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skout17's avatar
skout17
Explorer
Apr 24, 2013

Air Conditioner Issues

I have a '96 Lance Camper with an 11,500 BTU Roof mounted AC. The AC cycles pretty often even in hot weather (90+). It does not dry the air in the camper very well. It will run for about 3 minutes and then be off for about 2 1/2 minutes and then restart. The restarts are obviously pretty hard starts. Over time it seems the starts are getting harder. It has all the controls in the ceiling mounted unit.
I'm debating several options:
1. Perhaps replace the roof unit with a smaller capacity unit so it will have to run longer. (High $ option)
2. Install a restart timer so the restarts are delayed about 4 or 5 minutes.
3. Install a hard start capacitor kit and check that the run capacitor is still good.
4. Install a conventional thermostat to get the sensing point removed from close proximity to the unit.
5. Modify the fan controls to cycle the fan with the compressor so the blower can't transfer damp air into the camper during the off cycle.

I can do all of these options myself, I'm pretty handy.

14 Replies

  • Using two eu2000 ‘standard’ inverter generators in parallel

    A eu2000i puts out (1600) watts via a 120v 20 amp receptacle
    (120v times 13.3 amp) = 1596 watts (or a surge of 2000 watts) via a 20 amp receptacle (?).

    So if you use a single eu2000I you get 1600 watts and a surge to 2000 watts via a 20 amp receptacle.

    Thinking of adding a second eu2000i and doubling your watts. WAIT!
    Sure using parallel cables ‘state’ you get 4000 watt. But, NO you do not. Since all you have are 20 amp receptacles (the limiting factor) on either unit they can only handle 20 amps, you output is limited to 120v times 20 amps or 2400 watt (NOT 4000)!

    How to get more watts in parallel?
    Use 1 eu2000i standard and a eu2000i companion generator
    Or two a eu2000i companion generators in parallel.
    The 2000i companion as a built in 30 amp receptacle
    So if you plug you RV into that receptacle, you can get 120V times 30 amp = 3600 watts (still not the 4000 maximum they quote)
    Bottom Line:
    Parallel cables are ‘good for two parallel eu1000i generators because you get 900 watts times 2 or 1800 watts which a 20 amp receptacle handle (2400 watts max)

    Parallel cables are ‘NO good’ for two
    parallel eu2000i generators unless one of those units has a 30 amp receptacle because you get 1600 watts times 2 or 3600 watts which a 20 amp receptacle ‘can not’ handle (2400 watts max)


    Reliance Parallel Power RV Cables – Sidewinder $89.99
    From wisesales lets one combine 2 eu200i’s ($999) \units (without having a eu2001i companion) to get 3750 watts
    So add $100 for a companion or 89.99 for a power cord (mox nix)
  • I would carefully look at the installation- I would bet that air is recirculating inside the ceiling assembly, causing the short cycle.

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