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Outdoors

Honda's new generator is powered by butane gas canisters

By Rick Martin
March 29, 2010
Honda's new generator is powered by butane gas canisters
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Scheduled to go on sale at Honda dealers throughout Japan this May, the ENEPO EU9iGB is pretty compact as far as generators go. It's powered by common butane canisters, which makes for safe and easy storage in contrast with gasoline-fueled alternatives. A fold-down handle makes transport dead simple, as the design is reminiscent of carry-on luggage with two wheels at the base.

Outdoor enthusiasts have reason to get excited over the ENEPO because it can handle devices that use 900 W or less such as computers, cooking equipment, or blow dryers. Yes folks, camping just got comfy.

For users who require a little more juice, you can purchase a parallel connecting cord that links two generators together to kick out 1800 VA.

Honda's ENEPO may prove popular in earthquake-prone Japan, where emergency power-sources are especially important. No word on the cost just yet, but Honda's website says that the generator is "reasonably priced".

For the record, this is not the first time that Honda has gotten creative with butane. Last year we reported on its Pianta FV200 Mini-Tiller, the company's first canister-powered outdoor product.

Via: Honda.

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Rick Martin

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mrhuckfin
I think this is really cool but I don\'t think butane is all that cheep or available here in the U.S.? (other than for cigarette lighters) so I think a propane version would be a better alternative over here.
kraftzion
The wheels are to small and the Generator is rather large for only 900 watts.
matthew.rings
We need to marry one of those new \"Bloom Box\" with a butane tank on wheels, and have about 5,000 watts on a portable platform. Make it quad-fuel (butane, propane or natural gas) and it\'s be even better! ... one last thing, keep the price under $2,000.
Chris Baines
You don\'t have butane in the States?
What kind of back-woods hicksville country are you luddites living in???
John Johnsen
One very interesting thing about this generator though, is that you can link them together, and as far as I know, not many (if any at all?) portable generators support that because the AC power output would have to be synchronized to run the exact same phase of the frequency (changing 50 times per second between minus and plus, imagine if one generator was at the minus phase and the other one at the plus phase).
Sorry for the lack of terminology/technical language that would better describe this, but hopefully you get the idea.
jimmycanfixit
I was looking at one on ebay at http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-cassette-gas-use-inverter-generator-Enepo-EU9iGB-/271534229198?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f38b386ce
seem to be Rated output: AC: 900VA 50Hz/60Hz Continuous operation time: about 2.2h-1.1h Rated voltage (V): 100 in the USA we are 120 ac at 90 Hz so not sure if when you move to 60 hz the voltage would go to 120 volt ac also the GasOne Butane Fuel Canister (12 Pack) at http://www.amazon.com/GasOne-Butane-Fuel-Canister-Pack/dp/B0022BUT2O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404402651&sr=8-1&keywords=butane+8+oz seem to be cheap with a Cartridge has a Notched Collar providing easier alignment at around 26.00 free shipping, I was looking at the collar on the EBay generator video and cannot tell if they are the same look to be but not sure, if that could do 120 volts ac at 60 Hz and not 100 volt AC at 50 Hz could be good to have but these 2 things have me thinking maybe or maybe not working in the USA. The ideal of the Canisters would let you run that thing for a week with 50 cans and the cans would store for years unlike gas which would turn.
jimmycanfixit
If anyone finds out anymore information about the inverter generator Enepo EU9iGB Let me know please post it, Let me know if the Japan voltage is 100 ac at 50 Hz, The 60 Hz if you look at the Ebay Video you will see a adjustment screw for 50 Hz or 60 Hz , Am thinking these US fuel cans will work , Honda USA in GA don't know anything about this model and said it work be hard to get parts, going to dig deep maybe contact Honda in Japan and ask more information and will post it here. The EU9iGB seem to be louder the EU 2000i and bigger then the 2000 watt one the EU9iGB is a 900 watt generator.
I have video at YouTube under jimmycanfix I has all the vintage Honda older generators running there, I think the EM 500/600 is a very good generator made like a tank at 600 watt 120 ac but the EX 350 oil gas mix model is very lite and will charge a car battery and run a 300 to 400 watt light easily , I keep one in the back of my jeep behind the tailgate just the right size and very lite at 19 lbs. so far I have fixed and overhaul 5 EX350 HONDAS need advise just ask here , Thanks