen..
@@bansheedearg safe"r" being the key there. You are still combusting oxygen in an enclosed space and producing co (among other things). Think about the whole natural gas/propane oven debacle recently (and the fact no indoor gasoline ovens exist), it's safe-ish, depending on the size of your house, ventilation, season, airtightness of the home etc.
As a retired electrical engineer, I love seeing the oscilloscope readings of the output. I never realized how great a difference there was. Thank you!!
Could you explain what the dirty electricity means? Is it just not a proper polarity change within the certain frequency?
I too would like to know 🤔
@@alfredotovar8984 It means the frequency is either too high or too low and the voltage has too much variation. I'm guessing the cheapies are using cheap components and less than stellar invertor circuits. There's also probably missing filtering circuits like what the Honda has. Alot of newer electronics will not have a fun time on a generator with too much variation under load.
@@IronArmPanda Actually, it's quite the opposite. Most "newer electronics" are the ones that will suffer least from bad sine waves. Anything with an SMPS (computers, phone chargers, etc) have no problems operating at anything between 40-80hz and really don't care how clean the power source is. "Older" electronics or things like amplifier that often still have linear supplies will be more heavily affected. Most likely anything with a motor as well.
@@imkaneforever dirty electricity means two things. Here in the USA we have 60 Hertz and 120/240 volts. The first aspect of dirty electricity is called total harmonic distortion. This basically means there are voltages present at the higher harmonics so we can have 30 volts at 120 Hz or 15 volts at 240HZ. These voltages are basically not doing anything to power the load but instead create waste heat which can shorten the life of electronics. The utility grid states that you will never see anything beyond 5% harmonic distortion. That's considered very clean. Portable generators non-inverter type can have harmonic distortion as much as 20%!!!
Most low-power switch mode power supplies are tolerant of high THD because they are overbuilt to handle the excess heat. Make no mistake though over time high THD will cause these devices to fail.
The second aspect of dirty electricity is RFI. This is especially present on inverter type generators. It's basically the same as harmonic distortion but at a much smaller voltage at a much higher frequency somewhere in the 20k to 50khz region typically. The noise comes from the transistors turning on and off very quickly in order to approximate the sine wave that we would normally find in our house outlets from the grid. This on/off action creates the RFI noise. Normally there are filtering components added at the inverter output to keep the level of this interference noise below certain established industry limits called FCC 15. Sometimes this could cause problems with some electronics. There is always going to be some of this RFI on inverter generators even with proper filtering and can be heard with high quality audio devices. There are filters that you can buy however to make this noise go away pretty much.
Bro...your testing is SICK!!! thank you for taking the time to do this. I did not know anyone was doing such specific analysis!! I would like to see the common residential Standby Generators, big enough to power a home, say 20kw plus if you could get them sponsored for you do not have to pay of them. Champion, Generac Guardian Series, Kohler, Cummins, etc. BUT I would imagine this would be a huge comparison job. BUT with the way power is going and standby generators being so important I would hope that video would get tons of views. Thank you again!
Thanks for the video idea.
I truly appreciate the very detailed and thorough videos. You sure do go the extra mile. Keep doing what you are doing. I watch you all the time !!
Thanks, will do!
In canada these generators are more expensive . While working for a rental company a customer returned a 2000w honda generator that had fell of a truck on the highway 😮
It was in a dozen or more pieces.
The manager wrote it off, so my coworker began to reassemble the thing using jb weld and zip ties.
It seriously looked like Frankenstein with all those zip ties for stiches, EVERYTHING worked except eco mode!
Gotta love a honda!
Impressive!! JB Weld can fix just about anything. lol
@@ProjectFarm j. B. Is my favorite welder!
No duct tape?? What are you people up there?? Animals????
@@twistedhillbilly6157 😂
@@twistedhillbilly6157 He didn't watch Red Green.
Being that summer is right around the corner, it would be helpful if you could test coolers/ice chests to see which works best at ice retention, durability and overall weight. Keep up the great work!
I second this request!
3rd!
Guys, what's about fridge on 18v platform like Makita, DeWalt or others?)
YYYEEEESSSSSSSS
YES!
These reviews are so addicting. You are doing amazing work taking out all the subjectivity. Pretty much one of the only places I can go to be confident I’m getting unbiased results. Great work!
Thanks!
