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Bookmon · 11-15-2022, 09:12 AM

Hi y'all, long time no see. Major family illness. Getting better. Looking to get back to traveling. Thinking of stepping down from steep step Diesel pusher to low entry Gas model.
Question: Why do gas RVs have only the wimpy Onan 5500? On our first RV, that generator couldn't power AC and a Microwave at the same time. Would miss that big 6500 if we step down.
Thank you, graciously

RRR · 11-15-2022, 09:28 AM

I have no problem with the 5500 with two A/C and microwave.

twinboat · 11-15-2022, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookmon

Hi y'all, long time no see. Major family illness. Getting better. Looking to get back to traveling. Thinking of stepping down from steep step Diesel pusher to low entry Gas model.
Question: Why do gas RVs have only the wimpy Onan 5500? On our first RV, that generator couldn't power AC and a Microwave at the same time. Would miss that big 6500 if we step down.
Thank you, graciously

Must have been something wrong with the generator or wiring.

Seen a few incidents where the main 30 amp supply was wired to the 20 amp generator breaker.

Bookmon · 11-15-2022, 11:05 AM

All running at same time? Wow! Thank you.

Bookmon · 11-15-2022, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

Must have been something wrong with the generator or wiring.

Seen a few incidents where the main 30 amp supply was wired to the 20 amp generator breaker.

Thank you. Wonder if that was part of it. Have a used '96 Dutchman Class A. Shortly after purchase, pulled into a shopping center to heat some lunch. Had 1 AC going. Fried that 5500.
Replaced with a Generac. (Big mistake). Still Can not run both.

Gary RVRoamer · 11-15-2022, 03:26 PM

I suspect that was a 30A coach.

A 5500 watt generator can easily supply the power for two a/c (about 1400W each) and a microwave (another 1200W or so) and still have capacity left over. But the branch circuit wiring in the coach may not be designed to actually allow that. It never is in a 30A shore power coach, and more than a few with 50A wiring still come up short.

Bookmon · 11-15-2022, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

I suspect that was a 30A coach.

A 5500 watt generator can easily supply the power for two a/c (about 1400W each) and a microwave (another 1200W or so) and still have capacity left over. But the branch circuit wiring in the coach may not be designed to actually allow that. It never is in a 30A shore power coach, and more than a few with 50A wiring still come up short.

So, what is the path to solving this issue? Another response alluded to this discrepancy. Thank you for reply

chuckftboy · 11-15-2022, 06:33 PM

Probably has a lot to do with physical size. There isn't a lot of room in most coaches to cram in a larger generator. Since most people manage just fine with 2 a/c's in a gas coach with a 5.5kW there wouldn't be much incenitive to design and build a larger generator that most coach builders wouldn't sell because they are trying to hit a certain price point.

twinboat · 11-15-2022, 06:45 PM

The path to making it work is to wire it to run one A/C on the 20 amp circuit and the rest of the RV on the 30 amp circuit

A 30 amp circuit will easly power 1 A/C, the fridge, the converter/charger, TVs and microwave.

How do I know, I have a 30 amp RV.

NXR · 11-15-2022, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckftboy

Probably has a lot to do with physical size. There isn't a lot of room in most coaches to cram in a larger generator. Since most people manage just fine with 2 a/c's in a gas coach with a 5.5kW there wouldn't be much incentive to design and build a larger generator that most coach builders wouldn't sell because they are trying to hit a certain price point.

The Onan 7000 was a $900 option on ours to replace the Onan 5500 but there really was no need for us. Two 15K BTU A/C's, a microwave, a fireplace, and other stuff and our Onan 5500 can easily handle the needed simultaneous loads.

An Onan 5500 can supply 45 amps which is about 1.5 30-amp pedestals. Our Onan 5500 has two 30-amp breakers and the manufacturer split the loads up fairly well. For example, one A/C is on one breaker and the other A/C is on the other breaker.

I did install Micro-Air's EasyStart "soft start" units and they really reduce the peak power needed by the roof units to get started up. I can run both A/C's on a 30-amp pedestal plus other smaller loads.

An Onan 7000 can supply 58 amps, which is slightly more than one leg of a 50-amp pedestal.

Ray

Iceclimber · 11-15-2022, 07:48 PM

+ 1 for the advice above on hard start Capacitors, they certainly help but I agree with all the other advice it's a how things are wired issue. I have a big diesel Cat genny and the way it's wired I can pop the breaker that is actually on the generator itself by running too much on the 20 amp circuit. It's annoying but the biggest offender is the inverter trying to grab big amps for the battery charger...I often forget to just turn it off.