Bottom Line: The Honda EU2000i Generator offers a lot of capability in a portable package that offers a lot of perks, but it comes with a hefty price tag.
One of the limitations of Outdoor movies as a hobby is the constant need for power. So if you want to take your show on the road, you need to figure out where your power is going to come from. You can either draw your power from a battery, a utility line, or a generator. Power from a generator is exactly what I am going to talk about today.
I purchased my Eu2000i generators for camping and I bought them as a set because of the flexibility it offered me in enhanced capacity. Each generator puts out 2000 Watts, but you can connect them and put out a total of 4000 Watts. The other significant benefit of the Honda Eu2000i is it’s “eco” throttle mode, which causes the generator to throttle down depending on the current load. This automatic reduction in the throttle makes the generator both very efficient and really, really quiet. The fact that it is so quiet is the reason that it is arguably the top choice for campers who don’t want to disturb their neighbors. Finally, the generator is pretty portable weighing in at a slim 40lbs, yet another reason why it is a great choice for campers or anyone who needs to be able to easily relocate their power source.
Generally speaking, one of the Eu2000i’s should be plenty to power your entire setup: Screen (if powered), Projector, Blu-Ray Player, and Audio. This is a great solution for anyone that wants the ultimate flexibility in where they can operate their outdoor movie theater, say a parking lot or back part of your property. The other benefit to this generator is that the inverter (what converts from DC to AC) is good enough that you can use all of your sensitive electronics with it, without fear of electrical inconsistencies damaging them.
Honda has just released the Eu2200i, which features a new look and a 10% improvement in fuel economy. Even with all the amazing features, both the Eu2200i and 2000i come at a pretty hefty price tag, so there are some cons that should be considered. Although very quiet, it does make some noise, so you might have to use a few extension cords to make sure the generator noise doesn’t impact the screening. The generator also uses gas (ideally without ethanol) so make sure you have some, but one tank will easily get you through a showing of a standard movie 120min. Ethanol free gas can be difficult to find, but I have found that the Honda Eu2000i’s are very susceptible to being negatively impacted by the varnish that comes from gas with ethanol in it and or old gas.
Tip: Run the generator dry or drain after every use.
Conclusion: While I wish it had a little more power output, I don’t regret my purchase because of the flexibility it’s weight, pairing capability, and eco throttle feature afford me. As someone who is a camper, backyard movie enthusiast, and someone who has lived in an area prone to natural disasters/power outages, it feels good to have the Eu2000i in my arsenal.
Pros:
Lightweight
Flexible
Fuel Efficient
Quiet Operation
Cons:
Pricey
Susceptible to clogged carburetors from fuel varnish (minimize use of ethanol)
Requires Gas to run
Produces some noise
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