I love your videos! You do an amazing job. I try to check for your comparisons prior to any tool purchase to get an unbiased realistic evaluation. I’m sure you’ve saved me money and hassle over the years. In any case, I’m sorry in advance if I missed a similar comment.. but I’m curious how the Honda compares to the Firman generators sold at Costco. Would love to see a showdown between them. Keep up the great work! And thanks again.
Thanks and you are welcome! Thanks for the suggestion.
Would be interested in these tests on the Champion dual fuel generators. It's about the same price as the predator, but can run on propane too, which is great cause it runs way longer right from the tank and propane doesn't go bad.
I agree
Great suggestion! If there's enough interest in this video, I'll do it.
Dual fuel generators are definitely interesting.
I have a champion dual fuel. I've never run it on propane because gasoline is much cheaper (Colorado). I have modified it for remote start, which also saves fuel. If I was using it for emergency only than I might use propane because more stable storage than gasoline.
I converted my generator to propane as a 2nd fuel option. I test it on propane, and keep the fuel tank empty for when I really need it.
Good to have 2 fuel options, although propane is much more expensive than gas.
I'm a Fleet Mechanic. We used to run Honda's for all our generators and water pumps. Due to operator error in leaving the fuel open and washing the cylinder walls on a regular basis we switched to Yamaha generators and water pumps. Under $400 cad, they perform just the same and they have all out lasted the old Honda's
I've heard good things about Yamahas> Thanks for sharing. Would have been cool to see that one in the mix
Not sure where you are getting that price on the Yamahas. They are similar to the Honda price.
@@SiXiam Just bought a Yamaha 2200 @ $1,299.00 US + tax
We always use STABIL in the fuel and we always run the carburetor completely out of fuel before we store it and we've never had a problem in 20 years
@thecloneguyz yeah but Taryl fixes all showed all fuel additives dont work. Its really just ethanol in the fuel or not that matters
Thanks for another comprehensive test video from Project Farm. This kind of information is a great help for folks trying to choose between these products.
I do wonder why the oil was measured by weight for this testing. I've always assumed that oil quantities were specified in terms of fluid ounces (volume), so I was puzzled by the use of a weighing scale for measuring "ounces" of oil for these generators.
ME TO....
I rarely (if ever) comment on youtube. I recommend your videos to most of my colleagues (engineers in various roles). I love your work and love your data that you present. My one question is do you have a website or such where you post your projects and results? something where you can look between the different result infographics. For now, I will keep pausing the videos, it would just be nice when going back and forth between charts.
Very thorough testing! One additional note is that the Honda generator will most likely retain a significant part of their value if resold. I own one and with the low hours I have can resell it for just a little less than the purchase price. They are great machines.
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
@@happydogg312 "you never know..." In this case, you might discover you need 3500 watts... or whatever.
Great video! A buddy of mine had one of the same Honda generators. He was working on his boat and it fell of the boat rate in the salt water. We recovered it and changed all the fluids. It still runs today can’t beat a Honda!
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! Friend for doing a very professional job on everything that you test 🙏
Thanks! Thanks for supporting the channel! I really appreciate it!
i have the predator .
got mine during a personal emergency
in temps of -20 this lil unit saved my family from a dangerous winter storm in northern colorado
have had this for two years and never once any issues past forgetting the vent on the cap lol
Thanks for the feedback.
Love this channel! You've saved me from making some bad purchase decisions over the last couple of years.
Also, as a vibration analyst, it's nice to see that you're testing and reporting on vibration levels on many types of equipment. Just a suggestion, but consider integrating the overall acceleration levels to overall RMS velocity. It's a better gauge of human-sensed vibration because velocity is not dependent on frequency. Acceleration measurements are amplified in the high frequency range, but velocity doesn't suffer from this limitation. It's a better model for human perception of vibration levels.
Keep up the amazing work!
Thanks, will do! Glad to hear!
As a vibration analysis you must have a vibrator up your @ss all the time 😂😂😂😂
A great test would be between inverters for vehicles from cheap to expensive
Thanks for the suggestion.
@@ProjectFarm no problem I hope you have a great day
Great suggestion!
I agree we need help on what to buy
Happy to find this review. You do an Impressive job! Purchased the Honda, I like it. Thanks.
that was an amazing amount of information in that time frame. Thank you for putting that together.
You are welcome!
I’m a generac dealer and would love to see a comparison on home standby units! Generac, kohler, Cummins and brigs and Stratton! That would be incredibly awesome!!
Thanks for the suggestion.
that would be incredibly expensive.
