Westinghouse i4500 Generator
I posted a few weeks ago about trying to run my AC with a Yamaha 2k genny and Magnum 3000W boost inverter. Sort summary - the Yamaha just wasn’t strong enough with surges to work. So now I’ve pur...
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FWIW, I’ve been struggling along for several years with a closely similar problem but with different branded components but getting about the exact same results…My frustrations finally hit critical mass this summer due to the unusually hot weather…Scenario:
Honda 2200i Generator and Xantrax ProSine 2.0 pass-thru inverter, 11k btu Coleman Mach 1 PS with soft-start…My goal all along was to be able to run the air conditioner (low fan) while the genny is in the ‘Eco’ mode, and the inverter in the standby mode, but a dreaded oscillation between standby and invert would shortly after develop, and ultimately the inverter would not successfully pass the load back to the generator…I’d already tried monkeying extensively with the inverter programming, but to no avail…
Finally, using an extension cord I decided to bypass the inverter completely and try again with the Honda set to Eco mode connected directly to the Coleman and it worked flawlessly every time the compressor kicked on…Though as to be expected it rose a bit above idle speed, the little Honda purred like a kitten never once failing to pick up the heavy compressor start load…
So my ultimate solution was then to install a new dedicated ATS Switch between the inverter and the air conditioner, with it’s own genny power cord…This has proven to work perfectly and when generator power is not present, the inverter (via ATS) will power up the air conditioner as per past practice…In this way the air cond and inverter can be run simultaneously because the new ATS’s dominate position defaults to the generator…
I used a Go Power 30a ATS (a rebranded Progressive Dynamics unit), and to make things work, connected the inverter output to the normally shore power input terminals, and the new genny cord to the generator input terminals….This arraignment may seem odd, but after much trial and error, I then acted upon a tip from a knowledgeable EE whereby the ATS sees the generator terminals as the dominate power source (e.g. perhaps their diagram is printed in error??)….
Problem SOLVED !!
3 tons
Upon edit, I should add that this problem persisted whether the inverter was in standby mode OR set to OFF…
Honda 2200i Generator and Xantrax ProSine 2.0 pass-thru inverter, 11k btu Coleman Mach 1 PS with soft-start…My goal all along was to be able to run the air conditioner (low fan) while the genny is in the ‘Eco’ mode, and the inverter in the standby mode, but a dreaded oscillation between standby and invert would shortly after develop, and ultimately the inverter would not successfully pass the load back to the generator…I’d already tried monkeying extensively with the inverter programming, but to no avail…
Finally, using an extension cord I decided to bypass the inverter completely and try again with the Honda set to Eco mode connected directly to the Coleman and it worked flawlessly every time the compressor kicked on…Though as to be expected it rose a bit above idle speed, the little Honda purred like a kitten never once failing to pick up the heavy compressor start load…
So my ultimate solution was then to install a new dedicated ATS Switch between the inverter and the air conditioner, with it’s own genny power cord…This has proven to work perfectly and when generator power is not present, the inverter (via ATS) will power up the air conditioner as per past practice…In this way the air cond and inverter can be run simultaneously because the new ATS’s dominate position defaults to the generator…
I used a Go Power 30a ATS (a rebranded Progressive Dynamics unit), and to make things work, connected the inverter output to the normally shore power input terminals, and the new genny cord to the generator input terminals….This arraignment may seem odd, but after much trial and error, I then acted upon a tip from a knowledgeable EE whereby the ATS sees the generator terminals as the dominate power source (e.g. perhaps their diagram is printed in error??)….
Problem SOLVED !!
3 tons
Upon edit, I should add that this problem persisted whether the inverter was in standby mode OR set to OFF…
