[BC] Chicago Generators

[Broadcast List USER]

I own and love a Honda EU-2000i generator.  I found a great price on  
the Internet, then beat up two or three local dealers.  All three were  
willing to meet the price, but only one had the gen-set in stock, so  
they got the deal.

I don't use Sta-Bil in the generator.  I fuel it, then when I am  
through with it, I run it empty, then put about a cup of white gas  
(Coleman fuel) in it, and run it empty again.  I used to remove the  
bowl and clean and dry the fuel system, but I hate getting up close  
and personal with gasoline.

I doubt the Honda EU-2000i will run a 1 kW transmitter, plus the other  
critical secondary equipment.  The EU-3000i might.

The beauty thing about the Honda units is that you can parallel them,  
so you can get one inverter sets at 1, 2, and 3 kW, and two generator  
powers of 2, 4, and 6 kW.

The thing I don't know is how well the generator(s) will live with the  
bouncy demand of a program modulated AM transmitter.  My Honda  
EU-2000i runs all my UPSs, all my computers and networking, my TVs,  
and my refrigerator and chest freezer, plus most lights.  HOWEVER, I  
cannot operate the Honda EU-2000i in the economy mode with the  
refrigerator.  When the compressor comes on, the generator stops.  It  
doesn't trip a breaker, it just brings the engine to a halt.  I have  
to manually control the refrigerator.  I put the generator on "Full"  
instead of economy, then plug in the refrigerator.  Once the  
compressor starts, I switch the generator back to economy, then once I  
hear the speed drop -- when the compressor stops -- I unplug the  
refrigerator.  I could leave the generator on full, but I would burn a  
LOT more gas.

If the load swings are not large compared to the load, you may be OK.   
I can plug in a 1.5 kW space heater, and a few other loads, and the  
refrigerator doesn't cause any problems.

You may find the generator works fine powering the transmitter when on  
full, but not on economy.  This may not be a big deal, and if the  
generator(s) is/are sized to just over what is needed, you won't be  
burning EXTRA gasoline.

One thing that MIGHT work, if you need 4 or 6 kW, is to run one  
generator on full, and the second on economy.  I don't know as I have  
never tried it.

--chip

On Nov 2, 2010, at 9:00 AM, broadcast-request at radiolists.net wrote:

> Message: 2
> From: RadioRan at aol.com
>
>    Harbor Fright is so-named for a reason.  Not to be trusted with  
> mission-critical tasks.
>    Honda EU-2000 is worth every penny, and is available at discount  
> on the 'net.  Or maybe traded locally.  Make sure you exercise it,  
> and add Sta-Bil.
>    And yes, BE AM-1A's are finicky eaters.  For some reason,  
> couldn't deal with a Yamaha, but was OK with a run-of the-mill  
> contractor-special 5 KW.  Test before you accept.
> Randy Wells
> Santa Rosa, CA  Various