Maximize power from a portable generator

Hi. I have a 30 year old Honda EB5000 generator. 5000 watts which probably provides 4700 usable watts? Pain to start but once it does it runs forever. I never really needed more than a 20 amp circuit to run fridge and maybe a few lights when we get power outages, which is too often-Old neighborhood, lots of trees, no investment in infrastructure. Anyway, I'd just plug a cord into one of the two 20 amp outlets. But now, I need more power to run a couple of additional small appliances. So, I got a 4-prong generator adapter(turns one plug into 3 120v circuits to run appliances)and plugged it into the 120/240 30 amp outlet. For this, I switched the voltage selector on the generator to 120v/240v. Is this better, no different or not as good as getting a 3 prong adapter and plugging the 3 prong into the 3 prong 120v 30 amp outlet on the generator? See pics.

 

That machine is rated for 4500W continuous, 7000 surge. What additional appliances are you wanting to add? A fridge and a few lights is a fairly light load.
I assume everything you want to run is 120v?
Personally, I would just plug into the 120V/30A outlet with an adapter/splitter...if that's not enough, then you can direct plug into a 20A with a regular cord. But you already bought that cord, so
as for your question, as I understand it, switching to 120/240 gains you nothing, unless you actually need the 240V.
You might want to buy a Kill-a-watt meter so you can see what the actual starting/running amps are on things...they aren't very expensive...$10-30, depending on brand/model and where you buy it.

You mentioned hard starting...that's not typical for a Honda...sounds like the choke circuit in the carb may be plugged up...that, or the fuel is really old...maybe both? That thing should start in 2-3 pulls when things are right.
Those carbs are easy to work on, if you have basic tools and a little mechanical aptitude.

 

Thanks, that was a big help. So it seems that choosing either makes no difference, in that it's a choice if I would need to utilize 240v.
I took apart the carb last year, cleaned it, and now it runs much more smoothly. I make sure to buy ethanol-free gas and add fuel stabilizer for my stored gas.

Regarding starting it, it's very hard to pull the start handle and takes a good two hand yank unlike what a typical lawnmower might take. It's been like that for as long as I can remember. It's almost like trying to start something that's in gear or like pushing a car in first gear trying to start it. Lots of resistance. I'm reasonably strong and it's a workout. After a few pulls, because it doesn't seem to be close to starting, I spray starter fluid into the carb and it starts right up the first time. And from here, runs 24/7 no problem.

 

When starting a generator you are also turning the rotor, which is pretty heavy, so you are getting that moving too...but the biggest factor is that engine is pretty big (displacement) for a pull start model...390cc I think! Over twice the size of most (walk behind) lawn mowers!
It doesn't have electric start?
Another thing you need to do for prepping for storage is to shut the fuel off, let it run out of fuel, then take the 10mm head bolt loose on the carb bowl (there is usually one on the side/bottom, at about a 45* angle...that's your drain bolt) and drain ALL the fuel out of the carb. Just running it out of fuel until it quits leaves some fuel in the bowl...that small volume goes bad quickly!
Bikes usually had a screw that you can open to drain the bowl, but OPE engines usually have the drain bolt, on Hondas.

 

Correct. You don't need 240v on your generator unless you have a "load" that requires 240v "line".

 

I liked the EB line. Everything you need, nothing you don't. Pullover isn't terrible due to comp release. When I am runing on generator power I use a simple splitter box that I made from a 4 outlet and short cord. I don't usually use much amperage only powering my essentials.

 

Thanks again. I believe the engine is 11.5 or 12 HP. It does take quite the yank. Any particular reason it only starts with starter fluid?

I did catch it sputtering last night, after it had been running for an hour. I'd like to give it a tune up, maybe even replace the carb-new ones are reasonably priced. But, I'd like to flushout the gast tank. It's not rusty but I believe there might be tiny debris in it. What's the best way to do this, short of ripping the whole thing apart?

It's worked great for me over the last 30 years. I had it running for 6 straight days last spring during another power outage. I usually get about 11 hours on a full tank of gas. It has GFCI and low oil shutoff, auto throttle as well as individual breakers. It's surprisingly heavy. Alot of neighbors are getting them now because of the increase in power failures lasting days. But I don't think the $500 models are meant to go 24/7.

 

The carb still has something plugged up (at least partially) most likely. It should not need starting fluid to fire (and starting fluid on gasoline engines is not a good idea anyways...but people often get away with it, as you have)
You can try replacing it, I assume you mean with one of those cheap ones online, because a genuine Honda carb is (or at least was) not cheap...but people seem to generally get along ok with the cheapy ones.

They would likely be ok for a while...but that Honda will outlast 5 of them.
When I worked at the local Honda dealer we had a customer that powered his work trailer with a Honda 6500...EB series I think?
This thing ran at least 40 hours a week, for years! He brought it in once a year for a full service, he did oil changes in between himself...it finally puked a governor drive gear (plastic) but it had I don't remember how many thousands of hours on it by then! The gear and a few other little things were replaced, and he was back in business! He could hardly wait either...he had bought a cheap Generac to use while we had the Honda, and he said it was the loudest, rattly, most vibrating thing he'd ever seen...and it resonated throughout his trailer, so I can only imagine listening to that all day!

