Dan, Like Robert P. below, I also have watched countless Genny videos and I almost always end up yelling at the fools that embarrass themselves by what they do and say. NOT THIS TIME!!! As a retired motorcycle mechanic with about 64 years gas engine experience I was totally impressed with the laboratory grade control of the variables to obtain and maintain accurate, specific, AC power wattage loads. I also have a 1960's vintage industrial grade Variac (with exposed partially insulated components!) to safely test transformers and three Kill-O-Watts to monitor Genny usage/testing. Have a 3 year old Wen 56200i 2KW inverter that is very appreciated. About the Honda, somethings wrong! The poor efficiency, especially at heavy throttle is most likely caused by: 1) The multi year slack time periods where small amounts of gasoline could either form deposits in -or- corrode away the brass main jet's tiny fuel metering orifice. It would be easy to visually identify by looking at the Spark Plug's white insulator for cleanliness (not Black!). Next check the Brass Main Jet COLOR for maybe going from new Brass to dark Brown or Black. That would have the heaviest Watt loads causing higher fuel consumption by a heavier throttle, lower output lean surge or over rich condition. EReplacementparts.com sells main (~$7) and pilot jets. If there is no RPM cycling, the pilot jet is AOK. BTW a new carb with them is $167. 2) Few people even mention it but a Valve Adjustment is very important on small engines, especially if the clearance is too small or zero. That would really kill the power curve. When you remove the EU2000i valve cover you'll be really impressed with the clever, minimal parts count, premium quality components of the OHC valve gear and (runs in the oil!) rubber tooth timing belt . . . even though the camshaft is a nice looking black PLASTIC part. They usually show no or minimal cam lobe wear. I'd bet those valves need adjusting. 3) Too obvious and unlikely . . . a dirty or shredded (leaking air) air filter. 4) Check the Voltage and Hz under load to see if the inverter is OK. Running 50 foot extension cords to power refrigerator(s) can damage the inverters internal components. If you find what's wrong your buddy will thank you and I bet you'll want to do the Honda again!
Wow Robert, you get the reward for the most detailed and longest comment I've received on this channel. Thanks so much for adding your wisdom and insight to this video. I rely on other such as yourself to add additional thoughts as well as correct me when I'm wrong about my assumptions. I agree that Honda has issues. I did perform a complete carb cleanout and spark plug cleaning just before taking this data, so I'm guessing the cam adjustment or even compression could be at fault. Anyway, thanks again. I would like to hear your thoughts on why running extension cords causes damage? Is it the added inductance causing poor power factor or flyback like voltage spikes?
@@DansWay Thanks for the gratitude, but this just makes retirement fun, like I'm still working. About the wire, its all about the wire diameter size (12/3=12gauge/3wire) and whether or not it will safely transmit enough power to everything plugged in at the other end. Here's the HomDepo price & the calculated Voltage Drop between 12 AWG and 16 AWG transmitting 2000Watts: $85.97 Husky100 ft. 12/3 Indoor/Outdoor Extension Cord (120VAC power, 100ft=114.07 VAC) calc output) or (50ft=117.04 VAC calc output) $31.27 Husky100 ft. 16/3 Indoor/Outdoor Extension Cord (120VAC power, 100ft=105.02 VAC!!) calc output) or (50ft=112.51 VAC calc output!!) Guess what electrically unaware people will purchase. Actually, the 12AmericanWireGauge cord is still not heavy enough for 2000Watts over the 100 foot run to your neighbor's refrigerator, but borderline with the 50ft cord. Plan B = Get closer, use shorter cord. NEVER use a cord longer than what you need! The engine issues: After looking at the parts diagrams, I found 2 more low power output, short runtime offenders: 1) The 2 foam air filters, IF they have been over-oiled after cleaning. Remove them and squeeze each one in a paper towel. They only need to have oil dampness, not dripping. The main filter can get oily from the crankcase breather hose output. In high heat, 1500W+ loads some oily blow-by gasses are normally excreted into the airbox. 2) The Muffler spark arrester!! SO overlooked. So easy to clean with a Propane torch flame on the mesh disk (after removal from Muffler). Use the tip of the darker inner blue flame on the screen/mesh until it glows red and the Carbon flames completely burn off. After it air cools, tap it gently to remove ash particles. All manufacturers recommend a wire brush, but they will not remove hardened, screen blocking deposits. Since you cleaned the Carb, and hopefully the Brass jets were not corroded and because the runtime is unknown (LONG?), the valve clearance is next. Just make sure you have the compression stroke TDC. Use this link for the free download EU2000i Owner's Manual PDF: cdn.powerequipment.honda.com/pe/pdf/manuals/31Z07610.pdf GoTo pages 41, 43 and 61 for the info you need. You have to spend the $$ so you do not destroy the Genny's Aluminum finned Inverter and/or the neighbors refer compressor motor. Use this link to calculate voltage drop for different wire gauges, Watt load and cord lengths: www.inchcalculator.com/voltage-drop-calculator/
Great video! You must be an engineer. I'm an engineer, and all those spreadsheets is something I'd do. I would love to see a non-inverter generator thrown into the mix to see how much efficiency you gain from the inverter.
Yep, electrical engineer here…. Good question on the inverter vs non-inverter generator. The ECO mode slows the engine down to an idle so it is much more efficient. Non-inverter generators have to spin at 3600rpm at all times so there is a lot of waste there when lightly loaded. At full rated load however, the non-inverter versions are likely more efficient as they don’t have to do multiple conversions to deliver power.
@@DansWay Electrical engineer here, too. I can usually tell when I'm talking to another engineer. Exactly what I thought regarding the non-inverter generator.
This test was fantastic. By far the best thought out and executed I've seen. You address the real question of Liters/KwH at various loads, which is the real question when comparing generators (besides capacities, reliability, etc). Thanks for putting in the work on this. This video deserves more views.
Dan, I just bought a 56235i about a week ago, and wish I had seen your videos first. It would have saved me a lot of shopping!! As it is, I read all the reviews on the HD website, Walmart, Amazon and any others where people had left comments. Looked at the myriad of other brands out there, and it came down to this one. I've owned 2 Hondas in the past, and I think the Wen's noise level is comparable to the Honda at low power levels with eco throttle turned on. You certainly can't beat the efficiency. While shopping, I was doing my best to do mental calculations where here, you have hard factual data. The Wen seemed to have the most favorable reviews overall, and they have a 2 year warranty which says they believe in their product. So far, so good. Like yours, it fired right up, and after that initial break-in, it smoothed right out. Ran a little rough at first but I figured it was my altitude of a little over 3000 feet. But no, it is smooth as glass now. So thanks again for all you put into this. It was VERY interesting. BTW, mine has a fuel gauge. Must be the latest.
