20 Best Honda Generator For Home Backup (2023 Updated)

I always like to start with the one star reviews when purchasing anything over $1k. For the most part on this site it seems as though those reviews are one off type issues with many having nothing to do with the integrity of the generator.

I bought my Honda at Camping World about 4 years ago to use in the discovery, set up and operation of a mining claim l work 8 months of the year. We keep it covered against sun, rain and snow but it’s still outdoors.

The first year I carried it on my quad, frequently using it to power lights, power tools, water pumps as well as a coffee pot, hot plate and radio. It has never let me down. Once, a defective ratchet strap that was holding the generator on my quad broke and when I slowed to take a corner the generator was thrown into the curve tumbling end over end about 20 feet.

Picked it up, dusted it off and it started right up. I’ve worn grooves into the plastic housing around the pull cord starting the generator from every angle possible and usually starting on the first pull.

That said, the pull cord is all I’ve had to replace in terms of parts. In 4+ years I’ve changed the oil 3 times which consisted of emptying it out and putting fresh oil in. I use conventional 30wt oil from Honda.

I continue to clean the original air filter twice a year. During the off season the generator powers our 32ft travel trailer with no issues. It isn’t big enough to run the AC although it once helped to run it when I purchased the Predetor 2000 from Harbor Freight along with the kit to run them parallel.

The Honda has outlasted the Predetor, a dual fuel Champion and is currently backing up a Predetor 6500 which really only runs the AC or my large shop air compressor. This generator is a fantastic product that is reliable enough to provide consistent power under the worst conditions whenever needed.

Smartly used, ie LED lights and low wattage appliances and tools and the less than one gallon of gas will last almost 9 hours. Use the eco feature and half load and you’ll be pleasantly surprised how well it does.

This little generator is what I expected. It starts easily, is pretty quiet and it’s easy to carry. I also appreciate that you can cut off fuel from the fuel tank, but continue to let the engine run until the fuel in the carburetor has been used up.

But. the crankcase breather heater kit (which I purchased separately and is necessary to operate the unit in cold weather) was more difficult to install than I had expected. Seems like Honda should either a) provide the breather heater pre-installed, b) make it easier to install or c) revise their design so that the breather tube won’t ice up in cold weather.

One more minor complaint: The oil fill neck is almost horizontal. This means that only a tiny amount of oil needs to be added between the point where oil is just visible at the far end of the neck and when it is overflowing out the neck.

I suggest Honda make the oil fill neck a little more vertical. That would give you a little more time to stop adding oil before it overflows. But maybe that’s just me, though.

I just spent 2 weeks deer hunting in a canvas wall tent using the Honda EU2200i. All I can say is if you can afford it, you will not regret buying it. I absolutely love it for the ease of starting, quiet operation, fuel economy, and reliability.

My best acquisition for both camping/hunting and our frequent storms here in Louisiana. Why run a noisy 8hp generator sucking 5 gls of gas a night when I can run a room window AC on this for less than a gallon? Easy to convince your wife that this purchase isn’t for deer season, it’s really for those nasty storms that take out power when she needs that blow drier for her hair in the morning, or so she can have a quiet night’s sleep with a window air conditioner keeping things cool.

If she complains about cost, tell her after a storm with no electricity for a week or month, she can turn it off if she still thinks it was too expensive and you will sell it. That will never happen, trust me.

Enough said…except get you one guys!.

I bought this new 7000is generator instead of the EM6500s that I went in for. My 24 year old EB6500s was suddenly having an issue delivering the usual 120v that it had been delivering when I needed it to.

Due to the age of my older unit, I decided to buy a new one and repair the old one for spare. I looked at the 7000is when I went in and studied the features vs. the older, more seasoned 6500s. So, I bought it.

The reputable dealer said that it was set-up and load tested and ready to go. When I got it home, I started it up twice and checked the voltage output and was delighted that it delivered 126v/253v at no load! That was great.

