Yamaha Generators

Yamaha has 2 units on Outage Geek, priced from $1,349 to $2,399. The least expensive Yamaha model here is the Yamaha EF2200iS at $1,349, and the lineup below runs cheapest first.

Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 65 dB

Yamaha EF2200iS

Yamaha built the EF2200iS to go head to head with the Honda EU2200i, and owners cross-shop the two every time. The pitch is the same: 1,800 watts continuous, about 55 lbs, 57 to 65 dBA depending on load, and an engine with a reputation for starting on the first or second pull after sitting. It earns its keep as a camping and short-outage generator that runs a fridge, a few lights, a router and a window unit's worth of small loads. Owner reports lean on the CO sensor, the easy carb drain that lets you run the bowl dry for storage, and the 30A RV outlet that Honda's base model lacks. Price and noise are the sore points: $1,349 list, rarely discounted, and a few owners find it louder than the Honda at full load. Twin Tech lets you link two for 3,600 watts.

1,800 W / 2,200 W surge · up to lights, phones, router, a CPAP

running
1,800 W

Best for Campers and RVers who want a Honda-class 2 kW inverter with a built-in 30A outlet and an easy fuel-system drain for storage.

Yamaha EF3000iSEB
~$2,399

Inverter Generator · Gasoline · 61 dB

Yamaha EF3000iSEB

The big Yamaha inverter has a reputation among owners as a quiet, heavy workhorse. The iSEB adds electric start and Yamaha Boost, which senses when an air conditioner or a power tool is about to draw a startup surge and gives the engine more headroom. At 2,800 watts running it covers a furnace, a fridge, a sump pump and lights, and owners say it starts most RV air conditioners that the 2 kW class cannot. Runtime is the standout: 18.6 hours at a quarter load on 3.4 gallons. The cost is the weight. At 156 lbs it is heavy for a 3 kW inverter; the built-in wheels and parking brake handle flat ground, but lifting it into a truck is a two-person job. The 30A outlet is a 120V plug, so it does not feed a 240V transfer switch. List price runs around $2,400, a steep premium over dual-fuel 3.5 kW units.

2,800 W / 3,000 W surge · up to fridge, freezer and the essentials

running
2,800 W

Best for RVers and homeowners who want electric start and a quiet 3 kW inverter from a maker with a long track record, and can live with 156 lbs.