Thanks for this video series. I just ordered the Wen 56235i last night and you and a couple of other guys online have made it clear that I have made a good purchase. I ordered a magnetic dipstick to the order. I needed something to run a 5000 btu window unit and a TV for the next south Louisiana hurricane without wasting gas. After Ida, it was weeks before gas stations within 2 hours of us had a reliable supply.
Thanks for your comments. We just had another random power outage for a few hours on a hot evening with guests still here after dinner. Having the generator so easy to connect to our transfer switches makes it easy to get the party going again. We also ran our 12000 btu mini-split off of the 2350i no problem. Went to bed and turned on our ceiling fan and 6000 btu window air conditioner in the bedroom (after turning off the mini-split). These things just work great.
Have fun! Let us know how you feel about the volume of it in the camping area. I purchased material to build a 'quiet box' but haven't gotten around to it yet...
Thanks for this useful and well presented video. I purchased a Wen 56235i based on your review. I added oil, pulled the start rope ten times to distribute oil inside, added a little gasoline, pulled the choke,and it started on the second pull. Since then it starts on the first pull. First fob for mine will be to power a Makie sound system for an outdoor event. From fifty feet away the music will overpower the generator noise.
@@DansWay Again, great informative video…perfect for my Teardrop (T@G) and small power emergency! What synthetic oil you recommend? Btw, just purchased from Amazon using your link!
Thanks Dan for the very useful comparison! I've been waffling between getting the WEN56235i vs the 56380i bigger brother and the efficiency factor is what convinced me to go with the lighter unit. 40lbs vs 100lbs and with less efficiency is a no brainer for my use case. I plan to use solar for my standby power in a grid down situation and I have two solar generator units with solar panels as my primary for basic household use.. and the gas generator as my secondary and also to supplement the solar charging with gas power.
Sounds like you have a great setup there! Glad this was helpful. I always wondered for myself, which is why I purchased both and passed along the info via the video...
A Lot of Work and very well done. I don't believe the expected run time all 100% correct. I have the little Honda 2000i and used it during 2 hurricanes this last Summer. I had the Honda under heavy loads it would get 4 or 5 hours. I just purchased the WEN 3800 genset, be here Monday 3/22/21, so I could add a 5K BTU window AC unit during next storm. The Honda would handle it, had one overload, but I don't want to destroy it. Love your videos. Thanks!!
Hey thanks for the comments! Sorry you had to deal with the weather there. Let me know what you think of the WEN when you get it. Watch your back unpacking it for sure!
@@DansWay Got the Wen genset. I really do like it. Started right up, love the wheels and handle being 76 years old need all the help I can get. Ran for 1 hour and changed the oil. Mag oil plug did have little metal on it, glad I got that. Anyway, not looking forward to another hurricane but feel better prepared now. Live in Mobile, AL. Take Care. Jim
Thanks for the time you took to get a good look at how efficient these generators can be. I have multiple Honda EU2000i generators. All I can say is with my use only being when RV Park power goes down, I have bought stock in the ether starting fluid market. You could pull until the rope wore out to start one of those Honda generators after it has been sitting for a while.
Keeping the jets clean is the biggest issue on all of these smaller generators. They clog up so easily. I had to pull and clean the jets on my friends I borrowed just to get it to deliver near its rated power, and to run properly. Keep the carb empty of fuel when storing and don't use ethanol based fuel...
Project Farm quality level video. Thank you sir. I was considering a smaller backup genny for overnight loads like a newer fridge, LED lights, etc to supplement my 3800i.
That is a huge compliment! Thanks so much for that! Yah, small generators are great for lower power long-duration backup applications vs powering large loads for shorter times.
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try to get my hands on one to perform these same tests. I'd also like to get my hands on a Harbor Freight unit to see how different that is as well. My noise-tests are coming up next, and the results are interesting.
Doesn't the Honda have a 98cc engine? I think the Honda was designed to handle overload just a little longer for surges that it could run if only you could get past the surge and get it running.
Extremely helpful sir, and raises the Q, how ridiculous is it that these companies solve the run time problem by simply making their gas tanks a little larger?
Exactly right! There is no clear basis for comparison in the marketing literature except the 'max run time' at some particular loading... I'd love to see this standardized.
thanks but if we dont know the litres or onz or the cc of fuel its not so mathematical usefull . Your later video where it 50% versus 100% measures eg .17 litre per kilowatt hour was more useful so best if you can update tis video to link there
I have a 21 year old honda. Still runs like a champ. It would be interesting to do this test in 20 years. I bet the honda at 40 years will still be running. ;-)
Did you check that all of the gas was used? Is it possible that other generators just don’t get the fuel from the very bottom of the tank and some is left in the tank?
Great question. To be sure this wasn't a factor, I ran the generator until it died before adding the 8oz of fuel. I did this for each test unless they were sequential tests which already ran the generator our of fuel already.
Great Video liked all the data! One more interesting piece of data would have been the decibel level for each load point. I am considering getting one for camping and the noise level will be a determining factor in my purchase.
That video is recorded already and I need to edit it. Long story short I took the small WEN camping myself and wasn’t particularly excited about the noise level. The Honda would be a bit quieter. The larger WEN is technically louder, but the tone is lower frequency so it feels less annoying. High frequencies are easier to absorb with added materials however so I have another video I’m preparing to execute which will do noise measurements with a box built around both the larger and smaller generator styles to see how quiet I can get them.
Dan, great video. I have both the WEN 230I and 56580 and love them both. The larger WEN did not fit in the back of my new truck with the bed cover so i bought the smaller one to use with my RV AC. I had to install the SoftStartRV unit and it runs the AC no problem but i noticed the WEN 230I appears to have variable engine speeds. Any thoughts on whether or not this can actually run my 15k AC and other device (Fridge, etc.)??
Hey Ken. These generators are 'inverter' generators meaning they convert the generator output from DC to AC, and only run the motor fast enough to create the required power. This is what lets them run so efficiently. A standard generator must run at 3600RPM to create a 60Hz AC waveform directly, which is why they are less efficient when run at low output power (which is most situations). When you run an AC however, this is a constant load and the inverter calls for higher motor speed to support the output power. As far as your question 'will it run my AC and other appliances', the issue there is both the full-time load (say 2000W) and the peak power during turn on. The soft-start is mandatory as you know, so the SoftStartRV, while expensive, makes it work. The other loads, like a simple Fridge compressor (vs. amonia cycle fridge) take a lot at startup. My 150W dryer motor requires over 2000W for about 1/2 second to get started. If you turn everything on one at a time you might get away with it. For me, I wouldn't run more than 75-80% load for long periods of time (hours) on these small generators. I would get a second one and run them in parallel. It will make them last a lot longer IMHO.
Hi Dan. I'm considering running 2 small Wen units or the larger 3800i. I'm concerned two smaller ones will be louder and wear out faster than the 3800i. I will be running a load between 3000 and 3200 watts. Any insight with these two concerns? Thanks.
