Exercising generator and A/C after winterizing question?

[Golferdude21]

I just had my travel trailer winterized for the winter. I want to exercise the generator one more time before it goes into storage for winter....and by doing this, i will need to put a good electric load on it. Am I able to run the A/C without affecting any of the winterization I just had done?? Might be a stupid question, but i know the A/C has condensation and water that builds up and runs off the camper. Just didn't know if it affected any pipes or anything inside the camper.
Thanks in Advance

[Boon_Docker]

"The worst thing for a genset is to sit for long periods - especially gas ones."

My Champion has sat for 6 months every year for the past 6 years, hasn't hurt it a bit. Maybe I'm just lucky. 🙂

[way2roll]

Golferdude21 wrote:
Its a gas Onan onboard genny. Havent ran it in a few months figured before it goes indoors and away from me for 5 months i should run it

You should really run it monthly. The worst thing for a genset is to sit for long periods - especially gas ones.

[Grit_dog]

Golferdude21 wrote:
Its a gas Onan onboard genny. Havent ran it in a few months figured before it goes indoors and away from me for 5 months i should run it

Yup, agree then. But either run it out of gas, or put some fresh gas with stabilizer in an empty tank and run that or some no. Ethanol with stabilizer.
Gummed up carbs are a real and common occurrence and it’s easier to take precautions than to clean a carb out.

[Boon_Docker]

My 6 year old Champion 2000 sits idle for 6 months through the winter with no exercise. I put in fresh gas in the spring and start it with one pull.

[Golferdude21]

Its a gas Onan onboard genny. Havent ran it in a few months figured before it goes indoors and away from me for 5 months i should run it

[Sandia_Man]

We use a portable electric space heater for exercising our Onan since it is primarily performed during the camping off season. Both of our gennies are actively utilized during the RVing season since we do more boondocking and dry camping than anything else. No issues on prolonged use of space heaters thus far, sometimes we have 2 of them cranking although both are rarely set to high at the same time.

[Grit_dog]

Golferdude, you could use a little time learning the concepts of your camper systems. Will help you down the road. (Literally and figuratively).
Why do you need to “exercise” the genny 1 more time?
Is it propane? Then no worry about bad gas.
Just change the oil? If not maybe you should, not really pertinent to this discussion though. But a reason to warm it up.
Gas stability? This is real if it’s gasoline powered. Stabilize some fresh fuel or throw some Av gas in it for the winter and run it.

[opnspaces]

With the way these RV's are thrown together I don't doubt that from time to time an outlet has been installed with the wiring not inserted correctly. But that of course does not mean that every outlet is installed incorrectly and therefore a problem. I have run a 1500 watt space heater in my trailer for many years with no problems and I will continue to do so. If you're really concerned you would have to unplug or turn off the generator and pull the outlet out of the wall to inspect. See if there are signs of heat damage like burnt or discolored wire insulation or melting in the plastic near the wire contact points. If no damage push the outlet back into the wall and don't worry about it.

[Bionic_Man]

Golferdude21 wrote:
Jeeze I didnt realize this. I always used to just use the propane heater to heat until last weekend when i read that most people use a space heater when on shore power to save propane. So i used a small1 on high so 1500watts and worked good. Didnt think that ud have outlet problems frim wiring w just one....WOW. We had it goin overnight too...??

Maybe it depends on your trailer, but I’ve run a space heater on high for years on mine without issue.

[JimK-NY]

You want to warm up the generator, drive out the moisture. You do not need to put on a load, just let the generator run 15 minutes or so.

[Golferdude21]

I guess i should probably take that outlet off to make sure no wires are messed up huh?

[Golferdude21]

Jeeze I didnt realize this. I always used to just use the propane heater to heat until last weekend when i read that most people use a space heater when on shore power to save propane. So i used a small1 on high so 1500watts and worked good. Didnt think that ud have outlet problems frim wiring w just one....WOW. We had it goin overnight too...??

[wa8yxm]

Running the A/C won't hurt the thing or affect winterizing since winterizing an AC amounts to cleaning the filters.

HOWEVER DO NOT RUN A/C IF BELOW FREEZING OUT.

Space heaters. on low.. up to 4 (depending on generator) each on a seperate breaker.. That works

Space heaters (2) on high may work however they may also damage the outlets. Have seen 3 so far (one in my own rv) damaged by a space heater load

Now have special outlets in my RV for those (15/20 amp, 12 ga wire bent around a screw, not punch down and one outlet to a breaker)

[way2roll]

No harm running the AC, but Gen sets should be exercised monthly not just once before storage.

[Dutch_12078]

Running the A/C will not hurt any of the plumbing since there's no connection between them. If the humidity is low enough, there may not be any significant condensation anyway.