Yamaha and Honda 3000 Watt Generators: Yamaha EF3000iSE vs Honda EU30iS

YAMAHA vs. HONDA 3000 Watt Generator

Honda and Yamaha are so iconic in terms of anything to do with power, that it's a true battle of the titans when you put their 3000W generators to the test. Let's see how they match up, as we compare their features and specs.

Okay, so the Yamaha and Honda 3kVA generators might be more power than most people need for a camping trip. But while the 2000w generators will mostly let you run a handful of basics, these powerhouses provide a maximum output of 3000w and rated output of 2800w - enough to let you run nearly everything in your motorhome or caravan at once, including high wattage items like your air conditioner, microwave, washing machine etc. Best of all, they both come with a remote start as an option so you can start the set from inside your van if you wish!

Because they combine portability with stable sine-wave power, both sets are also great for home/business backup power during a blackout, events, remote living and DIY applications. We find these models are also popular for mobile coffee carts and food vans.

So which one is best?

Let's compare:

Clean Power:

Both generators feature inverter technology to stabilise the amount of voltage and frequency produced by a petrol engine driven alternator. This supplies sine-wave electricity with a distortion ratio of less than 2.5% - ideal for safely powering laptops and other sensitive electrical equipment.

Weighing Up:

The Yamaha generator is slightly heavier than the Honda at 67kg, compared to the Honda's 60kg. However, when it comes to moving the generators, the EF3000iSE features an ergonomic design with built-in wheels so it's remarkably portable. The Honda does not come with wheels as standard.

Quiet Please:

Given their power output, both the Honda and Yamaha generators are extremely quiet. The Yamaha just nudges in as the winner at a whisper quiet 51dBA. By comparison, the Honda produces 52dBA when the Eco mode is switched on. There isn't much difference here.

Fuel Efficiency:

There's really not a lot of difference in this category either. Both 3000W generators run off standard unleaded fuel. And both have a handy "smart throttle" type feature to automatically adjust the engine speed to match the energy load and maximise efficiency. They also have the same size fuel tank of 13 litres. However, at a ¼ load, the Yamaha will run for 30 minutes longer than the Honda on one tank of fuel. You won't have to worry about refueling for 20.5 hours!

Added Extras:

These generators are so similar in features that you'd be forgiven for thinking the Yamaha and Honda engineering teams were one and the same. Both feature a handy fuel gauge, recoil and electric start system, and both will recharge 12V batteries too. One thing the Honda has is the parallel connection capability, meaning you can connect the unit to another Honda EU30iS to double the power. The main additional Yamaha benefit is the inbuilt wheels for far easier maneuverability.

Warranty & Support:

Both Honda and Yamaha back their generators with a 48-month warranty and the support of hundreds of dealers Australia-wide.

-

The Winner:

It's a tough call between these two 3000W generators as they are very similar and you can't really go wrong with either. But we find that the customers love the Yamaha EF3000iSE inbuilt wheel kit - noting that the Honda comes in lighter because of this...Overall, both generators have practically the same features, so it probably comes down to price tag and which brand you can get cheaper at the time...

Yamaha EF3000i vs. Honda EU30iS Comparison Table:

-

DISCLAIMER* Please note, this advice is general in nature and we strongly recommend consulting the product manual and where relevant, a professional installer.