I'm wondering what types of loads you are going to have that amount to 3200W. If you will be running that hard, perhaps a single larger generator would be more effective and longer lasting. If that value is just your peak, and most of the time you will be substantially less, then two generators might be a better choice. Remember that large motors, AC and such have a large surge current at turn on, as much as 2-4x the running power requirement. You don't want to be at 3200W running on a 3800W generator if the startup current is more like 5000W...
@@sebumgold3108 interesting, perhaps then a pair of smaller 2300W units would work well, and just barely give you redundancy if one goes down. The larger unit would handle the load and load-steps well also. No clear winner in my mind, just different ways to go about it. Let us know what you do and how it works for you!
I have watched HOURS of inverter generator videos. I’m thankful I ran across yours! I’m a senior female and need help. I have a tiny camper that has a double mattress plus about 3 feet of storage area. It has a Fridgidaire 5000 btu,115 volt air conditioner. Will the WEN 2350i inverter run the AC and a one cup coffee marker at the same time? Thank you so much.
Hey there, so the answer is a definite 'maybe'... The air conditioner should draw roughly 500W, but I don't know what the power rating of the particular coffee maker you have is. If you can take a look at the power information written on the bottom of the coffee maker that would be the next step. If the coffee maker is less than 1500W, then this setup will likely work fine. Worst case, you could shut off the air while you make the coffee...
Good afternoon. Thank you very much for this great analytical analysis aas to which model is more efficient! I am surprised how it panned out, especially as the electrical load increased and how the smaller generator still remained more efficient. Safe travels!
When you say the small generators is more efficient then the bigger generator.Whats the max amount of watts the generator has to be to be a small generator ?
Generally speaking, the smaller the displacement, the more efficient a motor will be when driving small loads (100-500W for example). Of course, the smaller motors won't handle the high output power of a larger generator, but that is the option you have: Efficiency at low power (small motor), vs. power handling (large motor) with a loss of efficiency when run only at low output power.
Any idea what the RPM's are of the generators at those watt points? I assume the smaller ones are full tilt at 1500 watts, but is the WEN 3800 still on its way up?
At 1500W, the smaller 2350i unit is definitely working a lot harder than the 3800. The 3800 is barely above the 'eco' mode at 1500W. The 2350i still has another 750W to go, and it will wind up even more to get there for sure. Which of these are you most interested in?
@@DansWay I'm torn between the WEN DF400iX (212cc, same as yours) and the Genmax GM3500iAED (145cc). Both will suffice for my needs under propane. My house idles under 900 watts with only electric heat devices (hair dryer, coffee maker, microwave etc) bringing it above 2500 watts for a few minutes. On cursory thought, you'd think the 145cc engine would be more fuel efficient, however, the WEN probably runs at lower RPM's at every load. I don't need the WEN to be *more* fuel efficient, but if it's close enough, it's clearly a more capable generator for the little(?) extra fuel it needs. I'm trying to figure that all out.
@@rob21, sounds like you have some good thoughts there. The extra displacement implies lower weight of the motor, which could imply improved efficiency at light loads. It could also imply that at full load it would be working much harder than the WEN which would have more headroom (ultimately more horsepower). Propane also reduces the peak power by a good amount (about 10%). Can't beat the lack of 'smell' when running on propane! If you found my video helpful, and decide on the Genmax, would you mind using my affiliate link to support my channel? geni.us/GENMAX_GM3500iAED
@@rob21 haha, yah, would love to! Do you live in SoCal by chance...?? BTW, just between us... My friend just loaned me two unboxed Honda generators, the 2300i and a larger 3500W version to do videos on. Won't happen for another month or more (I have at least 6 videos recorded I need to edit, and 3-5 ready to record already!)
Small generators are cool but when you are with no power you need output there is no replacement for displacement… just wondering with the Honda are you on eco mode ???? Cause eco mode is super efficient
Thanks Dan! I am a new subscriber and very pleased to find your channel. We are making a decision on getting this WEN 56235i. Given this study of performance, do you think that running 2 units such as the WEN 56235i by parallel kit equal to or more efficient than say a 4000W large generator?. I am more than happy shop through your link for this purchase as you videos have been insightful and well delivered! Well done!👍
Man I wish I had a second unit to definitively answer your question! It is a goal of mine to parallel two units, and test them to understand exactly how well they work together. I CAN say however that at low power levels, a single unit, or even two running at say 2000W would be more efficient based on the data I captured. The smaller units can be used just one a time if you know your loads are less than 2000W which is definitely more efficient as well, starting up the second unit only when you know you need AC and a microwave or other high power load. The small units are much easier to move around and maintain, and if one brakes down you always have the other... On the down side, you have two engines to deal with, I don't know how well they respond to large step loads, and converting to propane isn't as easy on the smaller versions. You also have to remember to not turn on so many items without firing up the second unit, so there is more to think about. I'm also not sure if two small units are actually louder than one large one, another check if I get my hands on a second unit.
Just so everyone understands how inefficient gasoline generators are the WEN56235i which got 450 watt/hours from one cup of gasoline atv1500W is 22% of the theoretical maximum energy one can get from gasoline. The Honda was about 8.7%. At max load stationary diesel generators supposedly can get up to 40% efficiency but I would really like to see a comparison.
What really bugs me is if you went by what the manufacture states for the runtime per 1/4th load, they are completely off these figures. The 56380i should be more efficient than 56235i at some cross over point, but based on your data it never crosses over.
I hear you on that one... I wish I had run the 56235i up to full power too see if it would cross over with the 56380i. I will say that the smaller 235i is definitely working 'harder' to produce the higher outputs, whereas the larger 380i is still using eco mode.
Good question. Considering the fact that often a generator is run at low power, a pair of 2350i generator would definitely be more efficient than a single larger one. You could keep just one generator powered up until you need to turn on the AC and you could fire up a second unit.
I still love it. It works every time. Actually it was working better than my larger one recently during a power outage, but I think that is because the gas was old. I still need to record a video installing a hour-meter on the 2300, and I also purchased the 'load sharing' box, and want to do a bunch of waveform captures to see how the two generators share the power equally (or not)...
@@DansWay Great news to hear for me. Thanks Dan. I look forward to your videos. I also bought the Hour meter and the magnetic oil stick. It says it is coming in today. I think it is going to be the right unit for me.
Good question. My experience is that when you use ECO mode, then turn on a heavy load, the generator does a poor job of handling the large transition from low to high power. Worst case, the generator will go into overload. Best case, the output voltage will drop really low and that's not good for anything connected for sure... If you know you are going to have high-power devices connected, then you will want to run them out of ECO mode. Note that each generator has a different definition of ECO mode. The larger 36380 has an eco mode of something like 2500W, so that will power a lot, compared to the lower power handling 56235.
