pulling 6k from Honday 6.5kw genny

Patryk_Rebisz

Patryk_Rebisz

Veteran
I have a shoot where i'll need to power a 6-light (1k bulb each) with a Honda 6.5kw genny. I see that the genny has only 2x 20a receptacles and 1x 30a. Is there a way to connect the light with 60a bates to be powered by this genny?
 
Is that 6.5K peak or continuous? I'm guessing peak and the cont. power is closer to 4.5K. What's the specific model number? You'll have about 5kw load with the 6 lights and that might be pushing things a little.

If you go inside the generator, it is very likely that off of the regulator there are only two wires, you could connect anything you wanted to those two wires and bring it out on whatever connector and breaker panel you need. I'd just want to look at the specs to see what the real capacity is on that genny before doing anything to it.

You may also be able to parallel the 20A and 20A and 30A connectors into a breaker panel, but you'd need to be certain the 30A wasn't 220volts like some of them offer. If everything is 120 volts, then the phase should (note "should" not "definitely") all be the same and you could just make an octopus of cables going into a breaker panel and plugs for the lights. Not the prettiest and may not pass safety codes (probably not) so think about this before doing it with your specific shoot location in mind.
 
Well, it seems the easiet thing would be to use the two 20a outlets to power 2x 2k and then what do i do with the extra 30a outlet? What adapter do i get to power another 1k from that outlet?
 
Need the genny model to tell you, could be a 220volt plug, could be a 110volt plug. If it is 110volts, it would be easy enough to make a 30a twistlock to regular Edison plug. But can this run with something plugged into all three connections? Some of the smaller genny's are an either/or configuration. I still think you would be pushing this genny too far and you should really have another that can take at least 2K worth (probably a 3300w peak rated compact). But again, it kind of depends on the specific 6500kw genny to see if it is peak rated or continuous rated, or even some kind of duty cycle rated (nope no real standards until you get into the big commercial units that come on a trailer).
 
You cannot combine connections. There is no way to know how those outlets are wired and how power will be drawn from them such that it balances out and does not either burn something up or trip a breaker (if equipped).

As said, we need the model number to know what is possible. It is highly likely based on the data below, that you are restricted to 5500W. I would not assume you can draw 2x 20amp and be able to use the full capacity of the 30amp.

There are three 6500W generators listed by Honda. EB6500, EM6500, and EG6500. All are rated at 5500W continuous. All three have both a 120V and 240V @ 30amp twistlock as well as 2x 120V @20amp.
 
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Generally speaking, if it has a 240 volt option, the 20a plugs will be split on the phase. The only safe way to try and combine things is by taking the genny apart to see how it is wired, or getting the service manual. For some people this is pretty trivial, for others absolutely impossible. That's why I never gave absolute answers, but all things can be done, except pulling 6k out of it continuously. I will say that if the wiring doesn't burn, you could get short runs at the 6600w peak, that being a few minutes. The peak is really meant for the high draw that things like a compressor have when they first start, then settle down into a lower working draw. The peak is meant to be brief (seconds) not minutes. But I have run things at higher than continuous for reasonable periods of time. What you get is voltage sag and extra heat, eventually you get motor loading and rough running, and then the safeties trip and you lose power.

Your safest bet is a larger genny with proper power distribution, or a couple of genny's to distribute the load to a better working average.

Also as long as we are talking genny's, don't get a giant machine and load it lightly. This causes all sorts of frequency issues as the motor changes speed to try and regulate the small load. When I was running live trucks for news we often had to plug in a 1k light or turn the electric heater on just to provide enough load to keep the frequency stable and keep the throttle from hunting. Those were industrial gensets and rated at continuous operation (no idea what the peak really was on those).

Now flip side... (In theory) If you use 220 volt lamps, they will draw (approximately) half the power (watts) per lumen compared to 120 volt lamps. Running 3000watts of 240 might get you the same light output and this is something you may want to investigate. That is, if the genny really has 30a at 240 volts (7200 watts), I'm guessing it does not really put out that much, but again the model and user manual might give you what you need.
 
FYI, the replacement for the EU6500is, the new EU7000is while also offering higher output, also has the ability to run 2 EU7000is in parallel with a 50amp outlet.
 
David W. Jones said:
FYI, the replacement for the EU6500is, the new EU7000is while also offering higher output, also has the ability to run 2 EU7000is in parallel with a 50amp outlet.
Click to expand...

There is no paralleing. Just one genny and i need to know the max wattage i can run out of this.
I presume 2x 2k out of edisons and how much extra (and how) out of 30a outlet.
 
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