After the freeze and onset of hurricane season am looking to get a generator. Unfortunately in my subdivision it’s an all electric subdivision so no access to gas or propane to run a generac which I would like to have but not sure of cost vs the times it would run is worth it. But anyway what y’all thought on this generator it seems I should be able to run fridge and freezer and lights and maybe small window unit. I know I may have to stagger the fridge and freezer. Would y’all buy this one or go a different route the Honda seems solid and with the key start my wife should be able to start it if am not around. Being LE chances are high I won’t be around during these types of weather events.

Honda makes a good generator. I would say any generator in hand is a good thing to have these days.

For whole house, you are looking at around a 6-9 month lead time on units. Hard to get them built fast enough.

Yes that's a nice generator. If they are modern fridge and freezers that unit should be able to run them at the same time no problem.

Ok thanks, yes they are modern fridge and freezer. Just trying to get something to have for next weather event. Also looking to take advantage of the tax free weekend in April on generators.

Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

They are great units.

Get you the generlink system.

Dryer uses most watts, around 5500.

3000 watts should keep you going with heat, lights, fridge, tv.

Good luck finding a Generlink right now. Amazon says currently unavailable.

Electric heat in the heat strips can run with all that stuff? Sounds like way too much, gas I would agree but he states no gas or propane which means he likely has a heat pump which would work fine if it’s above 25 but as soon as those heat strips kick in I think it would over load.

I have a Champion that I used during a summer outage the recent Texas freeze. It's a 4750 watt, it has a 30 amp RV hookup and a 30 amp twist lock 2 20 amp 110 . It ran 2 freezers, refrigerator, electric heater, 2 lights, chicken coop heater and coffe pot when needed no problem. Used 13 gallons gas for 2 days. No 220 hookup.
For 220 hookup have to get above 5500 watt generato probably 6500 or 7000 watt.

Electric heat strips draw too much power for a Honda 3000. You can run lights and fridge and freezer and some other low draw items. I bought that identical Honda 3000i when I lived in Houston and lost power during a hurricane. I ran the fridge and freezer and a small window AC. I might have had to swap out power to the fridge and freezer, but my memory on that is faded.

Having owned that generator, I have suggestions. The thing is very heavy, so get the wheel kit. Got to have that. And do not fail to keep a good battery tender on the battery. It has a pull start, but only if your wife is a former East German shot putter will she be able to pull start it.

A better Honda generator option, in my opinion, is the 7000 watt unit. I used one of those here at the ranch for a few years to run basic stuff when we lost power. I never much liked the 3000, but really liked the 7000. It comes with wheels and a foldout handle so you can move it around like a wheelbarrow - sort of. Both the mentioned units are fairly quiet.

Other options:
- We have a Honda 2200, which is real quiet. I can take that one all over the ranch when I need electric power for tools. If you buy that, and the 2200 Companion unit, you’ll have generators you can pick up, and have 4400 watts when you buy the cables to link them up. I’d do that before I bought that very heavy 3000.

- When we had the big freeze, I bought two Honda 2800’s. Louder than the ones above, but not too much. They can also be picked up, at 67#. I got 8 hour run times out of the 2800’s. Seems like they weren’t much more expensive than the 2200 units. I have not decided whether or not to keep both 2800’s. Might sell one. Maybe.

Whatever you do, the switching equipment to let you have it wired into the house for selected circuits is the way to go.

The next level would be a Generac or Kohler standby unit that’s wired in and fully automatic. I reckon you’d need a propane tank, if you can have one and still keep the HOA folks happy. That would be about $10k fully installed and ready to go.

You can run up to 8k btu 110v heat strip with an EU3000. I’ve ran 10k btu with two EU2000’s

A 10k BTU AC 110v window unit requires <1000 watts.

If you get a Honda, I would get the dual fuel option. That way you aren’t just dependent on gasoline

Does Honda have dual fuel models or add a kit?

Add a kit.

I have the 3000 and it works great. For backup purposes you don’t need to run it 24/7 just like you won’t need to run your fridge/freezer 24/7.

