A small in size generator to carry along in a class "C"?

ctilsie242 wrote:
Next step up is a Honda EU2000i Companion which would handle virtually everything but the A/C.

Thanks to advancements in technology you can start & run a typical 13,500 BTU roof mount A/C with an EU2000i ... just equip the A/C with a Micro-Air Easy Start Soft Starter Kit. Search the forums here an you'll find testimonials from those who have invested in one and report it does do what the manufacturer claims. As I've mentioned before, if I'd known about this product at the time I owned my most recent EU2000i I'd have kept the genset and added an Easy Start to my Dometic A/C.

Hi,

If you go to a C just beef up the battery bank.

The Onan can be started by starting up the engine on the RV, then starting the generator, but you should never cycle batteries to that depth of discharge.

Need to look at your converter/charger specs and see what the 120VAC AMPS is required to operate it.

My PD9260C requires right at 1000WATTs to operate it. I use my 2kW EU2000i Honda generator to run when we are off-grid. It revs up pretty high when just powering up the Converter/charger... This will get my batteries from their 50% charge state to their 90% charge state in about a three hour generator run time...

This is what works for me when off grid recharging my POPUP trailer battery bank each morning...

Roy Ken

I wouldn't go with anything smaller than the 1000W Honda. A 500W or 650W generator isn't going to put out enough power for decent charging.

I'd go someplace and try a C with the on-board generator to see if the noise and vibration is really that much of a problem. I'd be more concerned with the space the generator and a five gal can of gas are going to take up. And I've never really liked storing gas in small closed storage spaces. When the sun hits that storage compartment for several hours the gas jug is probably going to start leaking gas fumes.

If you watch your batteries at all, and keep them maintained, then you'll never get close to the point of not being able to start the Onan.

I'm not sure if you'll really save any fuel cost. Where's the cost savings of running a small generator for a more hours than a larger generator for a less hours?

Bill

ctilsie242 wrote:
I'm still debating between a class "C" or a "B", but one of the things I want to bring along is a small in size, inverter generator, even though the motorhome will have an Onan onboard.

The Powerhouse 500 watt one looks OK at $350. For what I would be using it for, the capacity is a bit puny, but enough to charge batteries and run basic stuff. Next step up is a Honda EU2000i Companion which would handle virtually everything but the A/C.

$350 US? No way it's worth that, read this. FWIW, you won't be running much of a charger with just a 500 watt genset unless you can manually restrict it's charging rate, which your MH is sure not to have. And obviously, an EU2000i is hardly the "next step up", even Honda's own EU1000i may suffice for what you have in mind. Depends on the intended load, how much you're willing to spend, and how much you're willing to lift. :)

I had a 1000w Honda that I had bought in the 70's we used it to power the TV, Lights, and other small draw appliances. It would charge the batteries in our TT in about 8 hours. Very quiet and fuel efficient. I now have a 1500w unknown brand I got at Walmart for a really cheap price a few years ago because the box was damaged badly in transport. I carry it as a spare for battery charging if my Honda 2000i die.

What is the model of your converter? It is all about the input watts required to run that, with the PF applied to get the VA spec needed for the gen.

After that it is all about how loud is the small gen.