A week later, we had another outage and I went to use the new 7000is, but was surprised and then frustrated that even though it started up right away, it suddenly stopped running while I was letting it warm up.

It re-started easily and did not repeat the stoppage. Then, to my surprise, after it warmed up and I checked the voltage output, it produce none! NONE! It did not matter which switch combination I selected either.

It produced no output from any receptacle. I tried once, twice and a third time, but no output. My son, with the manual in his hand, also tried every combination, just to ensure that I wasn’t missing something, but still no output.

So, with great frustration, I got the old 6500s out and as it warmed up, the voltage stabilized to 115 to 118v and I used it to power the house. After running the 6500s for through two tanks of fuel, I decided to just try the new one and to my surprise, it started, warmed up and produced the correct voltage from the appropriate outlet/switch positions.

I used it for the next twelve hours or so and it ran fine and continued to produce the correct voltage. The only thing wrong? It doesn’t register any load readings on the display, no matter how high or low they are.

The good news is that the 7000is “sips” fuel compared to the 6500s, just as Honda promised. So, can I trust the new 7000is to protect my home from freeze-up, or lost food, or no water from the well, or lights, during the next outage, of which we have many? I bought a set of replacement brushes for the 6500s and will have that back ready just-in-case.

The fact that this is a 5500 watt inverter generator that bumps up to 7000 watts for the larger startup draw on things like air conditioning and microwaves would be enough for most people. But people that do not know the difference, don’t realize, that the reason generators fail to start is because of the lack of use.

It may sit for years with gas in it before you ever try to use tin an emergency Well, gas that sits in any generator”s gas tank (and carb) for an extended period of time will gum up a carburetor leaving it disabled.

For a small engine motor that is almost never used, the introduction to fuel injection on a generator was a game changer. Let me state. I wouldn’t keep 3 gallons of gas in the tank for five years and expect it run the next time I needed it to, but I bet it would.

In short. If you can. Run the gas out empty as much as possible every season. The fuel injectors aren’t as susceptible to gumming from stale gas as carburetors are. Keep a battery tender on it though because the generator won’t charge the on board battery sufficiently.

It’s a known problem. Just deal with it like I have for years.

The Honda EU7000iS generator is truly the best portable inverter generator on the market. Nothing compares to it and other lower priced inverter generators will never be able to match the quality of Honda.

I did a lot of research and even bought another brand prior to the Honda. I returned the other brand and finally bit the bullet. Yes it is expensive, but I wanted a generator that I could rely on in an emergency to power my house.

I had an electrician wire in a 30amp inlet and place an interlock on my electrical panel to direct connect the generator to my home. It runs my house with ease and I don’t even hear it running because it is so quiet.

Camping world also has the best price compared to all other retailers. I asked my local Honda dealer if they would price match Camping World and they refused. My local dealer said supply is so low and the few they had just received would be sold at msrp $5,549.

The local dealer said there was so much demand for them they had no interest in working with me and didn’t believe Camping World was selling them for $4,699 when I placed my order.

I am using this generator as a backup for power outages in my home. Some of the loads, , in my house, e. g. , the gas furnace, have microprocessor control and require clean power. Others, e. g. the well pump, have a large surge current when turning on and require 240 V.

This generator meets both demands and delivers the required 240 V. My transfer switch panel unfortunately does not have Ammeters. This does not matter with this generator because the “Honda my generator” Bluetooth app allows monitoring power output.

It is important to be able to assure that the generator is not overloaded, not only because it’s bad for the generator, but because the quality of the power may deteriorate and harm microprocessor-equipped loads.

The generator has an electric start using a built-in battery and starts easily. No need to play with chokes during the startup process, it’s all automatic. This is an expensive generator , but I thought how much do you save with an inexpensive one when its poor power quality ruins your electronically controlled appliances or can’t handle high surge currents? I had a smaller Honda generator before, and it served me without any problems for more than 20 years.

So, the choice was not too difficult to make.

