Solar vs generator
Have a new 25 ft. Rockwood Mini-Lite TT with 2 batteries. We dry camp and want to know is solar panels worth a try? Unit is set up for solar but concerned that it will take a lot of time to bring batt...
Forum Discussion
totaldla wrote:
Yup, I just installed one 2 weeks ago and it will start my 13.5K at 1400 ft and 95 degrees with my eu2000i.
I tested it at 120 degrees and the poor little gen really tried but coudnt overcome the 59 locked rotor amps.
Very interesting. So as the ambient temperature rises, the load on the AC compressor increases - which causes the starting current to increase.
You also mentioned altitude: higher altitude would decrease the horsepower of the generator, but does it affect the AC compressor load as well?
Less dense air can slight decrease effectiveness of the heat exchangers but wont matter at all current draw for the compressor system. The issue is just the generator loosing power. Figure 3 percent per 1000 feet with an engine that adjusts for altitude. You'll tend to loose even more with a fixed jet carburetor system which is what you have in most generators.
