Honda generators are so rock solid. Amazing how quiet they are. I knew the generator guru would have the best for his personal generator. Love the vids James. Keep them coming.
When I bought my eu6500 a few years ago from the original owner, I showed up with the same black splitter cord and 4 space heaters, plus my Fluke meter. I asked if he minded that I load test it before buying. He said no problem, then grabbed a chair and sat and watched me! I didn’t exceed the 6000 watts. It ran perfectly and I bought it. After owning and working on many small gens, this unit is still the gold standard. My only complaint is that it’s very hard to 100% drain all the gas out of the tank. Like every drop. I end up rocking it back and forth a dozen times, with the carb drain open, in order to get every drop out.
why not turn off fuel valve, run it until it dies. Use only ethanol free gas in it. The ethanol free gas will last 4 years or longer, by than you would have used up that fuel (even by just running it 4 times a year as a service thing) and can add fresh non ethanol .. wash, rinse, repeat. That has been working for me, since 2014.
Nice video👍 I own the EM7000IS and has served us well during extended power outages after hurricanes 🌀. It will run for 14 hours at half load. I connect my load through a Briggs & Stratton 7500W transfer switch. I run it every couple of months for exercise. My opinion Honda makes the best gen-set inverters on the market. Worth every penny
Just bought the ES6500 at an auction and said not running. All it needed was the battery charged. What a fantastic quite two cylinder liquid cooled engine. I live offgrid and this generator will be a great addition to our backup power system.
Great Video, I was the caretaker for an off grid mansion, We had 2- 6500's, one had 39000 hours on it, (yes thats 39000) unbelievable but true! make sure to wax the pull start cord as in will fray and break, change oil often ( I ran Castrol full synthetic) Replaced them with eu7000's fuel injected. They were nothing but trouble running 24/7 Take care
Wow, what a beast of a generator. Quality matters. For those of us who don't have inverter generators, could you offer some tips (or maybe future video topic?) on how to clean up our power output so we can better protect sensitive devices? Thanks, and love your channel - even when it's just a battery swap!
Inverter generators always put out messy power unless you specifically buy a pure sine wave inverter, which are about twice as expensive as a modified sine wave inverter (which is the standard type on these generators.) If your generator has a starting battery, you could buy a small pure sine wave generator and run it as an auxiliary off that starting battery, so you can use the generator for powering lights and refrigerators and stuff that doesn't care about messy power, then you can use the smaller pure sine wave inverter to run sensitive stuff like laptops.
@@jimthesoundman8641 AFAIK most inverter generators have a pure sine wave output. And regarding running an inverter off the starting battery, that won't work well. The charging system is probably less than two amps so you'd drain the battery.
#1 "Sensitive devices" don't really exist for the most part - that's basically a myth. #2 the only effective clean up is a "double conversion" or "online" UPS which has its own inverter. Unfortunately, this type of UPS costs almost as much as a new inverter generator. Large sine wave inverters are expensive electronics.
Wow, you are a brave man Mr. Condon. No way I’d even consider risking such a beautiful Honda genny like that, but thank you for taking the risk to show us!
I want one! Thanks for the great understated indorsement of Honda generators. Now if I can just find a deal on one. I live in Florida and you can't beg borrow or steal a generator when a storm is forecast. After that, they get cheap again. I bought a Generac GP2200, paid $721 for it at Ace Hardware 3 years ago (a hurricane was coming) and only fired it up once to test it. It is overdue for the "annual" test. Hope it starts. Yes, gas was drained. Still has break in oil. Better run it and change that too. Thank for the inspiration to get off of my butt.
Honda has a reputation for being dependable and they live up to it. I've had Honda car, motorcycles, and generator and never had a problem with any of them. If I have a choice between a Honda and another product I will pick the Honda even if it costs more because I hate cheap junk that gives nothing but problems throughout it's life. Dependable well made equipment is worth its weight in gold over the life span of the equipment. Just can't beat a Honda, and no I don't work for them. Haha
My Honda EU6500 (with 93 hrs on it) got me through four days of power outage recently when a storm destroyed the electrical grid here in Ottawa. Ran it through a Generlink transfer device and was the only person for miles with any power. Everything ran beautifully including the AC and it was so quiet, I couldn't even hear it indoors. I also had quite a few neighbours hook up extension cords to it to keep their freezers going. I ran it for about 60 hours total and calculated it cost me about a litre an hour to run ($2). Like all things Honda, a superb machine. PS: I also own a 2003 Honda GL1800 motorcycle with 135K on it and it runs today as well as the day it came off the showroom floor. My first motorcycle was a 1966 Honda 350 which ran back then like the reliable machines of today. Hate to say it, but these experiences make me a Honda fanboy....
Had great life out of Yuasa batteries since the 80's. Best by a mile in my trikes and 4 wheelers - only ones that coped with all the off road muppetry I was into without dying prematurely.
