Home brew hybred inverter generator set up

[JiminDenver]

Home Depot had the tiny Sportsman 800/1000w inverter generator on sale for $157 right before I left Denver. Normally I'd stick to one of the big three but at that price I took the chance. I broke it in at home up to the point it could handle a 600w heater at 5000 ft, a friend at a rally finished the job using it to run a work light while he outfitted his box truck in Quartzsite.

I knew better than to think it could handle starting the little 5000 BTU A/C and sure enough it couldn't. My solution was to plug the shore cord into the generator with the converter on, and then plug the A/C into the inverter. That way the batteries took the surge and the generator then had no issues with the 450w running load. Normally I run the A/C off of the solar and batteries but it's nice to know I can use the generator should the need come up.

I know it will be asked. Noise wise the Sportsmans eco mode is barely quieter than not having it on. Under load it is comparable to the Honda 2000 under load that was in the next site.

[JiminDenver]

The little A/C is plugged into the inverter

[MrWizard]

Don't you mean, the a/C is running off the inverter not generator
The generator is powering the converter, this allows the batteries to supply the start surge, and the converter keeps the batteries charged
I think the confusing point, is where and how the little A/C is plugged in

[JiminDenver]

Opps, good catch BFL. I'll edit that.

I meant plug the shore cord into the inverter generator, not the trailer. Usually I have the shore cord plugged into the inverter for boondocking.

[BFL13]

"... My solution was to plug the shore cord into the trailer with the converter on, and then plug the A/C into the inverter. That way the batteries took the surge and the generator then had no issues with the 450w running load"

Jim, the others seem to understand this, but I don't. 😞 Please explain what is plugged into what so that even I can understand it. EG, How do you plug the shore cord into the trailer? When you say inverter do you also mean inverter-gen like some folks do? Thanks.

[MrWizard]

Double conversion,
Just be sure the converter gets plenty of ventilation
The tripp lite inverter, is a work horse almost Bullitt proof

I killed a nice 9800 series 100 amp WfCo doing "unintentional" double conversion powering an electric heater, plugged into the wrong outlet, a k a the inverter
Did not hurt the tripp lite
Killed the converter, both in the same compartment, WfCo overheated from the continuous full load

[naturist]

Yup, that's the ticket with such a small generator. It would run a small AC, but no way start it. Sounds like you got it "under control."