Honda EU30is

Amazing quiet generator. The only thing wrong is no automatic choke. Show details

Worst, most expensive mistake - ever. bought an EU30is. Failed. took 6 months for the wrong parts to arrive. Couldn't wait another 6 months. Bought another. Catastrophic engine failure. I now have 2 EU30is units that don't work. 1 under warranty, 1 not. Bought a 3rd EU30is because I couldn't wait another 6 months. Blowing smoke from the day I… Read more

bought it. I had to keep using it until 1 of the previous 2 was available. 1 unit was replaced buy Honda, but as of today I have 2 out 3 operational.

Superior, big divide in quality Made in Japan – Hello, I did my homework, looked at other reviews on this model to go into a large motorhome. Yes there were some poor reviews but to put things in prospective. 1. The unit is made in Japan still and is far superior in quality compared to any Chinese generator. 2. The rated noise output is legitimate ( unlike the ratings on some others) and… Read more

genuinely very very quiet. The machine is designed to not work hard even at full load. Compared to the other (4) Chinese generators I have had before, if you load them up, they scream and vibrate. This one is very composed. 3. It has been super quick and eager to start and run like clockwork each and every time. 4. The service and parts are available if required. 5. It appears to take fresh air in from the front unlike some other junk Gennies, so it won’t suck dust and dirt up and stuff the whole unit up. Look, I was very reluctant to spend the money as there is quite a divide on price, but I realise the difference now and should have bought one to begin with. I bought this unit with the optional 2 wire start kit and have a switch mounted inside the motorhome and a separate remote. It all works spot on. I would have loved an hour meter and output display so I could keep track of things but that isn’t there.

Good unit for me – OK ive this one for about 3 years . done alot of hrs and have had a tuff life in front of a caravan thats done a lot of bush and hwy traval. Downs on this unit, its heavy and the fuel cap leaks fuel when being sloshed around, so weather its in the back of the ute or in a trailer if you have fuel in its tank its going to spill. Thats it. The ups,… Read more

Its quite, Runs the Air con Plus Fridge Plus Lights Plus Micro wave TV etc All the same time, and it doesnt struggle. might use more fuel in that instance but hey what ever, it has not let me down not once. What Peeezze me of the most, Well its the fuel Cap, and thats. its Probably over engineered ,just my point of view but you get what you pay for dont know if thats a good thing or a bad thing

Got the right fit after researching generators – EU 30is, electric start, with pull start as well. I run off grid, work away 3 weeks, home 1 week. This generator is my power supply. Runs inverter 2.5kva split system aircon in sea container, in tropical hot climate, 24/7 for my week home. Average 13lts for 20 hrs running, a bit of cloud cover I'll get 21/22 hrs running for same fuel. Average… Read more

9/10 lts for 20 hrs running as weather cools to dry season. I can run extra electric devices as I need. Pressure washer, electric frypan, battery charger, 3kg washing machine, also use 12 amp charging for battery/solar set up on overcast days. All whilst on eco mode. Well worth the money. Quieter than a 1ui or 2.2ui when running the split system alone. I have tested the 3 side by side under same load. Only the 3ui on eco mode. So best generator I have owned. Used to have a 2400 watt inverter Yamaha, this one leaves it for dead... Hope that helps anyone considering the larger size compared to the smaller gensets, yes it's larger, quieter, ease of use, yes expensive , but not if you compare compatibility to performance and longevity. 1000hrs + so far... Ta Jud Broome Wa.

Still going 15 years later! – We bought this generator in 2005, within the first 2 years there was an issue and we took it to our local Honda dealer and as it was under warranty we were given a completely new machine. It’s still going strong all these years later. Show details

Does what it should – We purchased this generator as a back up for our house during grid power failure, back in February 2013. It has been in actual emergency service, probably eight times during this period. The rest of its use has been to keep it charged and maintained for when it is needed. (we probably should run it more often, as I have had to pull start it a… Read more

couple of times due to the battery discharging, but it has recharged). Having said this, it has never failed to start under pull start or battery and continues to do what it is s'posed to do. I, personally can not fault it at all (other than, as every one else says, it is on the heavy side( not that that is a fault, better heavy than too light)). As I write this review, the battery has finally failed to recharge so I will replace it and look forward to the same reliable service it has provided. I must reiterate, we purchased it in 2013. I notice a few negative reviews of recently purchased units. This is my experience.

Eu30is fault – My eu30is pull cord wears through approximately 200mm from the T handle. This is where is goes through a guide. Honda dealers say this is normal. I disagree as the unit is only 12 months old with limited use. Dealer said this is from vibrations not covered by warranty. I believe its a design fault and should be covered.  Show details

Unreliable – Very very dissapointed. In less than one year this product was back at the dealers 6 times for the same problem: plug oiling up in a matter of days, or 12 hours running time. One week ago it was in for a decoke, being the technician's diagnosis and two days later the same problem. I have to clean the plug once or twice a week and am only running… Read more

it for a couple of hours a day. I am complying with all recommendations, fuel is fresh, lots of ventilation, mixing between eco and standard mode etc, but it is still an extremely unreliable and frustrating machine. I live remotely and use it as back up for my solar system. Honda quality has gone down hill since I bought my first generator in the 80s

Honda warranty support is questionable – I own and have owned many Honda items. For the most part I have been very satisfied. I presently own two large Brushcutters, two EU10s, one EU20 & a very broken EU30si (2 years old) I own a Private Conservation Park. We do & have done much conservation work in what is known as a High Value Conservation Area. I have used & have been very pleased… Read more

with all my Honda products in the past. I’m happy to pay extra for the value as I know that they put a lot of thought in creating a product that is very reliable even though the price is a premium.

