Onan vs Honda Generator: Which One is Best for You?

Are you a generator enthusiast who wants to know about the Onan vs Honda generator? Are you in the market now, looking for what brand of generators to get? Are you planning to buy a generator and would like to get a grasp of each brand’s models? We’ve got you covered.

Choosing anything can be tedious. Don’t worry. Everyone is skeptical about what technical equipment to buy, so we wrote this article for you. So by the time you’re done reading through, you’ll know what to get. That’s if it’s the Onan or the more popular Honda brand.

Brands Comparison

Honda is a name familiar to all of us. They are well-recognized for their cars. They began putting out generators in 1965 with their commercially successful portable generator, Honda E300. Since then, they’ve grown into a worldwide generator empire. Today, Honda Corporation has lots of generator models for you to choose from. They have recreational, industrial, economic, and super quiet generators. We compiled some of the best Honda generators you can check out. One of the best Honda generator models in the market is the Honda EU7000is. We also did a review of the Honda EU7000is for interested readers.

The brand that makes Onan generators is the Onan Corporation, a subsidiary of Cummins Engine Company (Cummins Inc.). Onan Corporation launched in 1920, producing power production equipment for over 80 years. The founder of the corporation was D.W. (David) Onan. Onan Corporation became a subsidiary of Cummins Engine Company in 1986. Since then, Onan products have continued to expand. They are a world-renowned designer and manufacturer of power generation equipment, including generators.

Honda vs. Onan: Comparing Popular Models

We will use certain criteria to determine the best generators for you.

1. Aesthetics: Everyone can appreciate beauty. Although you don’t need it to make a good generator, it will always be the first thing every hungry buyer will notice. We will compare both brands’ designs and see which one is better.
2. Pricing: Certain situations can make anyone buy a generator. Some reasons may be an emergency. If so, you may want to check if a generator is within the boundaries of your budget. This article will compare the prices of both brands. Just a bit of a spoiler, both cheap and expensive ones are worth your money. All you need is to know what you want.
3. Performance: We will consider the engine power, fuel capacity, fuel consumption rate, noise production, power output, and many more. This will show you what situations you need to have each generator and give you a hint of what appliances you can use for them.
4. Other гtilities: We will consider other factors like the weight, the outlets, and special functions that make them stand out. Anything we can find that makes them unique will be compared here. At the end of the comparison, we hope that you understand what you want to buy when searching on Amazon or any store near you.

Honda EU2200i vs. Onan P2500i

Aesthetics

From the get-go, the Honda EU2200i is a reddish box-like generator. It has small dimensions and is smooth to the touch, making it something someone would love to carry around in his R.V. or have in the backyard.  The Cumming’s Onan P2500i has a greyish color. It is box-like also and has a nice feel to it. It is compact, and the LED display makes it look cool.

If we use appearance to judge, our pick would be the Onan P2500i. Now, we understand that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Red is an attractive color for people, enough to make them buy the Honda EU 2200i. If you are one of them, that’s great. Grey may be bland for some, but it works as a camouflage in the woods and doesn’t stand out too much. That makes it a desirable option also. Whatever brand you pick, we assure you that it’s a great choice.

Pricing

The Onan P2500i model also wins in terms of budget-wise price. It costs around $820. The downside is that it is very rare. It is hard to find the brand in some areas, but it’s worth the price when you do. The Honda EU2200i is expensive. It costs $1,195 as a starting price on Amazon. The good news is that it is a popular brand. So, you find them at any tech store or on Amazon.

Sometimes, Onan P2500i may not be out of stock on Amazon, and it won’t be nice if you’re in an emergency. Honda EU 2200i, on the other hand, is very popular. So, you will always have it in the store anywhere you go. So, it remains a viable alternative.

But in case you are desperate for a cheap alternative, general generators are a choice to consider. If you’re interested, we made an article that compares the Generac vs. Honda generators. Generac generators may be the alternative you have in mind.

Performance

It is normal to ask if the Honda EU 2200i will be louder with its powerful engine. The Honda EU 2200i exceeds our expectations by being as quiet as the Onan P4500i. The Honda EU 22000i is 57db in eco mode. With no eco mode, it’s 62db with no load at all. When we load the generator to the fullest, it produces a noise level of about 72db. That’s very impressive.

In contrast, Onan P2500i operates at about 60Hz. Not to bore you with the maths, that frequency produces about 69.5 dB of noise. This is impressive, but you can’t compare it to the 57db that the Honda EU 2200i produces. Let’s conclude that E.U. 2200i means the sound check by a mile.

The strength of the Onan P2500i performance is in its running and starting wattage. It boasts an impressive 2200 running watts and 2500 peak watts. Compared to its competitor, the Honda EU 2200i generator is a little bit behind. It has a peak watts of 2200W and a running 1800W. The good thing about the Honda EU 2200i model is that it is very consistent with its claims. It runs well at full capacity. So, you can always be safe when you use it at full capacity.

