is this big enough??

[joelyn]

is this genny big enough to run a 13500 A/C unit plus maybe a TV and a couple lights?

genny

any opinions about this make?
thanks

[bikendan]

There are tons of posts about the Champion 3100, in this section here.
plenty of reviews and real world info there.
an easy search will give you all you need.

If I needed a new genny, that's the one I would buy.

[MrWizard]

I had a champ 3000w open frame for about six years
now have a champ 3000i
Yes it will power your a/c
I have tripped the overload ... Because of being forgetful
A/C is on 100 amp WfCo converter is on and I tutn on the big 1100w MW
Same thing happens ...WfCo, coffee maker.. And start MW

I'm ok as long as I don't try do three things at once

[otrfun]

joelyn wrote:
is this genny big enough to run a 13500 A/C unit plus maybe a TV and a couple lights?

genny

any opinions about this make?
thanks

I've probably put 100 hours or so on 4 or 5 of these Champion 3100 inverter generators during the last year or so. I've successfully powered both 13.5k and 15k BTU a/c units with these units. I'm sure there's gonna be 13.5k or 15k BTU a/c unit out there it won't power, but they're probably few and far between.

It's capable of producing more inrush current than two, paralleled Honda EU2000i's generators or one EU3000i. In simple terms, this means the Champion can run/start more 13,500 (and 15k) BTU a/c units than the Hondas. So, if the Champion 3100 won't power an RV a/c, chances are very high the Hondas won't either.

As for noise level, it's louder than the Honda EU2000i and EU3000i. How much? Well, that's pretty subjective. The Champion 3100 is rated 58 db at 1/4 load (700 watts). That's roughly equivalent to one Honda EU2000i at full load (59 db at 1600 watts). With a full load (23 amps, 2800w) the Champion 3100 gets noticeably louder. Definitely not as loud as a typical open-frame synchronous generator. My guess it's equivalent to the Honda 3000 "Handi" inverter generator at full load, about 65 db.

To answer your question, if the Champion 3100 can start your a/c (highly likely) it will EASILY power your TV and a couple of lights at the same time. In fact, I've powered a 13.5k BTU a/c (compressor on) and run a 1400 watt microwave at the same time with no issues. Have also powered a 13.5k BTU (12 amps), frig (2.5 amps), and converter (9 amps charging fully depleted batteries) at the same time.

For the money, this is an awesome generator.

[chris3403]

I have the 3100 Champion and used it at the beach in Galveston for 2 nights just week before last. I ran in on economy mode seeing as how it wasn't warm enough to run the a/c.
I kept it at the rear of my 36 foot 5th wheel. I found out if I walked to the front of the camper, just as I approached it I couldn't hear it running.

[joelyn]

some great remarks and advise... i mostly need a genny for traveling when we stay in a walmart or loves etc. in the summer we only run the A/C while we are awake and shut it down for sleeping. just want something small to run the A/C for a few hours but don't want to spend $2000.00 PLUS FOR A HONDA, and this looks like it might do what I want it for.

[Golden_HVAC]

It is very quiet rating, only 58 Db, or less than most cars at idle. 3,100 watt surge rating is plenty to start and restart a 13,500 Btu A/C unit. Actual run wattage for the A/C is around 1,400 watts or less. So you will have excess capacity to charge the battery, run the TV, and other loads.

I have one A/C and normal loads on my 4,000 watt Onan generator that is built into most Bounder motorhomes. They only installed the 5,500 watt models on the larger RV's with dual A/C units. Mine is probably in the 80 - 90 Db sound range, due to the air cooled design, and 3,600 RPM running speed. Quiet was not a design priority. If quiet had been a design priority, they might have used a slightly larger engine and run the RPM at 1,800.

Honda used to make a RV generator that was water cooled, and in 4,000 and 6,000 watt versions. It was REALLY quiet, and that was mostly due to the water cooled engine.

Have fun camping!

Fred.

[Bobbo]

paulm999 wrote:
Yes, by the numbers. No in practice. Here's what happens. Gen starts up putting out 127v. After running for a while, the volt output decreases 5-7v. AC goes on and the available volts goes from 120/122v down to near 110v the minimum to keep the AC going w/o damage to the compressor. You have no practical voltage left for anything else on the circuit. Minimum gen watts for 1 AC, lighting, TV, computer, fridge should be 5500 watts. As far as the brand, buying without listening to the generator's noise, is a terrible idea.

Huh? 5500 watts? My 4000 watt ONAN has powered everything in my 30 amp RV just fine for 7 years.

brirene wrote:

JiminDenver wrote:
...it is a bit louder.

Not meaning to hijack thread, but this is hard for me to wrap my head around, never having seen or heard one of the champions. Can anyone quantify this? Is it "drive you and your neighbors crazy" louder? Hear it all over the campground louder? Fine for disbursed camping louder? Or not really very noticeably louder than red or blue ones?

This is very subjective. What, to me, would not be a noticable difference would drive DW nuts. I grew up sharing a bedroom with 2 brothers, so I automatically tune out noise without even thinking about it. DW was an only child and obsesses about things like that.

[dave17352]

With my Honda eu3000 I do exactly that with no problem. I can not run the microwave at the same time though. Been doing for 9 years no problem.

[time2roll]

Should work fine in most conditions.

[2oldman]

Champ thread


Champion comment.. service

Champ v Honda arguments 2013

[brirene]

JiminDenver wrote:
...it is a bit louder.

Not meaning to hijack thread, but this is hard for me to wrap my head around, never having seen or heard one of the champions. Can anyone quantify this? Is it "drive you and your neighbors crazy" louder? Hear it all over the campground louder? Fine for disbursed camping louder? Or not really very noticeably louder than red or blue ones?

[JiminDenver]

At normal altitudes it would be more than enough for what you ask. It is the same size as the Honda and Yamaha 2800w inverter generators but is a bit louder.

[Moderator]

Moved from ATC

[Bipeflier]

3500 watts continuous give you about 28.5 Amps. Usually enough to run your camper at near normal for a 30 Amp service.

There are many opinions on how low the voltage can get before damage to AC motor will occur. What happens is as the voltage drops, the current (Amps) draw increases causing excess heat which will cause the motor to burn out. I've always use 105 volts as my cutoff point. I wouldn't run the AC very long at low voltage.

Invest in a good meter so you know what is in the camper. Even at campgrounds you can see low voltage situations often.