The voltage selector switch is a great feature offered on many Honda generators with 120/240V capability. The voltage selector switch allows you to choose between operating the generator at both 120V and 240V simultaneously, or at 120 only with full power. Let’s look at this feature in a little more detail.

Honda generators with 120/240V capabilities have two separate main windings. Each winding is capable of the same output. In the 120V only position, power is maximized for 120V usage and 240V is not available. In the 120/240V position, power is maximized for 240V output and is reduced by 50% for each 120V receptacle. How? The voltage selector switches the two main windings from a SERIES connection for the 120/240V position to a PARALLEL connection for 120V only.

Let’s take the EB5000 as an example. The EB5000 has a maximum of 41.7A for 120V only. How much power you can get depends on which outlets you use. For example, if you use two 20A outlets, you have 40A total available. Or if you use one 30A outlet, you can use 30A total. For our purposes here, let’s suppose you want to use the 30A outlet.

If the generator is in the 120V only position, you can get the maximum power (30A) out of the 120V 30A receptacle.

But in the 120/240V position, only half of the power, or 20.8A, is available on each side. It’s almost like taking the EB5000 and making it into two 2500 watt units. In the 120V/240V position, you cannot get the full power from the 120V 30A receptacle. You can get a maximum of 20.8A only.

So in a nutshell, the voltage selector switch allows you to get maximum power from each of the 120V receptacles. We recommend that the voltage selector switch always be in the 120V position unless 240V is required.

The voltage selector switch is a great feature that is not available on many competitive generators.

Switch Positions and descriptions
120V/240V Mode
The voltage regulator switch is set at 120/240 volt. The two 2500 watt windings are connected in series. You can only get 20.8A from any 120V outlet. 240V is available.

120V Only Mode
The voltage regulator switch is set at 120 volt only. The two 2500 watt windings are connected in parallel. You can get the maximum power from any 120V outlet, but 240V is not available. 

Models that feature the voltage selector switch?
EG3500 | EG5000 | EB3500 | EB5000 | EB6500 | EM3500 | EM5000 | EM6000 | EX4500