Generator overloads with A/C

[mesoman7]

I know this topic has been beaten to death, but I am at a loss. My Champion 3100 immediately overloads when the a/c is turned on. The a/c unit is 13.5K BTU, so the gen should handle it. My older gen has a higher capacity. It would start up the compressor. After a minute or two, it would start to motorboat then trip the 30A breaker. I can run the a/c connected to the house on a 20A circuit with no problem. OK, to mitigate the normal questions:

Refer - off
Microwave - off
Water pump - off
Water heater (elec) - off
I even shut off the converter

What am I missing here?

- Jeff

[marcsbigfoot20b]

I have a 13,500 Dometic duo therm brisk air from 2000. My EU2000i on high would not even start the AC last week in testing around 100 degrees at 1400 ft altitude. It had the factory hard start cap and a suppco cap. I think the AC is rated at 57 locked rotor amps.

I just installed the micro air easy start 364 and it now starts every time. Probably not much over 100 degrees though as it was pulling 12 of the 13.3 rated amps of the gen.

Bottom line is it works.

[pianotuna]

I hope it cools off for everyone soon. I live in an area that is quite desert like so it is entirely possible for me to need heat at night--and air conditioning in the day.

[MrWizard]

i didn't wait until 10:30
i turned on the A/C mode at 9:30
just refilled the gas tank
under these conditions (weather & a/c) i check it every two hours

[MrWizard]

Oh I'm working on the cafein fix
But me and the spell checker don't get along. :E

[joebedford]

My a/c doesn't have "can mode". What does that do?

And I don't think you're supposed to put snow into the batteries.

Time to lay off the decaf! 🙂

[MrWizard]

It's going to be hot here is only 8:30am
But I already started my champion and but the a/c on fan mode
As soon as I get some charge in the batteries and reduce the amps going in I'm going to turn on the cold mode and start cooling
That would be be about 10 - 10:30 AM
I won't wait any longer than that
If I wait until it's hot in here, it will be harder to get cool

Yes I know if your gome all day, it makes a difference

[MrWizard]

The start capacitor is suspect
But also when did you start it
Did you wait until it was 90 in the RV
Did you run the a/c fan for 5 to 10 minutes to remove system heat and reduce head pressure before turning it to cold mode

[GWolfe]

I have to wonder if it is your start capacitor, ran the AC with my Champion 3100 yesterday for four hours with temps in the 90s with no problems. On high the whole time too.

[kzspree320]

mesoman7 - you said "My Champion 3100 immediately overloads when the a/c is turned on." So what exactly does it do? You described what happened when your old generator started it, but not this one. Does it throw the breaker? Bog down and die? Or does the compressor and fan just not come on?

[ScottG]

Mesoman is correct. The starting current for a converter trying to charge low batteries can be half the rated capacity of that gen.

[mesoman7]

jerseyjim wrote:
Why shut the converter off?

To take any load off from charging the batteries.

[jerseyjim]

Why shut the converter off?

[Camreal]

Sounds like compressor or starting capacitor. Check your input voltages. Your house AC voltage is much better regulated for heavy loads than the generators.