Honda vs Generac – Battle of the Beasts

Do you remember the part in Harry Potter where Dumbledore says, “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light”? But what’ll happen if there’s no power? Of course, you can’t turn on the ‘light’ unless you plan to settle with a candle.

But come on, you are here because you know there’s always a way out. Inverter generators are the options that’ll not only light your home but power other appliances too. Well, you knew that, also, right? 

We presume you are here because you are stuck on choosing the best inverter generator brand. Is it Honda or Generac? Which one should you pick? After all, both these brands have a considerable reputation and outstanding products to offer. 

So, to ease your suffering, we have drawn this comparison, Honda vs. Generac, to find a specific answer. But before getting into the comparison, let’s get a basic introduction of both these brands. 

Honda

The Honda Motor Company, LTD. is a Japanese manufacturer of automobiles, power equipment, and other motored products. The brand holds a considerable reputation in the market of generators. Honda’s contribution to enhancing lifestyles persists well beyond the automotive industry.

Honda generators are designed and manufactured to an exceptionally high standard. These machines are famous for their competitive performance, durability, and outstanding reliability.

Within Honda’s range of generators, you’ll find features to meet any power need — from campers and homeowners focusing on lightweight portability to high-demand industrial users. 

Such variations met with high standards are commendable and gives the brand extra ground. Ahead in this comparison, you’ll find the three best honda generators that you can buy (if Honda wins it). 

Generac

Founded in 1959, Generac is an American manufacturing company of backup power generation products. Combined with high standards and durable design, Generac generators are sold worldwide through thousands of retailing points. 

The brand has thousands of satisfied customers who highly evaluate Generac as the best inverter generator brand in the market. Generac also manufactures different generators to satisfy various needs. So, whether you are finding one for camping, powering your home appliances, or commercial purposes, Generac has it all. 

We have enlisted the three best Generac generator models at the end that you can buy (if Generac wins the comparison). 

Features of Differentiations:

Engine:

Generators convert mechanical energy into electrical power, and thus they generate electricity. In this process, the most vital role is played by the engine. A powerful motor can produce more electricity and serve a better purpose. 

But as the capacity increases, the size increases too. Both Honda and Generac generators have similar engine capacities for different purposes. 

Yet, Honda is seen as one of the top engine makers in the world. If we compare Honda EU220i with an identical GENERAC GP2200I, we will find that both have a 4-stroke OHV engine. But, Honda’s engine is 121CC, while Generac offers an 80CC engine in its model. 

Honda, almost in any of its models, offers such high standard engines. On the other hand, Generac does quite an excellent job on its engine- still not enough to overrun Honda models. 

You Need:- Small Portable Generators

Noise:

Noise is the last thing one would ever want to tolerate. Especially you would never want to take a chance with generators since they have the most notorious reputation. However, with the right choice, you won’t have to suffer. 

Most portable inverter generators have low noise discharge. While drawing a comparison between Honda EU3000i Handi and Generac GP3000i, we can see that both the generators have a 58 dBA noise level while running at full load.

In practical experience, Honda generators have a comparatively low noise level than the Generac models. Yet, noise level varies with models. So, it would be wise to study the description to find the best quiet generator. 

Run Time:

You can never predict how long you are going to need a generator. Especially during the hurricane season, you may need it for days. Generators primarily run on two fuel types – gasoline and propane. The fuel type does impact running capacity, but there are other working factors too, such as fuel capacity, energy savings feature, etc. 

Generac generators generally have a larger fuel tank capacity than Honda and can run for a longer time. For instance, Generac GP220i has a 1.2gal fuel tank and can run for up to 10.75hrs at 1/4 load. On the other hand, Honda EU2200i, with a 0.95gal tank, can run for up to 8.1hrs at 1/4 load. 

Parallel Capability 

You can either find the best whole house generator or invest in two generators of the same brand. Then how does it help? Well, if you want your generator(s) to power your whole house, these two are your options. In case you want to go with the second one, you will require a generator with parallel capability. 

Both Honda and Generac offer ‘parallel connectivity’ in their identical models. For instance, both Honda EU2200i and Generac GP2200i offer parallel capability. However, you will require compatible models to connect. It will get you more power supply through a parallel connection. 

Guide:- Generator Safety Tips – How to Use Your Generator Safely

Fuel Efficiency 

As mentioned previously, generators run on fuel. You’ll mostly find three kinds of generators- the ones that run on propane, others that run on gasoline, and the third type can run on both. Sometimes you would require your generator to run for an extended period. And with the increasing price of fuels, being reluctant is quite common. 

Therefore, nowadays, brands like Honda and Generac offer ‘energy savings’ mode on their models. The features allow your portable generator to draw fuel according to load. This feature is an essential feature that is prevalent in both Honda and Generac generators. 

However, the Energy Savings mode is a more common feature in Honda generators than Generac ones. In case you prefer the latter, it would be better to read the product description before buying a Generac generator.  

At this point, we would like to mention that the “energy savings” mode should never be turned on while powering heavy appliances, such as refrigerators or air-conditioners. If turned on, it may damage both your devices and the generator. 