I've never seen a Honda genset like that one. The smaller 2200 portable ones are incredibly popular in Australia with caravanners and campers though. Maybe not many can actually afford Hondas that big!
This tells me the older Honda inverter generators are very well built. I wonder how the new ones are as good as the older ones. Sure is a good testament to Honda once again. Thanks for the videos.
Even though my Honda generator is about the same age as James’s, and a different model, EB3000c I love! It’s has had a super hard life. Fifteen years in the rough carpentry trade in all weather conditions it has now been retired same as me. Oh it still gets a work out from time to time and needs some oil after running 24 hrs plus, at maximum load’s it’s reliable! I did have to pull it all apart to clean dirt grime and caked in sawdust. Just like you do James it was worth it to me to replace the cracked crankcase cover, new bearings, new rings and lap the valves. Under lode I’m at 59.8 Hrz. I watched most of your content to pickup little tidbits of info. Although my unit doesn’t have the Power Head like most of the units you seam to get I thought the water/ Teflon tape trick was all inspiring! Through the years I kept telling my crews to close the fuel off and let the generator die of fuel starvation. Most of these generators get loaded into vans & trucks so there always being bounced up and down every time the carburetor float lets in more gas, and you know where it ends up. Ok thanks for the super videos from a loyal subscriber NWR.
I have the same genset, 17 year old . A little under 100 hours on it. Plugged in to an outside 30A 220v receptacle with a cable and a lockout breaker on the panel. Always turn off the central AC if a summer outage because central air was not a priority load. Forgot once and it ran the central AC fine until the AC and 220v well pump decided to cycle at the same time and it shut down. Predictable since that draw was over capacity. Have had the same OEM Yuasa battery for 10 years once I started keeping on a maintainer. Only had E-10 fuel available locally until this year and always shut off fuel until the engine died but last few years feel is was slow to ramp up when in eco throttle a heavy load was applied(lights dimmed when heavy load applied). Ran some Redline (one of the best cleaners) fuel cleaner through it and a local station started selling ethanol free fuel and treating that fuel with Pri-G and have way less worries that there will be any issues in the future. When the power last went out I could hear peoples genset from almost 1/4 mile away when outside. The EU6500iS in the rear of my house couldn't be heard 200ft away. Close the blinds in the house at night and shut off the outside lights and neighbors have no idea it is business as usual on my property...just the way I want it. If they don't bother prepping for an unfortunate event, I don't want them relying on me to sustain their lifestyle running extension cords over to their place.
That generator is a beast machine, here it costs like a car (a good one!) I have the small brother, the eu3000is, expensive too but rock solid machine, powers the entire house overnight on a single tank in econo mode (won't power the AC minisplit though, unless in high power mode, but makes more noise and uses a lot more gas! My original battery lasted for 7 years, also used a home made battery tender for it, and replaced by a mid brand one because the original Japanese yuasa costs a freaking fortune here, makes no sense. These costs a lot more, but IMHO, worth every penny
I love how quiet those are. My parents have a 3500 watt Honda model (non-inverter) and it's still whisper quiet. I got a new Predator (inverter model) and hope to have as good of luck with it, although it is a fair bit louder. We're talking 1/3 the price, so we'll see how it holds up.
I really look forward to seeing your program each week Sometime when you are looking for a new program ideas I would like to see you see what kind of electrical heaters are the best you have the tall ones I like a black one and a white one After living in Alaska for 45 years they are part of your life Thank you for helping people all over the world
I bought my 6500eu the night Katrina hit the shore in 2005. Its served me for quite a few hurricanes since. I was without power 10 days for Katrina. Last hurricane Ida we were without power for 12 days. I’ve replaced the battery twice. Other then that oil changes. I take it out and run it every two months or so and run it for 15 to 30 minutes. That takes care of the charging. I’ve not had a battery tender on it. It’s been a great machine
I have the exact same generator AND Battery Tender hooked up in almost the same way. Great minds think alike. As fate would have it I've barely used mine in 10+ years. Maybe 40 hours on it max. It is run with a load periodically and then carb drained via drain screw. Only ethanol free fuel with a good stabilizer used. Tank is drained and refilled with fresh fuel at least annually. One thing it does not like - Sudden surges from a well pump while on Eco-throttle despite both surge and running wattage well within unit specs. Will shut down most times. If left at full throttle no issues. Tested another 6500 which did the same thing.
I THINK the other thing that your generator has going for it, that leads to long life is a responsible owner, who keeps the maintenance and keeps it within operating parameters.
If you pop open the side cover, there is a manual pull cord to use for starting when the battery is dead. Ask me how I know, sigh. Would you please do a carb clean video on the EU6500? I’d love to know how to do that. Great videos, thanks for doing them!
