A/C Overloading My Generator
First time TT owner here--so I'm hoping I'm just doing something wrong that is very simple. We have an Apex with a 13500 BTU A/C. The generator is a Honda EU3000i Handi (Max: 3000W, Continuous: 26...
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UPDATE: Success! (Or at least significant progress.)
-So yes, according to the AC manufacturer (Dometic), they recommend a 3500W generator to handle the peak loads on my model (which is 13.5K BTU)
-I installed the Supco SPP6 hard start kit (http://www.supco.com/web/supco_live/products/SPP6.html)
-I also ran the fan on low for a while, waiting a little bit before I changed the setting to "cool"
With all that, the generator did not fail! I didn't watch the generator to see if it flashed the overload light or not, but the good thing is it kept providing power. I tested this three times.
However, things that may yet prove troublesome:
-How it performs in hotter weather
-How it performs in higher elevation
I'll get to test all of these soon, as we leave for a 3-week "shakedown cruise" next Saturday, going up to Reno and then NorCal (coastal), then back down through the valley, Pismo, then back to SD. I'll update you all when I return.
One more thing, in my research I found a couple with an RV that ran their AC completely off solar. You can see their blog & videos here (http://www.gonewiththewynns.com/off-grid-solar-rv-air-conditioning). The piece that interested me is the component that they eventually installed, which is called a "soft starter" (this may be what you were referring to, DSteiner51), as opposed to a hard start kit (like the cheap one I installed). Here's the website for the soft starer (http://www.microair.net/main/products/product.php?id=20).
Has anyone out there ever installed one of these? It looks like it retails for about $350 (plus installation), but if it can really reduce the peak start watts as much as it says ("up to 65-75%"), then that could really be worth it.
Blessings to all of you,
CJ
-So yes, according to the AC manufacturer (Dometic), they recommend a 3500W generator to handle the peak loads on my model (which is 13.5K BTU)
-I installed the Supco SPP6 hard start kit (http://www.supco.com/web/supco_live/products/SPP6.html)
-I also ran the fan on low for a while, waiting a little bit before I changed the setting to "cool"
With all that, the generator did not fail! I didn't watch the generator to see if it flashed the overload light or not, but the good thing is it kept providing power. I tested this three times.
However, things that may yet prove troublesome:
-How it performs in hotter weather
-How it performs in higher elevation
I'll get to test all of these soon, as we leave for a 3-week "shakedown cruise" next Saturday, going up to Reno and then NorCal (coastal), then back down through the valley, Pismo, then back to SD. I'll update you all when I return.
One more thing, in my research I found a couple with an RV that ran their AC completely off solar. You can see their blog & videos here (http://www.gonewiththewynns.com/off-grid-solar-rv-air-conditioning). The piece that interested me is the component that they eventually installed, which is called a "soft starter" (this may be what you were referring to, DSteiner51), as opposed to a hard start kit (like the cheap one I installed). Here's the website for the soft starer (http://www.microair.net/main/products/product.php?id=20).
Has anyone out there ever installed one of these? It looks like it retails for about $350 (plus installation), but if it can really reduce the peak start watts as much as it says ("up to 65-75%"), then that could really be worth it.
Blessings to all of you,
CJ
