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Sunchaser_59's avatar
Sunchaser_59
Explorer
Aug 07, 2018

House A/C does not cool well

Hey folks, I have a 34 ft Itaska Suncruiser with a 5500 Onan generator. The A/c is the basement style and will literally freeze you out when plugged in to a power source but will barely make it comfortable on gen power. Any ideas?
  • msturtz wrote:
    Hmm, is your AC one of the two-stage units? Is your rig a 50 AMP rig? It may be that you have one of the basement two stage AC units that on shore power use both to keep the rig at the setpoint temperature. However on generator power, since less power is available will only run one of the AC compressors. This means it would have less power available to run loads.


    Our 93 Vectra was the other way around,when plugged into pedestal power only one compressor was powered,with the generator running both compressor were powered,the second stage power came directly from the
    generators 20 amp breaker, I replaced the 30 amp cord and transfer switch with 50 amp and then both stages would run when plugged in.jg
  • Sunchaser 59 wrote:
    The 30 amp switch is the only one on. The 20 is off.


    BINGO:B You have found your problem. BOTH breakers need to be ON. Doug
  • On shore power the amp draw on the panel is around 23. On generator power it is 18. I am unsure if the a\c is a two stage.
  • assuming both instances are in the same weather and same location
    have you done a voltage check using A/C when on generator power ?

    driving in 100+ heat is not the same as being parked with the awning out
    just moving down the road in hot weather causes the RV to need more cooling
  • You have 2 -120 breakers(30 and a 20) on the Genset. The 20 amp breaker on the Genset is tripped and THAT breaker may supply power to the 2nd compressor on the Basement air. On Shore Power, both Compressors are getting 120 power. Doug
  • Hmm, is your AC one of the two-stage units? Is your rig a 50 AMP rig? It may be that you have one of the basement two stage AC units that on shore power use both to keep the rig at the setpoint temperature. However on generator power, since less power is available will only run one of the AC compressors. This means it would have less power available to run loads.