You saw it. Generac is Chinese just like the off brands
@@thetazva I guess we need to buy a bunch of stuff and donate a bunch of money.
I second that
Again, Honda proves they know what they are doing with these small engines! Well done!
Would like to see Yamaha and Champion in the mix for the next episode of Generators.
For some others; Westinghouse, DuroMax, Ryobi, WEN, Craftsman, and Firman. These are some of the brands I can think of that are at Home Depot, Lowes, and Tractor Supply.
Another good video, Todd! See you next time! 🐺🔧
Thanks! Thanks for the video idea.
I agree here, Champion and Yamaha are 2 other big ones along with Ryobi.
You can see how clean the oil was when it came out of the Honda too. The other generators had much darker oil.
@@volvo09 yea, that's not surprising between those two brands.
The champion is junk.
I was really hoping the Firman would be tested, by the paper it seems to be the best value option.
I imagine the generac would also be good.
Yamaha is great, just as good as the Honda. Has more weight due to piston design then the Honda though
Wow, I’m surprised how someone can make such a high quality video comparison of power generators. Well done, sir!
91D
Thanks!
Excellent, thanks for helping me decide which one to get.
You are welcome!
Brother, you truly are doing something great out here for so many people. Just look at the comments as proof of that. There are so many of us out here trying desperately to make things work and balance everything, and saving up to buy something only to get it home and find out it's junk is a huge blow and can really set folks back. You truly help people man, no joke. Its been awesome watching the channel grow and evolve, and I hope you do this for a long time to come. Keep up the awesome work brother man. 🤘🇺🇸
Thanks, will do!
We also need the rundown on pressure washer hoses! Flow rate, abrasion resistance, flexibility, temperature compliance, burst pressure etc. (Great work as always btw)!
Thanks for the suggestion.
I like that clear pressure washer hose from Tractor Supply ... Seems pretty tough after several years use and best of all... Does not leave all those black marks all over anything not black like cool decking and concrete.
Been in the Water Blaster industry for a few years... Flow rate is negligible in a hose... the important things is that the ends have not been over crimped (and even then that often doesn't affect output flow/pressure, but will increase pressure of the hose at low pressures (like when using a large "soaper" nozzle to use the detergent venturi (often built in with a cheap machine. The venturi requires a high pressure on the pump side and a lower pressure on the output side (to create a vacuum on the output side that sucks the detergent in through a non return valve at the end of the plastic pickup hose... restrictions in the hose can act like a nozzle which can increase the pressure in the hose enough that the venturi ends up with the same pressure on either side.. so no vacuum, no soap.
(This is why you have to use the "black" nozzle on QC nozzle units to get soap... and thin hose (usually 1/4" (measured in ID not OD) hose) does effect the low pressure)... 3/8th (industrial standard) can run up to about 30m long before pushing all that water through ends up leveling out that pressure either side of the venturi again... I personally hate venturi's. Spray and walk away.. then pressure wash later!)
@@TheButlerNZ I decided years ago that if i want to add soap or bleach it is better to do it with a 60 dollar garden tank sprayer that can spray it right where i want than my 3000 dollar pressure washer set up
You did such a great job on these ! Just the right speed in delivering the info. Very understandable. Thank you much.
Thanks and yo are welcome!
Ive been telling everyone i know about your videos. I swear you have to be a genius to come up with these test parameters.
Thanks for sharing the channel!
I wish we would see more of a variety of generators especially with the main popular brands like FIRMAN, Westinghouse and DuroMax
I'll do it if there's enough interest in this video. I'm finding myself breaking the budget every month. lol
Pls do more on the cheaper gens we can afford better
I'm currently shopping for a generator so I stopped here a few months back to see if there were tests. Those costco firmans and Cabela's champions are tempting
Most people seem to really like the Champion brand , also ...
DuroMax XP12000EH please
This guy just never disappoints me.
Thanks!
Thanks for all that you do with comparisons....several of your other videos helped me make what I would call good decisions in purchase and or operation.
You are welcome! Glad to hear!
Excellent review as always.
A couple observations of the oil analysis. First, with the oil change likely being the first with any significant hours on the unit it would be expected to see slightly higher wear metals during the break-in time period. Second, the amount of silicon (dirt) could be a concern and worth taking a closer look at the air filter element and how the filter housing seals. The less dirt the engine ingests will help keep wear metals low.
Thanks!
