Honda EU 2200i vs Champion 2500

[peteanddarlene]

Bought a Firman few years ago.....works great....always starts....quiet....fairly light....90 lbs......they now have dual fuel units....might be worth a look��

[Walkabout]

They are $569 now and put out 1800w continues and 2300 peak, mine is 1800w and works well.

[dfandrews]

Another happy Honda user:
We have a Honda 2200i, with a Hutch Mountain propane (LP)/natural gas (NG) kit on it. We have run it on our house NG when the electric utility cuts power due to fires in the region. This powers our frigs, some lights, internet router, etc. for extended periods.

We use it on LP when camping with our Escape, to power AC (works up to at least 8000 ft. elev.), microwave, and to charge ebike batteries, etc.
-Very quiet
-very reliable
-more expensive
--now, after several years: It was an excellent choice.

[advenas]

My Honda 2200i puts out a solid startup amps of 18 and running amps of 15. I've run worm drive circular saws, household refrigerator/freezer and other such equipment with no problems. Plus it's really quiet. I look at it this way, Honda being a major manufacturer of autos and other equipment is much more likely to stand behind their product if there is a problem. You get what you pay for.

[RockyBob]

I currently own both a Honda 2000 and a Champion 2500. I will be using the Champion in the future and probably selling the Honda.

The reason is simply that the Honda, as purchased, does not run on propane. Propane generators have so many advantages over gasoline that I'd never consider a gasoline generator again. Propane does not go bad, whereas gasoline does. Sure, stabilizers can increase the storage life somewhat, but eventually it will deteriorate. Gasoline carburetors gum up, nothing similar happens with propane. Gumming up can be mitigated by diligently emptying the carburetor each time the generator is stored, but with propane that is never needed.

Gasoline storage is always a problem. Yesterday our power went out for the first time in ten years. Ten hours in I got out the Champion, hooked it up to one of our five 20 lb. tanks (barbecue, outdoor heater, outdoor fire pit, plus 2 spares) and had access to a week's worth of fresh fuel. Storing the equivalent of a week of gasoline would be dangerous and the gas would likely spoil before it all got used. Four hours later the power came back on and the unused propane will be fine years from now.

Gasoline smells and carrying a gasoline generator inside an SUV is dangerous and will make everything in the car smell. We use the propane tanks on our trailer when we take the Champion along. No smell, no fire hazard. Carrying typical gas cans inside, or in pickup beds or, OMG, on generator stand or bumper stand, is asking for disaster in the event of any accident.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports about 50 carbon monoxide deaths per year from small gasoline engines; they even consider it a major cause of accidental deaths after some hurricanes. Propane generators put out half the amount of CO, and this appears to greatly reduce the incidence of CO deaths.

My own measurements of sound levels under similar loading for the two generators show that the noise level of the Champion at various load levels is about 3 db louder than the Honda. While this equates to double the sound energy, multiple authoritative sources say that 3 db is just at the threshold of perceived increased noise. In other words, listening to both generators near each other, the subjective human response would be "yeah, the Champion is louder, but just barely."

[DanandDaphne]

We also went with the Champion 2500 dual fuel. We don't expect to use it very much, emergency power outages, and occasional use for the Escape. We also only use it on propane and once you learn how to get it started it starts with two pulls. I don't plan to ever put gasoline in the tank. For 1/2 the price of the Honda I think it will serve us well.

One thing about what Rocky Bob said, for small gas engines only use gas without ethanol, its the ethanol that gums up the carburetor. I can buy medium grade ethanol free gas at the Maverick gas station. I have been using it in our lawn mower and no longer worry about draining out the fuel at the end of the season. I just top off the tank in the spring and the mower starts first pull.

[RockyBob]

Maybe ethanol makes gumming up worse, but I seem to recall gummed carburetors from decades ago, likely long before ethanol was an additive.

[DanandDaphne]

Could be, but not for me, I never had a problem until they started putting ethanol in gas. As a kid in the 70s I mowed lawns for money, also had a Brigs and Stratton powered mini bike (bought with lawn mowing money) and In the five or six years of doing the mowing I never did anything except change the oil. Never worried about draining the gas and running it out of fuel, never had any problems with the carb.

