Generator output and rv

We have had two champion 3500/4000, one 240/120 Vac and the other 120v only. Both run everything, even at the altitude we camp at. The one difference is while running the microwave the older dual voltage would put out under 100Vac, the 120v unit runs at 120v all the time.

We have used our Champions for boondocking only and anymore as a emergency back up to the solar. Someday I'll even take it with us with that thought in mind. ;)

BFL13 wrote:
What 120v equipment does the 2002 Cougar have? It was around then that the 6300 was replaced by the 7300, but no diff in air conditioners over that time period. My 2002 Sharp MW that came in our 2003 runs ok on MSW

I have a 3000w Honda inverter gen, so no probs whatever, but IMO your good question does not apply to just a 2002 Cougar, but to almost any RV of any year.

There is also a not- so- small "noise issue" with the "other" generator choices big enough to run an air conditioner at high altitudes.

Not at the RV now. I will be there in am. will look and post later. Thanks for your insight and knowledgeable post.

What 120v equipment does the 2002 Cougar have? It was around then that the 6300 was replaced by the 7300, but no diff in air conditioners over that time period. My 2002 Sharp MW that came in our 2003 runs ok on MSW

I have a 3000w Honda inverter gen, so no probs whatever, but IMO your good question does not apply to just a 2002 Cougar, but to almost any RV of any year.

There is also a not- so- small "noise issue" with the "other" generator choices big enough to run an air conditioner at high altitudes.

What exactly makes ac current or voltage dirty? Wouldn't and deviation from a perfect sine wave be considered dirty? Yes that's right they each have their own respective sine waves.

BFL13 wrote:
Xantrex used to warn that their True Charge converter/chargers would not make as many as rated amps when powered by certain Rv generators that made "modified sine wave-like" outputs.

Threads here in the past revealed that some Onan gens were like that. IIRC it was shown that PD converters would have low DC amps with those gens as input, but WFCOs didn't care. The Xantrex units did care.

Not all Onans are the same for that it seems, so you have to know what's what.

On just what is "sine wave" it turns out that if you have more steps in your modified sine wave (called T something--forget) which is a percentage of something or other, it counts as "sine wave" ISTR the specs of the unit will say > 95% T whatits so that counts. You also see "sine wave" , "true sine wave", and for that you must compare the claimed " > xx % T thingies. (trying to be technical here! :) )

Back then too, the dreaded 6300 series of converter needed clean DC output by way of using the house battery as a filter to run some of the items like the idiot light monitor above the stove, the fridge and water heater controls, but the lights and fans didn't care about dirty DC power so they were ok.

the OP is asking about dirty AC not dirty DC, so it is hard to know what 120v items would be affected except that the converter might not do its rated amps depending on the Brand. I think the microwave would run same as it does on a MSW inverter. IE, slower in time but still gets the cooking done and it groans and moans a bit while the tray rotates. Kind of the same as on shore power with low voltage.

No real harm done there, but ISTR there could be a problem with the air conditioner being damaged from low voltage, so that may not like a "MSW-like" 120v , no idea.

Spot on !!

That's why I posted about the 2002 Keystone Cougar...IF that Rv had a history of troubles with normal gen sets.

Xantrex used to warn that their True Charge converter/chargers would not make as many as rated amps when powered by certain Rv generators that made "modified sine wave-like" outputs.

Threads here in the past revealed that some Onan gens were like that. IIRC it was shown that PD converters would have low DC amps with those gens as input, but WFCOs didn't care. The Xantrex units did care.

Not all Onans are the same for that it seems, so you have to know what's what.

On just what is "sine wave" it turns out that if you have more steps in your modified sine wave (called T something--forget) which is a percentage of something or other, it counts as "sine wave" ISTR the specs of the unit will say > 95% T whatits so that counts. You also see "sine wave" , "true sine wave", and for that you must compare the claimed " > xx % T thingies. (trying to be technical here! :) )

Back then too, the dreaded 6300 series of converter needed clean DC output by way of using the house battery as a filter to run some of the items like the idiot light monitor above the stove, the fridge and water heater controls, but the lights and fans didn't care about dirty DC power so they were ok.

the OP is asking about dirty AC not dirty DC, so it is hard to know what 120v items would be affected except that the converter might not do its rated amps depending on the Brand. I think the microwave would run same as it does on a MSW inverter. IE, slower in time but still gets the cooking done and it groans and moans a bit while the tray rotates. Kind of the same as on shore power with low voltage.

No real harm done there, but ISTR there could be a problem with the air conditioner being damaged from low voltage, so that may not like a "MSW-like" 120v , no idea.

babun wrote:
As far as I know, "normal" cheaper generators do not produce a pure sine wave current as needed by many new electronics.
It is the better, Inverter gensets that make clean sine wave electricity.
My main concern was/is the RV's built in panel, will it work okay?
Seems I will just use a surge guard and hope for the best.

See here....
http://www.yamahaef2000is.com/conventional_generator_vs_inverter_generator.html

http://www.yamahaef2000is.com/conventional_generator_vs_inverter_generator.html

Then buy an inverter generator. RV's have had non-inverter gensets in them for decades that will run everything in your rig... but nothing beats the sound of a red or blue (or yellow) inverter genset.

One thing I am definitely not familiar with newer UPS units. I guess some of them are pure sine wave now. It's when a high RELATIVE TO TOTAL CAPACITY inductive load is fed by a generator that it's true colors of a distorted or not waveform become obvious. Unless I am mistaken any thyristor based inverter reverts to square wave when approaching full output. But this comes from years ago Even the interstate DC intertie was/is hugely protected against overload. Man I am getting utterly obsolete on some of this stuff...

As far as I know, "normal" cheaper generators do not produce a pure sine wave current as needed by many new electronics.
It is the better, Inverter gensets that make clean sine wave electricity.
My main concern was/is the RV's built in panel, will it work okay?
Seems I will just use a surge guard and hope for the best.

See here....
http://www.yamahaef2000is.com/conventional_generator_vs_inverter_generator.html

http://www.yamahaef2000is.com/conventional_generator_vs_inverter_generator.html

The differences I see between "cheap" and "expensive" gensets are:
Cheap sets use less copper- lower continuous capacity.
Voltage regulation- cheap sets use a simple capacitor, expensive use electronic voltage regulation. Both have advantages and disadvantages.
Expensive will generally have a higher quality engine, and will hold frequency much better.

If you are worried about electronics, I would just run them on a good ups, set to not alarm, and set the voltage and frequency parameters as tight as you want..