I really appreciate the testing you do. For 40+ years I have purchased mostly Honda power equipment, including generators, lawnmowers, & snowblowers. The stuff lasts forever and has never failed me. Yes, Honda costs *significantly* more but it’s one of those “you get what you pay for” things.
Yes and when you need it to start and function in emergency times, Honda is the way to go.
Buy once, cry once.
100%. Gave up cheaping out on tools a long time ago. Buy the best I can afford and have never regretted that.
Yep... That's why I stick with Makita tools. They aren't big on HYPE, but are always up there in performance and always last forever
@@scowell So true...not as easy as it used to be with less options these days. Everything is Chinesium, Mexican, Indian etc. and nothing easy to find from the USA. I blame the warehouses for much of this.
We've had our Predator generator for 5 years of commercial work
Being used for hundreds of hours and the only problem we've ever had was the bolt backed itself out that holds the bracket for the plastic "on, choke, off" knob.
It's unbelievable actually
Thanks for sharing.
Although China may be getting better at COPYING, Nothing compares with HONDA!
Ok fanboy now get back to your well@@kennethrhodes7143
Predator is better than a Honda. We use both almost every weekend.@@kennethrhodes7143
@@kennethrhodes7143 Or the Honda price tag.
Outstanding work! All the facts, no fluff, fast pace, measured aspects I wouldn't have thought of!
Thanks!
I tell you before I buy anything I watch this guy test and determine which one is better . So thank you you are a real money saver and headache saver!!! U should take a look at Power-Bank-Solar-Charger … like for charging cell phones they are very handy on jobs where there’s no power. And frankly, you’re the only one I would trust to be 100% objective. .. just a idea
You are welcome!
Great video as always. I know it would be expensive, but I would love to see more brands tested like Champion, Wen, Westinghouse, Generac, etc. Also would be awesome to see how dual fuel generators running propane compare to gas only generators.
Would be interesting, as propane is really the best since propane is cleaner burning and stores forever, unlike gas and diesel.
I am also curious to know if and what the benefits are of propane powered generators, versus gasoline.
I saw a test where a generator was ran on propane and checked. Then on gas and checked. The ammount of oil gunk and wear on the engine was drastically worst running gasoline
I would be very curious as to how the Westinghouse performs.
thanks for the channel contribution🐱👍🏿
Would love to see a "solar generator" showdown. Anker v. Bluetti v. Jackery etc. Especially side by side with some of this data
Thank you for the video idea!
Jackery don't even compare to the others, 500 charge cycles compared to 2,000 for the others. And Bluetti has nearly no customer service based on all the reports.
Add Goal Zero in there too. They're a major competitor.
Would like to see this too!
@@ProjectFarm I second this video idea. I like having a battery backup since the entire thing is self-contained. No gas, oil etc. Nice to top it off occasionally and leave in a closet.
Best comparison review I’ve ever seen! Incredibly thorough and interesting.
Thanks so much!
Great comparison video! Thanks.
You are welcome!
I have two eu2000i's pushing about 800 hours each, used pretty much weekly. Following the book maintenance schedule, both still run like new and use no oil between changes. Great machines! It's worth pointing out that the Honda should be expected to have a more pull start effort required, as well as use a bit more fuel, as it's a significantly larger engine than the other two. Thanks for the tests!
You are welcome! Thanks for sharing.
GE-3300A
@@ProjectFarmI Love to See Comparison of Champion inverter generator and Westinghouse inverter and Honda inverter generator 👍
Enjoy your videos
Yeah MY EU2000i has over 10,000 hours and still runs like new....Also the Honda probably only uses more fuel till it breaks in which takes several hundred hours. The Honda clones probably all have pretty loose tolerances so start off with a lot less internal friction...At the cost of many of them not lasting as long as the Honda's break in period.
I have 2 that have at least 4000 hours on them still going great.
I was literally just watching other reviews about these hoping you would do a comparison! Thanks so much Todd for once again making my Sunday better .
Go Honda
Legendary name like Randy Savage. Love it!! Also, thank you for the positive feedback!
@@ProjectFarm Your welcome ! We are very fortunate to have such a non bias channel for product testing
I bought a Generac 3000i because all the tests and comparisons I could find said it was at least as quiet as the Honda 2200, but it made more power and was less expensive. Would love to see how that Generac would do in one of your tests. Great work and thanks for doing what you do!
You made a poor decision by buying generac. I worked on generators my whole life and I'll tell you that you never see 30, 40 or 50 year old generec (not sure if they even existed then) only honda and Yamaha. That's alright if everyone was smart who would keep generac in business.
