Honda EU2000i

2800 MicroLite by Onan
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Adkins family
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B190 Year: 1993
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Honda EU2000i

Post by Adkins family »

Will a Honda EU2000i be large enough to power the B190?

Thanks,

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EricZ
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B190 Year: 1993
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Re: Honda EU2000i

Post by EricZ »

The stock (but optional) generator in an Airstream 190 is an Onan Microlite 2.8, rated for 2800 watts. This is capable of running everything in the motorhome at the same time EXCEPT the microwave and the air conditioner. (In other words, you could run the A/C and everything else, OR the microwave and everything else, but not the A/C and the microwave at the same time.) There's a switch in my 1993 that selects which one of these two devices is powered, so that you can't even TRY to run them simultaneously.

The rooftop A/C (in my case, a Dometic 13.5K BTU unit) draws something like 1400 watts when running (and as little as a few hundred watts once the compressor cycles off), but needs something like 2400 watts to start.

I can't speak about the microwave oven, as I've removed mine from my van.

The Honda EU2000i provides 1600 watts continuous, 2000 watts peak. It thus shouldn't be able to start a 13.5K BTU A/C.

I've tried exactly this and, at sea level (best case, because the generator produces less power at higher altitudes), I was sometimes able to start my 13.5K BTU A/C once on an EU2000i, but after the compressor cycled (which it does every few minutes), it couldn't restart. I immediately ended the experiment, as the cycling would have been bad for both the generator and the EU2000i.

People sometimes get around this problem by buying TWO EU2000i generators and a buying (or constructing) a combiner box (officially called a "parallel kit" or "parallel cords"). This approach works, but is a hassle (more money, weight, noise, gas). You can also combine an EU2000i with an EU1000i (though Honda doesn't recommend it).

Some other possible approaches:
- Try starting the A/C unit on fan-only first, then switch to cooling mode.
- Install a hard-start capacitor kit in the A/C (cheap; it didn't make enough difference in my case).
- Install an intelligent controller (like a Dometic SmartStart) in the A/C (expensive, but likely to work).
- Install a smaller A/C.

If you're not concerned about the A/C or microwave, you should have no problem with an EU2000i (or maybe even an EU1000i). Pretty much everything else runs on 12 volts, supplied by the converter/charger. If you've upgraded your converter/charger (and you should; to a modern multi-stage unit), you should check to make sure it will run on the generator you plan to buy. And don't just look at the steady-state power consumption, consider the startup current (sometimes called "inrush current") as well.

When I was shopping for a multi-stage charger, Progressive Dynamics said their PD4635 (the smallest converter/charger in their PD4600 line) drew 32 amps inrush current, nearly twice what the EU2000i was rated to supply. However (and I don't have this in my notes, so I'm going by memory) I'm pretty sure the PD4635 worked fine on an EU2000i (and maybe even an EU1000i).
Last edited by EricZ on Wed Nov 25, 2015 2:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Adkins family
Weekend Camper
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Nov 13, 2015 9:28 pm
B190 Year: 1993
WBCCI: 0
Location: Crystal Coast NC

Re: Honda EU2000i

Post by Adkins family »

Thanks again EricZ. you have given me a few ideas to research. I received your PM, thanks for sharing your knowledge.

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skater
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B190 Year: 1991
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Re: Honda EU2000i

Post by skater »

Well said, EricZ.

When we sold our B190, a Honda EU2000 was the first thing we bought, then we bought a second unit a few years later to run the A/C in our trailer. They're great generators, but are a little inconvenient for a B190.
1991 Airstream B190 - bought, 2005; sold, 2011; bought 2017
1995 Airstream Excella 30' trailer

WBCCI #13270, Washington, DC Unit
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