I rated the features as average due to 2 features that can be an annoyance, the CO-Minder and the Auto Throttle. The CO-Minder is a hurdle if you keep you generator in an enclosure. I use a zombie box, which has very good ventilation.

The CO-Minder trips very easily and required that I place the generator in the box just so and I cannot have the top (with the very large circulation fan) open without the generator turning off. Yes, people die every year due to improper use but the commercial/industrial user is overlooked.

The auto throttle allows for efficient fuel usage and lower noise but does not always respond rapidly (well pump) and was causing electrical fluctuations in my setup. After reading about the feature I turned it off and all worked well but the noise levels are higher now which was the main reason I bought a Honda,.

Both the intake and exhaust manifold were broke. The packaging looked fine. But once opened the machine appeared to be damaged. I repaired it myself. I didn’t want the hassle of returning the generator.

It is hard to start, meaning it is hard to turn over. I expect the rope will break soon. I own several other Honda generators. I am a contractor and use several of these daily. I think I just got a bad one.

I bought this generator a few months ago and just got the opportunity and desire to take it out of the box and get it set up for any potential power outages that may come during the hurricane or the winter.

I put the proper oil and gas in and reviewed the instructions and went to start it up. It is a Honda generator and I paid a premium for it and expected no problems at all. Despite following the instructions to the absolute letter I absolutely can not get the thing to start.

I am really glad I tried this before I actually needed it. I am very familiar with all sorts of power equipment which I frequently use and have done all the trouble shooting that I can. I am taking it to a dealer as soon as possible to get the issue resolved.

I am hoping its something that I have overlooked and is an easy fix but if that is the case then the instructions and the user manual need to be updated or made more user friendly. Despite not actually working the quality of the generator appears to be absolutely top notch.

I use my Honda generator to run my camper, I bought 2 eu2200i one of them is the companion to service the 30 amp plug. Best purchase ever, I did this purchase for 2 reason, so much easier to carry my generators verses 1 big over weighted generator, and I already new Honda was a good product, working in construction I already see the Hondas get beat up on the job sights and hold up to the most strenuous loads.

I have a 26 foot camper and it held up to all electrical loads like a champ including running my A/C. I also set up my gas tank to pull gas from an external tank since these generator tends to have small tanks in them.

I cut my gas consumption by half with EU load option. Very happy with this product and love the Bluetooth capabilities to keep me on track with the maintenance program. Highly recommend cost saving will be in the gas and don’t forget very quite if you camp at camping sites.

Bought my 3000is for the boat to run a dorm style refrigerator, an ice maker & a battery charger. When connecting the battery like so many others have stated no bolts or nuts to connect the battery. Since I’m in the country going to town is a big deal.

Cost me $14. 49 at O’Reilly’s. Finally started it up, & the noise was awful! Couldn’t push choke in or use eco without it dieing. Finally after 5 hours of running I was able to push the choke in. But the generator is loud at 87db, turned on the eco switch & it stayed running but no quiet.

I don’t think this will work on the boat as it’s too darn loud! My 6. 5kw Onan generator in the RV is a lot quieter this this junk. Honda used to have a reputation for the quietest generator but not any more by a long shot.

And apparently there quality control is gone.

As the title states, I had to use it twice when power was lost during storms to power the house. It’s incredibly quiet and fuel efficient. 1st time I had to use it it ran for about 5 hours and the 2nd was about 28 hours continuous.

I do maintain my unit well and start it every quarter for a few hours. Trickle charger is connected to the battery and store covered in the garage. I did get the wheel kit so I can move it with ease.

It’s powerful enough to run the refrigerator, gas burner and an abundance of lights throughout the house. I recently installed a hobbs meter to track time use for service intervals. Solid generator that I’ve have for about 4 years now.

Glad I have it and so will you!.

Generator failed to stay running after it warmed up. It would sputter and die. It would restart but the same thing would happen. Returned it to the store I purchased it from and they said it had bad gas (which they put in when new).

