Easy start on 2000 watt 13500 btu

[Traveling_Teach]

I have a predator 2000 watt gen/ inverter I’m going to try and run my 13500 btu rv a/c with a easy start. Think it will work? My a/c also has hard start capacitor. I don’t want to use the parallel kit every time I need a/c. Thanks for any advice.

[time2roll]

I really like the mini split idea.

[ktmrfs]

jjrbus wrote:
I found so much misinformation on the net about using an AC with small genset,
cost me some frustration and money.

Through experimenting I found that the largest AC I can run with my Honda 2000 is an 8000 btu window AC. That is run dependably under all conditions. Up in the mountains, Death Valley in the summer, Sitting in full sun, temp and humidity in the 90's in FL, never fails to start it.

The window AC sticking out of the rear window of my RV is aesthetically unpleasing and I have been watching the Easy Start for some time and believe there is now enough reported experience on the net that I would buy one.

If I were starting over I would build in a window AC or use a mini split. I find roof air;s to be obnoxiously loud and over priced.

I agree the honda 2000 works great on smaller AC units and I agree it will run out of steam even with any easy start at between 3000 and 4000ft on the 13.5K AC units. Been their, done that. I have one trailer with a Coleman power cub 9000BTU unit, and the 2000 would easily start and run it at high temps, high altitude (7000+ft) no problem and reliable.

However the honda 2200 with the much larger engine has no problems at 4500ft, not even at 3/4 throttle and has at least 300W to spare and my brother runs his 13.5K AC on the 2200 with stock jetting at 7000ft in 90F temps. the 2200 is IMHO a big improvement over the 2000 for high altitude running. Honda seems to have done the homework in engine sizing to support full output at high altitudes.

This weekend we were at 4500ft, honda 2200 and easy start wasn't breaking a sweat on my trailer. Another person with a 2000 couldn't start his AC (as one would expect) on the 2000, I brought over the 2200 expecting it to not start the 13.5K AC unit at that altitude. Turned off eco mode, and amazingly the AC started right up, yes the 2200 grunted on startup, but amazingly it started the AC the turned it to eco mode and it idled down some. My old 2000 was a 50/50 chance of starting my AC w/o easy start at near sea level.

As a side note I've measured the peak starting current on my Coleman Mach 3 with the easy start with a very fast capture peak reading current probe. Peak starting current is consistently 18.5-19.0 Amps, running current is 13.5A The easy start does what it says, significantly reduces starting current, but it won't do anything about running current, which they make a clear point about.

[jjrbus]

I found so much misinformation on the net about using an AC with small genset,
cost me some frustration and money.

Through experimenting I found that the largest AC I can run with my Honda 2000 is an 8000 btu window AC. That is run dependably under all conditions. Up in the mountains, Death Valley in the summer, Sitting in full sun, temp and humidity in the 90's in FL, never fails to start it.

The window AC sticking out of the rear window of my RV is aesthetically unpleasing and I have been watching the Easy Start for some time and believe there is now enough reported experience on the net that I would buy one.

If I were starting over I would build in a window AC or use a mini split. I find roof air;s to be obnoxiously loud and over priced.

[MrWizard]

The 3500 will use more at say small loads
But at 1800 watts the gas consumption difference is NOT very much

Saying the 2000 will use less gas at heavy loads
Than the 3500 at light loads is just plain wrong

[philh]

Clicck wrote:
doesn't make much sense IMHO to have a small genny running at near 100% capacity for AC only when you can buy the predator 3500 for not much more money.

The 3500 runs my 13.5 AC at less than 50% capacity it is quieter, will last longer, and there is available capacity to use other electronics.

Because your 3500 uses more gasoline at light loads than a 2000 generator uses at heavy loads. When my compressor is not running, I'm sipping fuel, gallon of gas will last me 12+ hours. With compressor running, I'll go through a gallon in 3.5 hours.

Besides, my wife can lift and move the small generator, I'm not sure I would try and move a 3500 on my own.

[road-runner]

Clicck wrote:
doesn't make much sense IMHO to have a small genny running at near 100% capacity for AC only when you can buy the predator 3500 for not much more money.

The 3500 runs my 13.5 AC at less than 50% capacity it is quieter, will last longer, and there is available capacity to use other electronics.

What works best for one person is often different than what works best for another. So many variables: Generator weight and size, atmospheric conditions, specific air conditioner, user ability and willingness to control other loads, etc. It's great that we're able to choose for ourselves! For as long as the Predator 3500 has been available I'm surprised there's information on its longevity, having been available for about 2 years compared to the Honda EU generators that have about 16 years of history

[Clicck]

doesn't make much sense IMHO to have a small genny running at near 100% capacity for AC only when you can buy the predator 3500 for not much more money.

