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New Honda 3000 Generator Lighter, More Economical

The new genny on the block is Honda's EU3000i Handi, coming out this summer. 3000i sounds a lot like the current 3,000 watt Honda machine, the EU3000is. There is a bit of a difference: Primarily it's a matter of moving the thing in and out of the bed of your pickup truck or basement storage area. The current model scales in at 134 pounds dry, while the new kid comes in like a fly-weight at 78 pounds. Where, one asks, did all the fat go? Well, for some, there's the fly-in-the-ointment of the fly-weight "Handi." If it isn't handy for you to have to yank a cord to start your generator, the Handi may not be the generator of choice--the new machine is a recoil start machine, while the older 3000is bears electric start. But if you can live with pull ropes, the Handy is a bit less of a fuel glutton: 7.7 hours on a little over a gallon and a half of gas versus 7.2 hours on nearly thee and a half gallons for the older model--both running at 1/4 of the rated 3,000 watt capacity. In electrical output, both have dual 20 amp standard 3-prong outlets, plus one 30-amp twist lock receptacle. The older model does have a better DC rated output of 12 amps at 12 volts, while the newer Handy is only rated at 8 amps in the DC output. The Handi is a bit louder, noising up the neighborhood at 65 dB, while the more senior machine produces only 58 dB. But in light of the fact that human conversation hits 60dB, its doubtful that the difference will make or break a sale. From the looks of things, the big difference between these two characters is fuel economy, weight, and electric startability. With the option of buying an after-market "remote start" system, the older Honda 3000 is pretty attractive. But weight is a biggy. For this writer, the thought of trying to stuff 40% more weight up on the pickup bed from a ground level starting point says I'd rather be back hustling cans on garbage day.

I bought one a month ago, wow, I can sleep at night without back pain, easy to lift and easy to start. In the demo, one pull and I said sold, I had a Honda snow blower, got it in 83, and still working when I sold it a year ago. I had no problem lifting into my truck and or 5er, ya it cost more and tad louder and no electric start but Im happy and thats it.

Source: Great RV Gear