I thought, OK I will give it a try with new gas. The same thing happened after a few hours of use. I returned it again. They then said they found a sliver of metal in the carb. I took it back home and it still would not stay running for more that an hour or two.

I took it back an currently waiting for them to find the problem. The thought maybe the coil was acting up when it got hot. This is my second one like this to own. I bought one exactly like this one and it has worked flawlessly so far.

I will update this post if possible when the problem is resolved.

I purchased this unit mainly because it is a Honda. My shed and garage are filled with Honda products and I see no need to change to a different manufacture. The products I own are 2 marine outboards, two snowblowers, one is a two stage and one is a paddle, tiller, weed wacker, now 23″ lawn mower, Eu2200 generator and now a Eu3000 generator.

My oldest items are over 20 years, several are 7 to 15 years, one 2 years old and now the Eu3000 is my latest purchase. Now you are not going to believe what I am going to tell you. That is that none have ever let me down or broke down.

All I do to take care of my items is use common sense and follow Hondas recommended maintenance and storage rules. Sure they cost more than most like items but you are paying for quality and reliability and it is worth every penny.

So far I have put 6 1/2 hrs. on the unit and it works perfectly and is very quiet. Comparing this unit to many others it is more expensive, and is considerably heavier and I knew that before I purchased it.

It is not a generator that one man can pick up an put in his truck especially with the gas tank full and added wheels with is a must. With a friend, we can pick up this unit and load it into the back of a pickup with a little grunt and that much portability works for me, you may be different and need something with more portability.

There is a similar generator from Honda that has basically the same power ratings but much, much lighter and can be loaded onto a pickup by one person. See the specs. on this site. The difference with a little research is less costly, lighter, more noise, better portability and a few less niceties.

Do the research, its worth it. I knew exactly what I was getting when I bought this unit and I am extremely happy with my purchase. Best of all, when you are camping and nighttime arrives and you and your friends are sitting around the campfire and talking, no one have to raise their voice to be heard over the generator.

It is very quiet. My first camping experience was good on gas, quiet, handled my AC, refrigerator, lights, music, coffee maker etc. very well, you just have to be use to selecting your overall amp draw which is normal common sense.

You get what you pay for!.

I’ve used the eg2800i to heat and cool my 18 wheeler tractor cab for 11 months now, i also charge my truck batteries and power my tv and computers in the truck with it. it powers my 10000btu room ac/heat pump with the eco mode off.

i get around 8 hours of heavy ac use out of the 2. 1 gal tank of fuel. on cool nights i can get 12 to 14 hours heating with a 1500watt small heater with a thermostat that cycles the heater. in august of this year 8 months of heavy use it started to use oil, i estimate 2500-3000 hrs of use it started burning oil.

i use the generator 50-60 hrs a week. i use only full synthetic oil from pennsylvania in the yellow container. but i havent kept up with oil changes like i should have, on average ive changed the oil every 90 to 100 hrs instead of the 50 hrs honda recomends.

so ive abused the generator by not changing the oil enough. the only other problem i have had with the unit is the pull cord broke at 6 months of use. i replaced it with a heavier one. its november now its still runs great starts every time, i have an estimated 3000 to 3500 hours on it and i add about 2 ounces of oil for every 30 hrs of use, its not too bad.

if the oil capacity was greater like a quart or maybe 1. 5 quarts the oil change interval could be extended to 75 or 100 hrs, this maybe the only beef with unit is it doesnt hold enough oil?.

I read many reviews before purchasing, most said it was a good buy. I planned on using for home backup but mostly for camping in our Airstream when primitive camping. Most people said that this inverter generator would handle the 13.

5 a/c some said the engine would stall when the a/c started. Not the case here. Add oil and gas turn on fuel and with choke on , one pull and it started. After initial run time and shut down I hooked up to the Airstream following hookup directions ( engine running then connect power cord ).

I turned off the eco throttle switch. I turned on a/c fan only then switched over to a/c compressor kicked in and cold air! I let ti run for about 30 minutes. Next I turned off the a/c for about 20 minutes then turned the a/c on without starting the fan first to see if the combination of a/c fan and compressor would cause any stalling, no problems.