Over two years ago I purchased a Honda EU30SI for 3.5k Up until two months ago it has worked fine. (2 years & 3 months) The electric starter failed at that time & did not think much of it. I thought that the warranty would cover it. It did still work by pull starting so I thought it a minor thing and all would be fine.

I brought it into the Honda approved service centre who then informed me that the Honda generator required a new head as the decompression mechanism was faulty. I did think it rather strange as it was going fine.

*Please note that there was compression and it did work!*

Honda approved the warranty repair & a part was dispatched.

However, the first instance, it took six weeks to arrive. Not good.

Oh well, I was comforted that at least Honda would honour the promise to repair the unit.

Six weeks later the head arrived. The service agent proceeded to dismantle the Honda. He pulled it totally apart & he communicated to Honda that it had carbon build up.

I thought that strange as after owning many Honda products, & being very familiar with the need for good servicing, that the idea that Honda would not honour their warranty was out of the question.

It now sits in pieces.

So I repeat, Honda Australia directed the service engineer to go ahead & dismantle it. And I’m given it back in pieces! And the unit was working fine when I took it in (except the electric start)

Is this right?

So, in the beginning, I had a working unit & I was well pleased with it, but took it in to the service agent for a starter motor repair, I now have a unit in pieces because of direction that was given by Honda to the service agent.

This is not good at all. I have been enjoying the benefits of what I thought was a great Honda product & what I thought was excellent Honda support. *This support is certainly not so*.

I was intending to buy the bigger Honda generator in the next two years & if I felt that the support is there I would do so. However after my latest experience, I am not confident in the support and in the case of this model, I don't have confidence in its inherent robustness & longevity, and therefore for the price does not represent value for the 3.5 k spent.

My conclusions. This model is NOT tough enough. Not worth the premium of $3500. If you run it about 3 hours a day, service & oil change it & need something to last at least the warranty period of 4 years. Don't buy it! If you need toughness & longevity, I don't recommend it.

After this experience of the failure of adequate support by Honda & observing how Honda the decision not to honour their warranty. Please beware.

This matter has affected my future purchase decisions of buying premium HONDA generators. This will cost HONDA in future sales & to those that seek my advice, I will never recommend their premium product both for quality & robustness or for their warranty & support. Very poor.

I believe it a big mistake not to support the warranty on what are their premium products. If I buy a Rolls Royce or Mercedes, I know I will be looked after. If I buy an Iphone, I would be offered a replacement. I would be treated as a valued customer. Honda does not value its good customers. Honda cannot be considered a company that you can have confidence in.

I will not buy their expensive premium generators ever again.

The warranty promised is not worth the guarantee that is advertised. BEWARE. Don't trust this claim.

They characterised 'carbon buildup' as 'wear & tear' without really explaining what had occurred.

Where did this carbon come from as I know I regularly changed the oil & did all servicing required?

This generator should last longer than two years for the price. I will never buy one ever again.

Update: 13 Sept 17

Honda realised that they cannot give me back a generator in pieces and authorised to put it back together. The mechanic after putting the machine back together informed me that there is no compression now?

So from having compression and even too much compression, I get a machine back with no compression! This is a fact. Not good. Is this right?

I brought the EU30SI into the local Honda service agent that was working & had compression & get back not working with no compression.

I looked at the details of the report & it shows signs of contamination of particulates, overheating & glazing on the inside of the cylinder. In my conversations with honda engineers at the generator place, it's stated that there could be environmental conditions that contributed to particles entering into the engine.

I must say I am at a loss as to how this might have occurred as the air filter was replaced regularly. I even had a fan blowing in clean air! It was suggested that I put the generator in a sealed box with fan filtration going in & extractor fans going out. Isn't the air filter supposed to do this!

All in all for an outlay of $3500 & lasting only two years. Seriously not worth it.

And to add to the whole experience as someone who has purchased many Honda products & presently own six of them I feel I was very badly treated in a most unsympathetic way.

The mechanic who did the work drew conclusions that appeared to insinuate that the unit was badly treated. His manner, in fact was disturbing & insulting as it was insinuated that I did not know what I was doing.

After owning many Honda machines & in the past have renovated old jaguars, engines & gearboxes, and other machine-based products I do appreciate the value of good oils. I have kept a sample of the oil just in case it needs to be tested!

One would think that Honda would like to know why this machine failed. They did not care at all. I have therefore come to the conclusion that Honda does not treat their good customers well.

Honda's treatment of the issue was less than satisfactory & I will certainly be taking this matter further.