@@anthonynicholich9654 Thanks ever so much for your opinion. Show me a 50 year old Honda 2200, lol. I wanted the most power from the quietest one I could get and this is it. It also has a handy shore power outlet on it. We had a Generac Generator at our house for 28 years and it was fine.
The Hondas are on sale right now for $999
@@mveaglespirit
Asking me to show you 50-year-old Honda 2200 is like asking to show you a 50 Toyota Prius! Your question doesn't make any sense. Just like 50 years ago Toyota had a Corolla Cressida and a Pickup Honda had different models of genitors then. I am most likely wasting my time with a low intelligence grown man like you having to explain this! If you had any intelligence you would not be believing the generac is better than Honda to begin with so of course it's time wasting for me. I can show you a models of Hondas that a 50 years old like EX 400, 500 EX Ex1000 EX2000. Honda's first generator on Canadian and US market was 1962.
Where was genetac then?
I bet you are one of those people that have a Chrysler or Ford in the driveway believing is as good as Toyota and Honda.
If I was you I'd be careful where you say generic is better than Honda or Yamaha because people might laugh at you.
@@SeaPro360 Not a bad price, but I don't need one now.
I have switched from Honda to Westinghouse because when I go boat camping it will run all night on a single fill up. The Honda always ran out of gas about 5:00 am. I would sure like to see Westinghouse included in the testing. The good news is when I advertised the Honda for sale, I had 20 people all wanting to buy it within a few minutes of posting it. I love the various ways you find to measure things.
Thanks!
Would love to see a video comparing the battery power stations (Anker, ECOFLOW, Bluetti etc.). I’ve been considering getting one but it’s hard to tell the difference as most videos featuring them are sponsored. Would be expensive but well worth the information.
Great suggestion! Thank you
I don't have a channel, but I've been testing power stations at home. I've got six of them from Anker, Bluetti, EcoFlow, Goal Zero, and Jackery.
The Jackery Explorer 1500 was the first one I got, and I really like it, it's very well thought out and easy to use, but it's a traditional lithium battery. All the others are LiFePo. The small Anker 521 is the one I end up grabbing most often, it's extremely easy to use and very well put together.
Both EcoFlows are good, I have the 3.6kW Delta Pro and 1000W Delta 2. The fast charging options on those are their party trick, and they have ridiculous numbers of outlet ports on them.
I like the Bluetti and Goal Zero least. They're both packaged well, but fall down on ease of use
@@ProjectFarm Would love to see a comparison of some of these more pricey ones to some cheaper ones. It can be very expensive and many people dont realize the panels are sold separate, but I've found some combinations with the panels and generator for under 300.
Yes, we would love to see a comparison between the battery powered stations. Especially the Bluetti.
I kinda short changed the Projects With Everyday Dave channel. He's not as technical as Will Prowse but he does a good job of making practical use and review videos.
I bought my Predator 3500 a few years ago and I've used it for everything from camping to running power tools out in the woods to running our entire house during power failures. I've been extremely happy with it. Zero issues so far. Not bad for $700 bucks. I've had other guys comment on how quiet it is.
Thanks for the feedback.
I also got a 3500 after looking at the sparkplug im putting it up for sale right now.
Just sold it.
@@dangda-ww7de How much did you get for it?
I bought 1 for $60 at an auction. Works good so far
Covered so much in less than 15 min. Simply brilliant.
Thanks!
This was a ridiculously good and informative video. I hear a lot of good things about the champion generators specially for the price. Do you have any plans of doing a video of one of their generators in the future?
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
Great video, as always. I have a recommendation; Compound-action snips AKA aviation snips. I’ve noticed a big difference between the amount of force needed to cut with different brands as well as durability of the blades.
Thank you for the video idea!
I've been using aviation snips for over 25 years. So far, WISS brand was on my top list but, lately, I've noticed that another company took over and kept the WISS logo. What I mean is, I see a pair of WISS in a BENCHMARK package. They are not so good anymore so, I'm giving TASK a test. So far, not a problem but, they're barely 3 weeks old.
@@Evil_Joe My huge pair is a Malco. Damn thing is around 40 years old. I only had to sharpen the blades once. I just can't find the small ones in Canada. Just those generic ones, you find in hardware stores.
@@rverro8478yea the new crescent wiss snips are garbage. great idea for project farm I’m looking forward to the video!