Top 3 Best Honda Generators

1. Honda EU2200i

Honda EU2200i is Honda’s one of the best and a quiet inverter generator. The generator runs at 53 to 59 dBA sound levels which are less than a normal conversation. It is designed with advanced inverter technology and is incredibly light and portable.

 It roughly weighs around 46 pounds and features a convenient carrying grip. It’s compact enough to fit in the back of your family auto for a trip to the countryside or suitable for campings with friends. All these features make it not only a quiet inverter generator but also can hail it as the best camping generator on our list. 

2. Honda EU1000i

If you are looking for a lightweight, compact and portable inverter generator, Honda EU1000i is the option in play. 

This generator roughly weighs around 29lbs, probably the smallest portable generator on the list. The noiseless performance of this one is quite commendable. 

It operates at 53 to 59 dBA, which is less noisy than a normal conversation. Oil Alert shuts off the machine for enhanced safety of the generator when low oil pressure is detected. 

Moreover, the generators can run up to 8.3 hours on a single tank capacity, making it an extremely fuel-efficient model. 

3. Honda EU3000IS

With 6000 watts power supply, Honda EU3000IS is a powerful generator that you can use for various purposes. The generator can operate a wide variety of appliances, including a fridge, furnace, TV, microwave, blenders, etc. 

Even after such power supply, operates at 49 to 58 dBA, which is quieter than a normal conversation. Therefore, it is ideal for camping or any other activity that demands quiet operation. Those who have used the generator call it the best RV generator available in the market.

It has a tank size of 3.4Gal that can run up to 20hrs. Thanks to Honda’s eco-throttle feature, the device offers fuel efficiency and can run for up to 7 to 20 hours on a single tank. It makes it the best overnight generator on our list. 

Top 3 Best Generac Generators

1. Generac GP2200i

Generac GP2200i is one of the best Generac generators that is powered by a small 80cc engine. The engine is capable enough to produce power of 1700 running watts and 2200 starting watts.

The generator is suitable for powering many of your small appliances, such as TV, charging smartphones, audio systems, etc. It features the 1.5A 5VDC USB outlet, two 120V 20A household outlets, and the 12 VDC cigarette style outlet for easy connectivity. 

It has a 1.2-gallon fuel tank that offers an impressive 10.75 hour run time at 25% load. Such performance makes Generac GP2200i the best overnight generator in this budget range. 

2. Generac GP3000i

Judging Generac GP3000i on size will only deceive you because this small and portable generator puts out some considerable power. With a powerful 149cc engine, it generates 3000 starting watts and 2300 running watts. It is enough to power one large appliance and multiple small appliances. 

The generator has two 120V 20A 5-20R outlets to power common house appliances. Apart from that, using the two 5VDC USB outlets, you can power smaller electronics such as chargers. For larger machines, the 120V 30A L5-30R twist-lock outlet is enough to provide you with versatility for items that demand a larger plug.

The generator is also compatible with a parallel connection. It has the same 1.2-gal tank as its GP2200i version, which provides an impressive 10.75 hours of run time at 25% load. All these features make it one of the best indoor generators from Generac. 

3. Generac GP8000E

If you want more power to conquer the blackouts, Generac GP8000E has it all for you. This generator features a robust and large 420cc engine capable of producing 10000 starting watts and 8000 running watts.

With this amount of wattage, you can power multiple large and small appliances simultaneously in your home. The generator has a 7.9-gallon fuel tank and can run up to 11 hours at 50% load. 

With such performance, the generator can power a whole RV, making it the best RV generator on our list. 

Our Ratings

For Honda

Honda is undoubtedly one of the top engine makers in the world. After considering all the essential points in the honda vs generac comparison, we can safely say that Honda is a formidable competitor in the generator industry. 

Honda generators are available in various models. Considering their overall performance, our team has decided to rate it 4.7/5.  

For Generac

Generac generators are nothing less in the competition. In honda vs generac comparison, Generac generators have shown advancement in their engine performance and fuel capacity. 

Considering all the essential points in the above comparison, we rate Generac 4.8/5.

FAQs 

1. Are Generac generators made in China?

Generac generators are made in the USA in the company’s own manufacturing facility in Wisconsin. 

2. Are Honda generators worth it?

Honda generators are well-built, reliable, and offer quiet and powerful performance. Moreover, Honda generators are well priced, considering the features that they offer. Hence, Honda generators are worth every penny. 

3. What size generator would I need to power a house?

It’s better to calculate your power consumption at the beginning to decide what size generator you need to power a house.  However, most of the homes would require a generator rated at 5,000 to 7,500 watts in general.

Conclusion- Who’s The Winner?

Can we now just say the waiting is over? Now that you have read the comparison, we presume you have already got to a conclusion of your own. However, since we promised, it’s time to put our opinion before you. 

After comparing the brands, we have seen that the engine and noiseless performance is slightly better in Honda generators. On the other hand, Generac generators excel at fuel efficiency, build quality, and price. 

Yet, considering that Generac generators do provide enough power and low noise performance, we can safely declare the brand as the Winner! But, again, opinions may vary as per preferences and different models. 

Some Honda models are better than identical Generac models. Hence, it is safe to examine and compare before buying any generator from either of the brands. That said, for your convenience, you can go through the enlisted products above and find the one that suits your needs.