Great data! The question i get asked all the time is fuel efficiency of one 4KW generator vs twin 2Ks. Looks like 2K wins below 2K draw and 4K wins above 2K, as expected?
I honestly don't know until I get my hands on a second 2K generator and run them in parallel. Only that test will tell if the pair would be 'better' than one larger one. Two might provide better efficiency, but could be louder than just one?... Two could be used with just one active for lower total noise... Two requires two oil changes and maintenance... Two provides redundancy... There are obviously lots of possibilities depending on the users need.
This was a fantastic video! I happen to own both the Wen 56235 and an older Honda EU2000i. I bought the Wen because I had let my dad barrow the Honda and he didn't want to give it back. It was more as if I was barrowing my own generator from him. The Wen has been fine since I rarely use a generator, but I did notice 2 things. 1 was that mine runs rich. The 2nd is that my Honda seems to output more wattage. What I mean by this is what might cause my Wen to go into overload won't trip the Honda into overload. Especially at start up. Have you noticed anything similar?
Great comments @crabjoe. At startup it is recommended to not have anything connected to the generator so I haven’t tested it that way. Perhaps I’m misinterpreting when you mean startup, more like starting up a heavy load like a table saw. The Honda has a larger displacement engine so perhaps it has more mass to keep itself from getting stalled out when starting a large load. Or perhaps the electronics simply allow more power to be drawn before it goes into overload. What types of loads have you seen cause the WEN to go into overload where the Honda did fine? Have you noticed the fuel efficiency issues where your Honda takes a lot more fuel to run than the WEN?
@@DansWay It wasn't started with anything on.. What I did was start the generator then turn stuff on. When I did the testing for myself, I used a kill-a-watt to measure the wattage and used volt meter for voltage. Sorry, it's been about a year since I did this and my memory isn't as good as it was in the past. Let me see.. I used a blow dryer with a high and low setting, a 2 setting electric heater, something else I can't remember and lights. What I basically did was have enough connected to pull the rated watts then I'd turn on extra load to check surge. The Honda (I bought it back in 2004) would start the addition(s) without hiccup, but the Wen would trip the overload. Funny thing was everything the Wen ran, the old Honda ran too. It's s if the Wen is rated at the very max it can output, where the Honda is severely underrated. For a moment, I thought I had a bad Wen unit, then I noticed the watt meter showing 1850 watts. Not sure why I didn't .. probably because I was lazy, but I should have checked to see how much the old Honda could actually output. Lastly, I noticed that the voltage drop during startup was better on the Honda. If I remember, the Wen dropped into the upper 70s, but the Honda only went down to the upper 80s. By no means was my testing scientific.. I just kind of did it on a whim to see how the Wen compared with the Honda. For example, I think when I ran it, I only had about 3 hours of breakin on the Wen, where the Honda has seen hundreds, maybe thousands, of hours over the years.
Cool thanks fir the extra details. There is a reason the Honda is so highly praised. It also priced accordingly... so for the price I’d say I’m happy enough. The larger 3800w unit is definitely my preference if it is easy to roll it over to the job site.
so you could extrapolate and say 7.2kwatts per gallon off that small WEN inverter at high load. pretty impressive considering an EV can go 30 miles per gallon off that. however thats only 23% of the potential energy a gallon of gas has stored in it
Hey Ricky, good analysis and thoughts. Gas truly is a poor generator of power, just like an incandescent bulb is inefficent vs. LEDs at generating light. To bad there isn't a direct analog here that could convert fuel to rotational motion like the LED did for light.
The 56380i seems to be the unicorn here given its price point and extra capacity. Can you comment on the apparent noise levels these machines “sounded” like at 1500w. My assumption is the larger machine was quieter because it was still at less than half load.
I have that answer exactly as I have gathered the data for my next video which compares the volume of each of these generators... I'll give you this specific answer here if you promise to subscribe to my channel and come back for the final video...
The WEN3800i running loaded at 1500W, when measured from 20' away on the loudest (exhaust) side is about 58dB compared to the WEN56235i which was 69dB. So you are right in that the larger generator is significantly quieter at 1500W vs. the smaller unit. For reference, the Honda was 63dB.
Jeez so the peak was 21% efficiency and the gonna peaked at 10% 💀 That's a shame because the honda is the way to go but the efficiency is God awful. Typically I would expect to be able to see a peak efficiency of around 30% at 75-90% load on a larger generator (peak volumetric efficiency)
I have a couple of new Honda generators a buddy let me borrow, so I'm looking forward to doing more testing with a Honda that is not old and worn out...
@@DansWay Try doing 75% of rated load and see what efficiency is at that point. A lot of us are doing whole home inverter chargers so we can set the generator to charge at x.
this is perfect!! thank you so much. I am building a hybrid gasoline ebike and going to be powering the ebike right off inverter generators so this is what i need to know to calculate efficiency... Electricity in my area is around 20cents per kwh (15c + 5c meter fees and crap), and if i use the tiny wen inverter, looks like it would have an equivleent cost of around 40-50 cents per kwh which is a good trade off for unlimited range.
Dan, Like Robert P. below, I also have watched countless Genny videos and I almost always end up yelling at the fools that embarrass themselves by what they do and say. NOT THIS TIME!!! As a retired motorcycle mechanic with about 64 years gas engine experience I was totally impressed with the laboratory grade control of the variables to obtain and maintain accurate, specific, AC power wattage loads. I also have a 1960's vintage industrial grade Variac (with exposed partially insulated components!) to safely test transformers and three Kill-O-Watts to monitor Genny usage/testing. Have a 3 year old Wen 56200i 2KW inverter that is very appreciated. About the Honda, somethings wrong! The poor efficiency, especially at heavy throttle is most likely caused by:
1) The multi year slack time periods where small amounts of gasoline could either form deposits in -or- corrode away the brass main jet's tiny fuel metering orifice. It would be easy to visually identify by looking at the Spark Plug's white insulator for cleanliness (not Black!). Next check the Brass Main Jet COLOR for maybe going from new Brass to dark Brown or Black. That would have the heaviest Watt loads causing higher fuel consumption by a heavier throttle, lower output lean surge or over rich condition. EReplacementparts.com sells main (~$7) and pilot jets. If there is no RPM cycling, the pilot jet is AOK. BTW a new carb with them is $167.
2) Few people even mention it but a Valve Adjustment is very important on small engines, especially if the clearance is too small or zero. That would really kill the power curve. When you remove the EU2000i valve cover you'll be really impressed with the clever, minimal parts count, premium quality components of the OHC valve gear and (runs in the oil!) rubber tooth timing belt . . . even though the camshaft is a nice looking black PLASTIC part. They usually show no or minimal cam lobe wear. I'd bet those valves need adjusting.
3) Too obvious and unlikely . . . a dirty or shredded (leaking air) air filter.
4) Check the Voltage and Hz under load to see if the inverter is OK. Running 50 foot extension cords to power refrigerator(s) can damage the inverters internal components.
