A portable generator can be the perfect power solution when you don’t have the means to purchase a standby generator or if you need a source of electricity when you’re far away from an electrical outlet. This machine can supply power to all of your devices and home appliances in the event of a blackout. When going on camping trips, it’ll provide electricity to power up your TVs and refrigerators.
Why Honda
If you’re scouring the market for a portable generator, most likely you’re going to run into more Honda-made models than any other brand. In general, Honda portable generators are the most reliable types you can get, though Yamaha and Briggs & Stratton do give it a run for its money. Normally, Honda-made units will experience fewer maintenance issues and last for several years.
What to Look for in a Portable Generator
Before picking up a portable generator, here are some important specs to pay close attention to.
Power Source
The majority of portable generators use either gas or liquid propane as a power source for providing energy to your devices and home appliances. The more environmental-conscience of us might consider solar-powered portable generators the better option. They both have their pros and cons, so it’s up to the user to decide which fuel source works better for their own unique situations.
Wattage Capacity
There are important numbers that indicate the wattage of a portable generator: the surge wattage which is the maximum capacity at which the generator can kick-start an appliance to life, and the running wattage which shows the total load the generator can support. Generally, we want the two numbers as high as possible or at least able to cover what electronics we plan on plugging in.
Inverter Technology
The most high-end portable generators come with inverter technology which offers cleaner energy for powering up sensitive devices such as laptops, Smartphones, and tablets. These generators are also extremely silent, making them the perfect option if you need a generator to take on camping trips.
Low-Oil Shutoff
Nobody wants to constantly or even periodically check on their portable generator to see the oil gauge and how much is left in the tank. The best portable generators should come with a low-oil indicator and automatic shutoff. This feature will prevent permanent damage to your machine, extending its life for many more seasons to come.
Wheels
Even though portable generators are “portable,” beefier machines with higher wattage capacities can weigh upwards of 200 pounds – a strain on the shoulders and back to lift. Some portable generator models may not come with wheels, forcing you to purchase them separately and costing your anywhere around $100. Save yourself the time and trouble and find a model with wheels if the portable generator is too heavy to carry around.
Number of Outlets
Check to see that your portable generator comes with multiple outlets. Most models do, but generally speaking, four outlets is the magic number. The total load is spread out evenly among the outlets, but you should only ever utilize every outlet during emergencies or when you’re far away from other electrical outlets – e.g., camping trips in the middle of the woods.
Noise Level Production
Another important feature is the noise levels produced by a portable generator. Nowadays, it’s easy to find portable generators that produce less than 80 decibels even when running on a full load. The best Honda-made portable generators take it to another level by releasing only around 60 decibels maximum on high capacity.
Tank Displacement and Runtime
Obviously, we want a machine that uses fuel efficiently, providing more power for fewer fuel costs. Displacement lets you know how much fuel can sit inside of the tank at full capacity (measured in cubic centimeters or gallons), and the runtime indicates how long the machine can provide energy, usually at a quarter- or half-load.
Best Honda Portable Generators
After extensive research and testing, we’ve come up with a list of the four of the best Honda portable generators you can use for both emergency situations and outdoor expeditions. They might not meet your exact requirements, but overall, they operate well, inexpensively, and without fuss.
Honda EU2000I
The first Honda-made portable generator on our list is the amazing Honda EU2000I which is arguably one of the best lightweight and compact 2,000-watt inverter generators available today. It features an eco-throttle system which enhances overall fuel-consumption by limiting how much is used based on the load.
Due to its inverter technology, you can use this portable generator to charge up your laptops and Smartphones on weekend outings with the family without worrying about damaging your devices. It’s also a whisper-quiet machine that has a noise-production range between 53 and 58 decibels. On a single 98.5 cc tank of gas, the EU2000I can provide clean, efficient energy for up to 8 hours on a quarter-load and 3.5 hours on a full load.
Honda EU2200i
This 2,200-watt Honda EU2200i portable generator is another high-quality machine that delivers super-clean energy to power sensitive devices thanks to its inverter technology. The tank only holds onto 0.95 gallons of gasoline, but this is enough to power up many important home appliances for up to 8 hours when running at a quarter-load.
Like the EU2000I, this portable generator can be carried around from place to place due to its lightweight (47 pounds), compact design. It’s also safe to use in the wild since it produces only up to 57 decibels of noise. With two of these devices on hand, you can connect them both using a parallel cord which provides up to 4,400 watts of power. Essentially, the EU2200I is operationally similar to the smaller EU2000I, except it packs 200 extra watts to supply power to more or larger devices.
Honda EU3000iS
As you can already guess, the Honda EU3000iS is designed to supply up to 3,000 watts of power – more than enough for plugging in and running TVs, refrigerators, and charging multiple devices simultaneously. In emergency situations, this portable generator can be used as a standby device for supplying power to your home.
Like the other models on this list, this generator uses inverter technology to supply cleaner power more efficiently for charging laptops and other sensitive devices. One amazing feature is its super-quiet operations, producing only 57 decibels maximum, considering its maximum wattage capacity and size.
It lives up to the Honda name by being fuel efficient – on a single tank of 3.4 gallons of gasoline; you can get up to 20 hours of power. If you get this model, you should consider investing in all-terrain wheels (sold separately) since, weight in at 75 pounds, carrying it to and fro might be a little too much to handle alone.
Honda 7000W
The last Honda portable generator on our list is a beast – the Honda 7000W portable generator. Although it’s a portable machine, the wattage capacity means the machine will weigh significantly more than the previous models (250 pounds). Because of the added poundage, this machine comes with its own set of all-terrain wheels and a pull-out handle for easy maneuverability.
Similar to the previous models here, the 7000W also uses inverter technology for powering sensitive home appliances and electronics. Although it’s a fuel-efficient model, it’s the least efficient on our list – providing 18 hours of power on a single 5.1-gallon of gasoline. However, this is understandable since larger machines require more power to operate and provide greater quantities of electricity.
Honda Portable Generators: Conclusion
Portable generators are handy devices to have during blackouts and taking with you to family outings. If possible, only consider getting a portable generator that comes with inverter technology since it’s the only type that will safely power a laptop computer and charge your sensitive electronics.
There are several reasons why you should choose Honda as your go-to company for portable generators – they’re a market leader, their products are of high quality, and they can last you for many years before experiencing its first maintenance issue. Even though other brands manufacture generators that perform well, there’s very little risk if you choose Honda.
In this article, we’ve provided you with four of Honda’s best portable generators, ranging from a light 2,000-watt to a massive 7,000-watt beast. These two portable generators and the other two in between work flawlessly and deserve a lot of praise for being an excellent emergency and outdoor generators.
3 Recommended Portable Generators
- This popular model can operate a wide variety of appliances, making it perfect for portable use at home,...
- So quiet, your neighbors will thank you. The EU2200i operates at 48 to 57 dBA, which is less noise than a...
- Need more power? Add a second EU2200i for additional power.
- Extremely quiet operation minimizes noise; EPA III and CARB Compliant
- 212cc 4-stroke OHV engine produces 3800 surge watts and 3400 rated watts with a half-load runtime of up to 8.5...
- Fuel shutoff maximizes the generator’s lifespan by using up the remaining fuel in the carburetor before...
- Extremely quiet operation is comparable to the sound of a normal conversation according to the US Department...
- EPA III and CARB Compliant 79.7 cc 4-stroke OHV engine produces 2000 surge watts and 1600 rated watts
- Great for campgrounds, construction sites, tailgates and power outages
