JIH
Albuquerque NM
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When I was in the auto repair business and would install aftermarket carburation on vehicles, i.e. mostly VW's, there would be CARB compliant and non CARB compliant carburetors that were identical. The CARB compliant came with a certificate that the carburetor design was tested i.a.w. Californias rules and passed. It cost a minimum of $50,000.00 to get an aftermarket part certified by CARB and this is why they cost more with the certificate than without. In making its rules California does not allow the expenses of testing to be passed on to buyers of the same item in the other states. I assume Honda generators are in the same boat.
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jay2003
San Joaquin Valley, California
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beeser wrote:PopBeavers wrote:Acording to the Honda website:
USDA-Qualified Spark Arrestor/Muffler
All Honda generators are equipped with United States Department of Agriculture qualified spark arrestors to help prevent fires.
According to the Mayberrys website:
Honda Generators meet all CARB and EPA emission standards.
You're correct! I wonder why they told me different over the phone?
Read my earlier post. All Honda generators are CARB certified yes if you're looking at the marketing. They're basically saying they make a CARB certified model of all their generators. In reality there are two different SKU numbers depending on if you're ordering in California or outside California. I did some additional research after my previous post and the only real difference is the gas cap as the engines are the same. Not sure why Honda doesn't just make all of them CARB certified with the same gas caps.
In response to the other poster that said theirs only has "A" at the end of their model number. This is correct and is the same as mine. These models were sold in California prior to the legislation that was put into place requiring CARB certification on small engines. These are still perfectly legal to use in California EXCEPT in areas that require you use CARB certified equipment... which are few and far between right now. In looking at the user manuals for the EU2000i they actually have photos of the gas cap with designations for "California" and "non-California" model. When I look at my gas cap it's the "non-Califoria" one since I purchased my generator prior to the requirement. Camping World started selling the CARB certified EU2000i within a year of my purchase. I believe legislation was finalized in 2007 from the technical link in my previous post.
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Honda EU2000i Generator
Me.. the wife, the 5 year old, and the 2 year old
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ernestfortier
Palmdale, Calif.
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If you have a non carb certified unit you can still use it here in Calif. Some years ago they would not let you bring a motor vehicle in Calif unless it had Calif certified smog equipment. You could pay a fee to have it registered here. It was found, by the courts that it was illegal to charge a fee to register it here. California had to pay all the fees back for up to two years prior. Now you can buy a motor vehicle anywhere and register it here in California. They just cannot sell a motor vehicle in this state that does not have the propper smog equipment, but you can use one. As long as you have the propper spark arrestor on your generator they can't stop you from using it. Spark arrestors are safety equipment.
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beeser
San Diego
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ernestfortier - That makes a lot of sense. I can't imagine out of state travelers who do not have a CARB compliant generator not being able to use them in California.
On a more technical note, what is the physical difference between the two gas caps? Just curious.
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Mousefart
New Jersey
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I hear the next step in California emissions control is they are only going to allow generators powered by Hamsters, but ONLY if it is equipped with a catalytic converter to filter the methane out of the Hamster poop! 
Geeze, what a whacko state! 
Paul (Mouse)
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beeser
San Diego
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Mousefart wrote:I hear the next step in California emissions control is they are only going to allow generators powered by Hamsters, but ONLY if it is equipped with a catalytic converter to filter the methane out of the Hamster poop!
Geeze, what a whacko state!
I can understand why some of the regulations in California may seem strange to others around the country but having experienced the smog in LA years ago it's reasonable to conclude that something had to be done. Things have improved dramatically because regulations were put in place to protect the environment. More needs to be done.
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jay2003
San Joaquin Valley, California
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Mousefart wrote:Geeze, what a whacko state!
Research before you speak sir. All states will eventually adopt the CARB standards as EPA standards start to meet or exceed current CARB standards. California is just a bit ahead of the game currently.
See the below links:
Link #1
Link #2
Link #3
This EPA standard was just signed September 2008 - Note the section under What are the new standards. EPA mandates current CARB standards at the federal level by 2011
Link #4
There's a ton more but I'm sure there's enough to read up to this point.
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jay2003
San Joaquin Valley, California
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beeser wrote:On a more technical note, what is the physical difference between the two gas caps? Just curious.
Venting is different. I would imagine on the California models that the venting when ON is less than the venting on other models. Less fuel evaporation. The same standards are used for gasoline cans that also have to have caps that reduce or prevent fuel evaporation which is one of the leading causes of polution for small engines.
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PopBeavers
San Jose, CA
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jay2003 wrote:Mousefart wrote:Geeze, what a whacko state!
Research before you speak sir. All states will eventually adopt the CARB standards as EPA standards start to meet or exceed current CARB standards. California is just a bit ahead of the game currently.
See the below links:
Link #1
Link #2
Link #3
This EPA standard was just signed September 2008 - Note the section under What are the new standards. EPA mandates current CARB standards at the federal level by 2011
Link #4
There's a ton more but I'm sure there's enough to read up to this point.
Does this mean that the generators that we all have today will have to be crushed as we buy new compliant generators? Or are we grandfathered in? I know I can still keep using my 20 year old gas lawn mower, but the new ones are CARB compliant.
Wayne in San Jose
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jay2003
San Joaquin Valley, California
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I would imagine the whole grandfather thing would take place. Sorta like they do with automobiles. In time I'm sure they'll be some sort of replacment requirement... but that will be a long time. If as Honda says all their generators are CARB compliant then I would imagine they meet the emissions stuff on the engine itself and that the real difference may in fact be the gas cap. I think I commented before but why would Honda just not send out all the same gas caps and avoid confusion. Maybe cost has something to do with it.. who knows. They should do like the automobile industry finally did in making 50 state legal vehicles.
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