If you find what's wrong your buddy will thank you and I bet you'll want to do the Honda again!
Wow Robert, you get the reward for the most detailed and longest comment I've received on this channel. Thanks so much for adding your wisdom and insight to this video. I rely on other such as yourself to add additional thoughts as well as correct me when I'm wrong about my assumptions. I agree that Honda has issues. I did perform a complete carb cleanout and spark plug cleaning just before taking this data, so I'm guessing the cam adjustment or even compression could be at fault. Anyway, thanks again.
I would like to hear your thoughts on why running extension cords causes damage? Is it the added inductance causing poor power factor or flyback like voltage spikes?
@@DansWay Thanks for the gratitude, but this just makes retirement fun, like I'm still working. About the wire, its all about the wire diameter size (12/3=12gauge/3wire) and whether or not it will safely transmit enough power to everything plugged in at the other end. Here's the HomDepo price & the calculated Voltage Drop between 12 AWG and 16 AWG transmitting 2000Watts:
$85.97 Husky100 ft. 12/3 Indoor/Outdoor Extension Cord (120VAC power, 100ft=114.07 VAC) calc output) or (50ft=117.04 VAC calc output)
$31.27 Husky100 ft. 16/3 Indoor/Outdoor Extension Cord (120VAC power, 100ft=105.02 VAC!!) calc output) or (50ft=112.51 VAC calc output!!)
Guess what electrically unaware people will purchase. Actually, the 12AmericanWireGauge cord is still not heavy enough for 2000Watts over the 100 foot run to your neighbor's refrigerator, but borderline with the 50ft cord. Plan B = Get closer, use shorter cord. NEVER use a cord longer than what you need!
The engine issues:
After looking at the parts diagrams, I found 2 more low power output, short runtime offenders:
1) The 2 foam air filters, IF they have been over-oiled after cleaning. Remove them and squeeze each one in a paper towel. They only need to have oil dampness, not dripping. The main filter can get oily from the crankcase breather hose output. In high heat, 1500W+ loads some oily blow-by gasses are normally excreted into the airbox.
2) The Muffler spark arrester!! SO overlooked. So easy to clean with a Propane torch flame on the mesh disk (after removal from Muffler). Use the tip of the darker inner blue flame on the screen/mesh until it glows red and the Carbon flames completely burn off. After it air cools, tap it gently to remove ash particles. All manufacturers recommend a wire brush, but they will not remove hardened, screen blocking deposits.
Since you cleaned the Carb, and hopefully the Brass jets were not corroded and because the runtime is unknown (LONG?), the valve clearance is next. Just make sure you have the compression stroke TDC.
Use this link for the free download EU2000i Owner's Manual PDF:
cdn.powerequipment.honda.com/pe/pdf/manuals/31Z07610.pdf GoTo pages 41, 43 and 61 for the info you need.
You have to spend the $$ so you do not destroy the Genny's Aluminum finned Inverter and/or the neighbors refer compressor motor. Use this link to calculate voltage drop for different wire gauges, Watt load and cord lengths:
www.inchcalculator.com/voltage-drop-calculator/
@@robertm8204 thanks again for the great info Robert!
Great video! You must be an engineer. I'm an engineer, and all those spreadsheets is something I'd do. I would love to see a non-inverter generator thrown into the mix to see how much efficiency you gain from the inverter.
Yep, electrical engineer here…. Good question on the inverter vs non-inverter generator. The ECO mode slows the engine down to an idle so it is much more efficient. Non-inverter generators have to spin at 3600rpm at all times so there is a lot of waste there when lightly loaded. At full rated load however, the non-inverter versions are likely more efficient as they don’t have to do multiple conversions to deliver power.
@@DansWay Electrical engineer here, too. I can usually tell when I'm talking to another engineer. Exactly what I thought regarding the non-inverter generator.
This test was fantastic. By far the best thought out and executed I've seen. You address the real question of Liters/KwH at various loads, which is the real question when comparing generators (besides capacities, reliability, etc). Thanks for putting in the work on this. This video deserves more views.
Thanks for the comments Nick! In the future I hope to repeat this with two brand new Honda generators.
@@DansWay Cool. I look forward to it. May I make a suggestion for the review?
Sure! What would you like to see?
Dan, I just bought a 56235i about a week ago, and wish I had seen your videos first. It would have saved me a lot of shopping!! As it is, I read all the reviews on the HD website, Walmart, Amazon and any others where people had left comments. Looked at the myriad of other brands out there, and it came down to this one. I've owned 2 Hondas in the past, and I think the Wen's noise level is comparable to the Honda at low power levels with eco throttle turned on. You certainly can't beat the efficiency. While shopping, I was doing my best to do mental calculations where here, you have hard factual data. The Wen seemed to have the most favorable reviews overall, and they have a 2 year warranty which says they believe in their product. So far, so good. Like yours, it fired right up, and after that initial break-in, it smoothed right out. Ran a little rough at first but I figured it was my altitude of a little over 3000 feet. But no, it is smooth as glass now. So thanks again for all you put into this. It was VERY interesting. BTW, mine has a fuel gauge. Must be the latest.
Glad you came to the same conclusion as I did! Thanks for the comment and story.
Nicely done! Project farm would be proud!
Haha, thanks for that huge complement! I love that channel myself...
Thanks for this video series. I just ordered the Wen 56235i last night and you and a couple of other guys online have made it clear that I have made a good purchase. I ordered a magnetic dipstick to the order. I needed something to run a 5000 btu window unit and a TV for the next south Louisiana hurricane without wasting gas. After Ida, it was weeks before gas stations within 2 hours of us had a reliable supply.
Thanks for your comments. We just had another random power outage for a few hours on a hot evening with guests still here after dinner. Having the generator so easy to connect to our transfer switches makes it easy to get the party going again. We also ran our 12000 btu mini-split off of the 2350i no problem. Went to bed and turned on our ceiling fan and 6000 btu window air conditioner in the bedroom (after turning off the mini-split). These things just work great.
I’ve watched over 50 videos on generators. Yours was the best. Great job.
Thanks for the complement! I really try to provide useful content... ;-)
Thanks for the great info Dan. I will be testing out my new 56235i on camping trip in a few weeks.
Have fun! Let us know how you feel about the volume of it in the camping area. I purchased material to build a 'quiet box' but haven't gotten around to it yet...
Thanks for this useful and well presented video. I purchased a Wen 56235i based on your review. I added oil, pulled the start rope ten times to distribute oil inside, added a little gasoline, pulled the choke,and it started on the second pull. Since then it starts on the first pull. First fob for mine will be to power a Makie sound system for an outdoor event. From fifty feet away the music will overpower the generator noise.
Great video and your complete analysis…I’m impressed by the small WEN and the efficiency under 500W! Thanks for sharing…be safe Cheers!