What a great video! I have this model at my camp. I bought the place in 2019 and this and two other smaller versions came with the camp. I have no idea how old they are, so, when I get there next weekend, checking the battery is a must do task. This thing runs on occasional weekends, off and on. To button it up, I change the oil, put in fresh fuel, add some Stabil and it sits from Columbus Day to Memorial Day. Year 3 and it’s bullet proof.
You are very talented and I really enjoy hearing your voice and seeing you work and explain. Thank you very much for the extensive dissemination of knowledge
Well it's perfectly obvious to us now,as to why you bought that fantastic generator. Super quiet and very powerful. 🤔🤭😉 A man who knows his Generators 😜
Can't tell you how many times I had coworkers complain about having to replace an alternator and the first thing I ask them is how old is your battery. Usually they tell me over 5 years to which I say go get your battery changed and then see. Sure enough there is no problem with the alternator after all.
Great video, and I've watched almost every one you put out just to learn. Thank you. I bought a Honda homepower 6000 with the tri-fuel option in 2009 and it's always worked when I need it, except like you needing a battery replacement. Mine has a pull start as well, but I didn't see one on your unit? Thank you again for putting out very good videos, I'm sure many appreciate it 🙏🌄
He uses the Kill-a-Watt on every video. It's easy to plug the heater directly into that. So I'm certain he knows exactly how many watts each heater pulls.
Hi James Honda generators are the best by far When you buy a new battery its best to give it a full charge first as I have found the battery life is longer also I would put some Vaseline on the terminals it helps with the charge mate Great class as usual thanks for sharing
I remember reading in a Honda inverter(EU 2000 or 3000 can't remember) owner's manual that the generator can handle the overload wattage for around 30 mins +/- . Great job and video.
Your videos are superb. I own a Honda Em3500 that I bought in 1989. It still runs flawlessly. I run my home during utility outages with it. I keep it "Ultra" maintained. It is such a good machine that I bought a Honda snow blower 10 years ago. That too is still working like new.(I wasted money on the electric start, as Honda engines start right up) 2 years ago I bought a Honda EU220i genny, just to run my pellet stove in an outage. Your Honda performs just like all Honda equipment. Perfect ! I will put my 3500 up against "Big Box" store 5kw units any time... Thanx
I like the Honda equipment and cars. We are on our second Honda car. Had a CRV great small SUV. Now we have a Pilot and have no complaints. I have a few pieces of yard equipment powered by Honda engines, they have never failed to run in 10 years now. That is a nice gen you have there.
Just a thought on that 6600 watts, that was almost totally resistive load, so true home use would most likely not be all resistive load, at least some would likely be reactive load.
Jim, I ran into a problem with my 2900 watt, 20 amp generator. My welder draws 20 amps, which is just about too much to weld with. I have a bigger generator, so I'll get the carb cleaned on that and see how it works. A cousin of mine said that the generator needs to overlap the power needs of my welder for it to work better.
This man must be a pilot, either recreational or as a job, that red key tag he is using looks like one of these little sleeves that are used to cover the pitot tubes on the plane when it's not in use to keep bugs like mud dobber wasps from blocking them. It's red so that it's easy to spot before flight so it can't be overlooked. Trying to fly the plane without removing these would make for a bad day for the pilot.
never understood why so many people cut a hole in the battery cover door to fit the battery tender wire thru, when the wire fits just fine thru the air slots that are on the door. I just slide my wire right thru the factory slot and use a SAE Quick Disconnect outside the generator to hook up and disconnect the maintainer. Makes for a cleaner install than cutting up a 4K plus priced generator.
This model was originally made for the European market for home standby power and is rated for over 7500W, but in the US, generators above 6500W must have a bonded neutral, which makes them useless as a standby generator, so it was derated on the label to 6500W. The motor is actually rated for a 9000W load, so it's even more over-built. Its power quality and ability to handle harmonic distortion is also amazing and these are one of the few generators that are suitable for TV and Film equipment. They can also be paralleled together.
@@jcondon1 When feeding into your house which has an earth neutral link already, you can get into trouble with a bonded gen. I once unbonded a Kubota gen which was used as a backup unit for off grid solar and blew fuses every time the inverter switched to generator. Also when charging an EV via type 1 or 2 adapter you may have to use a cord with an earth-neutral link as either the adapter or the EV will stop charging with a fault.
@@jcondon1 My understanding is the primary market for these was for home standby power, where the neutral bonding would be provided centrally at the main panel.
@@jcondon1 Honda's generators that are made for construction sites, and similar environments are neutral bonded to comply with OSHA/NEC requirements, but these can't be used for service panel interconnections with their own bond.
On a related tangent, my understanding is that Honda chose not to bond their portable generators except for specific models for the OSHA/NEC compliance market because if they are bonded, they need to be properly grounded to be safe, and most users don't properly ground their generators...So in the interest of safety for everyone, it's better to leave them unbonded.
