Two honda generators in tandem

4200 is surge value
run is 1600 and maybe 1760 with eco switch off

edekgb wrote:
How come my 4400 watt honda generator (2200 companion and 2000 in tandem) wont power my 1350 btu air cibsitioner? I am at 5280 ft (Denver).

Why even bother? Sell the 2K genset, equip your A/C with a Micro-Air Easy Start Soft Starter Kit and your EU2200i alone will easily start your A/C in high ambient temps and at higher elevations.

ford truck guy wrote:

cbwallace wrote:
It sounds as though the generators are not actually running in parallel for some reason. I have run a 13.5 A/C unit on a single Honda at much lower altitudes but it is about all the generator can handle. I have also tried to do the same at 5,000+ feet and it will not do it. However, I have run 2 Hondas in parallel many times and it will run the microwave, A/C and fridge all at the same time with no problem. The Hondas in parallel should run close to all of the same amenities as a 30A outlet.

^^^ check this.. When I was running the same set up, I was rushed 1 day during set up and I reversed 2 of the 3 cables that run it in parallel.. was not running AC, just everything else, the MAIN genny ran out of fuel while the 2nd was still almost full....All the draw was on 1

I've not managed to do that yet, but always wondered what would happen if you crossed the red and black wires.

First of all 2200 + 2000 = 4200 (not 4400). Secondly at that altitude you are losing a lot of power; however, the AC should still run. Also, is that running watts or starting watts? Running watts could be way less and make a difference depending on other loads sucking power away at the same time as you trying to start the AC. Make sure everything else is turned off before you start the AC. Lastly, the start capacitor in the AC could be going bad.

We had a new Dometic 13.5 that would just not run reliably on our twin Yamaha 2ks. Switched to a new Atwood AC and they have absolutely zero issue running the AC. I tried all the tricks to get the Dometic to run with different Start Caps and turning off other items and breakers but it just wasn't 100% reliable, more like 60%. We use our toy hauler as a rolling kennel more than anything so having no AC was not a option especially if we were out to dinner and didn't know if turned off. Also we are at Sea Level so our gens should of been making as much power as they can.

I submit not every AC is electrically efficient, there may even be difference within the same Model of the same Brand. Our Atwood came with the testing forms the factory used when they checked it's electrical usage. LRA, running Amps and in every fan speed and mode and it is well within our gens capabilities yet the Dometic was not for some reason.

cbwallace wrote:
It sounds as though the generators are not actually running in parallel for some reason. I have run a 13.5 A/C unit on a single Honda at much lower altitudes but it is about all the generator can handle. I have also tried to do the same at 5,000+ feet and it will not do it. However, I have run 2 Hondas in parallel many times and it will run the microwave, A/C and fridge all at the same time with no problem. The Hondas in parallel should run close to all of the same amenities as a 30A outlet.

^^^ check this.. When I was running the same set up, I was rushed 1 day during set up and I reversed 2 of the 3 cables that run it in parallel.. was not running AC, just everything else, the MAIN genny ran out of fuel while the 2nd was still almost full....All the draw was on 1

Do they both have to be running ?

It is my attempt at a joke !

They obviously are not running in parallel together. Something is wrong. 4200 starting watts is almost 35 amps. Everything inside should run in that 30 amp rig...only 3600 watts is needed to make that 30amps which is probably close to the running watts of those 2 gennies

It sounds as though the generators are not actually running in parallel for some reason. I have run a 13.5 A/C unit on a single Honda at much lower altitudes but it is about all the generator can handle. I have also tried to do the same at 5,000+ feet and it will not do it. However, I have run 2 Hondas in parallel many times and it will run the microwave, A/C and fridge all at the same time with no problem. The Hondas in parallel should run close to all of the same amenities as a 30A outlet.

Do the generators have their "ECO" mode turned OFF? We ran a 13.5 A/C for a weekend using an EU2000 without any problems, but the ECO mode had to be off... which meant it was not quiet.

Yes, we were at sea level, but with the amount of power you are using you should be able to run A/C.