Next and finally I turned on the eco throttle to let the engine run on the fuel saving mode. Then I again turned on the a/c expecting a stalling condition, to my surprise, no stalling just a rise in idle speed a/c kicked in and cool air.

I am totally impressed with this product. Great investment. Buy it ! You can’t go wrong with a Honda. PS the light weight is also very surprising!.

This is my first and second experience with these 2800i. I also have EU2000 at another remote cabin and a EU2200 which is my motorhome backup generator. Both are trouble free so far. One of the main reason for moving to the 2800i is the 2.

1 gallon fuel tank, access to the fuel shutoff, pull cord, oil change plug. This last winter we used the 2800 i preheating track rigs, powering our cabin. Some nights we experienced -30 f with no issues.

this genset lived outside unprotected from the weather. I have purchased a second second 2800i for our remote operation. Very pleased with my Hondas over the years. More money up front, but less time work out in the cold working on generators.

We bought this generator because it is consistently the best rated one out there. About a week after receiving it, we lost power for 12 hours. I get home from work and all that is plugged in is the fridge.

I told my wife we can do better than that and soon we had several cords running through the house powering everything to make dinner, watch a movie and multiple lights. I look forward to getting everything hard wired to the house for the next outage.

Ran it in the eco mode for the few hours that it was used and it work very well with very little gas used. RPM kicked up when the microwave was used, but had the low idle with everything else.

A fine piece of equipment in many ways. Quiet. VERY quiet. Starts instantly with electric start. Low fuel consumption. Very well fitting doors with excellent fold-away hinges allows full access. It’s heavy, but the folding handlebars are very well designed and are excellent for maneuvering.

Tires are actually rubber and well suited for the weight. The watt meter, and other readouts are so welcome. Well done Honda Designers and Engineers.

I got an EB3000c during Hurricane Wilma in 2005. It ran refrigerator, lights, TVs and devices and a 10,000 BTU portable a/c in the bedroom. It will also run at least 9 to 10 hours with a full tank. I would fill up before going to bed, sleep with the a/c and refrigerator on, and still be going for a while when I wake up in the morning.

Of course if I want to use the microwave, I have to turn off the a/c or other devises, the same when using the washer or a small burner. I live in a small home so it doesn’t take much space to store in a closet and that’s a plus.

The only thing is when I had to use it this time with Irma, for which I had to use it more than in previous occasions, make sure you drain the gas after using it, before storing it, otherwise you’ll have to take it to a shop to get it serviced and started.

Letting it run until the gas runs out won’t do. Also if you are using it non stop 24/7 after a hurricane like I just did with Irma, stopping just to fill up gas, make sure you change the oil every 40 to 45 hours.

Otherwise it will shut down if you use anything that consumes more than 1,200 or 1,500 watts. And if you let it cool down, won’t start again until you change the oil. But once you change the oil, it starts right away, back to it’s powerhouse self.

I just wish I didn’t need oil change so often and that it had wheels.

I’ve had this generator for almost 20 years and just about bought another one just for back up. I didn’t think you could get any better until I purchase the EU 3000 iS. I’m having issues with my 3000C, And I’m afraid to spend the money trying to repair it after some of the previous comments.

It’s still starts on the first pull but fails to keep on running longer than 15 minutes with a load. I’m torn on what to do….

We are very pleased with our generator. It’s quiet and serves the purpose of our purchased. Sales staff along with the warehouse staff were very efficient and friendly. Friendly atmosphere and I will definitely refer my family and friends to Steve’s Honda Sales & Service in Hilo, Hawaii.

I have been looking for a small, lightweight, and quiet generator to use for car (truck) and motorcycle camping. I have no idea how many different generators I have looked at, and even considered a solar/battery set-up.

We quickly eliminated the solar as we camp quite a bit in the NC mountains, and it’s often very shady, so I figured the solar would have a tough time recharging a battery, rendering it less than dependable.