[emers382]

Originally Posted by Walkabout

They are $569 now and put out 1800w continues and 2300 peak, mine is 1800w and works well.

We bought one Oct. 2021 and it was $549 then. Really only used it for AZ camping last January (Lost Dutchman without power), and blowing leaves with my plug-in leaf blower this fall. But it's ready to go if we have a power failure. We found it fairly quiet on eco-mode.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by RockyBob

I currently own both a Honda 2000 and a Champion 2500. I will be using the Champion in the future and probably selling the Honda.

The reason is simply that the Honda, as purchased, does not run on propane. Propane generators have so many advantages over gasoline that I'd never consider a gasoline generator again. Propane does not go bad, whereas gasoline does. Sure, stabilizers can increase the storage life somewhat, but eventually it will deteriorate. Gasoline carburetors gum up, nothing similar happens with propane. Gumming up can be mitigated by diligently emptying the carburetor each time the generator is stored, but with propane that is never needed.

Gasoline storage is always a problem. Yesterday our power went out for the first time in ten years. Ten hours in I got out the Champion, hooked it up to one of our five 20 lb. tanks (barbecue, outdoor heater, outdoor fire pit, plus 2 spares) and had access to a week's worth of fresh fuel. Storing the equivalent of a week of gasoline would be dangerous and the gas would likely spoil before it all got used. Four hours later the power came back on and the unused propane will be fine years from now.

Gasoline smells and carrying a gasoline generator inside an SUV is dangerous and will make everything in the car smell. We use the propane tanks on our trailer when we take the Champion along. No smell, no fire hazard. Carrying typical gas cans inside, or in pickup beds or, OMG, on generator stand or bumper stand, is asking for disaster in the event of any accident.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports about 50 carbon monoxide deaths per year from small gasoline engines; they even consider it a major cause of accidental deaths after some hurricanes. Propane generators put out half the amount of CO, and this appears to greatly reduce the incidence of CO deaths.

My own measurements of sound levels under similar loading for the two generators show that the noise level of the Champion at various load levels is about 3 db louder than the Honda. While this equates to double the sound energy, multiple authoritative sources say that 3 db is just at the threshold of perceived increased noise. In other words, listening to both generators near each other, the subjective human response would be "yeah, the Champion is louder, but just barely."

Nice write-up. Compelling rationale for propane. So I wonder if one might consider the Honda (quality brand name, dependable, quiet, service available) with the Hutch Mountain conversion kit the holy grail?

[John in Santa Cruz]

the downside of propane is less power. a 2000VA generator thats 1700 watts on gasoline might only be 1300 watts on propane. that can be the difference between air conditioning and no air conditioning. also a 5 gallon gas can goes a lot farther than a 5 gallon propane tank.

[Iowa Dave]

I haul our 2200i in the back of the Highlander. I run the carburetor dry and close the fuel valve. Then I haul an empty gas can inside of a plastic contractor bag. There are no offensive odors in the car from the generator or the gas can. When I get set up I head for a station and get gas in my can. I use the generator as I need to and when I’m ready to head home, I empty the generator and the can into my tow vehicle. This works for me and the way I camp. I’d buy the propane conversion but don’t want to give up the wattage. The main reason for the generator for us is to run the AC where there are no hookups if absolutely necessary. Otherwise I wouldn’t normally need a generator. Everybody camps a
little differently.
Iowa Dave

[DGLP]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

I haul our 2200i in the back of the Highlander. I run the carburetor dry and close the fuel valve. Then I haul an empty gas can inside of a plastic contractor bag. There are no offensive odors in the car from the generator or the gas can. When I get set up I head for a station and get gas in my can. I use the generator as I need to and when I’m ready to head home, I empty the generator and the can into my tow vehicle. This works for me and the way I camp. I’d buy the propane conversion but don’t want to give up the wattage. The main reason for the generator for us is to run the AC where there are no hookups if absolutely necessary. Otherwise I wouldn’t normally need a generator. Everybody camps a
little differently.
Iowa Dave

Dave, the EU2200i that we have has a plastic tube to drain the carburetor. Easy to use. Might get an ounce or less out of the carb.

