Is 3000W genny enough?

CJW8 wrote:
I've been reading this and shaking my head. Starting 15K AC's with a 3 KW generator? I'm not saying it couldn't be done but I know my 3.5/4K generator struggled to start one. And even if it does overcome the 66 amps locked rotor current, it won't do it very many times. Eventually something is going to get hot and release the magic blue smoke so you may as well get the $400 Champion and hope it is what fails, instead of the $6-800 AC plus installation.

What brand of generator you have?
My Honda 3000EI starts 15k AC even on eco mode and after start I can run small microwave with it.
2.5 gallons of gas will run AC at full blast for over 12 hr.

That's the YMMV part. Someone else may have a better unit with soft start and come up to where I camp and fire it up with a 3100, that doesn't mean it will fire up mine.

I've been reading this and shaking my head. Starting 15K AC's with a 3 KW generator? I'm not saying it couldn't be done but I know my 3.5/4K generator struggled to start one. And even if it does overcome the 66 amps locked rotor current, it won't do it very many times. Eventually something is going to get hot and release the magic blue smoke so you may as well get the $400 Champion and hope it is what fails, instead of the $6-800 AC plus installation.

Oh I like having the ability to do all we do without the generator. It's neat, it's quiet but it's nice to know we are prepared for anything too. When it comes time, I won't feel bad about hitting the start switch.

It wasn't bad listening to the generator the season we used it, well as long as we were INSIDE the trailer. Then again we were alone too. The one time we were in a dry CG it was obnoxious. After awhile it doesn't matter if someone fires up a Inverter generator or open frame, it's all just part of the over all hum. That was one of the few weekends we appreciated the bad weather and staying inside.

So while I am not anti generator, I'd rather not if I can.

pnichols wrote:

TomG2 wrote:
My traveling buddies don't allow any generators. They also travel where air conditioning is not needed.

The way things are going in this world, I hope they can always control the weather well enough for that. ;)

The WIN's (Wandering Individuals Network) prefer solar and boondocking. Most of their travels avoid the necessity of air conditioning. This summer they will be doing the parks of New Mexico with high elevations during the heat of summer. It is not an "Anti" anything group.

TomG2 wrote:
My traveling buddies don't allow any generators. They also travel where air conditioning is not needed.

The way things are going in this world, I hope they can always control the weather well enough for that. ;)

Considering what one pays for an RV, we wouldn't own one that wasn't able to keep us fully comfortable no matter where or when we wanted to travel. IMHO, the OP is right-on wanting adequate A/C capability available in their rig at all times. Our RV has both a genny that can handle the A/C everywhere and another genny that can't be heard (54dB of low frequeny humming at full power) for long battery charging sessions.

For the life of me, I can't comprehend the anti-generator RV mentality. Maybe that's an Eastern U.S. thing? We had no choice but to travel across the Southern U.S. once during July and August and our RV's generators made it possible. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and pretty much had the sight-seeing to ourselves because of the heat and humidity ... but with the generator powered A/C for parking lot lunches/resting and some no-hookup overnight camping ... no problem.

I shouldn't mention this, but out of boredom, a friend with a 3100 watt Champion and I decided to see which generator was louder at full tilt, powering a 15k BTU A/C.

Was a toss-up.

I'd buy my Yamaha 3000 iSE again, were I given the choice, because it has done thousands (3000+) of hours of run time with basic upkeep. However, you can't go wrong with the Champion.

Yamaha has a 4500 inverter generator I believe.

As for will a certain generator run YOUR A/C, it's really a YMMV because it depends on a number of things.

What A/C unit, how old, how efficient and does it have a hard start?

What generator, how old, what temp, what altitude, well taken care of and new gas?

What else is running at the time? Is the converter off, the fridge set to gas, water heater too?

One poster here claims to have tested the surge abilities of a pair of EU 2000's, a EU3000is and a Champ 3100 inverter. According to him the Champ has the most surge capacity of them all.

The professor of the 3000w generator thread picked up one of the early 3100's and had no issue running his 15.000 BTU A/C.

So you will never really know unless you try. Here you can rent various generators to see if they will cut it. I know it takes more than the popular inverter solutions at altitude so the solar A/C keeps us from having to listen to the 3500/4000.

Were I to buy again I would chose the newer 3800 Champ.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

I could run my air with a small generator because I have a hybrid inverter that takes care of surge loads. As a result I can run the Yamaha 3000 in eco mode.

Of all the ways to run an A/C, I'd probably say this would be the best way to do things. Magnum Energy 3000 watt hybrid inverter, which has enough headroom to handle the locked rotor amps coming from an A/C, as the inrush current is then drawn from the batteries.

Barring that, the Honda eu7000i is another way to solve the problem, although $4000 isn't cheap.

Hi,

I could run my air with a small generator because I have a hybrid inverter that takes care of surge loads. As a result I can run the Yamaha 3000 in eco mode.