Based on fuel consumption, Onan P2500i also wins by running for 10 hours on a 25% load. The Honda EU2200i runs for 8.1 hours on a 25% load.

Other Utilities

The Honda EU 2200i model weighs less than the Onan P2500i model. The lighter weight of the Honda EU 2200i makes it less easy to carry around. You will want to have this for camping or RVing. If you are looking for a generator for this specific purpose, you can check out our compilation of the best RV generators.

The Honda model wins again when it comes to size. The 21.5 x 18.75 x 12.75 inches dimensions of the Onan P2500i make it less compact than the Honda EU 2200i 21 x 12.24 x 19.72 inches dimensions. A more compact generator means you can save up space with it. The Honda EU 2200i is an ideal generator if you’re looking for portable generators.

They all have their quirks in regard to features. You can always check out the guidelines to see their advantages. We like the app feature on the Honda EU 2200i. It connects to your generator by Bluetooth. It helps you monitor the generator’s oil levels and load output. You are also able to turn off the generator from the app. Unfortunately, it doesn’t show fuel levels, and the generator doesn’t have a fuel gauge.

The Honda also has a C.O. sensor system. It detects Carbon Monoxide and turns it off after 25 seconds. It also alerts your app through a pop-up on your phone. The CO sensor feature makes the Honda EU 2200i very safe.

The LED display of the Onan P2500i is a major plus to its features. It displays fuel level, power output percentage, run time, and lifetime run hours. It also has two USB ports for USB- compatible devices.

Both models have the parallel capacity, so you can double your power using another of its kind.

Verdict

The manufacturers made the Honda EU 2200i generator to be portable, but the Onan P2500i possesses more performance. Honda is a popular brand and is trusted around the world. Honda is a good brand to look for if you’re in a rush. It is also very portable and helpful for camping and RVing. If you’re looking for overall performance, the Onan P2500i is a great choice. But whatever brand you choose, you can’t go wrong. They are all great generators. They are EPA- and CARB-tested, so you get trustworthy and durable options.

Honda EU3000is vs. Onan P4500i

With the foundations set from the first model comparison. You should know what we should be looking for in a review. We would briefly comment on the various aspects of the Honda EU 3000is and the Onan p4500i and give you our verdict.

Aesthetics

The grayish color and control panel make the Onan P4500i generator look super cool. The most common color of the Honda EU 3000is brand is red. Red can be attractive, but it stands out. That may be a huge gain on its part anyways. They also have a nice feel to them. It seems that the Onan P4500i stands out for us again in terms of aesthetics. Its camouflage color is great for camping purposes.

Pricing

Honda EU3000is is about $2200 plus taxes. You need a wheel kit because it’s extremely heavy. The wheel kit is about $220. That’s almost $2500 if you add a wheel kit.

The Onan P4500i generator is cheaper, costing about $1,400 on Amazon. That’s a big $1000+ difference.

Performance

The Onan p4500i engine wins the battle with a 224cc OHV 4-stroke type compared to the Honda EU 3000is 196cc Honda GX200 engine. That means the Onan p4500i generator has a 7.3hp engine. That’s one of a kind if you ask us.

Their power output of them is very interesting. Onan P4500i takes an overwhelming lead with an 1100 difference in running power and a 1500 difference in peak power. Honda EU 3000i has a fuel consumption rate of 19.6 hours, and the Onan P4500i boasts 18 hours on a 25% load. So, Honda wins this round. Also, they both have less than 5% THD, making them for sensitive devices like your laptop and phone.

Other Utilities

The Honda EU3000is is larger in size and weight than the Onan P4500i generator. They both have remote control starters, A.V., and D.C. outlets.

The Honda EU3000is generator has an electric starter which is very convenient.

The Onan P4500i generator has two 5V USB ports, which the Honda competition lacks.

The Onan control panel shows essential information like an available gas tank, running time, and power load.

Verdict

They are both really good for recreational purposes. With its size, performance, and price, the Onan P4500i is anyone’s choice for a good generator. But the Honda EU3000is is a good and popular choice amongst many. It lives up to the company’s standards, so you aren’t getting a bad deal. At the end of the day, the decision is left to you, the user, to decide which is best for you.

Final Thoughts

After reading the review, we guess you know the generator best for you.

Our choice is that the Onan generators stood out. We guess it’s because generators are the specialty of the company that manufactures them. As we have said before, the decision still ends up in your hands. But whatever decision you make, it is still a great choice. The Onan vs Honda generators is a great choice when choosing generators. They all have features that are special to them. Choose wisely, and good luck!

References

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/American-Honda-Recalls-Portable-Generators-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/American-Honda-Recall-of-Portable-Generators-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards

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