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06-28-2017, 06:26 AM
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#1
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Registered User
Triple E Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,745
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What size generator
1rst What size generator is needed to power an air conditioner and nothing else?
2 nd What is an invertor generator?
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06-28-2017, 07:00 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Covington, GA
Posts: 803
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Watts the answer.
For example, a 12,000 BTU window unit that uses 120v and draws 12 amps when cooling expends 1440 watts (P=IE). This means that the generator needs to be able to produce say 1500 watts under load with a peak of somewhere near 2000w. By the way I am not an electrical engineer or qualified electrician so in this case it is best to take free advice for what its worth. However this gives you a starting point.
We have an inverter/charger in our MH, This inverter part takes 12volts from the house batteries and turns it into 120v "AC" for the devices that need regular wall electricity. The charger part re-charges the batteries when they are not providing power to various electrical things.
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J.J. Hayden (KN4SH)
Covington, GA
2005 National Dolphin 5342
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06-28-2017, 07:01 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ontario, California
Posts: 2,428
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An Inverter generator is superior to others in that it converts the produced AC current to DC then converts is back to AC thus giving a constant maintained supply of Alternating current. In some cases a 2,000 watt converter will run an AC but it's stretched to its limits. If you're looking for just power for an air conditioner I'd go with nothing less than 3,000 watts.
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]2016 Newmar Dutch Star 4369
Newmar Owners Club
USAF 1966-1969,- Law Enforcement 1969 - 2003, Retired since March 2003
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06-28-2017, 07:11 AM
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#4
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Registered User
Triple E Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,745
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One thing I did not mention this is a 13.5k BTU roof A/C.
If that will make a difference.
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06-28-2017, 07:54 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SW Louisiana
Posts: 9,351
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It really does depend on the brand of generator here, and maybe model of air conditioner as running load is easy to calculate, however where things get complicated is the momentary starting load on an air conditioner, since it will vary with compressor load which can increase with ambient temperature. So a 2,000 watt generator may be able to "run" an air conditioner, but may not be able to start one, particularly on a hot summer day.
So while some sub 3,000 watt generators may work, 3,000 watts or higher in a good name brand generator is a safe bet, just watch out for some of those bargain imports whose output ratings seem to have came from the marketing department and not the engineers.
p.s. an inverter generator is built a bit differently than a traditional generator. A traditional generator runs at a fixed speed to generate 60Hz AC power at either 120 or 120/240 volts in the case of an RV this is usually 1800 or 3600 rpms, although some use belts and pullies that allow the engine to run at a lower fixed speed. This fixed speed rotor is what generates the 60 cycle per second wave form of the AC power. By contrast an inverter generator has an engine that speeds up and slows down with load, and drives a small 3 phase generator which operates much like an automotive alternator, the power from this generator is rectified to DC, then converted back to 60 Hz AC through an inverter circuit electronically.
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2002 Safari Trek 2830 on P32 Chassis with 8.1L w/ 1110 watts solar 420Ah LiFePo4
2017 Jeep Cherokee Overland & 2007 Toyota Yaris TOADs with Even Brake,
Demco Commander tow bar and Blue Ox / Roadmaster base plates
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06-28-2017, 02:05 PM
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#6
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 56,204
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Yup, learn something new here every day! I didn't know there was any such animal as an "inverter generator"! 
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Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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06-29-2017, 03:45 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming
Posts: 385
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Do you want the hassle of gas cans and additives and possible spills or would you like to run off the RV propane system you already maintain?
- Jeff
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06-29-2017, 03:49 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Oroville, CA
Posts: 3,133
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With this gizmo and a Honda 2000i inverter generator, you can start and run your 13,500 AC
https://www.microair.net/collections...-soft-starters
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Bill, Kathi and Zorro; '05 Beaver Patriot Thunder
2012 Sunnybrook Harmony 21FBS (SQEZINN)
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
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06-29-2017, 04:14 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming
Posts: 385
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cruzbill
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For less than the price of that Honda you can get a Champion 3100 and not need the micro air although getting one with the money saved would still be a good idea.
- Jeff
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06-29-2017, 04:22 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2
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I use 2 2000 watt hondas and run them together. A single 2000 watt would not run my air conditioner.
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06-29-2017, 04:23 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Quote:
Originally Posted by unyalli
Do you want the hassle of gas cans and additives and possible spills or would you like to run off the RV propane system you already maintain?
- Jeff
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Propane is clean but you burn a lot of it in a generator, plus they are usually air cooled and noisy. Had one once, in one 5 day camping trip we used 2 15 gallon tanks as well as most of the onboard 40 gallon (32 usable) tank. Plus it overheated twice and shut down till it cooled off. Never again!
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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06-29-2017, 04:35 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Titusville, FL
Posts: 5,242
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Quote:
Originally Posted by unyalli
Do you want the hassle of gas cans and additives and possible spills or would you like to run off the RV propane system you already maintain?
- Jeff
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And the hassle of having to go refill your propane tanks every other day. Gasoline is more readily available than propane and easier to transport. Not sure what additives you're talking about.
__________________
When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
2023 Grand Design 2600RB, 2022 F-350 King Ranch tow vehicle, Titusville, FL when not on the road
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06-29-2017, 04:39 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Mountain Home,Arkansas
Posts: 152
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Quote:
Originally Posted by unyalli
For less than the price of that Honda you can get a Champion 3100 and not need the micro air although getting one with the money saved would still be a good idea.
- Jeff
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I just ordered the remote start version of the Champion 3100 from Overstock.
Signing up for their email list gets you an instant coupon via email that saved me 92 bucks. So, That generator only cost me $830.24 shipped.
https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garde...s=&refinement=
The recoil start model is considerably less even before the coupon.
__________________
2007 Forest River Georgetown 370 XLTS 
2017 Nash 23D - Sold
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06-29-2017, 04:57 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Foretravel Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Home is Where WE PARK IT...
Posts: 6,161
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Used a Champion, USFS wrote me a ticket for not being approved in Federal & state forests (no spark arrester)
Had several air cooled that used propane or gas... both over heated and shut down under hot weather /heavy use conditions.
Went to water cooled gennies, gas & diesels ... (currant one is 12kw Kabota diesel) ....all good now.
__________________
Retired truck owner/driver,
Cancer put a stop to our RVing.
Now call Nacogdoches, Texas home
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