Running two 2000 watt generators in eco mode with AC on

DieselBurps wrote:
Curious if this is possible or anyone has done this. Currently I can run my Coleman mach air conditioning unit in my truck camper off just one yamaha 2000 watt generator but it's not happy about it and from the sound I can tell it's maxed out. I am wondering if I were to run two 2000 watt generators in parallel could I do it with the eco throttle on? It seems like this would be possible since both generators are putting out 26 amps and given the fact I am able to start it and run the ac with just one.

yes....since you can run on one, the other will produce enough in eco mode..

I have a pair of Honda 2000 and I don't run in ECO. The starting of the AVC unit is quicker then the gensets can react.
The Honda manual eludes to operate not to run ECO under certain conditions.
I would suggest reading the Yamaha manual very closely.

If you have a truck camper, you probably have a smaller A/C unit than a travel trailer has. My small trailer has an 8000 btu A/C unit. With my 2800/3100 generator in economy mode, I get a small blip of RPMs when it first starts, then it settles really close to idle. So if you do have a smaller A/C unit, it should work. Rent a companion (Yamaha) generator and the parallel hookup for a few hours or a day and try it out. You may have to purchase the parallel kit. But that beats shelling out big bucks for another Yamaha and finding out it doesn't work like you want it to.

DieselBurps wrote:
Curious if this is possible or anyone has done this. Currently I can run my Coleman mach air conditioning unit in my truck camper off just one yamaha 2000 watt generator but it's not happy about it and from the sound I can tell it's maxed out. I am wondering if I were to run two 2000 watt generators in parallel could I do it with the eco throttle on? It seems like this would be possible since both generators are putting out 26 amps and given the fact I am able to start it and run the ac with just one.

If the Yamaha 2000's operate like the Honda EU2000's, there's only a minimal increase in inrush current when the units are paralleled. Yes, the continuous current output is doubled when the Hondas are paralleled; unfortunately, the inrush current only increases 10 percent, if that.

Why? I couldn't tell you. Bottom line, a paralleled pair of Honda EU2000i's may still need to be run with the Eco mode off to start some 13.5k - 15k RV a/c units with higher LRA's (typically those with LRA's of ~60a and higher).

When we had our pickup camper, it had a 12,000 BTU AC unit. I could run the AC unit with my 1 Honda 2000 IF I turned off the inverter breaker switch with no problem.

When I first start my 13.5k AC, I have both Honda EU2000i generators off eco mode running wide open. After the AC has started and run for a while, I will turn on the eco, and they will idle down to where they need to be. The compressor will restart as needed without any problems.

Always run my pair of Honda 2000's in eco. Never had a problem in the last ten years.

DieselBurps wrote:
Currently I can run my Coleman mach air conditioning unit in my truck camper off just one yamaha 2000 watt generator but it's not happy about it and from the sound I can tell it's maxed out.

You haven't indicated which size of A/C you have but if it's the most common 13,500 BTU A/C your EF2000iS should easily run this A/C, even in ECO mode, just as will a Honda EU2000i with which I'm more familiar since I've owned 2 of them. The question isn't whether it will run the A/C but whether it will repeatedly start the A/C's compressor when conditions become difficult - i.e. temps above 85F and significantly higher elevation where the air is thinner. To accomplish this most would have recommended either a larger 3K+ genset or a pair of 2Ks paralleled together. Now it seems neither is no longer necessary - just install a soft starter such as the Micro-Air Easy Start Soft Starter Kit on your A/C and just one 2K should easily start it with no difficulty at all ... a solution that's certainly much simpler and MUCH cheaper than running two 2K gensets paralleled together. :B

Twin hondas have a larger engine than the twin yamahas.

dfb wrote:
Twin hondas have a larger engine than the twin yamahas.

A single EU2000i has a 20% larger engine than an EF2000iS ... so what? - if I understand the OP correctly he's talking about adding a second Yamaha to his existing Yamaha. Sure, he could sell his existing Yamaha and replace it with 2 Honda EU2000i gensets but the cost of doing so would be even more. If it were me I'd stick with his one Yamaha and install a Micro-Air Easy Start Soft Starter kit on his A/C.