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reno6's avatar
reno6
Explorer
Jul 19, 2019

Honda 2200i and 15k AC

I think the planets of Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn were aligned just perfectly or I am just incredibly lucky.

2018 Keystone Bullet with 15k Dometic AC and I installed an older SPP6E capacitor that I had laying around from a previous trailer. Just a simple 2 wire install taking about 10 min. Took the 2200i off eco mode, turned off all breaker in the trailer except the 20 amp AC so as to limit the load on the generator.

Set the AC fan on low for a few minutes, then slowly started to drop the temp on the thermostat waiting to see what would happen. Boom! AC fired right up with the generator slowing down just for a second. Ran it for over an hour. After the AC was running for a few minutes, I put the generator on eco mode and it actually dropped several hundred rpm so that tells me it is not maxed out.

For those of you who want to pick apart my success, I am at 4800 feet at 89 deg F outside temp. Throughout the day, I repeated this process 4-5 times and it worked 100% every time. Either the 2200i puts out more than advertised or my AC is a mislabeled 11k unit(not likely). Either way, I am incredibly happy!!!
  • SidecarFlip's avatar
    SidecarFlip
    Explorer III
    Jul 19, 2019
    It's the capacitor, not the genny. Just make sure that cap has a dropping resistor across the terminals or you might get something you don't want if you get your fingers in there...
  • ReneeG's avatar
    ReneeG
    Explorer
    Jul 19, 2019
    Yup, the capacitor. The August Trailer Life magazine has an article on Micro-Air's Easystart. The article notes that a few RV manufacturers started installing this technology into their rooftop AC's starting in 2017 and introduced this to the 2018 RV after market. We're going to install it on both. Installing on both allows you to run both AC's on 30amp too.
  • 3_tons's avatar
    3_tons
    Explorer III
    Jul 19, 2019
    Having previously upgraded from my 2000i, I have the exact same generator, but my guess is that the watts for the 15kbtu air conditioner are a out 1,900 or so while the continuous run watt rating for the 2200i is at 1,800, and consider too that performance drops off a bit at higher elevations... It’s good to know that the 2200i a fair amount of reserve power...
  • ktmrfs's avatar
    ktmrfs
    Explorer II
    Jul 19, 2019
    the 2200 is a HUGE improvement over the 2000 especially as you get above sea level. I had a 2000 and it would not reliably start my AC at sea level. I did get the easy start and the 2000 would easily start the AC at 5000ft but after a few minutes overload.

    Now with the 2200 at 5000+ft for me and 7000ft my brother is at the 2200 will easily run the AC all day. And at 4500ft a fellow camper had a 13.5K BTU AC and we on a lark decided to see if a 2200 would start it without the easy start. turned off eco mode, started the AC and the 2200 barely grunted to get it started and again continued to run.

    at 4500ft the 2200 has over 300W of margin. I can run the AC AND the fridge on electric with no overload.

    IMHO the biggest reason is that the 2200 has a much larger engine, something like 125cc vs the 2000 so altitude doesn't affect the output near as much as the smaller engine on the 2000 does.
  • stevenal's avatar
    stevenal
    Nomad II
    Jul 19, 2019
    Reno,

    Good to know. Thanks for the post. I'm curious though regarding eco mode. Did you run it that way long enough for the AC to cycle off and on, and how did that work out?
  • 3_tons's avatar
    3_tons
    Explorer III
    Jul 19, 2019
    stevenal wrote:
    Reno,

    Good to know. Thanks for the post. I'm curious though regarding eco mode. Did you run it that way long enough for the AC to cycle off and on, and how did that work out?


    No doubt, the 2200i is a jewel but note that amps and watts will go up significantly after about a 30min compressor run time, thus (for a 15kbtu unit) ‘eco’ mode may not be viable longer term..
  • reno6's avatar
    reno6
    Explorer
    Jul 19, 2019
    This is some great dialog. In my typical AC use, I am just grateful to get a little relief from the heat. I dont plan on ever running the AC for hours on end or even enough where it cycles on and off. Eco mode was just a quick test. In reality, I would keep eco mode off. In response to the other input about manufacturers including a soft start system from the factory, looking at my unit, that system is not present. All there is is a run capacitor. I was just completely surprised that the 2200i in combination with the supco had the ability to start and run a 15k unit in moderate heat at elevation.
  • philh's avatar
    philh
    Explorer II
    Jul 19, 2019
    microair rocks the world

    I went with Westinghouse 2500 to gain a little bit more overhead in the same small package.
  • bid_time's avatar
    bid_time
    Nomad II
    Jul 20, 2019
    philh wrote:
    microair rocks the world

    I went with Westinghouse 2500 to gain a little bit more overhead in the same small package.
    I'd put $500 into a better generator that has lots of uses around the house before I'd spend $350 on a one trick pony that can do nothing else. YOMV.
  • 3_tons's avatar
    3_tons
    Explorer III
    Jul 20, 2019
    bid_time wrote:
    philh wrote:
    microair rocks the world

    I went with Westinghouse 2500 to gain a little bit more overhead in the same small package.
    I'd put $500 into a better generator that has lots of uses around the house before I'd spend $350 on a one trick pony that can do nothing else. YOMV.


    You’re a free agent, so do as you wish...

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