In my experience using them in work for 20 odd years nothing for me has beaten Midwest ones.
A-iPower SU 2300.
Bought one after the big freeze here in Texas. Just had 4 days without power after a freak wind storm in Spring TX.
I ran my house fridge, my garage fridge and deep freezer on that one generator for 4 days straight, no breaks, filling it up when it needed gas. I didn't lose 2k in frozen meats or meals, line a lot of my neighbors did.
I just did a service to it today at work, and again, it just started right up.
I bought it at Sam's club for$329, and it's the best money I've spent.
Thanks for sharing.
$2k is frozen meat? Are you at 1890s fur trapper or preparing for the zombie apocalypse?
excellent review. One thing not mentioned, availability of replacement parts in the event of accidental damage or worn out parts from heavy usage.Everything on the Honda is readily available.
Thanks! Thanks for the constructive feedback.
Love your content man, Id love to see you review tork straps.
Thanks! Thanks for the video idea.
I bought a Honda EU2200i a few years ago and it's never let me down - I'm confident the higher cost was worthwhile, but it would be great to see how these units stand up over the test of time, like into the 1000hr+ range. It's not exactly an environmentally friendly test, but it's the only way to get those kinds of results. Thanks, as always, for the great content Todd!
TBO its not necesary, show any mechanic those sparkplug pictures from this video. If they came from a car: 1 engine will do 200+K miles even with modest servicing. 1 engine will do 100k, but will need serviced every 6k on the nose. and 1 of those engines wont make it from one service to the next without an oil top up and fresh plugs. I dont need a generator, but seems clean cut to me ifi did, buy the honda, or buy the cheapest non inverter thing I could find and put up with it, and treat it as disposable.
Check any tool rental shop, and see what small generator they rent out. That's a business model that is based on getting the maximum return on investment from a tool purchase, and it's all but guaranteed to be a Honda. These small generator reviews always ask "Is it as good as a Honda?" If you get a Honda, you don't have to ask.
@@om617yota7 Exactly, there is a reason all of our tool rental shops here in Australia all have Honda 2200 and 7KVA versions in the fleet, clearly they just last the abuse and test of time otherwise they would be using the cheaper ones.
@@denisohbrien he got a bad one and should swap it, i have two predators and neither use oil like his did. i have over 500 hours on one and over 300 on the other and i have never had to add oil between 100 hr intervals. that being said obviously the honda is a better build quality and will last longer, but by how much is the real question.
For the price of that Honda you could have bought 4 genmax generators... you have four times the power and four times the life
Hi Todd, Great video! If you ever decide to do a 2nd round, you might want to throw in a Champion and a Firman. Both of these machines seem to dominate the big box offerings here in Canada (Costco, Lowes, etc.). Dual and tri fuel options are also popular offerings.
Good points, have a dual fuel option being tested would be useful as well
My recommendation exactly!
agree too- Champion is all I could find for dual-fuel at my local farm supply shop
Thanks! Thanks for the video idea.
Generac is also common here in the states
We need to appreciate that an engine needs to be broken in and generator needs to be loaded incrementally to properly seat all the contact points.
Great video as always.
Thanks!
What a great comparison. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks and you are welcome!
I love your channel and the way you test everything on such a level/unbiased field. I've been waiting for a long time for you to test generators so I was excited to watch this video. My only request would be for another generator comparison using larger generators. I'm hoping for a comparison of generators that would be large enough to use with a RV.
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
Just get a second Honda and run them in parallel
900+ hours on a Predator 3500 inverter generator and still running like a top. Been used a lot and the there are some tricks I've learned to get it this far.
1. Most important there is a air vent tube right at the top of the fuel tank. Make sure to not fill fuel above that intake or it will drain into the charcoal filter and stall out.
2. Make sure to add a vent to fuel cap or back off when tightened a half turn while in use. So it does not create a vacuum and starve the engine for fuel.
3. Change oil every 40 hours with a top off at 20-30 hours. Use good oil.
4. Change the spark plug to a high quality one.
In all honesty 1 and 2 will be your most common issues. Hopefully this helps someone out there.
I got the same one with 2000 + hours , bigest isue i had is ajusting the exost valve about every 1000 hr or so , other than runs great .
@bobmunz7877 no doubt it'll make it that far. Haven't seen any people on UA-cam with more than 150 hours. Cheers bud.
