Airstream Life’s winter issue is finally out, and I can finally post something further regarding the Yamaha testing I got to do last fall. I always wait to get into a lot of detail on items that will be appearing in other articles, so I’ve been patiently waiting to post this review.

I had the opportunity to review several Yamaha portable generators for Airstream Life Magazine. As I’m already very familiar with Honda’s lineup, getting hands on experience with Yamaha’s generators was fantastic!

The generators supplied for the Airstream Life Review were the Yamah EF 1000, 2400, 2800, and 3000. Overall, the entire lineup was great. Each generator met or exceeded the manufacturer’s specs. In the coming weeks I’ll go into deeper detail on each unit. For today though I thought I’d focus on the 2800.

Why pick the 2800 to start with here? Simple. After all the testing I decided to purchase a Yamaha. At the time of the tests I was shopping for a larger generator for my RV adventures. While I already travel with a Honda EU 1000, I wanted something that would supply enough power to run my AC and Microwave occasionally while boondocking. Three out of the four Yamahas I reviewed could provide me with that power (2400, 2800, 3000), but in the end, I selected the 2800. Now, why did I pick that one?

Size Matters When Going Solo

Of the tested generators that could power air conditioning and microwave, the 2800 weighed in at a mere 64 pounds. The 2400 was 70+ pounds, and the 3000 weighed more than me. The 2800 was lighter because it didn’t have the sound muffeling casing like the 2400 and 3000. Even without that sound deadening material though, the 2800 was still very quiet.Yamaha EF 2800 Generator

Running all 3 side by side, the 2800 was by far the loudest. In all honesty, if you are looking for a super quiet generator I’d select the 3000. But when making a purchase most shoppers are ususally looking for more than just 1 feature, and the case was the same with me.

Yamah’s 2800, with it’s open case design, was the easiest of the 3 generators to lift, carry, and cart around on my own. While the 2400 came in at a similar weight, it wasn’t as easy for me to move around due to the wider & thicker size of the unit (probably due to the sound muffeling case). The 3000, while it had a nice set of wheels on it, required a good deal to move, and would be better with 2 people. Since I’m planning several solo trips this year, the 2800 was the right choice for size.

The features you need

All of the Yamaha generators reviewed had “eco throttles”. That means the generators will run up to the power load you require. If you require less than full output, the generator will throttle down. That saves you fuel, and reduces the noise output of the generator!

While all 4 generators had eco throttles, only 3 had eco throttle kill switches. The 1000, 2800, and 3000 all had switches that could turn the eco throttle off. The 2400 did not have that switch. Maybe that doesn’t sound like a big deal at first, but it was to me.

The initial startup power of my Air Conditioner unit is over 2000 watts! That’s a great deal of “surge demand”. When running the generators they’re operating only to the current demand, and no more. So, when kicking on the Air Conditioner, the generators need to “power up” to that load. Intial startup of the AC hits the generator with the surge in demand, and the generator powers up. My personal preference…I’d like to have the generator running at full capacity prior to hitting it with a spike in demand. Since the 2400 did not have the eco-throttle kill switch, it fell out of the running for my personal needs (I was really considering it for my next generator). That left me with the 2800 & 3000 to choose from.

In addition to the eco-throttle kill switch, the 2800 also offered a 30 Amp output along with 2 20 Amp outputs. The 3000 did as well. The 2400 did not offer a 30 Amp output, only 2 20’s. Since my trailer is setup for 30 Amp I liked seeing that I could provide it with the 2800.

Personal Choice is Everything!

In the end, it all came down to my personal preferences. For me, I wanted a lighter weight generator. Also, I felt the eco-throttle kill switch was important to me when starting up my Air Conditioner. And finally, having the 30 Amp output was a definite plus.

On the down side regarding the 2800, it is louder than the rest of the Yamaha lineup I looked at. But it is still very quiet in comparison to generators found in Class A motorhomes. It’s well within all park standards! And when I set it behind my trailer it doesn’t sound very loud at all.

In my opinion, the Yamaha EF 2800 has a great deal to offer to any RV owner! When you’re shopping for a portable generator, either first time purchase or replacement, give this little power house some consideration!