HONDA GENERATORS

In a recent Tech Notes relating to motor generators, I mentioned the Honda range of inverter based units. I also spoke about them at some length during one of my seminars at the Casino Rally. In both the article and at the seminar, I suggested that they are probably capable of running any air conditioners that they could comfortably start, and that I knew of many people using them (apparently successfully) for this purpose.

I did however have to add that many CMCA members had advised that some Honda resellers were advising against using the units for this purpose. I personally telephoned a couple of Honda dealers and received generally similar advice. In an event such as that, it is legally unwise to suggest the vendors are wrong.

The perpetually-helpful Michael Golland (National Service Trainer for Power Equipment, Honda MPE Australia) recently emailed me to clarify the situation.

Michael states that these generators do "have the ability to run items, such as air conditioners, rated at above the rating of the generator. An example is the EU20i. [This unit] will produce 1600 watts all day, and when running an air conditioner that at start up will draw possibly 2400 watts, manages to start and run this unit quite happily. The running load may be only 1300 watts, so the generator will start and run the unit.

"The EU series will run at up to 120% for up to four seconds before turning the output off," says Michael who adds that: "some of the air conditioning units used so far include the Air Command Heron and Wren range (using the 2.2i and 3.0i Honda generators)."

Thank you for that Michael.

It certainly makes every sense to use one of these Honda generators for air conditioning. And whilst they are likely to be outlasted. by the most commonly used alternative, they cost only a one third or so of that alternative. So even if they lasted only one-third of the time they could still prove an economic long-term proposition. But do please note, this is only supposition - I have no data on the longevity of either!

The major cause of problems with generators generally is underloading and also overloading. All generators need to run between 30%-80% loading, and issues such as excessive oil usage, hunting, smoking, hard starting, and premature engine wear are can be linked to running for extended periods outside this range.

A further issue, (raised on the CMCA Bulletin Board, was the (alleged) ability of the Honda inverter range and other generators to overcharge batteries connected to the '12-volt' output.

It is not generally realised that the output from the '12-volt' outlet of all except the 12-volt dc only units is not regulated and will vary considerably with load.

Early, and some existing, generators had/have a maximum voltage output so low that whilst battery overcharging is not possible, they are less than effective in battery charging anyway.

The output from others however, including Honda's, may rise to 16.5 volts or so. This is handy for bringing a 'flat' battery to the point where it can start a car, but extreme care must be taken if used to charge beyond that point to avoid serious gassing and eventual battery overcharging. The voltage level across the battery may also damage any connected equipment.

I am in total accord with Michael in this regard. He too says, "… for battery long life, use a proper deep cycle charger run from the 240-volt outlet… this will give you much more reliable service."

In further correspondence, Michael responded: "from my findings it is best to use a proper three-stage battery charger for your readers' style of batteries."

So there you have it. From Honda. Yes, it's fine to use Honda's generator/inverter range to run an air conditioner. Essentially if it's capable of starting it then it's capable of running it. If a Honda dealer still tells you it's not suitable refer them to Michael!

It's also fine to charge your flat car battery from a generator as long as you keep a close eye on it, but it's not a clever thing to do so routinely -which is what I've been saying for the past 10 years!

If you want a generator primarily for battery charging, run a high quality three-step charger off the 240-volt ac output. A 20-amp three-step charger will charge at least as fast, more deeply and also more safely than a 30-35 amp conventional battery charger. They are not cheap however!

Another possibility is one of Christies' little 50 cc Honda-powered 12 (or 24) volt dc-only units. These units will charge a single battery at about 25 amps, and multiple batteries at up to 50 amps.

Their only real drawback is that they are really too noisy to use in an otherwise quiet camp ground.