Generator question - worth it to sell Champion gen for Honda

SoundGuy wrote:

otrfun wrote:
SG, you're M.O. in many of these discussions, especially when you're challenged, is to simply tire out your opponent with a barrage of opinion based, loopholes and gotchas. It's your right to do so, but I won't participate in it.

I'll let my posts stand as-is. Some may find them useful. Others, like yourself, maybe not so much. That's ok.

I'll let my posts stand as-is as well. Some may find them useful. Others like yourself, maybe not so much. That's OK.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Thank you, SG!

otrfun wrote:
SG, you're M.O. in many of these discussions, especially when you're challenged, is to simply tire out your opponent with a barrage of opinion based, loopholes and gotchas. It's your right to do so, but I won't participate in it.

I'll let my posts stand as-is. Some may find them useful. Others, like yourself, maybe not so much. That's ok.

I'll let my posts stand as-is as well. Some may find them useful. Others like yourself, maybe not so much. That's OK. :B

SoundGuy wrote:
Sorry, not intending to be "pessimistic" or to give the impression one shouldn't want to "broaden one's knowledge base". There's nothing wrong with research, heck I do it all the time myself about all sorts of subjects, but reality is whether LRA turns out to be 55 amps, or 60 amps, or 65 amps it's not going to change one's selection of a suitable genset. The reality also is that any genset rated at less than 3000 - 3500 watts is going to be stressed starting any rooftop mounted RV A/C unit regardless of what it's specific LRA may be. The solution - which I've repeated many times - is to budget for installing a Micro-Air East Start Soft Starter Kit on any A/C and not worry about LRA which you're going to forget soon after anyway.

Based on your post, it's obvious to me that you don't have personal hands-on experience checking/testing inrush current with the various Honda and Champion generators mentioned in this discussion . . . especially while powering RV a/c units with a broad spectrum of LRA's.

SG, you're M.O. in many of these discussions, especially when you're challenged, is to simply tire out your opponent with a barrage of opinion based, loopholes and gotchas. It's your right to do so, but I won't participate in it.

I'll let my posts stand as-is. Some may find them useful. Others, like yourself, maybe not so much. That's ok.

my T/T is a 2007 Fleetwood 270fqs, and my owners manual states that two were available ACs a 13,500 btu and a 15,000 btu but no brand name. so were on the ac unit can I find this info. can I remove the interior cover and see it. i'm totally with OTRFUN doing research. I want to find the best combination that works the best for ME and not spending hundreds of dollars. no one wants to buy something that doesn't do what it's expected to do or pay a lot of money for something that isn't necessary or needed. i also want the remote start that's a MUST
Jay D.

badsix wrote:
how do I find out what my LRA IS?

SoundGuy wrote:
Check your A/C documentation or look it up online using your unit's make / model. That said, why would you care? - it's going to be somewhere in the 50 to 70 amp range, there's nothing you can do about it anyway, and other than being a curiosity it won't have any bearing on your choice of genset other than to perhaps convince you that you need to go to a larger than necessary genset . . .

otrfun wrote:
I disagree with this rather pessimistic perspective.

Why would anybody care about the LRA? Well, some folks may just want to broaden their knowledge base---to better understand how RV a/c units work . . . or possibly why their RV a/c won't work (start), say, with a given generator.

Sorry, not intending to be "pessimistic" or to give the impression one shouldn't want to "broaden one's knowledge base". There's nothing wrong with research, heck I do it all the time myself about all sorts of subjects, but reality is whether LRA turns out to be 55 amps, or 60 amps, or 65 amps it's not going to change one's selection of a suitable genset. The reality also is that any genset rated at less than 3000 - 3500 watts is going to be stressed starting any rooftop mounted RV A/C unit regardless of what it's specific LRA may be. The solution - which I've repeated many times - is to budget for installing a Micro-Air East Start Soft Starter Kit on any A/C and not worry about LRA which you're going to forget soon after anyway. :R

SoundGuy wrote:

badsix wrote:
how do I find out what my LRA IS?

Check your A/C documentation or look it up online using your unit's make / model. That said, why would you care? - it's going to be somewhere in the 50 to 70 amp range, there's nothing you can do about it anyway, and other than being a curiosity it won't have any bearing on your choice of genset other than to perhaps convince you that you need to go to a larger than necessary genset . . .

I disagree with this rather pessimistic perspective.

Why would anybody care about the LRA? Well, some folks may just want to broaden their knowledge base---to better understand how RV a/c units work . . . or possibly why their RV a/c won't work (start), say, with a given generator. Taking a few seconds to look up the LRA may just provide the answer. Yes, the final solution may be a larger generator, or a Micro-Air Easy Start (MAES), but at least you understand technically what's going on behind the scenes and can make a more knowledge-based decision.

In other situations folks may be in a position where they're able to pick and choose, or match, a given generator with a more efficient RV a/c unit. By taking the time to purchase a RV a/c unit with the lowest possible LRA, one may just negate the need to purchase a MAES, or a larger generator. IMO, a potentially good return for less than 5 minutes of research. I mean why put your head-in-the-sand and just throw down $300 of your hard-earned money (plus installation time/costs) to purchase a MAES (or a larger generator) when simply choosing the "right" RV a/c unit (with a lower LRA) may be a more cost effective solution?

Finally, so SG doesn't think I'm not giving the MAES its due credit, well, I'd like to say I've helped some friends install a few of these puppies, and yes, they absolutely work as advertised. On one unit we measured an inrush current of 64 amps upon compressor startup before installing the MAES. After installing the MAES the inrush current dropped to 29 amps--very dramatic reduction. A Honda EU2000i (with the Eco mode on) easily started and ran the a/c unit after the installation. The only drawback (as I already mentioned) is they're relatively expensive at $300, and, for some, the installation is too intimidating to consider doing DIY. For these non-DIY folks, the cost of the MAES, plus the cost to have it professionally installed, makes the overall cost somewhat prohibitive for some.

badsix wrote:
how do I find out what my LRA IS?

Check your A/C documentation or look it up online using your unit's make / model. That said, why would you care? - it's going to be somewhere in the 50 to 70 amp range, there's nothing you can do about it anyway, and other than being a curiosity it won't have any bearing on your choice of genset other than to perhaps convince you that you need to go to a larger than necessary genset. JMO, but if weight is your major concern I'd be considering the new Honda EU2200i which weighs the same 50 lbs as the earlier EU2000i and add a Micro-Air Easy Start Soft Starter Kit to the A/C. You won't have electric start but this sure would be a much lighter option than a Champ 3100 or 3400.

badsix wrote:
how do I find out what my LRA IS?
Jay D.

You could contact the Mfg of your A/C or use a meter that has memory and will read the highest amperage when the A/C starts.

Except for some of the newer, high efficiency models, most A/C compressors are similar in LRA ratio to their continuous rating. IOW, if you can find the LRA of a similar A/C unit, you could rely on the LRA specification of your unit as being in the same ballpark.

how do I find out what my LRA IS?
Jay D.

GREAT INFORMATION, I'm also in the generator dilemma. I have a Champion 3500/4000 but would like to go to a smaller lighter gen. i'm going to mount it on the back of my T/T, but the 3500/4000 is just a little heavy for the wife and I to lift onto the cradle is sets on. I've been thinking of a davit to lift it off but haven't found the right parts. I've also been looking at the Champion 3100, AT 40# less and other than cost I might go that way I've got to look up my a/c requirement first. oh and you got to love the remote start.
Jay D.