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Post by spiderbobr on Aug 4, 2022 19:42:39 GMT -5
So I'm looking to add a portable generator to supplement my solar. I want to run Air, along with microwave, those would be the two big items and of course the standard things like converter when needed. Do any members here have a set up they like, and if so, what wattage generator do you use?
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Post by earlelaine on Aug 4, 2022 19:58:43 GMT -5
I have a Champion 2500watt inverter. A/C rampage jumps high when 1st energizing then the amperage levels off. There's nothing wrong turning off A/C for a few minutes to run microwave. There are generator sales websites that calculate your needed power to determine what size generator you need.
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Post by spiderbobr on Aug 5, 2022 0:42:33 GMT -5
Been checking around, 2200 watts generator will fit the bill. Of course the 3000 will fit and allow the use of several items, but there is also a $2,000 difference. Earl, yes, if need be I can shut the AC off while using the micro, but I don't think I'll have too. Unless of course other items are sucking up wattage as well, as the converter, misc. items throughout the TT, but my whole use is not to run all. But to stay cool with my animals (two large dogs) and my boss, my wife. We travel around Oregon a lot, love it for camping, and we find both heat and cold.
Now then, we decided on the Honda, 2000i inverter with only 49db of sound. After a few outings I'll get back and fill those interested in how it works out.
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Post by earlelaine on Aug 5, 2022 7:15:41 GMT -5
I had 2 of the 200i Honda's, cream of the crop. Always point the exhaust away from the trailer it helps to cut down noise even more. It a good heavy duty cable to chain to lock it to a tree.
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Post by spiderbobr on Aug 5, 2022 23:19:42 GMT -5
OK, another question, before I go out and buy one. Will the 2000i run our AC? Just one 2000i inverter generator not a companion.
I'm assuming we pretty much all have the standard AC unit in our Sonic Lite, no heater element.
Correction it's a EU2200i inverter I'm looking at.
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Post by WrkrBee on Aug 6, 2022 8:13:53 GMT -5
I don't have one, but always thought I'd get a dual fuel generator that could run propane. You can't store a large quantity of gasoline for a long time, and generators use a lot of gas. After a disaster, hurricane, flood, tornado, etc., there are usually propane tanks scattered around.
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Post by earlelaine on Aug 6, 2022 10:03:03 GMT -5
OK, another question, before I go out and buy one. Will the 2000i run our AC? Just one 2000i inverter generator not a companion. I'm assuming we pretty much all have the standard AC unit in our Sonic Lite, no heater element. Correction it's a EU2200i inverter I'm looking at. If you have a 13,500btu A/C a Honda 2000i will not support the A/C. The generator cannot support the initial surge when the A/C compressor revs up. It will cause the Honda 2000i go into errors mode and shut down in about 10 seconds. I have tested this several times. I even turn off all electrical appliances and unplug anything that could be unplug. There are still some electrical device that use power but my monitor said I was down to only using 150 watts of power when starting the A/C up on the gen. If you had a soft start capacitor on the A/C unit it may work but will probably work borderline. that would be a strain on the A/C and would prefer to use a little more gen like a 2200i. Some RV's have 15,000btu A/C so you would need a Honda 3000i. |
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Post by spiderbobr on Aug 6, 2022 20:34:58 GMT -5
I have the 13,500btu A/C and am looking at the 2200i for the generator, company says it will work, but I want real world people that have tried. Are you saying it won't work or are not sure?
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Post by navylcdr on Aug 6, 2022 20:46:13 GMT -5
I have the 13,500btu A/C and am looking at the 2200i for the generator, company says it will work, but I want real world people that have tried. Are you saying it won't work or are not sure? I have an off brand ECO suitcase generator, very small. If is rated 2500 Watt surge and 2200 Watt continuous. I have to turn all breakers off to start my A/C and I can only turn on outlets for AC lamps and electronics charging to keep it running. I cannot run the converter to charge the batteries and the A/C at the same time. My camping neighbor had a 3500 Watt harbor freight inverter generator and it half the noise of mine and did not hesitate to run his A/C. But it is close to $1000 and weighs 100 lbs. Mine was $350 and weighs 40 lbs. |
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Post by earlelaine on Aug 7, 2022 8:25:23 GMT -5
I have the 13,500btu A/C and am looking at the 2200i for the generator, company says it will work, but I want real world people that have tried. Are you saying it won't work or are not sure? I have an off brand ECO suitcase generator, very small. If is rated 2500 Watt surge and 2200 Watt continuous. I have to turn all breakers off to start my A/C and I can only turn on outlets for AC lamps and electronics charging to keep it running. I cannot run the converter to charge the batteries and the A/C at the same time. My camping neighbor had a 3500 Watt harbor freight inverter generator and it half the noise of mine and did not hesitate to run his A/C. But it is close to $1000 and weighs 100 lbs. Mine was $350 and weighs 40 lbs. Just keep in mind that when you think everything is turn off there is still power being used in all RV's. The microwave oven clock is still on, the circuit boards in your power breaker box is using power, your O2 or fire alarm might be using power. Maybe a brake controller is using power. So adding up some of these that take very little power could add up to enough to kill your generator if it is just barely powering your A/C. Buy a gen with a little more watts to spare. |
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Post by navylcdr on Aug 7, 2022 12:14:20 GMT -5
I have an off brand ECO suitcase generator, very small. If is rated 2500 Watt surge and 2200 Watt continuous. I have to turn all breakers off to start my A/C and I can only turn on outlets for AC lamps and electronics charging to keep it running. I cannot run the converter to charge the batteries and the A/C at the same time. My camping neighbor had a 3500 Watt harbor freight inverter generator and it half the noise of mine and did not hesitate to run his A/C. But it is close to $1000 and weighs 100 lbs. Mine was $350 and weighs 40 lbs. The microwave oven clock is still on, No, it isn't. There is one power connection to the microwave, and that is where it is plugged into the 110v AC outlet. The microwave uses ZERO 12v DC from the trailer. |
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Post by earlelaine on Aug 7, 2022 12:20:11 GMT -5
If your trailer is plugged into a generator the trailer is receiving 120v power from generator. Your microwave clock is always on unless your battery disconnect feature is on or you unplug the microwave from its outlet. If you have inverter or inverter they both are using dome power just to exist.
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Post by spiderbobr on Aug 9, 2022 18:16:22 GMT -5
Checked into some of the wattage of various items, AC is 1600 watts, converter is 940 watts, Mircowave is 900 watts, Norcold is 17watts on 12v and 360 watts on 120v. So, you can see it's adding up quickly. So the plan would be to use it for one item at a time.
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Post by navylcdr on Aug 9, 2022 22:36:33 GMT -5
Your microwave clock is always on unless your battery disconnect feature is on or you unplug the microwave from its outlet. Again that is 100% B.S. There is NO 12v DC going to the microwave. It is plugged into a 120v AC outlet and the battery/12v DC system has NOTHING to do with the microwave clock! |
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B&N
Seasonal RV’er
2021 272VRK
Posts: 229
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Post by B&N on Aug 10, 2022 6:04:14 GMT -5
We have 850 Watts of solar and a 270ah battery with supporting Victron equipment in the STT272VRK. We supplement with power if available or a Harbor Freight Predator 4500 generator... it's pretty quiet. Check out the YouTubes on it and it's comparison to Honda. We run one AC at a time.
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