inverter generator for gulfstream 198bh

HappyCamper16 wrote:

bikendan wrote:
Don't be fooled by the Westinghouse name.
The name was sold to companies in China, to make products to sell in the U.S., since it's a familiar name.
Nearly all the reviews I've seen about them are negative.
And where do you think you can get warranty work done?

From what I know: Westpro is a licensee of Westinghouse, who do design and manufacture in China, just as 100% of every other manufacture. In fact many or most go through the same plants. What type of experiences have you had with Westinghouse generators? All I see are really good reviews out there.

You haven't stated where or how warranty work is done for this off brand.

bikendan wrote:
Don't be fooled by the Westinghouse name.
The name was sold to companies in China, to make products to sell in the U.S., since it's a familiar name.
Nearly all the reviews I've seen about them are negative.
And where do you think you can get warranty work done?

From what I know: Westpro is a licensee of Westinghouse, who do design and manufacture in China, just as 100% of every other manufacture. In fact many or most go through the same plants. What type of experiences have you had with Westinghouse generators? All I see are really good reviews out there.

Are these soft starters easy to install and I wonder if they will void the warranty of the A.C. unit?

The links I used previously were all for fixed-location heat pumps and air conditioners and might be too big for RV use. Some municipalities are requiring their use to reduce strain on the power infrastructure. Dometic has a soft start device for small air conditioners but it looks like they're actively marketing it just for marine use. From what I have heard, as expensive as RVs are, boat owners spend even more money. Here's a link to the Dometic soft starter and its spec sheet:
Dpmetic SmartStart-II web page
Spec sheet
In a video accessed from the web page they show the start current of a 16k air conditioner reduced from 49.1 amps to 16.8 amps. Interestingly, on the spec sheet it says that starting the motor slowly reduces stress on the compressor, just the opposite of what we've been reading on the forum for years. On the page from one of the prior links, it again makes the opposite claim "Reduced stress and heating of compressor/motor therefore extending the life". To directly answer the question, it appears pretty easy to install, and I'd sure hope the Dometic soft started woouldn't void the warranty of a Dometic air conditioner!

The second post on this page has a lengthy writeup from Dometic. http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-maintenance/62158-honda-eu2000i-air-conditioning-3.html No need for anybody to point out the the Dometic device behavior is different than simple current-induced voltage drop. That's pretty obvious.

Are these soft starters easy to install and I wonder if they will void the warranty of the A.C. unit?

Torturing an AC motor with 95 volt starting is every bit as bad with a generator as it is on flaky campground power pedestal AC.

Yet devices to limit air conditioner starting current are all the rage these days...
http://www.emersonclimate.com/europe/en-eu/Products/Electronics/Alco_Electronic_Controls/Pages/Compressor_Soft_Starter.aspx
http://hypereng.com/single_phase.html
http://www.hvacwebconnection.com/Products/airconditioner_softstart.htm

You generator/ air conditioner folks ever take a reading with an AC voltmeter when starting or running an AC?

Torturing an AC motor with 95 volt starting is every bit as bad with a generator as it is on flaky campground power pedestal AC.

I have a personal rule I never violate:

If voltage sags to 105 volts or lower during a high-head restart, I find another larger power source or do without the AC

I received the Westinghouse wh2400i via ups and tried it on my trailer. First off I would like to say that this gene seems well put together and strong and sturdy. Started on the second pull and has been running great for 7 hours off and on.
So this gene ran everything in my trailer including the a.c. The microwave bogged the gene down a little but didn't over load it and the a.c. ran with the microwave off. The a.c. and microwave running together might have overloaded it but I didn't try the two at the same time. The a.c. had to be slowly raised from low thru it's different cool settings little by little over time other wise it overloaded the gene (I tried to go straight to high cool and 7, the highest of the cool settings 1-7) and it set the overload switch to red and I had to turn the a.c. back down, hit the reset button and start over, this time stepping up every few mins and it worked fine like that.
All in all, im happy with it, now let's just see how long it lasts.

jimindenver - I have thought about and researched about the solar option and thank you, I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the Westinghouse wh2400i.

http://www.westpropower.com/inverter_info.iml?id=4

Will let you all know how it goes - will receive it in a week

Yea I do. Reviews I read were about the Champion 3100 watt inverter generator. Home depot

edekgb wrote:
The things that have stuck out is that they are loud and heavy. Im trying to go the alternate route of loud and heavy for a small trailer.

You are reading reviews of the Champion NON-inverter open-frame generators, NOT their INVERTER generators.

The Champion 2000 and 3100 inverter models weigh about the same as the comparable Honda and Yamaha versions.

You do understand the difference between inverter generators and non-inverter generators, right?
It's the non-inverter open frame generators that "loud and heavy".