Generator/AC/converter questions
My travel companion and myself are going to buy a generator for use on an extended trip this summer. It will definitely be an inverter type, and we are looking at the Champion models. We just need...
Forum Discussion
pianotuna covered things fairly well.
The 12.4A rating would be a running rating, though the actual consumption is variable depending on various things such as the outside temperature and the circuit voltage. It's likely a worst-case (or approximately worst-case) running current rating at the nominal rated voltage, presumably 120V.
The converter rating is a worst-case rating, i.e. the maximum consumption. The actual power consumption depends on how much power it needs to put out, which in turn depends on the charge current if any going to the battery and the 12V power consumption. I think my converter (a different brand) uses less than 25 watts when the battery is fully charged...indeed, the entire RV uses about that, for the converter loafing along and the microwave clock and other such "phantom" loads.
There's no need to assume a 10% efficiency loss; the generator is rated in what it puts out. Typically that would be used for an inverter to figure the power consumed from the batteries.
I'd think the 3100 generator should be sufficient (but not offer much leeway), but I'm no expert nor can I speak from personal experience on that. My 4000 watt Onan does start my air conditioner without any hardship, but that's not a very useful data point for your investigation. :)
The 12.4A rating would be a running rating, though the actual consumption is variable depending on various things such as the outside temperature and the circuit voltage. It's likely a worst-case (or approximately worst-case) running current rating at the nominal rated voltage, presumably 120V.
The converter rating is a worst-case rating, i.e. the maximum consumption. The actual power consumption depends on how much power it needs to put out, which in turn depends on the charge current if any going to the battery and the 12V power consumption. I think my converter (a different brand) uses less than 25 watts when the battery is fully charged...indeed, the entire RV uses about that, for the converter loafing along and the microwave clock and other such "phantom" loads.
There's no need to assume a 10% efficiency loss; the generator is rated in what it puts out. Typically that would be used for an inverter to figure the power consumed from the batteries.
I'd think the 3100 generator should be sufficient (but not offer much leeway), but I'm no expert nor can I speak from personal experience on that. My 4000 watt Onan does start my air conditioner without any hardship, but that's not a very useful data point for your investigation. :)
