Honda 2000

2 weeks ago while dry camping I was in a hurry to set up the genny's and get back to the office.... I was in such a hurry that I did not run the wires correctly to run the 2 in parallel ... the 1 ran my 13.5 AC just fine .. I would not do it all the time , but now I know it is up to the challenge . .

Any engine under a strain won't last very long. Why ruin a good generator by overloading it constantly, get one large enough to do the job.

Agreed, but the question is about an 11,00 btuh air conditioner. Every one is different and you don't know what the power consumption is without measuring it. I can offer as an example that my former Dometic Brisk Air 13,500 unit pulled 1,400 VA from the eu2000i, or 88% of its rated continuous load. The engine did not run at its maximum 5,000 rpm. After a few seconds of startup, it didn't even rise off of its eco off floor of 4,300 rpm. A simple interpolation, which may or may not be valid, would have the OP's air conditioner pulling 74% of the eu2000i's rated continuous load.

Gulfcoast wrote:
Any engine under a strain won't last very long. Why ruin a good generator by overloading it constantly, get one large enough to do the job.

X2. Years ago, as a test, I used my EU2000 to run my 13.5K AC. Yes, it did start and run it, but it screamed at wide open throttle. I did not like the result and don't recommend 2000 watt gennys to run ACs.

My dad has a Honda 2000, and it starts his 13k AC just fine. Never tried it with any other loads going.

Mine would run the 13.5 AC in my driveway. Didn't try it at altitude.

JKwock wrote:
no other power draws. two weeks ago, the campground our friends were at had a 4 hour black out in 95 degree heat. I wondered, how would I survive? bring my 11,000 btu portable ac and my Honda 2000? Will it run on my Honda 2000? Just curious.

Make sure you are not at altitude.

Gulfcoast wrote:
Any engine under a strain won't last very long. Why ruin a good generator by overloading it constantly, get one large enough to do the job.

What size should he get?

Any engine under a strain won't last very long. Why ruin a good generator by overloading it constantly, get one large enough to do the job.

Look at the specs for amp draw or buy or borrow a clamp on amp meter and check the starting/running/cycling amperage of the ac unit.

A 2000 Honda will most likely run it but I would want to know what range of its available amperage I'm operating in.

2000 is the surge wattage of the Honda but the running wattage is 1600. So....1600 watts divided by 120 volts equals 13.33 amps.

So if it's powering the ac unit, and say it's pulling 7 amps which is about half of its capacity or is it at 12 amps which is most of its capacity. The way Honda words it in their manual is that if you are borderline of tripping the overload indicator you will have reduced service life.

16.6 amps is available for the 2000 on a surge basis. So again, if you are running along at 12 amps with cycling spikes 16 amps, you are maxed out.

I'm guessing you will run at about 8 or 9 amps with a start draw of about 12 or 13. If you know that you are cruising along at say 8 amps and you know that it's warm enough that the compressor is not going to be cycling on and off you may also be able to to run other small loads with it.

If you get an idea of the amp draw of your converter while charging your battery, you MAY be able to charge you battery at the same time. Again, go by the numbers as your converter will pull more amps if your battery is very low vs a low amp draw if you are just topping your battery off.

One will usually start a 13,000 btu unit (soft-start, yada, yada)
My -guess- is yes