Yamaha vs. Honda Portable Gen.

[KeithT]

I own a 8-9 yr old Yamaha 6600 , flawless. I think this Yamaha Generators YG6600DE - Industrial Generators - is where I bought it. They have changed their web name since I bought it. Free ship to you, about $2000. Add the wheel kit if you may need to move it, cover is nice to keep dust out, and hour meter is handy. I run Mobil 1 oil. I hate not buying local , but my local Yamaha cycle guy charges $2900 for same unit , now and 9 yrs ago. I think the seller is a west coast huge outfit selling boatloads of yamaha gennies. Great unit like I said, an expert friend said the generating unit , not just the powerplant is the best in it's class. The powerplant is Japanese perfection too- never coughed, hardly uses any oil like a cheaper engine. Use a garden tractor battery ($30), plus a trickle charger (HF $10). Batteries last 4 yrs. Only nicer unit in it's class is Kubota 6600w , diesel, liquid cooled , 300lbs heavier and $3000 more dollars. Yam 6600 puts out 25amps/220v , 8 gallon tank , 200lbs is manageable. wife and I have lifted it into truck to take to other locations.

I am currently looking for a genrator. I like the Yamaha you referenced above, I am amazed though that it does not come from the factory with an hour meter. I also do not really want the electric start, another battery to maintain does not appeal to me.

Do I understand the inverter generators correctly in that they can vary the throttle and continue to provide 60hz power? My transfer switch is on the concrete patio below my deck which happens to be right below our MBR. I am looking for something quiet. I have it down to a honda or yamaha.

 

[Steve_Miller]

If you have the money a Honda or Yamaha inverter type is the best in my view. You can get them in a fairly decent size now and they are quieter, more fuel efficient and a true sine wave that will not vary from 60HZ. The main reason I recommend them is because for the most part you are not loading the generator all the time and these inverter types will only run at the rpm needed to provide the load that is being drawn thus extending your run time. The true sine wave is advantageous for electronics as well. I read on one of the Yamaha's literature a few years back that if the genny is running at low speed and a large load comes on, the inverter will actually use the battery as a source of power until the generator can get up to speed and catch up.

Steve

 

[whistlepig]

I am currently looking for a genrator. I like the Yamaha you referenced above, I am amazed though that it does not come from the factory with an hour meter. I also do not really want the electric start, another battery to maintain does not appeal to me.

Do I understand the inverter generators correctly in that they can vary the throttle and continue to provide 60hz power? My transfer switch is on the concrete patio below my deck which happens to be right below our MBR. I am looking for something quiet. I have it down to a honda or yamaha.

Inverter generators and auto throttle do not go hand in hand. My Honda EB6500XA has auto throttle but is not an inverter generator. And it does not have an hour meter. If you want something really quiet look at the Honda EU series. You have to listen to one in person to really appreciate it. The EU series does have an hour meter and is an inverter generator. The EU series is the Cadillac of generators. And it is priced as so. It comes with or without electric start. I prefer manual start myself also. Saving money is a good idea. But not on a generator.

 

[Dirtball]

$30 lawn tractor battery has allowed my 100lb wife to start the genny more than once, during long outages. She couldn't reliably pull start it. My porta-power 12v jump box lives next to the genny should the battery fail. The 6600w yamaha isnt whisper quiet, I have slept with it on several times. But for me it was the best 6kw unit I could buy for $2000. I didnt want the $699 6kw big box Briggs unit. I don't use CHEAP back-up safety equiptment. The Kubota 6kw diesel, liquid cooled is quieter. Those 2kw Honda units humm, but have tiny fuel tanks. ...This Yamaha unit has done all I asked for, fuel economy is better than I thought, oil consumption is nill. I look at all the different 6kw units in the Northern catalog, and there are units coming and going year after yr. Where will you get parts? The Honda./Yamy are the same unit year to year. I know the hour meter , wheels are extra, but that's the deal.

 

[TheGoose]

I just bought a Honda EU2000i generator for small tasks where I need portable quiet power. It is super quiet and can idle up/down as needed. Normal generators need to run at constant speed to make the 60HZ. The inverter makes 12v continuous, like an alternator, and then converts that to 110V ac 60hz. Unloaded it purrs like a kitten. It is capable of putting out 16 amps and 1600 watts continuous.

I got it signed sealed and delivered for $900 from Wise Equip. Sales. Good luck. They also have bigger models but the expense goes way up.

 

[Pirate]

I went with a Winco unit powered by Honda. It is trifuel and seemed best for my money. One thing I did find out, don't buy too much generator. I almost bought an 8K unit until I realized how much gas I would need on hand to run it.

Winco HPS6000HE - HPS6000HE - 5500 Watt TriFuel Generator w/ Electric Start Honda Engine

 

[whistlepig]

I just bought a Honda EU2000i generator for small tasks where I need portable quiet power. It is super quiet and can idle up/down as needed. Normal generators need to run at constant speed to make the 60HZ. The inverter makes 12v continuous, like an alternator, and then converts that to 110V ac 60hz. Unloaded it purrs like a kitten. It is capable of putting out 16 amps and 1600 watts continuous.

I got it signed sealed and delivered for $900 from Wise Equip. Sales. Good luck. They also have bigger models but the expense goes way up.

Sounds like it has the Honda Auto Throttle. Idles until it senses a load. Then it ramps up to the load. I have a EB6500XE. It idles all night until it senses a load. Saves a whole lot of fuel.

 

[Kays Supply]

FYI, I just spent $63 on a new carb for my 24 year old Honda welder/Gen. I use it for work and backup power at home. Up till now I had bought one spark plug and oil changes. That is it for expense and repair for 24 years.

 

[BobRip]

Sounds like it has the Honda Auto Throttle. Idles until it senses a load. Then it ramps up to the load. I have a EB6500XE. It idles all night until it senses a load. Saves a whole lot of fuel.

These are good, but I found that they don't idle back for home use, at least the way I use them (run for 2 or 3 hours, and then stop for several hours). For running all night, they are a good choice. Understand that the auto throttle has two speeds (idle, 3600). The inverter has many speeds. So a light load will not raise the inverter unit to full speed. A light load will raise the auto throttle to full speed.

 

[whistlepig]

FYI, I just spent $63 on a new carb for my 24 year old Honda welder/Gen. I use it for work and backup power at home. Up till now I had bought one spark plug and oil changes. That is it for expense and repair for 24 years.

That's why I bought a Honda. I want it to last for as many years as yours. Worth a little more up front.