 

All the Amish construction guys run Honda generators on their trailers here. Most of them have them mounted on the tongue behind the jack. They run 5 or 6 hours a day, 6 days a week. Rain, snow, mud, whatever doesn't seem to bother them.

 

To maximize the 125V capacity of your generator you will need to do one of two things. A) find or make an adapter that plugs into the 125V/30A outlet that has the normal 3 prong 125V outlet pattern. Connect your 125V loads evenly (by amperage) between that outlet and the regular 3 prong pattern on the generator panel. OR B) build/buy an adapter that plugs into the 250V/30A outlet and split the two hots in that outlet into two groups of regular 125V 3 prong outlets.

That one goofy 125V/20A twist lock outlet is no help as it is on the same leg as the regular 3 prong outlet.

Since that generator has 250V capability there are two 125V legs that can be utilized. There should have been two 3 prong duplex outlets in that panel, one on each leg. Then it would have been much easier to utilize each leg to its capacity without goofy adapters.

If the 250V outlet is utilized to make two 125V circuits, there really should be some kind of separate circuit protection for the 125V outlets.

 

Thanks. I'm grateful for the input and help.

 

Are you on a well? Trying to think of regular household appliances that require 220v that would be necessary in short term power outages..
Electric dryer, stove and well pump are only things coming to mind.

I probably have most experience (unfortunately) lived on generators for 3 weeks after a house fire in meter socket between Halloween and thanksgiving. It was fun and real; certainly not real fun.

 

Out of curiosity, how much did you spend on gas? We were recently out for 42 hours, and I spent roughly $20 on gas for my 3500-watt non-inverter genny that couldn't even run a microwave and was not happy when I fired the instapot up. I'm in the market for another one currently. Some folks in my area were out for 5 days. It definitely makes you appreciate your local electric company and the service they provide.

 

I was running different generators at different times..
Realize I had a teenage girl whose electric needs will educate you.. as a guy good grief

In Beginning I averaged $100 a day 2 or 3 generators
Until I could understand balancing loads

Gas was over 4 gallons, no inverter genies so certain lines run through inverter I had separately computers electronics etc 2500 watt generator fuel efficient.. would not run coffee pot turned on 2-7
Roughly 1o hours run time 5 gallon

7500 watt machine ran well pump freezer fridge lights normal gas dryer needs electric covered what’s normal running probably get buy on this normal house used about 1 to 1.5 gallons per hour depending on load

it’s not watts you need its Amps. your 3500 watt machine probably can’t run electric staple gun or a coffee pot Pop breaker

also had the beast Military gasoline ran from 5 am to 9 am 2.5 gallon hour never cared
Straighter hair irons 19.5 amps Apparently necessary for survival for 12 yo female
Curling irons coffee pots microwave
Skill saws electric staplers n dehumidifier all use lots amps.. doing deconstruction to remove old burnt
Rewiring house while getting permits

I mean if it’s snowing outside and you have a whole in your wall ya really want to close that in…

 

Something is not right there...3500w should have run those easily, as long as not the same time as another big load

 

Being a little dramatic, it ran it, but it definitely didn't sound good, so I turned the microwave off. When the instapot was cycling off and on, I could hear a different hum in the motor on my OWB when the instapot was on vs off. Don't think the generator is putting out a good sine wave. I'm not even going to waste my time looking at because it's going down the road because I need something that will make clean power and power my HPHW. I'm kind of surprised since it's a Champion generator. It's not a hokey setup either, I have a generator panel in my barn with a manual transfer switch.

 

This is the size genny I'm currently looking at. Is it an inverter genny? At hunting camp in TX we run a 6K Honda inverter genny in eco mode and it uses roughly 5 gallons a day. We're just powering some lights, a small freezer, and charging our electronics. It's way too big for our needs but the camp owner brings it every year and lets us use it.

 

Honda are expensive Chinese Honda harbor freight about 1/3 price if not running Eco mode is awesome with new tech I did not have

after 85 mph windstorm you could not buy new better one Made it work was a real not fun experience

also a blessing!! found many friends on FHC Learned hands down best salt of earth people are on this forum… Still call several family

 

Depends on amps 3500 will not push electric staple gun I tried to save gas figure amps boil water fast we’re culprit

 

If it's a standard AC genny, then yeah they can make some dirty power...and yeah, you'll hear any motors running fluctuate some as the load varies and the genny governor tries to maintain 60hz...you don't generally have much of that on line power.
If you go to a larger inverter model you'll get power more like what comes from the power co.
Consider a dual fuel model...LP doesn't go bad, and if you run out, just switch to gasoline...but it keeps you from having to deal with yet another small engine carb to keep clean/happy. (unless you actually run it on gasoline)