Thanks for the information guys. I already knew it was going to be heavy to move, the wheel kit is $240 dollars. Looked at Northern Tool you can buy a square furniture dolly rated for 1K lbs for about $16 figured I could definitely set it on that and be able to move it around. The dual fuel concept never even crossed my mind so am assuming on the propane side I could use the propane tanks that currently use on my gas grill would be compatible?

i have one. good genny. no 230v though. is heavy. good move on the dolly versus the honda wheel kit. my wheel kit dosent swivel so i did the dolly deal too. would recommend the biggest wheel dolly or by 4-6" casters and make your own that swivel. and pull starting it isnt hard. but i would prolly buy the 5500 or 7k unit for the 230v if i did it again. mine runs a 13.5 btu ac unit and all the rv stuff with it

Good choice on the furniture Dolly’s. I use them in my garage for lots of heavy stuff, 20 ton press, Honda generator. Duel fuel can run on any sized propane tank.

Good unit but limited in loads u can run

Step up to Honda eu7000 and u can run whole house comfortably

I sold my 3000. Kept 7000
For 110/240 capabilities

The generator is awesome, and I mean awesome. I think they run full tilt boogie at something like 49db. You can carry on a convo in near regular tones while standing next to it. Honda small engines are the shizzle.
3,000 watts is not enough ... trust me. Especially at that $2100 price tag. Go bigger than you think you'll need or want. 7000 watt minimum. I speak with experience as we were out 3 weeks at one point in 2005 and 8 days in 2008. I started out at 5000 watts and nope, too small for squat (this was prior to 2005). Went 7000 and went thru the 2 long stints in '05 and '08 OK but last fall we were out about 12 hours and it was HOT. Struggled to run 2 of those 5000BTU 110V window units and my other appliances / lights. I mean, if you're out for a while and it's hot you'll want a hot shower and an electric water heater pulls some juice. Sam's Club has a really good 7,200 watt Black Max with a Honda engine and electric start (nearly the same as my 7000watt but mine is pull start)

You're doing this for some convenience and to preserve food but heck, why skimp? You can get a 10KW for $1200-$1400 dollars. Buy 8-10 5 gallon gas cans and if you have a big boat you can siphon from it. Gasoline properly treated is good for 18 months at least. Keep 25-30 gallons, rotate it through vehicles, and you're good to go for 4-5 days.

I lucked into a barn find for free . . . a 15 year old Generac 15000 watt (22,000 surge) for free last summer. Took about $200 to get it purring again. I used it during the polar express this past Feb. 12 hours +5-6 gallons of usage. I ran everything but my Central heat. We had 4 space heaters and the fireplace and kept the house very nice around 70*. You want the capability, trust me on that.

Lastly, you'll want a way to feed into your house breaker box vs extension cord mazes through your house. That's an easy fix with a 50amp RV cord and an extra 40amp breaker.

Just reading back thru the thread.

Best way to move one around is either a big wheel dolly (Harbor Freight) or I like the wide stance little green garden wagons. I moved my big one with a FEL although it has a wheel kit. 30HP v-twin.
BTW, my neighbor has a Miller diesel welder on a small trailer in a separate small building that he buried wire to his breaker box (in conduit) for his auxiliary power. Pretty darned quiet, especially in that building. 10KW.

If you decide the 3000 is not enough, which I agree it is not, they make the EU7000is. Expect $5000

Well now am really unsure about the 3000 now, really don’t have $5K to drop on a generator. I guess back in the drawing board

Well, start with the 3000. If it turns out to be less than you need, selling it won’t be hard. Or, buy one that isn’t a Honda. There are a lot of options.

During my first hurricane in Houston, I could only afford a Honda 1000. That was 1984, and it was still operational when I sold it 2 years ago. Then I went to the Honda 3000, which was certainly a step up, but not a big enough step. Than I got the 7000. Then I got the Generac 20kw.

I think that, before I bought the Honda 3000, I’d buy the Honda or Yamaha 2200 and the Companion 2200 with the connection harness. That’s 4400 watts that you can pick up - one 40 something pound unit in each hand.

And Champion makes some pretty big dual fuel generators, with wheels. They have a 10kw dual fuel unit with electric start and a 240 plug for about $1000.