We all tend to take reliable mains electricity for granted so my wife's latest art project presented an unusual challenge. I thought providing power in a remote area would simply be a matter of hooking up to a car battery but had to rethink when I found that I wouldn't even be able to get a Land Rover remotely close to the chosen location.Enter Honda, renowned for its cars and motorcycles but also a major supplier of power equipment including water pumps as well as a huge range of generators for everyone from occasional leisure to professional use.
We went for an EU30i generator because of the high wattage required by the projector we would be using, as well as running ancillaries such as a DVD player and background lighting. A good rule of thumb is to choose a generator that supplies more power than you actually need.
A feature of the EU series is inverter technology that allows the unit to deliver a steady stream of energy free from spikes and troughs that can damage computers or flat-screen televisions – an important consideration when lamps for our type of projector cost upwards of £350.
So ideal for all types of use? Well, yes. It brings the miracle of electricity to wherever you choose – and assuming there's petrol in it.
I had thought that the unit would be larger – and heavier. Smaller versions are described as hand-portable but this version has a fold-out handle and wheels, making it almost as manoeuvrable as a cabin baggage-sized suitcase. It's even relatively easy to lift it into the boot of a car. I'm not a bodybuilder, but an evening spent lifting the EU30i in and out of a boot with a high loading lip caused no ill effects.
And it's so easy to use. Just turn the vent top on top of the fuel tank, twist the ignition switch then pull the cord to find compression, pull it a second time and the little four-stroke burbles into life with far less noise than expected.
As the adverts used to say, isn't it nice when things just work?
In fact the generator sounds reminiscent of the company's billion-selling Cub step-through motorcycles that have provided mobility throughout the world since the late 1950s.
In these days of advanced fuel-injection systems it's a surprise to come across a choke. This is activated by turning the ignition switch one notch further to add extra fuel to the mix to aid start-up. You have to remember to switch it back once the engine is running.
There's also an Ecothrottle setting, which runs the generator only as fast as the electrical load demands in order to reduce fuel consumption and prolong engine life.
My only concern came when reading the manual before using it for the first time and coming across "when generator catches fire" – I assume it's a glitch in the generally excellent translation that should read "if".
The EU30i version costs £2,825 although the range of inverter-equipped units runs from £840 to £4,065 inclusive of VAT. Standard generators cost from £564 to £1,284 and all come with a five-year warranty. The EU30i might seem expensive, but if you require for any type of outdoor activity it could prove invaluable.
source http://www.telegraph.co.uk
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