Generator on the road

[WheelingIt]

Yep us too. In fact it's one of the main ways we exercise our generator since the rest of the time we're either hooked up (if it's hot) or running on solar (if it's winter).

[motraveler]

What about the fridg? Do you also run your fridg on the generator while traveling at the same time as running the A/C?

[dapoppa]

Whenever we run the gen for A/C we also run the fridge, although we've found that it stays cold for a long time. As long as the gen is running might as well use it.

[navigator336]

I don't know for fact that you can't run your AC off of the inverter. I would guess that you can't. If you can, I personally would never do it because you would be working the heck out of your house batteries and your alternator probably couldn't keep up. 20 amps to start an AC unit and somewhere around 10 amps to keep it running. 10 amps alternating current requires your batteries to deliver approximately 135 amps of 12 volt dc (at 90% efficiency on the conversion) to keep one AC running. Your alternator is putting out generally in the 160 amp DC range.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by MarkofSJC

So here's a twist on the OP's question. We have the option of running some of the AC's through the inverter while traveling. Would that be preferable? We wouldn't be able to run all of them, but then we wouldn't be putting hrs on the generator, either.

That might put an excessive strain on the engine alternator, from running at maximum output constantly.

[Peralko]

Our refrigerator automatically switches to AC when we start the generator or plug the coach in to shore power.
Some Country Coach models have the ability to run the front air conditioning off the inverter, but they have a second 3000W inverter, and a 320 Amp alternator.

[HHg]

All of our generator hours are from road travel......with exception of the normal exercise it must be given.

Hhg