I feel they should have endeavoured to find out why the unit failed so early in its life because I expected a far better result, as I have had from their other machines. I need & want to know exactly why this unit failed. I believe Honda should do far more to find out why this unit failed.

I do not trust their more expensive generators now.

I seriously recommend that you don't trust their premium generators.

And till HONDA has demonstrated some kind of appreciation for what has been a good relationship in using their products as I have purchased many, I will recommend to anyone these problems I have had. They should have taken far greater effort to find out why this unit has failed.

So all in all, don't outlay this kind of money if you want long-term reliability & good support.

Simply there is better value in an alternative solution to a larger generator. Honda failed miserably as a company that values their good customers & they certainly have not valued mine.

Update: 21 sept 17

I have spoken with a Honda Certified Tech supplier & engineer with 40 years experience & this model is known to have issues of coking up.

"General Honda mechanics don't have a clue"

Again I have been treated very badly by Honda & I recommend you dont trust the warranty & this product.

Update 25 October 2017

I got a phone call from the service manager from Honda offering help to fix my Honda. It was a nice gesture but too late. I have sold it for parts. All in all the experience left me chasened.

My conclusions.

If using just as a quiet back up in an emergency. Yes, its very quiet & convenient. I loved it while it was working. If using like I did every third night to charge batteries at 80% load.

NO!

I'm afraid I got spoilt with their EU20 which got cained for 5 years! Very reliable & robust.

But the EU30. Not in the same league. So light use eg running a stall, coffee machine etc, emergency back up. Great. But for robustness & heavier use. Don't do it.

I found something now that is excellent. It's quiet (though not as quiet) & it has twice the out put at 2/3 the price. Wish I had known!

I also found out later that it was a mistake to take the generator to a local honda service agent. the generator place sell many hondas

20 Sept 2018 An update on my experience. After this terrible mistake of relying on this Honda Generator, I did some research & found an Australian outfit called ABLE GENERATORS. I bought a 'Super Silent' deisel for 5 K. I bought it because they promoted their quality after sales service & A good warranty. Now the first unit failed . . First the alternator went then on the second time the motor went. It was a shame because they were performing well. They repaired the unit without out any hesitation ON THE FIRST OCCASION. On the second time they decided to UPGRADE the unit to their slightly larger unit. Great support.

8kVA Portable Diesel Generator Super Silent Australian Design water cooled. ITS A THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE BUT DESIGNED TO GO 12000 TO 20000 HOURS.

This unit performs ideally & at last I found the one!! Very happy about this. Far less stress on the motor.

The point I have to make is that, in my opinion Honda failed to give me the suppport I deserved, especially having bought much gear from honda for many years.

I do not trust their service & support especially from the local agent.

If they had honored their warranty I would have bought their much more expensive unit . . .And probably many more.

Instead they cast aspersions that somehow it was my fault and rather then try to understand the reasons why the unit failed they chose to cast blame on its failure to me. I dont trust them or their warranty and I highly advise you not to rely on theit stated warranty.

Hefty weight- hefty price tag - poor performance – Have this generator in my motorhome and it's terrible. Since new, it has a problem of stopping for no reason. May go for 5 min then stop, may go for 2 hours then stop. A couple of dealers say 'nothing wrong'. Honda Australia are no help, if they ever answer it takes weeks.this generator is not worthy of hefty price tag. 1. Unreliable. 2. Extremely… Read more

heavy. 3. Limited accessories available. 4 poor customer service.. Buy something else.

Has been to two Honda dealers. Both said 'can't find anything wrong with it. It's obviously a fuel problem but Honda Australia has no idea.

Has been going for nearly two hours tonight and has stopped 3 Times. Out I go in the cold to start the thing each time. The four reasons I listed should be enough to convince anyone to buy another brand. Not sure exactly when it was purchased- trying to forget it.

Excellent option for Solar Battery backup charger – I have acquired the generator second-hand with a recently purchased property and been been using it for over 6 months now and is has performed flawlessly. It is very easy to start, relatively quiet and economical on fuel. Just recently added and auto-start kit linked to my Selectronic SP-Pro Inverter which works exactly as configured. Easy to… Read more ·  1

start, quiet and economical. Would be great if it was a few kilos lighter so one person could pick it up!

Honda EUis 30 – Best generator i ever had, excellent fuel economy especially with the 17l tank, Wireless remote control system can be purchased so you can start the gene while your in the warmth of your caravan, super quite & came with 4 year warranty, very easy to maintain, changing the oil only takes 5 minutes, this gene can handle running the air conditioner… Read more ·  1

yet the eu20 struggles & chews the juice. Good fuel economy, very quite, well designed Little bit heavy to lift for 1 person

Great machine – The best thing I could have bought for my business. It's quiet powerful and reliable. Really easy to use, my wife can start it with no trouble and she is pretty useless for most things. I use it commercially and have given it a good thrashing. Still better that three versions of eBay junk. Power rating by Honda is grossly under rated and can put… Read more ·  3

out more than what they state and doesn't get simpler to use. Reliable clean power when you need it and easy to start and use Hefty price but still worth it and more