Hey, thanks Alejandro for the comments! Glad you found this helpful.
@@DansWay Again, great informative video…perfect for my Teardrop (T@G) and small power emergency! What synthetic oil you recommend? Btw, just purchased from Amazon using your link!
Thanks Dan for the very useful comparison! I've been waffling between getting the WEN56235i vs the 56380i bigger brother and the efficiency factor is what convinced me to go with the lighter unit. 40lbs vs 100lbs and with less efficiency is a no brainer for my use case. I plan to use solar for my standby power in a grid down situation and I have two solar generator units with solar panels as my primary for basic household use.. and the gas generator as my secondary and also to supplement the solar charging with gas power.
Sounds like you have a great setup there! Glad this was helpful. I always wondered for myself, which is why I purchased both and passed along the info via the video...
Dan I want to thank you for your time in creating your videos. You do an awesome job, thank you
Your very welcome! Glad this video was helpful.😃
A Lot of Work and very well done. I don't believe the expected run time all 100% correct. I have the little Honda 2000i and used it during 2 hurricanes this last Summer. I had the Honda under heavy loads it would get 4 or 5 hours. I just purchased the WEN 3800 genset, be here Monday 3/22/21, so I could add a 5K BTU window AC unit during next storm. The Honda would handle it, had one overload, but I don't want to destroy it. Love your videos. Thanks!!
Hey thanks for the comments! Sorry you had to deal with the weather there. Let me know what you think of the WEN when you get it. Watch your back unpacking it for sure!
@@DansWay Got the Wen genset. I really do like it. Started right up, love the wheels and handle being 76 years old need all the help I can get. Ran for 1 hour and changed the oil. Mag oil plug did have little metal on it, glad I got that. Anyway, not looking forward to another hurricane but feel better prepared now. Live in Mobile, AL. Take Care. Jim
Thanks for the time you took to get a good look at how efficient these generators can be. I have multiple Honda EU2000i generators. All I can say is with my use only being when RV Park power goes down, I have bought stock in the ether starting fluid market. You could pull until the rope wore out to start one of those Honda generators after it has been sitting for a while.
Keeping the jets clean is the biggest issue on all of these smaller generators. They clog up so easily. I had to pull and clean the jets on my friends I borrowed just to get it to deliver near its rated power, and to run properly. Keep the carb empty of fuel when storing and don't use ethanol based fuel...
Project Farm quality level video. Thank you sir. I was considering a smaller backup genny for overnight loads like a newer fridge, LED lights, etc to supplement my 3800i.
That is a huge compliment! Thanks so much for that! Yah, small generators are great for lower power long-duration backup applications vs powering large loads for shorter times.
This was a great test. Just what I like to see.
Thanks! Do you currently one one of these?
@@DansWay no I just bought a 2500 Westinghouse, but fuel consumption is something I always wanted to know with the Honda
Recently found your videos, very nice job on them. Looking forward to seeing some more from you - thanks.
Awesome, thank you!
Wow, new to channel. that's a lot of info. thank you for your time
Thank you Ruben!
Fantastic test. Very helpful and well done. Thank you.
Thank you!
Very interesting. Other generator tests are lacking this important data. I would love to see the newer EU2200i and others compared
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try to get my hands on one to perform these same tests. I'd also like to get my hands on a Harbor Freight unit to see how different that is as well. My noise-tests are coming up next, and the results are interesting.
Super useful info! Great video!
Thanks for the feedback and encouragement! Anything else you think would be helpful to show on these units?
Doesn't the Honda have a 98cc engine? I think the Honda was designed to handle overload just a little longer for surges that it could run if only you could get past the surge and get it running.
Excellent information and I like how you presented your findings. Thanks for doing this!
Glad you enjoyed it Rick!
Extremely helpful sir, and raises the Q, how ridiculous is it that these companies solve the run time problem by simply making their gas tanks a little larger?
Exactly right! There is no clear basis for comparison in the marketing literature except the 'max run time' at some particular loading... I'd love to see this standardized.
Great informational video. I probably will buy the wen 2350 generator for the great efficiency plus it only weight 38 pounds.
Good choice! It is definitely the most efficient.
thanks but if we dont know the litres or onz or the cc of fuel its not so mathematical usefull . Your later video where it 50% versus 100% measures eg .17 litre per kilowatt hour was more useful so best if you can update tis video to link there
I have a 21 year old honda. Still runs like a champ. It would be interesting to do this test in 20 years. I bet the honda at 40 years will still be running. ;-)
I totally agree! Very little to fail over time if treated well and non-ethanol gas used...
Did you check that all of the gas was used? Is it possible that other generators just don’t get the fuel from the very bottom of the tank and some is left in the tank?
Great question. To be sure this wasn't a factor, I ran the generator until it died before adding the 8oz of fuel. I did this for each test unless they were sequential tests which already ran the generator our of fuel already.
Nicely done project, thumbs up
Great Video liked all the data! One more interesting piece of data would have been the decibel level for each load point. I am considering getting one for camping and the noise level will be a determining factor in my purchase.
That video is recorded already and I need to edit it. Long story short I took the small WEN camping myself and wasn’t particularly excited about the noise level. The Honda would be a bit quieter. The larger WEN is technically louder, but the tone is lower frequency so it feels less annoying. High frequencies are easier to absorb with added materials however so I have another video I’m preparing to execute which will do noise measurements with a box built around both the larger and smaller generator styles to see how quiet I can get them.
Dan, great video. I have both the WEN 230I and 56580 and love them both. The larger WEN did not fit in the back of my new truck with the bed cover so i bought the smaller one to use with my RV AC. I had to install the SoftStartRV unit and it runs the AC no problem but i noticed the WEN 230I appears to have variable engine speeds. Any thoughts on whether or not this can actually run my 15k AC and other device (Fridge, etc.)??
Hey Ken. These generators are 'inverter' generators meaning they convert the generator output from DC to AC, and only run the motor fast enough to create the required power. This is what lets them run so efficiently. A standard generator must run at 3600RPM to create a 60Hz AC waveform directly, which is why they are less efficient when run at low output power (which is most situations). When you run an AC however, this is a constant load and the inverter calls for higher motor speed to support the output power.
As far as your question 'will it run my AC and other appliances', the issue there is both the full-time load (say 2000W) and the peak power during turn on. The soft-start is mandatory as you know, so the SoftStartRV, while expensive, makes it work. The other loads, like a simple Fridge compressor (vs. amonia cycle fridge) take a lot at startup. My 150W dryer motor requires over 2000W for about 1/2 second to get started. If you turn everything on one at a time you might get away with it.
For me, I wouldn't run more than 75-80% load for long periods of time (hours) on these small generators. I would get a second one and run them in parallel. It will make them last a lot longer IMHO.
