The 5 Best Honda Generators
Whether you’re buying a generator as an emergency backup, a supplement to your leisure activities, or for professional applications, it needs to be reliable. The last thing you want is for your generator to fail when you need it most.
Honda’s experience with gas engines is unparalleled. They power everything from garden tools to race cars. Combine that with their reputation for superior technology and bulletproof build quality and you get some of the best portable generators on the market.
Ideal for powering a few small essentials at home or on the go, says our expert.
A surprisingly quiet generator that will power most of the home, according to our expert.
A well-designed generator that our expert says is a winner for almost any home.
This earns our top spot and our home improvement expert’s recommendation for being a powerhouse generator.
Honda generators range from the lighter models needed for camping to the heavier models for the job site. The two biggest considerations when choosing a generator are type and power output. As for type, would you be better off with a conventional generator or an inverter generator? As for power output, the wattage you buy will affect your outdoor price and your satisfaction when you need a generator.
In the following guide, we’ll take an in-depth look at the performance and features Honda offers in its generators so you can find the right one.
CONSIDERATIONS
Conventional generators produce alternating current directly from the output shaft of the motor. They are simpler and cheaper to manufacture, but any change in the speed of the gas motor will directly affect the current. This isn’t enough to stop most things from working, but you may notice side effects, such as momentary dimming or brightening of a light bulb. If you’re running power tools, that’s not a problem. However, such power spikes can damage TVs, computers and similar items.
An inverter generator produces a DC output. This drives an inverter, which converts it to AC power. This process takes the motor fluctuations out of the equation and provides a smooth, balanced current. Inverter generators are more expensive, but you don’t have to worry about them damaging your digital equipment. They’re also smaller and lighter.
One of the most common questions when choosing a generator is “How much power do I need?” One basic approach is to look at all the devices you need power from, add up the wattage of each device, and come up with a total.
However, this can lead to more (and more expense) than you really need. You may not have to turn on all your devices at once. To get the best economy, put two or three projects together and do some calculations.
It’s hard to generalize, but for camping, you may need 1,000 watts or less. For home backup and light job site use, you can probably get away with 3,000 watts.
Minimizing your needs will reduce your expenses, but sometimes you do need high output. The easiest way to do this is to purchase a large generator. Honda offers many options in this area. Some of Honda’s commercial models have supercharged models. For example, a generator rated at 5,000 watts may be able to produce up to 7,000 watts of power in 10 seconds. This can help you start power-hungry equipment.
A flexible option is to purchase two medium-sized inverters. For example, you can purchase two 2,000-watt generators that run simultaneously. You will need a special wiring harness to connect them together (not expensive), but you can choose to run one when you have a slight need and both have a greater demand. Not all generators can be used this way, so if you want this capability, check before ordering.
Remember that the quoted output is usually the maximum at start-up. Normal operating power will be less. Expect a drop of about 10% after the machine starts.
OTHER FEATURES
Operation
The run time of your generator will have an impact on your buying decision. Honda’s four-stroke engines are all very efficient, but inverter generators typically have longer run times than comparable conventional models. Actual run time depends on power requirements, which can be difficult to assess, although Honda provides minimum and maximum figures that can provide a fairly accurate guide.
Some Honda models also have an “eco-throttle” option to improve economy, although it is not suitable for full time use.
Noise Output
Honda makes every effort to produce the quietest generator possible. Many will not be heard in normal conversation. Larger models, especially commercial models, are louder, but the company publishes a specific decibel (dB) output, so if decibel output is a potential problem, you can check the specifications before you buy.
Portability
Portability varies, but each Honda portable generator is designed to make moving objects as easy as possible. For example, Honda’s smallest inverter has a convenient handle molded into the chassis (weighing only 29 pounds). Some Honda generators have protective anti-roll bars that serve a dual purpose. Larger ones have wheels with folding handles to stay out of the way when not needed.
Starting
You’ll want to know how a particular Honda generator starts before you buy it. Some smaller models have pull cords, but most have push-button electronic ignition (battery supplied). Conveniently, many push-button generators have pull-cord backups in case of problems. If low oil pressure is detected, a safety cut-off will operate, thus protecting the motor from damage.
HONDA GENERATOR PRICES
Expensive
Honda’s build quality and reliability will never be cheap, but with lightweight 1,000-watt portable inverter generators starting at about $800, they’re still very competitive.
Mid-range
For recreational use and home backup, most people want something in the 2,000 to 3,000 watt range. These Honda inverter generators range in price from about $1,000 to just under $3,000. If you go with a conventional (non-inverter) model, you will get more power. You can get 4,000 to 6,500 watts of output for the same price range.
Expensive
At the high end of the scale, you’ll find Honda inverter generators of up to 7,000 watts and conventional models of up to 10,000 watts. These tend to range in price from $5,000 to $5,500.
TIPS
Honda builds a lot of safety features into its generators to protect you and the device from harm. Nevertheless, anything that generates electricity is potentially dangerous. It’s up to you to take suitable precautions.
- Read the user manual carefully. Pay particular attention to how to turn the generator OFF quickly in the event of an emergency.
- Make sure you understand what you can connect and how to do it. If you’re not sure, don’t do it. Get expert advice.
- Do not refuel while the generator is hot. Petrol vapor is almost impossible to see, but it can cling to clothes and skin, causing severe burns.
- Be careful around the motor and exhaust. They get hot when running. Make sure the generator has cooled down before you put it away.
- It’s illegal — and extremely dangerous — to backfeed power from your generator directly into your home’s wiring system. You and anyone in the neighborhood on the same power lines is at risk. If you want direct feed, you need a transfer switch fitted by a qualified electrician.
Honda Generators FAQ
Yes, but in some cases, such as when running low on fuel, conventional generators may spike, creating a power spike. Therefore, for sensitive electronics such as laptops, Honda recommends the use of an inverter generator. Inverter generators have a built-in voltage regulation function that prevents such events from occurring.
As with your car, it is not good for the motor as it will drag dirt deposits from the bottom of the fuel tank. However, unlike cheap generators that tend to damage coils, if your Honda runs out of gas, it shouldn’t cause lasting damage to it.
These are extension cables specifically designed for outdoor use, extending from your generator to your house, RV, etc. They are typically 30A so they can safely handle power and they may have two or more outlets at the delivery end.