The 3500 runs my 13.5 AC at less than 50% capacity it is quieter, will last longer, and there is available capacity to use other electronics.

[ktmrfs]

jodeb720 wrote:
I have a coleman 13.5 and a honda 2000.
At Sea Level, 70 Degrees they work in harmony.
At 95 degrees and 1000' elevation & eco mode off, it'll start and use ever bit of the 2000 watts it can put out for 20 minutes then overload.
At 4000', again, with Eco off, I can start it and get it to run for maybe 10 minutes and overload.

The Easy Start may solve your problem - but you're right at the upper limit of what your generator may do. A 2000 Generator may put it out, but for how long (again, my experience with my honda is it's rated at 2000 watts max, for 20 minutes but sustains 1600Watts continuously.

Oh, I do have a hard start kit on my unit as well.

My 2000 with the easy start is ok till about 4000ft. 1000ft, 2000ft it was fine all day. It was at about 4000ft it gives out quickly. 2200 problem solved.

[ktmrfs]

jodeb720 wrote:
I have a coleman 13.5 and a honda 2000.
At Sea Level, 70 Degrees they work in harmony.
At 95 degrees and 1000' elevation & eco mode off, it'll start and use ever bit of the 2000 watts it can put out for 20 minutes then overload.
At 4000', again, with Eco off, I can start it and get it to run for maybe 10 minutes and overload.

The Easy Start may solve your problem - but you're right at the upper limit of what your generator may do. A 2000 Generator may put it out, but for how long (again, my experience with my honda is it's rated at 2000 watts max, for 20 minutes but sustains 1600Watts continuously.

Oh, I do have a hard start kit on my unit as well.

I ran mine many a time at 3000ft or so all day no problem. around 4000 ft is where it starts to give out. What we did find is that the new honda 2200 runs like a champ even at 7000ft w/o overloading. And at 4500ft where the 2000 would give up the 2200 will run my AC no problem. So I experimented a bit to see what margin it had, since it was running at about 3/4 throttle. Turn fridge on AC instead of propane, +300W load, engine rev'd a bit more and kept running for an hour no problem. Turned on the TV another 50 watts or so, again on issue. So the 2200 in addition to a few more watts has much more reserve, likely due to the much larger engine. My brother found that at 7000ft the 2200 still would start and run the AC even in eco mode and occassionally the micro air would kick out once then restart and run the rest of the day no problem. This was with the factory low altitude jetting, He now has the factory high altitude jetting and will see what difference if any it makes.

[pnichols]

... And I like knowing that my rooftop HVAC and generator will reliably and harmoniously work whether I need them or not at any altitude and in any outside temperatures. Sounds like true-self-containment made in heaven. :B and :C

[Chum_lee]

jodeb720 wrote:
I have a coleman 13.5 and a honda 2000.
At Sea Level, 70 Degrees they work in harmony.

At 95 degrees and 1000' elevation & eco mode off, it'll start and use ever bit of the 2000 watts it can put out for 20 minutes then overload.

At 4000', again, with Eco off, I can start it and get it to run for maybe 10 minutes and overload.

I like knowing that my rooftop HVAC and generator will reliably and harmoniously work when I don't need them (70 degrees @ sea level) and that they probably won't when I do need them. Sounds like a match made in heaven.

Chum lee

[ppine]

Not the right combo. Start up voltage will kill your gen.
You need 3,000 watts. Some seem to get away with 2,400 or 2,600 watts.
My house is at 5,000 feet. The mountains go up from there.

[jodeb720]

I have a coleman 13.5 and a honda 2000.
At Sea Level, 70 Degrees they work in harmony.
At 95 degrees and 1000' elevation & eco mode off, it'll start and use ever bit of the 2000 watts it can put out for 20 minutes then overload.
At 4000', again, with Eco off, I can start it and get it to run for maybe 10 minutes and overload.

The Easy Start may solve your problem - but you're right at the upper limit of what your generator may do. A 2000 Generator may put it out, but for how long (again, my experience with my honda is it's rated at 2000 watts max, for 20 minutes but sustains 1600Watts continuously.

Oh, I do have a hard start kit on my unit as well.

[DFord]

Over the long term, I don't believe you'll get away with running that big of a load on your generator. It will be doing all it can to run the A/C and after a little bit of that, it will turn into a pile of worn out scrap.