Honda’s 5,500-Watt Inverter Generator Is Powerful, But How Quietly It Runs Is What Surprised Me Most
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Not long ago, I was at a campground on a very hot summer weekend when a storm took out the power. This left all of the permanent sites (many set up like mini vacation properties) without the electricity needed to power their air-conditioned RVs. But one owner had gone and bought the biggest portable generator he could find, and it was… very loud. I could hear it quite noticeably from more than 200 feet away, and I'm sure he got complaints. All I could think was, "That person should have gotten an inverter generator."
An inverter generator, like the Honda EU7000iS 7000 I tested, is a more advanced form of fuel-based generator because it adds an inverter that converts the AC power produced by the engine into DC, then back into AC. Why do this? For one, it allows for quieter operation because the engine doesn't need to run at full speed all the time. The power conversion also produces a more stable current, resulting in " cleaner " power that is better for running sensitive electronics, like digital and medical equipment.
The downside is that adding an inverter increases cost, not only because of the extra electronics but because inverter generators typically have a closed-frame design to help protect those extra electronics from the elements. The EU7000iS is no exception, but for that premium price, you're getting a generator with impressive build quality that generates up to 7,000 watts of power, and that runs exceptionally quietly.
- With strong handles and big rubber tires, it’s not hard to move around
- Very quiet operation, especially when eco throttle is turned on
- Good app integration
- Runs on gasoline only
- Would be nice to have WiFi in addition to Bluetooth
Heavy and Durable but Not Too Hard To Move Around
The first thing that struck me when this generator arrived was its size—not only in footprint but in weight. At 263 pounds, it took three people to guide it safely down a ramp out of the back of a pickup truck (it was delivered from a dealer, unboxed). While that pushes the boundary of what some may consider truly portable, once it's on the ground, it's not terribly hard to move around.
Built into the metal frame that houses the generator are a pair of 10-inch rubber wheels and a folding handle that locks into place and is capped with soft grips. To get it to the outdoor testing area, I had to wheel it up a long, gradual slope, and I thought I might struggle to do this. But it wasn't particularly challenging. The wheels roll smoothly and steadily, and the handle is firm. I've had a harder time rolling around lighter generators, to be honest.
Though it weighs 263 pounds, the well-built handles and 10-inch rubber tires make it surprisingly easy to move around, so long as you don't have to traverse a steep incline.Winston Zhou
The EU7000iS is also very sturdy. The outer casing is a mix of stamped metal and impact-resistant composite hard plastic. Hinged doors on opposite sides open with the quick turn of a screw lock (using a flat-head screwdriver), giving you maintenance access to the starter battery, air filter, oil tank, manual start pull-cord, and other parts of the engine. On the front is access to the outlets and controls the generator has to offer, while the cap for the fuel tank sits atop the unit.
Impressively Quiet
I quickly filled the generator with fuel and fired it up. Immediately, I was impressed with how quiet it was, even in standard throttle mode, which runs the engine at a steady rpm. When I switched it to "Eco Throttle," which adjusts the engine speed to meet demand as different devices or appliances are added, the rpm dropped even more noticeably (since nothing was yet connected).
At 60 percent load and about 15 feet away from me, the generator only registered roughly 70 decibels and was near 65 at 20 feet. A non-inverter generator (and even some cheaper inverter generators) would have been louder.Winston Zhou
To test out how quietly it could operate, I connected some higher-powered devices, including a space heater that drew around 1,500 watts and a power station that was recharging itself in turbo mode, drawing around 1,750 watts. The EU7000iS offers 5,500 running watts and can surge up to 7,000 watts. Even though it was drawing around a 60 percent load, the generator ran fairly quietly, even in standard throttle mode. Indeed, I used an app-based sound meter to see how loud it was, and I was reading around 70 decibels from approximately 15 feet away. With a standard generator (no inverter), you'd likely see that number be around 75 or higher.
I also used the EU7000iS to run a Skilsaw 10-inch heavy-duty table saw . A tool like this draws a fair amount of power, including starting wattage, and this generator didn't skip a beat with it, even when in Eco Throttle mode. Honda recommends using the standard throttle when working with mechanical tools that draw more power when you start them up, but I found it worked well in either throttle mode.
Versatile Usage With Some Limitations
The Honda EU7000iS has a decent set of outputs, including two banks of ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) 20-amp, 120-volt outputs (four outlets total); a 30-amp, 120-volt outlet; and a 30-amp, 120/240-volt outlet. You could use those last two outlets to power an RV or connect to a home electrical system through a manual transfer switch . There are also cable connection ports for running two generators in parallel, thus doubling your output. There are some decent safety features , too, including a CO monitor that will shut down the generator if dangerous levels of carbon monoxide are detected nearby and a key that must be inserted and switched to "on" before you can even operate the generator.
The generator has four GFCI 120-volt AC outlets; a 30-amp, 120-volt outlet; and a 30-amp, 120/240-volt outlet (so you can use it in conjunction with a manual transfer switch).Winston Zhou
There's also a pretty good Bluetooth mobile app that supports this generator. I used it to turn the unit on and off, monitor the fuel and oil levels, and see how much power it was putting out. You can see all of this information on the device's display, too, but it's nice to have it close at hand. The app will also send you service reminders when the oil gets low or when it's time to clean or change the engine's air filter.
This app gives you control over turning the generator on and off, plus gives you readings on fuel and oil levels, as well as how much energy is being produced by the generator (indicated as volt-amps).Winston Zhou
Where this generator falls a bit short is that it's limited to one fuel source: gasoline. While many generators at this price level offer compatibility with propane and natural gas sources, Honda does not make dual-fuel or tri-fuel generators. While gasoline provides more power than the other two sources—and the large 5.1-gallon tank can power up to around 16 hours before it needs refilling—there are some benefits to using fuel such as propane (runs cleaner and sometimes costs less overall). Not having that option is a bit of a detractor.
Final Verdict
A big advantage Honda brings to generators is the fact that the company has a long history of making small engines for a variety of machines, and I think that really shows here. The engine runs quietly and smoothly. If anything is going to go wrong with a generator, it's likely to be with the engine. And with the Honda EU7000iS, I suspect you'll get many years out of it, so long as you keep up with maintenance.
If you can forgive its gasoline-only restriction, this is a generator that can fit a variety of needs, will deliver a decent amount of power, and will be less likely to trigger a noise complaint when you have to fire it up.
Other Generators We Love
Generac 12,500/9,500-Watt Tri-Fuel Portable Generator
Westinghouse 12,500-Watt Dual-Fuel Generator
Champion Power Equipment 4,750-Watt Dual-Fuel Generator
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