I ran a Honda 2000 for 6 hours a night every night for 12 years and it was used on several jobs running saws and cement mixers. I only had to change the inverter once at the 8 year mark and got a replacement for 200 bucks.
My Predator 3500 has almost 600 hours on it and runs like a top. I put a remote start kit on it which was a great investment. I’d like to see it compared to some of the other brands of generators.
I also have a 5 year old Predator (Harbor Freight). During a hurricane it ran 2 weeks straight. It regularly gets used and is one of the best buys I ever made.
Great test and great review. Keep the great testing videos coming, they are very accurate and I don't think you could get it any closer, this is very helpful for people deciding which way to go. 👍
Thanks and you are welcome!
Instant Follow. What a great channel. Straight to the point video.
Thanks and you are welcome!
My 15 year old Honda 2000i is still going strong and does not burn oil. It does not have an hour meter so I'm estimating around 800 hours minimum. You did an excellent comparison here!
Thanks so much! Thanks for sharing.
just cant beat a Honda, when we get new equipment at work I get excited when it has a Honda, lol
The 2000i actually DOES have an hour meter. It tells you, in code, by flashing lights when you first start it (on the panel). Count the number of flashes, and that's how many hundred hours it has run.
This is a little known trick that can help you find a smoking deal on a used 2000i with low hours. Also, learn which model numbers are made in Japan (another thing the average person doesn't know how to find) I got one with 200 hours for $400.
I tend to attach an hour meter to all my appliances. ;)
@@PolPotsPieHole
Don't forget Yamaha.
Also made in Japan and in some cases better than Honda.
Not really video related but I noticed you're approaching 3 _million_ subscribers!! That's awesome. You'll be in the stratosphere with Linus and Furze before long, having earned every bit of it. As for the video, I liked how you pulled the Tailgator and the Predator 4K in as a comparison data point, especially for the quality of the power. Good stuff, and it matters a lot to an electronics nerd like me. 👍
Thanks!
Great video. Nicely presented, easy to follow your tests and understand them. 👍👍👍
Thanks and you are welcome!
Comprehensive! Exactly what I was looking for.Thx.
You are welcome!
Great video. I personally use the Honda 2200 to power my ice house. The oscilloscope comparison is great. When running a fish finder my friends experience interference with their predator generators in some cases.
Thanks! Thanks for sharing.
Outstanding test as usual. Unlike the competition, Honda has actual stores with trained technicians and genuine Honda parts. That's worth a lot
Thanks! Thanks for the feedback.
I love your channel and how well you have produced these videos.
On this video and the power drop and recovery, I would make a statement that generators should be run at more than 75% load to minimize the power drop and to allow for intermittent power draws such as from tefridgetato compressors.
E cellent job though.
Something worth mentioning. Every 3 decibels, the noise doubles. So going from 59 dB to 62 dB is 100% more noise energy. A 3 dB is substantial
Thanks for the feedback.
3db is a small but noticeable difference. Takes 10db to double volume
@@texasfrontiersman8245dB is measured on a logarithmic scale so 3dB more is twice the impact on hearing or essentially twice as loud. 10 dB represents a tenfold increase, for example 20dB is not twice as loud as 10dB, but rather 10 times as loud.
@@thunderusnighttexes frontier man is right. From a physics standpoint you’re right. You see humans hear in reversed logarithmic fashion and it’s not the same at all frequencies. Look it up, it very interesting. MAF curve is particularly strange.
@@briankissel7661 that's pretty interesting
Very interesting! The comparison of the waveforms was really surprising. I had no idea the electricity from inverter generators was so much cleaner than from conventional. Definitely gives me pause hooking up electronics while the breakers are on generator power.
And EVERYTHING has sensitive electronics in it, nowadays.
You see this a lot on cheaper UPS battery backups. Usually it’s ok for electronics that convert the power to DC since the conversion process also smooths out the irregularities. Some devices with active power factor correction will freak out with the non-smooth voltage, though.
Thanks!
When powering digital electronics, you'll want "pure sine wave" inverters instead of "modified sine wave". They cost more but are well worth the investment!
Definitely an eye opener!
Another great review! Would LOVE to see one on battery/solar "power stations", as I'd like to buy one for my CPAP and other in-house only use devices. So many out there now, but INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE. I'm quite sure that some are WAY better than others, but don't have the ability to test them myself......
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
Solid testing, thank you!
Thanks and you are welcome!
The lawn mower - the engine to haul things is brilliant😂
Thank you!! I used to destroy about 1 engine mower every couple of weeks and had plenty of mower decks on hand. Thanks again!