Then the generator search began. Don’t know how many I listened to (2 stroke, 4 stroke, you name it). There were a couple that were “almost” as quiet as the Honda, but not quite. Then it occurred to me, all the others compared themselves to the Honda.

So I said why not spend the $ once and get the one that all the others judge themselves by! What better advertisement for the Honda. Unless you have lived under a rock for 20 years, everyone knows Honda reliability.

Why risk having to buy 3 of the “cheaper generators” over an 8-10 year period when you can buy one Honda and simply take care of it. It is lighter, quieter, and more dependable, so that’s where my money was spent.

And to top it off, I was able to get a brand new, zero hours, 2019 from a reputable dealer, and paid $330 less than the cost of a 2021 model ($669 vs $899). Would have paid the $899 price anyway had they not had this one.

We look forward to years of use from our little generator.

To begin, do your research before you buy get one big enough the first time. I bought this to take car/motorcycle camping. In that capacity it will do all I could ever ask of it. No big snarling beast of a generator needed.

Looked for weeks and compared every genset in this size range. Most say they are “nearly as quiet as”, of “comparable to” the Honda. Well, it seems to me that the Honda is the one that all others judge themselves by.

So why take a chance and have to buy 1-2 others to get the same life as the Honda? So skip the rest, and just spend a bit more the first time and get the best. The unit is lighter than all in the size range that I saw, +/- 1db of sound either way (and most times quieter), sips fuel, and then there is the legendary Honda dependability.

But you have to do your part too and maintain it properly. Hands down the best generator in this size range PERIOD!.

I just took a look at the original invoice for my Honda. I got it in February of 2014. I have used it as a battery-maintenance generator since then, two or three times a week for a minimum of 6 (and usually 8) hours a day usually twice a week, all year round.

I made a “weather enclosure” for it using a furniture roller and a large plastic storage box, upside down with ventilating holes and a trapdoor for exhaust. I had four different small generators before that and each had a major fail point.

The Honda DOES NOT. It’ll run for 8 hours on the power-saver setting on one gas filling. And twice during/after storms it ran lights, my TV and internet AND my refrigerator. One note, capitalized: MAKE SURE YOU FILL THE OIL PROPERLY AND DO NOT LET IT RUN LOW.

The low-oil shutoff works really well but is usually forgotten in trouble shooting. Also, change the oil depending on hours of use OR annually. But it’s the one. Don’t bother with anything else.

You will need two grown men to get this thing in and out of a truck. Its a beast. Very well packaged for shipping. It has to be. First impression is very well built, all heavy duty. Put the wheels and support legs on with ease.

This thing is just so heavy so I had it on some 6×6 blocks to get it off the floor to help with that task. Battery comes with it, bit of a pain to form cables in small area to land them on battery posts.

Added my oil and good gas and it fired right up. It is so quiet. I could not be more happy with how quiet it is. Please do the right thing and break this generator in correctly. Plenty of information on line to get this done.

This generator has everything you need to get through a power outage. Yes they are very expensive, but piece of mind is priceless. It is so well built it should last for years if properly cared for. It is by far the baddest somewhat portable generator on the planet.

You will not regret the purchase. Again. Its a beast.

I have owned two Honda 2000 W generators for years. I got rid of one of them and kept one in case I needed it. After buying a camper with a 13,500 BTU air conditioning unit on it, I found that the 2000 W generator was not adequate to run it.

I ordered this 2200 W generator because all reviews say that it will run that 13,500 BTU generator. Well unfortunately, it did not work. But I am able to link it with my 2000 W generator for a total of 4200 W, and that will work fine.

I have started it up and let it run for quite some time, and it does miss some at an idol. If I leave the choke partly on, it runs fine. I’m going to run it for a bit to see if it evens out before taking it to a service center.

All in all, you can’t beat a Honda! I.

