Honda EU2200i vs Champion 2500W dual fuel: which inverter generator is better for a power outage?

Specs side by side

Specs as each maker states them.

The key differences at a glance

Check the running figures first. Honda lists 1,800 W rated, with 2,200 W as a maximum, on gasoline only. Champion lists 1,850 running watts on gasoline and 1,665 on propane, with 2,500 as the starting figure. The 2200 and 2500 in the model names are those maximum and starting numbers. Champion lists 43.2 lb against Honda's 47.4 lb dry weight. Both list 3-year warranties and carbon monoxide shutoffs: CO-MINDER on the Honda, CO Shield on the Champion. Wider options sit in our generator comparison.

Output, outlets and pairing

Honda's manual says to stay under the rated power for continuous operation and that most appliance motors need more than their rated wattage to start, so add up running watts before you plug in. For sockets, Honda lists one 20A 125V duplex receptacle and no DC output, while Champion lists one covered 120V duplex outlet (5-20R) and a 12V DC outlet. Honda says two EU2200i units can be paralleled with an optional cable for up to 4,400 W; Champion's optional parallel kit, sold separately, links two inverters.

Fuel and run time

The Honda burns gasoline, and its manual specifies regular unleaded with a pump octane rating of 86 or higher. Honda quotes 8.1 hours at 1/4 load and 3.2 hours at rated load on a 0.95 gal tank. Champion switches between gasoline and propane with a dial and puts a propane hose in the box. It quotes up to 11.5 hours on a 1.05 gal tank of gasoline and up to 25 hours on a 20-lb propane tank, both at 25% load. The tanks differ in size, so treat each figure as that maker's own estimate, not a head-to-head result.

Noise, weight and size

Honda gives 57 dB(A) at rated load and 48 dB(A) at 1/4 load. Champion gives 53 dBA at 23 feet with no load stated, so noise cannot be ranked from the spec sheets. Honda's dry weight is 47.4 lb (the Amazon listing says 46.5 lb) and its size is 20.0 by 11.4 by 16.7 in. Champion is 43.2 lb and 17.6 by 12.8 by 18.1 in. Honda also offers wireless stop and monitoring through its Bluetooth app.

Safety: outdoors only

Run either generator outdoors only. The CDC says never to run one inside your home, basement, garage or carport, and to keep it at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents. The CPSC adds never on a porch, and Ready.gov says fuel belongs outdoors too. Honda describes CO-MINDER as stopping the engine before nearby carbon monoxide passes a set level, and Champion describes CO Shield as shutting the engine off at unsafe levels. Each maker says its system is not enough on its own, so keep battery-operated CO alarms in the house. Read generator safety.

Which to choose

Choose the Honda if gasoline-only suits you and you want its Fuel Off storage setting and Bluetooth app. Choose the Champion if you want propane as a backup fuel, less weight and a 12V outlet. The Honda review and Champion review go deeper on each.

Common questions

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