This was a great video. I've had my EU7000is on a battery tender for about 3 years, so hopefully the battery will last as long as yours did. I'm curious if you used your Honda's display to verify the power draw of those heaters? One possible improvement to the video would have been to have a camera focused on the generator's output power display included as a PIP in the video.
There's a big difference living in North/Middle Georgia. At the wife's insistence I bought a generator about 10 years ago in case the power went out for an extended period of time. Like more than 8 hours. It's still sitting in the garage never having been started. I was thinking about selling it but there doesn't seem to be much of a market down here. I recently cycled the 10 year old two cycle gasoline through the car. And replaced it with some premixed in a metal can which should last indefinitely. Of course now that we retired we just go to our Florida house in the winter and only read news stories about the occasional sleet storm in North/Middle Georgia. And we observe the once per winter dusting of snow around our house with our internet cameras.
I've had more power outages in the last year than ever. I believe that the "green new grid" is going to prove very problematic. I would keep your generator. It eats very little.
Honda definitely under rates these gensets i have an EU 26i that i picked up for stupidly low cost and i have pulled a 4kw surge from it and run it at about 3kw for a few minutes with a mig welder in a pinch and the brave lil thing muscled through 😂
hope u do get another 17y out of it but highly doubt it , simply due to the electronics (mostly) potted in as a module ect to help protect moisture ingress, vibration ect , but in time capacitors degrade, component soldering fails and ages ect can go on but 17yrs is very good any way (for the electronics )
Love the videos , have honda my self (1700W) and i am impressed of it . I whas thinking don't you have a ropestart on it also , to use if battery is ded ?
The Honda generator. Built for one purpose. To run reliably. I am on my second Honda. 1) Honda EM4000sx new in 2017 $1,999. Sold it for $1,800 in 2021 after 4 yrs. of ownership. 2) Honda EU3000is new in 2021 $2,041 includes 10% military disc. and tax. from Lowes. EU3000is currently up for sale. That money will go towards a new Honda EU7000is (2022 or 2023 yr. model).....Skip the rest, buy the best!
Genuine Yuasa battery should be about $100 US. I understand the reason going for via the oem part though. The right part, fits perfectly first time (usually).
Man I sure would like one of those Generators, but they are so expensive! I have yet to see a used one pop up anywhere but if I ever see one pop up for a good price I'm on it!
It has never given you an issue because you know how to care for it which is not evident with many of the misused and abused generators you get in the shop plus it is a quality unit..
🇨🇦 I’ve owned an EU7000is since 2016 (new) and it has worked like a charm. Only has about 50 hours on it so it’s good to see one as old as yours still working fine. James: how many hours are on this beast?
James awesome video. awesome knowledge you have on repairing generators of all types. If you do not mind .I have a question for you with all the knowledge you have. I have a WEN generator 6,000 w I've had it sitting for 2 years still in the box but before I run it on gasoline. I rather run it on propane. Could you recommend a good conversion kit for me to purchase. so I can run it off of propane and gas complete set up. could you recommend something four me.. thank you for all the knowledge you share to me and to everyone else God bless. PS. Any information would definitely be appreciated thank you once again God bless.
@@jcondon1 thank you James for replying back to me give me a few days I will get the numbers and get back to you. thank you . God bless. PS you are one awesome mechanic. Thank you for helping me Walt.
You could really use an oscilloscope to examine the line quality in these videos. The Killawatt just give peak to peak, it would be good to see just how dirty the generated power is.
There is no way that Honda battery is worth $200. Amazon has several, starting around $35. I bet Yuasa batteries are made in the same factory. That's a Honda gouge..
While you are correct about most big box stores stocking the same generic Johnson Controls made batteries, Yuasa batteries are not owned by them. GS Yuasa, based out Japan, is one of the largest OE suppliers of power equipment battery’s. I agree the cost is high, but my experience with Yuasa tells me they are worth it. I’ve seen these battery’s last for 10-15 years in Genset, Powersports and other commercial applications that would required other brands to be replaced every 2-3 years. Old Italian proverb: “there is nothing more expensive, then cheap”.
Way over paid for that battery. I have cheap Amazon battery and it has worked for years (since 2016). Start it (Same generator) every month religiously. Also lesson learned. Make sure the battery door is installed else motor will run bad.
Sure wish I could ask some questions of you regarding a B&S EXL8000, (Generac) I've been working on for my son. Got me running in circles...... All winding test good including megged. Windings with common separated gives 120 per leg. Commons joined...NO output.
What kind of pump would I need to pull fuel from my vans gas tank ? How many psi should it put out? And how far can I draw on the suction side of the pump and what brand name of pump should I get ?
Wow - you certainly pay a lot for your batteries over there. Just checked the price here in the UK, and Halfords have it for £94.99 - and that's not the cheapest.
