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Glenn_And_Kitty's avatar
Mar 12, 2020

Generator - A/C issue

This is kind of long but I need to give all the details:
I have a 2019, 2425 Coleman bumper pull RV. I have recently been in some “primitive” camping sites with no services. I have an EF3600ISDE Yamaha generator that is dual fuel (Gasoline or Propane). It is a great unit. Here is my issue and questions:
Yesterday it was warm enough to turn on my RV A/C unit. I had the generator running on propane and in full throttle mode not “eco” mode. The A/C fan came on for a minute or so and the generator stayed at 3450 RPM (normal full throttle mode RPM). When the A/C compressor kicked on the generator advanced a few hundred RPMs and then went into “overload” and cut power to RV. The generator cut back the RPMs and kept running at 3450 RPMs but stayed in overload mode. I cut off A/C, shut down generator, and restarted. Generator came back on and was supplying power to RV. I did not have anything else on in RV such as microwave, coffee pot, ect. I tried again to turn on A/C and same result: power to RV was cut and generator in overload mode. Experimenting, I disconnected propane and tried running generator on gasoline. Basic same result.
I noted that generator ran at 3450 RPM’s before turning on A/C when on propane or gasoline. During several attempts, some times the A/C would run a few minutes longer when compressor cut on than other times but always the generator would then go into overload mode and cut power to RV.
On a whim, I restarted generator and put it in eco mode. It ran at 2650 RPM’s on both gasoline and propane in eco mode, I then cut on A/C and much to my surprise the generator went to 3040 RPM’s and A/C stayed on and power to RV was not cut off. A/C and everything worked fine. When A/C compressor would cut off the generator would cut back to 2650RPMs and when compressor cut on generator would rise to the 3050 RPM range. This was on either propane or gasoline operation.
OK so the solution is to just run in eco mode HOWEVER I have a remote start/stop kit installed on the generator and instructions say “only remote start in full throttle mode and not in eco mode (actually any start up, key or remote, is supposed to be in full throttle mode). If I set up the generator in full throttle mode so I can use the remote start and not have to go outside to start the generator I can’t use A/C without going outside and put generator in eco mode. Kind of renders my remote start feature useless.
Any ides why generator would go into overload mode when set on full throttle mode? Any ideas how to correct this?
  • If it is OK to start generator in eco mode I would be good with that and that would solve a lot of issues. I have forgotten it was in eco mode and have started the gen with no problem. I always have everything in the RV turned off before I ever start the gen. Even when it's running, I don't use two large draw systems at the same time. Such as, if I'm going to use microwave I turn off A/C. I don't even use electric water heater at same time as A/C.
    I am confused by the "overload" malfunction when I am in full throttle mode and turn on AC.
    Follow up:
    I have now been running gen in eco mode and A/C for several hours. The gen is cycling from 2650 RPMs to 3050 RPMs as the A/C compressor cuts in and out. Everything is working fine but I had to go back and test again. Now I'm really confused:
    The A/C was running as described and compressor was in off cycle. I switched gen from eco mode to full throttle mode and when A/C compressor came back on, nothing happened. Gen continued to run at full throttle and did not speed up and A/C (and everything in RV) stayed on. Gen did not go into overload.
    It is very hard to figure this one out ??? I think I have a ghost in either my RV or my gen that is messing with me.

    Original poster
  • When the generator is first started, the converter will be trying to charge the batteries. That can be a significant load in addition to the A/C. When turning things off, that should also include the breaker to the converter.
  • Glenn And Kitty wrote:
    Gen start very easy and If it's OK to start the gen in eco mode I'll be good with that.
    You should start a gen in eco mode, otherwise it's full bore when cold. Your owner's manual should address this.
  • I always turn everything off in the RV before I turn on gen. The only thing I turned on was A/C when the gen would go into overload.
    Gen start very easy and If it's OK to start the gen in eco mode I'll be good with that.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Most RV's have a number of 120 volt capable devices and one "Hidden" load. The converter. if batteries are low it can suck up to 1000 watts or more.

    Water heater 1200 - 1500 watts (normally mine is 375)
    Fridge 300-400 watts
    Electronics (TV Sat Receiver, Radio, Computers) up to about 1000 watts

    TURN STUFF OFF.
  • Econ mode on means better surge control,
    It doesn't 'Spike' into the over load range,
    Does the generator start ok via remote while set in econ mode, if so, then use it that way and don't worry!
    The remote start operating instructions are to guarantee , it works with all generators, even older more worn out ones
  • I tried several times in all modes. The eco mode was the only one that worked. I would guess I used the eco mode at least five different times over a day or so and the A/C stayed on for several hours. I could hear the generator "stall" and kick up each time the compressor kicked on. It wasn't a fluke that it worked in eco mode.
  • Glenn And Kitty wrote:
    This is kind of long but I need to give all the details:
    I have a 2019, 2425 Coleman bumper pull RV. I have recently been in some “primitive” camping sites with no services. I have an EF3600ISDE Yamaha generator that is dual fuel (Gasoline or Propane). It is a great unit. Here is my issue and questions:
    Yesterday it was warm enough to turn on my RV A/C unit. I had the generator running on propane and in full throttle mode not “eco” mode. The A/C fan came on for a minute or so and the generator stayed at 3450 RPM (normal full throttle mode RPM). When the A/C compressor kicked on the generator advanced a few hundred RPMs and then went into “overload” and cut power to RV. The generator cut back the RPMs and kept running at 3450 RPMs but stayed in overload mode. I cut off A/C, shut down generator, and restarted. Generator came back on and was supplying power to RV. I did not have anything else on in RV such as microwave, coffee pot, ect. I tried again to turn on A/C and same result: power to RV was cut and generator in overload mode. Experimenting, I disconnected propane and tried running generator on gasoline. Basic same result.
    I noted that generator ran at 3450 RPM’s before turning on A/C when on propane or gasoline. During several attempts, some times the A/C would run a few minutes longer when compressor cut on than other times but always the generator would then go into overload mode and cut power to RV.
    On a whim, I restarted generator and put it in eco mode. It ran at 2650 RPM’s on both gasoline and propane in eco mode, I then cut on A/C and much to my surprise the generator went to 3040 RPM’s and A/C stayed on and power to RV was not cut off. A/C and everything worked fine. When A/C compressor would cut off the generator would cut back to 2650RPMs and when compressor cut on generator would rise to the 3050 RPM range. This was on either propane or gasoline operation.
    OK so the solution is to just run in eco mode HOWEVER I have a remote start/stop kit installed on the generator and instructions say “only remote start in full throttle mode and not in eco mode (actually any start up, key or remote, is supposed to be in full throttle mode). If I set up the generator in full throttle mode so I can use the remote start and not have to go outside to start the generator I can’t use A/C without going outside and put generator in eco mode. Kind of renders my remote start feature useless.
    Any ides why generator would go into overload mode when set on full throttle mode? Any ideas how to correct this?


    How many times have you repeated this with eco off/eco on? Is it a one time fluke or does it happen every time?

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