[DGLP]

Video on winterizing small generators, long but comprehensive:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umt38-8mgyU

[DGLP]

Funnel and magnetic dipstick for Honda EU2200i - they make life easier for checking and changing oil for the quietest generator on the market.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by DGLP

Dave, the EU2200i that we have has a plastic tube to drain the carburetor. Easy to use. Might get an ounce or less out of the carb.

I never looked for a drain on the generator. I’ll have to do that . Thank you. I do have a drain on the smaller of the two Honda rototillers I have and it works pretty slick.

My other Honda engine is on the pressure washer and I winterize the pump and drain the tank every fall.
Iowa Dave

[Mark James]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

Hondas are as quiet as they come. In combination with a DIY rigid insulation “box” you can barely hear it. We have a 2000i. My father was 500 miles from home in cold weather and dependent on generator when it started to give him some trouble. Nice to know that any Honda small equipment dealer would have been able to work on it and likely have the parts readily available. I had called a couple places but he ended up cleaning the carb himself with my guidance and a YouTube video. The generator has quite a few hours and has been otherwise trouble free. Who works on Champion and are parts available? Most times you get what you pay for and it’s no different with Honda generators.

For anyone with a 2000i there is a Hutch Mountain fuel shutoff kit that allows you to run the carb dry. This is just like the feature built in to the newer 2200i. Very easy install.
https://www.hutchmountain.com/produc...000i-generator

What is a DIY ridged insulation box please.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Mark James

What is a DIY ridged insulation box please.

do-it-yourself plywood box with one open end for exhaust and air, lined with ridged acoustic insulation

[Shiny]

We have two 2000W Champions (73536i) bought several years ago for emergency home power backup - before we had an Escape.

If I was to buy for camping today, I'd try hard to justify the higher price of the Honda(s) but the price difference is significant. As others have noted, the Honda is higher quality and likely more durable, but our 2 Champions cost less than 1 Honda and I'm skeptical a single 2200W Honda could run our AC at high altitude, even with a soft-start… so then I think about buying 2 Hondas and one of my remaining brain cells explodes.

My experience has been good with the Champions:

1. Champions work well and have not had major issues for us, although the oil level sensor failed in one, disabling the unit. I chose to bypass the sensor because replacement was daunting and I would not pay for repair by a pro. I just check the oil and live with it.

2. Our Champions are louder than Hondas… by my aided hearing, quite a bit louder. Maybe newer models have improved?

3. Lugging 2 of them for AC is burdensome. I know our Champions are larger and heavier than a Honda 2000 or 2200, so maybe newer Champions are equivalent to the Hondas? If we think we'll need AC, we have stayed at commercial or FS sites with power to avoid carrying two. Smaller and lighter is appealing!

4. Champion's parallel solution when running 2 did not allow us to use the EMS. Not a big deal, but we bypass the EMS when we use both Champions for AC. A ground-bonding plug works for one, but not when 2 are run in parallel. Again, perhaps newer models behave differently. I don't know about Honda's parallel solution.

As a side note, we live at about 6000' and many nearby campgrounds are over 8000'. The power of our Champions and other generators drop A LOT at 9000'. I know some have had success running AC off a single generator at high altitude when a "soft start" is installed, but I don't expect a Honda would have different physics than a Champion.

I'd love to find a 40 pound 3500W generator as quiet as a Honda!

Here's a related discussion on that topic: https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...0-a-20916.html

[John in Santa Cruz]

another candidate generator for running the AC is the Yamaha 2400. this is only a little larger/heavier than the 2000/2200's, and has enough pookah to run most AC?s without any issues. the Yamahas are as well made as the Hondas, and have good parts availability (most yamaha motorcycle dealers can repair them, and get parts for them). last I looked, they were a lot cheaper than the corresponding Honda, but not as cheap as the offbrands.