Hi Dan. I'm considering running 2 small Wen units or the larger 3800i. I'm concerned two smaller ones will be louder and wear out faster than the 3800i. I will be running a load between 3000 and 3200 watts. Any insight with these two concerns? Thanks.
I'm wondering what types of loads you are going to have that amount to 3200W. If you will be running that hard, perhaps a single larger generator would be more effective and longer lasting. If that value is just your peak, and most of the time you will be substantially less, then two generators might be a better choice. Remember that large motors, AC and such have a large surge current at turn on, as much as 2-4x the running power requirement. You don't want to be at 3200W running on a 3800W generator if the startup current is more like 5000W...
@@DansWay thank you for the insight Dan. That is my absolute peak. Median load would be 2.1k.
@@sebumgold3108 interesting, perhaps then a pair of smaller 2300W units would work well, and just barely give you redundancy if one goes down. The larger unit would handle the load and load-steps well also. No clear winner in my mind, just different ways to go about it. Let us know what you do and how it works for you!
I have watched HOURS of inverter generator videos. I’m thankful I ran across yours! I’m a senior female and need help. I have a tiny camper that has a double mattress plus about 3 feet of storage area. It has a Fridgidaire 5000 btu,115 volt air conditioner. Will the WEN 2350i inverter run the AC and a one cup coffee marker at the same time? Thank you so much.
Hey there, so the answer is a definite 'maybe'... The air conditioner should draw roughly 500W, but I don't know what the power rating of the particular coffee maker you have is. If you can take a look at the power information written on the bottom of the coffee maker that would be the next step. If the coffee maker is less than 1500W, then this setup will likely work fine. Worst case, you could shut off the air while you make the coffee...
Good afternoon. Thank you very much for this great analytical analysis aas to which model is more efficient! I am surprised how it panned out, especially as the electrical load increased and how the smaller generator still remained more efficient.
Safe travels!
Glad it was helpful! I'm still looking forward to paralleling two of these together to see how that works.
When you say the small generators is more efficient then the bigger generator.Whats the max amount of watts the generator has to be to be a small generator ?
Generally speaking, the smaller the displacement, the more efficient a motor will be when driving small loads (100-500W for example). Of course, the smaller motors won't handle the high output power of a larger generator, but that is the option you have: Efficiency at low power (small motor), vs. power handling (large motor) with a loss of efficiency when run only at low output power.
great an a good job on reviews/thanks much
Thanks Ron. What generator do you have?
wen 2350i
Thanx Dan!
Your welcome. Did you purchase one of these?
Any idea what the RPM's are of the generators at those watt points? I assume the smaller ones are full tilt at 1500 watts, but is the WEN 3800 still on its way up?
At 1500W, the smaller 2350i unit is definitely working a lot harder than the 3800. The 3800 is barely above the 'eco' mode at 1500W. The 2350i still has another 750W to go, and it will wind up even more to get there for sure. Which of these are you most interested in?
@@DansWay I'm torn between the WEN DF400iX (212cc, same as yours) and the Genmax GM3500iAED (145cc). Both will suffice for my needs under propane. My house idles under 900 watts with only electric heat devices (hair dryer, coffee maker, microwave etc) bringing it above 2500 watts for a few minutes. On cursory thought, you'd think the 145cc engine would be more fuel efficient, however, the WEN probably runs at lower RPM's at every load. I don't need the WEN to be *more* fuel efficient, but if it's close enough, it's clearly a more capable generator for the little(?) extra fuel it needs. I'm trying to figure that all out.
@@rob21, sounds like you have some good thoughts there. The extra displacement implies lower weight of the motor, which could imply improved efficiency at light loads. It could also imply that at full load it would be working much harder than the WEN which would have more headroom (ultimately more horsepower). Propane also reduces the peak power by a good amount (about 10%). Can't beat the lack of 'smell' when running on propane! If you found my video helpful, and decide on the Genmax, would you mind using my affiliate link to support my channel? geni.us/GENMAX_GM3500iAED
@@DansWay Would be great if you reviewed it too. 🤓
@@rob21 haha, yah, would love to! Do you live in SoCal by chance...?? BTW, just between us... My friend just loaned me two unboxed Honda generators, the 2300i and a larger 3500W version to do videos on. Won't happen for another month or more (I have at least 6 videos recorded I need to edit, and 3-5 ready to record already!)
Great info, thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Small generators are cool but when you are with no power you need output there is no replacement for displacement… just wondering with the Honda are you on eco mode ???? Cause eco mode is super efficient
Thanks Dan! I am a new subscriber and very pleased to find your channel. We are making a decision on getting this WEN 56235i.
Given this study of performance, do you think that running 2 units such as the WEN 56235i by parallel kit equal to or more efficient than say a 4000W large generator?.
I am more than happy shop through your link for this purchase as you videos have been insightful and well delivered! Well done!👍
Man I wish I had a second unit to definitively answer your question! It is a goal of mine to parallel two units, and test them to understand exactly how well they work together. I CAN say however that at low power levels, a single unit, or even two running at say 2000W would be more efficient based on the data I captured. The smaller units can be used just one a time if you know your loads are less than 2000W which is definitely more efficient as well, starting up the second unit only when you know you need AC and a microwave or other high power load. The small units are much easier to move around and maintain, and if one brakes down you always have the other...
On the down side, you have two engines to deal with, I don't know how well they respond to large step loads, and converting to propane isn't as easy on the smaller versions. You also have to remember to not turn on so many items without firing up the second unit, so there is more to think about. I'm also not sure if two small units are actually louder than one large one, another check if I get my hands on a second unit.
Just so everyone understands how inefficient gasoline generators are the WEN56235i which got 450 watt/hours from one cup of gasoline atv1500W is 22% of the theoretical maximum energy one can get from gasoline. The Honda was about 8.7%. At max load stationary diesel generators supposedly can get up to 40% efficiency but I would really like to see a comparison.
Thanks for the info! Very cool...
What really bugs me is if you went by what the manufacture states for the runtime per 1/4th load, they are completely off these figures. The 56380i should be more efficient than 56235i at some cross over point, but based on your data it never crosses over.
I hear you on that one... I wish I had run the 56235i up to full power too see if it would cross over with the 56380i. I will say that the smaller 235i is definitely working 'harder' to produce the higher outputs, whereas the larger 380i is still using eco mode.
Excellent.
Thanks for the comment!
I would like to see Wen 56380I at 3200 watts vs 2 56235i in parallel to see if it becomes more efficient
Good question. Considering the fact that often a generator is run at low power, a pair of 2350i generator would definitely be more efficient than a single larger one. You could keep just one generator powered up until you need to turn on the AC and you could fire up a second unit.
I just bought a new Wen exactly the one you tested. It will be here 5/7/21 ,any tips not mentioned in the unboxing video you can tell me about?
If you purchased the 56235i, I would grab both the magnetic dip-stick and the hour meter as it doesn't have one. That's about it!
