Dear Tom, I have decided the Honda EU2000i is for me. I used a EU1000i for a while but it would not power my 1500 watt inverter/charger in charge mode of 75 amps DC, it almost does it, but not quite. I have not tried the 2000i yet but I think it will do the trick. The RV sites that cater to modest campers and trailers rave about the EU2000i and the power standard they use is a 5000 BTU air conditioner, it seems the 2000i will run up to 5000 BTUs. A few years ago I contemplated refrigeration for my T37, and for me, at the time, I settled on a holding plate system with a 1/4 hp DC hermetic compressor called a Colda Italia. I got the parts on line from Rparts and built it in my shop, had a HVAC tech check it over, and after a few hours of running, I took it apart and installed it in Windfall. It worked well for a couple of summers until the compressor stopped. I found that Rparts no longer supported the unit nor did I look to replace it after I cut it open and saw what made it tick. That compressor had 950BTU capacity of cooling at 20F evaporator, the largest 12V Danforth compressor, at the time, had a capacity of about 1/3 that so it would not function with the holding plate system installed. I found a commercial grade Alternating Current, AC, compressor with 950 BTU that would be a perfect match for my installed components so I bought that and it has been running ever since. So that is how I came to have that size inverter aboard. I am commited to AC now and I use it for cabin lights and TV, heat gun and soldering iron etc, the EU 1000i is just a little underpowered for the battery charger I have, but for you, it may be just right. I justify the problem of gasoline on board by comparing the weight of a couple of gallons of gas at 14 pounds and 30 pounds for the generator, that can produce about 10,000 watts any time day or night wind or not, against one 130 amp battery at 60 pounds and about 700 watts (50% discharge). Not to mention I have gasoline on board for the dinghy outboard. As we discuss these topics I think we will find that each of us comes to fit out their boat differently and I want to be up front, while I have tried lots of different remedies or additions, and even if they work for me, I will say, I often take a road less traveled.
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