I used my sons’s unit new right out of the box. Put in oil and fuel. Started second pull. We Had a power outage that lasted 3 days. I needed to run my freezer or lose everything. After starting the freezer, I flipped the Eco switch, the little unit purred like a quiet little kitten.

Powered freeze, no problem over 6 hours on a single tank of fuel. After the power went back on, I returned the unit to my son and bought my own. (A happy ending. ).

I received unit Oct 10, 2020 and broke engine in with 3 heat cycles after letting cool completely between each heat cycle and changed oil. Power was shut off and unit ran about 8 hrs when oil lite started to come on.

Shut unit off filled oil with 6 more ounces of oil. Unit ran another 8 hrs and it needed more oil. Changed oil again ran unit 6 hrs and oil lite came on again and another 6 ounces was added. Unit spark plug was checked and it covered with oil so unit is burning oil and its brand new.

Have to take it back to certified honda shop to get it checked out. I had a previous EG2800i that is 3 years old that I gave to my mother who needed one and I have had no problems with that unit.

Purchased about 9 years ago. Have never used it for my home backup. Decided to install a Manual Transfer Switch and use for general appliances during power loss. Had a power loss due to storm. Generator runs but will not distribute 240 Volts to transfer Sw.

Using 50 amp single phase power plug that fits your 50 amp female receptacle. I checked the voltage at Transfer Switch and at Female 50 amp receptacle, both are reading 126 volts across the two hot legs 63 volts either hot to neutral.

After reading quite a lot about this issue I realize it can be fixed by some reconnecting. Please post (and send site link) a wiring diagram or send to my email below the reconnection diagram. Thanks.

Our HONDA generator is powering our entire home through a third hurricane here in rural North Florida where power restoration is a lower priority due to lack of population density. We are able to run our full kitchen appliances while using our clothes washer and dryer simultaneously.

The normal central Air Conditioning cycling is unaffected. The household operates via the Generator Transfer Switch as though on Duke Energy power, that is to say without closing one circuit to open another.

My 240 volt, 200 PSI shop air compressor is unaffected. Sound level is acceptable. Refueling time is dependent upon total electrical load. The fuel level indicator reads about 1/2 level after 4 hours of running with routine usage.

Oven and clothes dryer operation will increase fuel consumption. I find an average run time is slightly >6 hours. Purchased 14 years ago and still going HONDA strong!.

This generator will NOT WORK out of the box for home power. It is designed to work for construction jobs where requirements are different. The system has GFI protected circuits. A GFI circuit works by comparing the outgoing current on the HOT to the current coming back on the NEUTRAL.

A difference of as little as 6/1000 of an amp trips the circuit. If you have the NEUTRAL and GROUND bonded at 2 points (also called a loop) the current will share the return path between the GROUND and NEUTRAL wire.

Since the GFI sees less current on the NEUTRAL than on the HOT, it will trip, making the generator useless for backup. So do NOT attach the generator’s ground wire to the transfer switch at all, but use a ground rod instead.

This requires a professional electrician to make the change AT THE GENERATOR. There is NO MENTION of this issue in any of the sales literature or specification. It’s not in the owner;s manual, and not even in the Shop Manual, which I have a copy of.

This is a SERIOUS ISSUE and Honda needs to address this, and I think they ought to fix it for free on premisis (since they are so heavy. ) I am shocked (no pun intended) that this issue is not addressed by Honda.

A great product rendered virtually useless for home backup without professional revision and no hint of an issue.

Bought this for home power backup because it had great ratings from customers on a number of different sites. It is very quiet, especially once the eco-throttle is engaged. I would recommend getting the wheel kit because though it is possible for one person to lift, it is quite heavy.

The staff at Issaquah Honda Kubota were very helpful preparing it, explaining the correct operating and maintenance procedures, and helping get it into my vehicle. The electric start is good, and having a pull-cord as backup is reassuring.

I will be running it every few weeks to ensure it is working and keep fuel moving through the carburetor, but hoping I won’t need to use it in a power cut. Nice to know it is there if I do, though.