Great content
I just bought the 2300i. What do you think of it a year later? Are you going to make another video on it?
I still love it. It works every time. Actually it was working better than my larger one recently during a power outage, but I think that is because the gas was old. I still need to record a video installing a hour-meter on the 2300, and I also purchased the 'load sharing' box, and want to do a bunch of waveform captures to see how the two generators share the power equally (or not)...
@@DansWay Great news to hear for me. Thanks Dan. I look forward to your videos. I also bought the Hour meter and the magnetic oil stick. It says it is coming in today. I think it is going to be the right unit for me.
What is the quantity in ml of 1 cup?
236mL according to Google...
I haven’t seen a good test showing how much load kicks off eco mode on different models.
Good question. My experience is that when you use ECO mode, then turn on a heavy load, the generator does a poor job of handling the large transition from low to high power. Worst case, the generator will go into overload. Best case, the output voltage will drop really low and that's not good for anything connected for sure... If you know you are going to have high-power devices connected, then you will want to run them out of ECO mode. Note that each generator has a different definition of ECO mode. The larger 36380 has an eco mode of something like 2500W, so that will power a lot, compared to the lower power handling 56235.
Great data! The question i get asked all the time is fuel efficiency of one 4KW generator vs twin 2Ks. Looks like 2K wins below 2K draw and 4K wins above 2K, as expected?
I honestly don't know until I get my hands on a second 2K generator and run them in parallel. Only that test will tell if the pair would be 'better' than one larger one. Two might provide better efficiency, but could be louder than just one?... Two could be used with just one active for lower total noise... Two requires two oil changes and maintenance... Two provides redundancy... There are obviously lots of possibilities depending on the users need.
So why not run them all in eco?
Nice info my man.. thank you.
This was a fantastic video! I happen to own both the Wen 56235 and an older Honda EU2000i. I bought the Wen because I had let my dad barrow the Honda and he didn't want to give it back. It was more as if I was barrowing my own generator from him.
The Wen has been fine since I rarely use a generator, but I did notice 2 things. 1 was that mine runs rich. The 2nd is that my Honda seems to output more wattage. What I mean by this is what might cause my Wen to go into overload won't trip the Honda into overload. Especially at start up. Have you noticed anything similar?
Great comments @crabjoe. At startup it is recommended to not have anything connected to the generator so I haven’t tested it that way. Perhaps I’m misinterpreting when you mean startup, more like starting up a heavy load like a table saw. The Honda has a larger displacement engine so perhaps it has more mass to keep itself from getting stalled out when starting a large load. Or perhaps the electronics simply allow more power to be drawn before it goes into overload.
What types of loads have you seen cause the WEN to go into overload where the Honda did fine?
Have you noticed the fuel efficiency issues where your Honda takes a lot more fuel to run than the WEN?
@@DansWay It wasn't started with anything on.. What I did was start the generator then turn stuff on. When I did the testing for myself, I used a kill-a-watt to measure the wattage and used volt meter for voltage. Sorry, it's been about a year since I did this and my memory isn't as good as it was in the past.
Let me see.. I used a blow dryer with a high and low setting, a 2 setting electric heater, something else I can't remember and lights.
What I basically did was have enough connected to pull the rated watts then I'd turn on extra load to check surge. The Honda (I bought it back in 2004) would start the addition(s) without hiccup, but the Wen would trip the overload.
Funny thing was everything the Wen ran, the old Honda ran too. It's s if the Wen is rated at the very max it can output, where the Honda is severely underrated. For a moment, I thought I had a bad Wen unit, then I noticed the watt meter showing 1850 watts.
Not sure why I didn't .. probably because I was lazy, but I should have checked to see how much the old Honda could actually output.
Lastly, I noticed that the voltage drop during startup was better on the Honda. If I remember, the Wen dropped into the upper 70s, but the Honda only went down to the upper 80s.
By no means was my testing scientific.. I just kind of did it on a whim to see how the Wen compared with the Honda. For example, I think when I ran it, I only had about 3 hours of breakin on the Wen, where the Honda has seen hundreds, maybe thousands, of hours over the years.
Cool thanks fir the extra details. There is a reason the Honda is so highly praised. It also priced accordingly... so for the price I’d say I’m happy enough. The larger 3800w unit is definitely my preference if it is easy to roll it over to the job site.
Great Job !
so you could extrapolate and say 7.2kwatts per gallon off that small
WEN inverter at high load. pretty impressive considering an EV can go 30 miles per gallon off that. however thats only 23% of the potential energy a gallon of gas has stored in it
Hey Ricky, good analysis and thoughts. Gas truly is a poor generator of power, just like an incandescent bulb is inefficent vs. LEDs at generating light. To bad there isn't a direct analog here that could convert fuel to rotational motion like the LED did for light.
The 56380i seems to be the unicorn here given its price point and extra capacity. Can you comment on the apparent noise levels these machines “sounded” like at 1500w. My assumption is the larger machine was quieter because it was still at less than half load.
I have that answer exactly as I have gathered the data for my next video which compares the volume of each of these generators... I'll give you this specific answer here if you promise to subscribe to my channel and come back for the final video...
The WEN3800i running loaded at 1500W, when measured from 20' away on the loudest (exhaust) side is about 58dB compared to the WEN56235i which was 69dB. So you are right in that the larger generator is significantly quieter at 1500W vs. the smaller unit. For reference, the Honda was 63dB.
@@DansWay Subscribed! Any you’re secret is safe with me ;)
I think the newer wens r lower db it is about the same as the honda.
@@juliosdiy3206 The 56380i is the latest model as of Feb 2021.
Jeez so the peak was 21% efficiency and the gonna peaked at 10% 💀
That's a shame because the honda is the way to go but the efficiency is God awful. Typically I would expect to be able to see a peak efficiency of around 30% at 75-90% load on a larger generator (peak volumetric efficiency)
I have a couple of new Honda generators a buddy let me borrow, so I'm looking forward to doing more testing with a Honda that is not old and worn out...
@@DansWay Try doing 75% of rated load and see what efficiency is at that point. A lot of us are doing whole home inverter chargers so we can set the generator to charge at x.
@@paladain55 Got it, thanks for the suggestion.
this is perfect!! thank you so much. I am building a hybrid gasoline ebike and going to be powering the ebike right off inverter generators so this is what i need to know to calculate efficiency... Electricity in my area is around 20cents per kwh (15c + 5c meter fees and crap), and if i use the tiny wen inverter, looks like it would have an equivleent cost of around 40-50 cents per kwh which is a good trade off for unlimited range.
Hey! Glad this was helpful. Are you making a video of your progress?
@@DansWay i will and ill post it up soon.
Good study! Wow wen totally destroyed honda!
I would love to try a Honda with fewer miles on it. This one is really old, so not exactly a fair comparison (new WENs vs. older Honda)