AC or generator???

[MickD]

I have a Duo-Therm 600 series air conditioner that runs fine on shore power but when I try to run in off the gen it kills the generator. Should I look at the AC? Like the start capacitor. Or look at the Generator?

Thanks for any help.

[dan-nickie]

It's been about 4 days without a reply so I guess you resolved the issue?
Did you switch the water heater off of electric? 🙂

[dan-nickie]

MickD wrote:

dan-nickie wrote:
Turn your water heater off.
Or switch it to propane.

WHAT??? What makes you think I have my water heater on? DUH!

Are you sure you don't have it on electric? 🙂

[ksg5000]

Have you gone up top and checked out the wiring and capacitors? Have you tried cleaning the condenser and evaporator coils? Have you cleaned the air filters? Best to rule out the basics before opening up the wallet.

Edit - that's the hard start capacitor that I purchased for my older Coleman 13.5 air conditioner. Worked fine, simple install, and helped.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Yes.

I used to start an unloaded single phase (of course) 5-HP 240 volt motor with a 5500 Yamahahahahaha diesel generator.

[MickD]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Regardless, install a "hard start" capacitor kit. To me, they are not an option. It's a must. If if fixes things great. If low voltage damaged the AC or genny it won't happen again once things are fixed with a bigger cap. This is the most logical path to take.

Wil this one work?click

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Regardless, install a "hard start" capacitor kit. To me, they are not an option. It's a must. If if fixes things great. If low voltage damaged the AC or genny it won't happen again once things are fixed with a bigger cap. This is the most logical path to take.

[MickD]

The gen runs fine with a 1500w electric heater on and the water heater on at the same time. Everything runs good with shore power an doesn't trip a 15 amp circuit breaker. With everything else turned off and gen running ac will kill gen when turned on.

[eHoefler]

How old are the batteries?? Are they fully charged?? I would turn every breaker off except the A/C, if it still kills the generator, you can suspect the A/C

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Plug in an electric heater and run the microwave. If the genny powers that then the issue is in the air conditioner.

[AllegroD]

MickD wrote:

dan-nickie wrote:
Turn your water heater off.
Or switch it to propane.

WHAT??? What makes you think I have my water heater on? DUH!

Mick. This does not encourage help. There is no way we know your experience and what a "Duh" moment is. There are bound to be a number of what you think are "Duh" questions because to help we need to know a baseline.

Do you have or have you added an electric water heater element? If you have one, is the WH set to LP? Have you turned off the converter? Is all 110v eaters turned off? Have you added any power cords? Have you looked at them to see if they are burnt or melted?

[abideejay]

MickD wrote:
I have a Duo-Therm 600 series air conditioner that runs fine on shore power but when I try to run in off the gen it kills the generator. Should I look at the AC? Like the start capacitor. Or look at the Generator?

Thanks for any help.

It sounds like (obviously) something has changed. I would suspect a weak start capacitor. A/C units are relatively simple. You have a compressor (the largest amp draw) and a fan motor(s). When those motors start, they can draw substantially more current than they do when they are running. The reason it works well on shore power is because there is a lot more available power for the inrush current. You are only limited by the circuit breaker, and circuit breakers are designed to allow a certain percentage of overload for a short period of time. The generator is also limited by a circuit breaker, but it is also limited by the overall horsepower of the engine. When you exceed that horsepower, the engine shuts down (stalls). The more current you pull on the generator, the harder the engine works.

Hopefully that helps.

[MickD]

dan-nickie wrote:
Turn your water heater off.
Or switch it to propane.

WHAT??? What makes you think I have my water heater on? DUH!

[dan-nickie]

Turn your water heater off.
Or switch it to propane.

[marcsbigfoot20b]

poncho62 wrote:
How much power does the A/C draw in watts?

Did it work with that generator before?

A 2800 watt generator is not very big

I have an Onan Microlite 2500 LP and it runs the 13.5K AC with the converter on with absolutely no issues.

I don't think underpower is the issue.

Is it gasoline I assume?
Need to check the air cond power draw.