Honda is a name known for its quality products that come with unmatched reliability and durability, and this generator is no different. It is quiet, portable, and very easy to use.
This new model, Honda EU2200i, is an upgrade to their all-time favorite Honda EU2000i. They have improved many things in this newer version which we will see in detail. Its lightweight design makes it a great companion for camping and tailgating & boondocking electricity needs. It can also power a few essentials of your household during a power outage.
The appearance of this new model is similar to the previous one, but it is with better power output and added features. It has a small fuel tank and a carrying handle on the top, so carry it wherever you like.
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Why the need for Honda EU2200i Model?
Mind you; the Honda EU2000i has stayed on the top for almost two decades. This should have been only possible if the generator is of extremely good quality. But with technological advancement, all the manufacturers were upgrading their products.
So, to stay competitive, an upgrade was necessary. Otherwise, it would have been a matter of time when the honda will lose its place in the market.
This new upgrade is the enhanced version of the Honda 2000i, which retains most of the features of older units that everyone admired.
How Honda EU2000i differs from Honda EU2200i?
The new model Honda EEU2200i is no different from the older version in terms of design and dimensions. The difference is in weight, and it has slightly increased to 1 pound. But still, it stays very portable.
Another difference is power; as the name suggests, the new unit will provide 200 watts more power. The reason is the use of a new engine, which also makes it quieter. This new unit makes 5 dB of less noise.
When it comes to runtime, then it is reduced by 0.2 hours on the full load. This is not much, and besides, you still get 8 hours out of it when the connected load is 1/4 of its capacity.
What hasn’t changed in this new model is its compact size, manual recoil starting, parallel capability, fuel usage, and robust design.
Overview of Honda EU2200i
Design and Control Panel
Nothing much has changed in terms of design than the previous unit. It still has that red and black signature color scheme. While the size also remains the same. The outer cover is robust and can handle extreme weather conditions. It only weighs 47 pounds, which makes transportation much easier.
The generator has a muffler and an exhaust pipe on the rear. On the side, for maintenance, the removable covers are there, which can be easily removed as they are kept in place with only one captive screw.
The generator features a pull start which is also located on the side of the unit and is very efficient. The generator can sometimes even be started with a single pull. The problem with the pull start is that the rope wears out with time due to rubbing with the generator body.
But with the smooth metal surface on the edges, you won’t face that problem here. Also, unlike many other generators, the choke knob is on the side of the generator, and it keeps the control panel clutter-free and neat.
The control panel is located at the front of the unit, and it contains two standard 120V 15A AC outlets and one 12 volts 8.3 amp power outlet to access the power generated. Those two outlets are protected by a circuit breaker; when the current drawn increases beyond 20 amps, then the circuit breakers will trip.
The 12-volt outlet is there to charge the car battery; to do that, you will require an additional cable which is also sold by honda. But, keep in mind that it is only for charging and not to jump-start your vehicle.
There is also an Eco-throttle switch and LED indicators, which are for the oil level, overload, and output. Parallel outlets are also there.
Performance and Power Output
The generator can provide the running watts of 1800 watts and the peak watts of 2200 watts, and it is enough to run a few small appliances and electronics.
The generator has a 1.1 gallon of fuel tanks which can be accessed from the top of the unit. To refill the gas, the fuel cap needs to be removed, which is safe to do so as the top has a reservoir that will contain the fuel even if it goes outside of the tank; it won’t flow all over the components.
But, there is no fuel indicator, so you won’t know when to refill the tank unless the generator stops working. It also runs very quietly; on a full load, it makes a noise of 57 dB, which reduces to 48 dB on a quarter load.
The generator offers a runtime of 8.1 hours at a quarter load thanks to the eco throttle mode. When operating on Eco-throttle mode, the generator reduces the fuel consumption and utilizes only that much fuel that matches the connected load. It also makes the generator much quieter.
Another noteworthy thing is that the generator comes with the fuel shutoff option, and it can be accessed with the knob on the side. It makes the generator use up all the remaining fuel to eliminate all the oil-related problems of the carburetor.
Also, if the power from a single generator is not enough, then with the parallel capability, you can connect another one to increase the power output.
The applications of Honda EU2200i Portable
The inverter technology used in this generator is when combined with the outer cover to insulate the sound of the engine; you get the quietest unit. This low noise advantage makes them a great option for camping or picnic, or tailgating.
Moreover, they are lightweight, and with the help of a handle on the top, you will find it much more easy and convenient to carry to remote sites. Its ability to provide cleaner power without any surges or spikes makes it an ideal choice for your electronics like TVs, laptops, cellphone, etc.
With the amount of power they supply you will be able to recharge your electronics many more times while also supplying your other appliances.
You can take it along with you to parties, fishing/hunting, or camping. Also, note that this generator is also good to power your essentials during small outages but not good to power the whole house or demanding appliances.
Other than that, it can also be used at the Jobsite to power your tools.
They are a great solution to have as backup power during emergencies. It can run some critical appliances when you need them most.
Care and maintenance
To expect a long service time from the generator, regular maintenance is imperative. The maintenance procedure is very easy for this generator.
The carburetor won’t need much maintenance as the generator has the fuel-off mode where all the remaining fuel in the system is utilized before it shuts down. But, you will have to clean the air filters periodically.
Those filters are placed on the same side of the oil cap. To take it out, there is only one screw that needs to be removed which is an easy task to do.
Once you pull the filters out, clean them with the water and soap, clean all the dirt and properly apply some oil all over them before putting them inside. Put the filters inside and fit the cowl and It is done.
For detailed maintenance guidelines and instructions, you should refer to the product manual.
Where it lags?
Many things have improved in this new unit, but there are still few things that need to be addressed.
The first thing is the lack of an electric start. Where most of the inverter generator comes with a much more convenient push-button start, it is not included in this unit.
It is a fact that the push button start increases the fault frequency than the recoil starter but, as you know that quality and reliability are of prime importance for honda, they can manage to have the quality electric start too.
Recoil start is not inconvenient, but it would have been better to have an electric start.
Moving on, there is no hour meter or, for that matter, any type of display to show you important parameters related to the runtime, oil, or fuel level. So, you will have no precise idea of how much time it has run or if the fuel tank is about to empty.
Also, the generator has no oil extension. This makes the maintenance a bit hard. There is also not much improvement in the runtime.
Conclusion
A portable generator is a necessary tool to have at home. It supplies power when the grid fails.
This little generator offers enough power for the essentials of your home and trips. It is compact, lightweight, and easy to use. Besides, the fuel efficiency will reduce your running cost.
So, if you are looking for clean power with portability and reliability and have a higher budget, then this is the generator you should go for.
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