Honda EU2000I 2000 Watt Inverter Generator Review

In this review, we’ll be covering the strengths and weaknesses of the Honda brand 2000 Watt inverter generator. This review is specifically for the Honda model EU2000I inverter generator. Why would you want to buy this one, and what issues does it have that may drive you to buy a different one for use in your RV or campsite?

Honda EU2200i

Pros of the Honda EU2000I Inverter Generator

This compact inverter generator is easy to stow away on an RV rack and take along to the campsite. At fifty pounds when the tank is half full, it is about as heavy as one person can comfortable carry, and it comes with a carry handle. There are no wheels on the corner for dragging it around via a handle that some of its rivals have built in.
The unit is very quiet for a generator. It puts out 59 dba at its rated load and almost 50 dBa when it stops working so hard because there is less power draw.
Its excellent power quality makes it safe to use to recharge cell phones and power a laptop computer. This generator is a good choice when you want to be able to power electronics while camping plus lights, fans and small appliances.
The generator has a built in oil alert that turns it off when the oil level is dangerously low and circuit protection to prevent overloading.
It comes with Honda’s standard three year warranty through most sales channels. The downside is how slow Honda services these generators under the warranty. The side benefit of Honda is that so many repair shops know how to deal with them if you pay for repairs out of pocket. Overall, Honda generators have a five decade history of reliability.
The design makes it easy to add an extended run fuel tank.

Cons of the Honda EU2000I Inverter Generator

It uses a recoil system to start, versus the more convenient push-button starters that are becoming common and are the norm for generators of this cost.
This design doesn’t let you shut off fuel and burn gas in the carburetor dry. You have to read the manual to understand how to drain it so you can safely store it for the season. Always drain the carb if storing for very long. One of the drawbacks of this model is the difficulty in starting it after it has sat for two weeks or more with gas in the tank. And with a pull cord to start it, that’s significant work compared to pushing a button a few times. Nor does using Honda brand oil in the generator doesn’t eliminate this issue.
The generator holds 13 ounces of oil. If you’re running it all day every day, you should change the oil every four days.
This Honda portable inverter generator doesn’t come with 12 volt charging cables, though you can buy them through a number of channels. The issue customers face is that these charging cables provide about a hundred watts at an unregulated 8 amps; most people would need to use a proper 120 volt battery charger instead or in addition to those cables.

Observations

The run time depends on the power load. If you are using the full 2000 watts, it runs for three and a half hours. If you’re running a partial load like only a few appliances, it can run all day.

The unit is gas powered. You can’t power it from the propane tanks that run almost everything else in the RV, but then again, you don’t have to draw down your 20 pound propane tank to power your computer or electric appliances. Do not ever use E85 or any fuels with more than ten percent alcohol in this generator or you’ll damage it over time.
This inverter generator doesn’t have a meter to tell you how many hours it has run, but it has a built in notification light that flashes once for every hundred hours it has run.

Summary

This unit costs more than average given the power it puts out, but you get a durable, reliable unit that almost anyone can fix that runs off most types of gasoline. Some people complain about having to buy separate DC cables, but others appreciate the high power quality and relatively low noise level it puts out. That is invaluable when you’re running an inverter generator in a small space like an RV or camping in a cabin off the grid.