In case you're havig a hard time yanking the engine to sufficient starting speed, here's a useful tip:
Pull the rope until the latching mechanism engages. then gently pull again to slowly turn the engine. At a certain point you'll encounter the first of three resistance points. Rearm the rope as mentionned above. Again gently pull the engine until you pass the third resistance. Again rearm, but this time yank the rope. In most cases you easily get a decent starting speed for the engine to ramp up to operational RPM on its own.
The anatomy behind: As you pass the ignition stroke ( Piston BDC ), you now have the exhaust and intake valve opening sequentionally in one RPM, allowing the engine to "freewheel" through stroke 4 and 1.
I came through this handy tip by pure chance and would like to share it to all out there.
Great thorough review!
Thanks!
Always the professional. No one is better than this guy. That would account for almost 3 mill followers. Great test.
Love these vids, introduced my cousin to this guy's channel, and now my cousin uses his vids as a reference before buying tools now.
Thank you very much! This means a lot to me!
Your perseverance in informing the average person is legendary! I've based many of purchasing decisions on your test results and everytime it's been bang on expectation. I love how I can say " there is a project farm video on that, you should watch it".
Thanks!
Thank you for runinng those tests. Very informatvie.
Thanks and you are welcome!
I bought a Honda 2000i almost 20 years ago for use at my cabin. It wasn't cheap, but I thought "buy once, cry once". It has many hundreds of hours on it and aside from regular servicing every couple of years and oil changes every 100 hours when I remember, a replacement of the stepper (throttle) motor is all I've had to do to it. That generator helped me renovate the cabin while quietly powering everything short of my welder. It doesn't owe me anything and I still smile a little bit each time I start it up. Maybe the best money I ever spent, especially as it was a huge investment for me at the time.
Thanks for sharing.
I've owned one of the older version Honda EU2000i generators, and it's been flawless.
IMO, besides the generator putting out clean electric is parts availability. Other than Honda, most of the knock-off generators are here today, gone tomorrow, so when it breaks, toss it and get another one.
Your neighbors must love it when you have a yard sale. You've got the coolest stuff that's always being upgraded. Well done.
Thanks for the feedback. No yard sales. What I don't save for future episodes I donate in my community.
Fantastic video! Im always hesitant to buy a generator because there are so many options and its hard to tell what is actually a good option. Would be good to see larger home generator options in the 6 to 10kw range! Thanks as always!
Thank you for the video idea!
@@ProjectFarm Please make the contest between dual-fuel (at least) only... home backup gen sets should get away from gasoline, not a proper long-term storage fuel.
I'd like to see that myself. Even with regular factory-authorized servicing, my 11kw Generac has been more troublesome than I'd expected. But doesn't he buy all the equipment he tests? Buying 3-5 home-size generators would get into some serious money.
Impressive comparison and testing. I really appreciated the sine wave and vibration measurements. Would be interested in seeing the Wen, Pulsar and Champion brand small (2000-2350 watt) inverter generators adding to the testing in the future. Thanks again.
Thanks! Thanks for the suggestion.
This is the way I like a comparison to be done...with facts and information! Good job!
Thank you!
Love to see the Honda 2200 vs the Yamaha engine powered A-iPower SC2300i.
Great job as always!!!
I’ve had both the Honda definitely better reliability and overall in my experience but Yamaha at Costco was only 1/3 the price.
Thank you very much!
119.5Vac is absolutely fine, and higher than a lot of houses I see. 110Vac-125Vac is the norm depending on where you are.
Great point. Thank you
Damn 110 from the Util? Talk about an undervolt. I do not want to see what's at the last receptacle.
my house has 128 volts at the panel. Double pole breaker reads on my fluke at 257
Dude your reviews are just excellent. So informative and comprehensive. I salute your effort and thoroughness. 👍
Thanks and you are welcome!
I just fast forwarded to the end where I knew the Honda would win! Can’t beat a Honda
Checking my new Honda generator i noticed the air cleaner is actually a 2 stage course/fine filter. And the up draft multi size intake tubes are ingenious to have heavy debris drop out of air suspension.
There seems to be many nuanced designed features that are difficult to quantify or test on higher end quality products.
Things that are easy to take for granted but require lots of R&D to develop.
Bingo. The reason for the cost difference is not just materials and production quality.
Thanks for the feedback.
Mine has over 3000 hours and still clean filters.