More confusion for Inverters?

[shelby17]

I have a 2012 Jayco trailer with a 13,500 AC Unit. I will be getting a Generator for powering everything including AC when needed. We tend to camp in the middle of nowhere so I would kind of like to be self sufficient regarding power. We dont use the Mic or TV, basically just a couple of lights and if its hot the AC. I have a Yamaha EF 2400 iSHC Inverter lined up to maybe buy. I believe it will start up the AC but have heard from a couple people stories of under rated inverters running the AC only to find out soon enough that the AC units condensors have given out because of using those Inverters. Any feed back regarding would help my decision.
Many Thanks,

[2manytoyz]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

I don't think the 2400 watt Yamaha can be paralleled at all.

shelby17 wrote:
Thinking of now getting the 2400 and maybe a 1000 and connecting them. Is it Ok to do that? The reason I want the 2400 is because I can get a smoking deal on a hardly used one. Or to proper parellel them do I need to have both the same?

The EF2400iS can be paralleled with another EF2400iS (only). The newer EF2400iSHC (high start capacity) model cannot be paralleled.

And if people are having problems running a generator at high altitude, that is to be expected. Lack of air up there, which affects the fuel to air ratio. Yamaha sells a different jet for high altitude use...

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I don't think the 2400 watt Yamaha can be paralleled at all.

shelby17 wrote:
Thinking of now getting the 2400 and maybe a 1000 and connecting them. Is it Ok to do that? The reason I want the 2400 is because I can get a smoking deal on a hardly used one. Or to proper parellel them do I need to have both the same?

[shelby17]

Thinking of now getting the 2400 and maybe a 1000 and connecting them. Is it Ok to do that? The reason I want the 2400 is because I can get a smoking deal on a hardly used one. Or to proper parellel them do I need to have both the same?

[Kayteg1]

I measure my 15k btu Carrier to draw 8 amp.
Sure beats 30-40 amp starting current.
Automatic transfer switches in inverter/chargers are so good that TV won't even blink when you pull hookup cord.
DIY cheap one might be only slight challenge for folks here 😉
I can also think about reving the small generator with resistor heater and switch it off a second before switching AC on.

[GordonThree]

Kayteg1 wrote:

With 2 battery banks and 2000W + inventer, you can start AC on inverter and after few seconds switch it over to generator who otherwise would not be able to start AC.
Then all you have to worry to make sure AC will not cycle off, when I never found that part to be a problem in CA.

you can do this if your transfer switch is fast enough and your generator has enough inertia in its flywheel. It'd need be a good sized genny to effectively go from 0 load to 8-10 amps just like that without missing a beat... my Yamaha are not so brave.

I'll start the coleman with the inverter (Magnum MS2812) and then switch to shore power, the generator, sometimes she stalls, sometimes she just goes into overload, either way I bounce back to inverter, murder on the transfer switch contacts! Even the dual Yamaha sometimes resist the Coleman, sagging down below 100vac and causing the Magnum to switch to battery.

Don's fancy hybrid is able to sync with shore power... someday I'll upgrade

[Kayteg1]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi wa8yxm,

That's just another good reason to have a hybrid inverter/charger. When the air conditioner starts, the inverter goes into load support mode to deal with the surge, and lowers the charging rate to what ever is "left over" once the air is running.

The whole topic started as money saving idea, while I don't think spending $1000 or so on inverter/charger will fit the bill.
I think lot of guys are spiting the hair, not realizing that when you use generator at top of its rating- lot of things can get it overloaded.
Some mentioned performance change with altitude, some with temperature, but fact it that AC that sit unused for 3 year will draw more power for some time, than one used every week.
Sometimes small thing as spider web can be the last straw.
But than coming back to inverter/charger idea.
With 2 battery banks and 2000W + inventer, you can start AC on inverter and after few seconds switch it over to generator who otherwise would not be able to start AC.
Then all you have to worry to make sure AC will not cycle off, when I never found that part to be a problem in CA.

[pianotuna]

The Champion inverter generators can be paralleled.

shelby17 wrote:
After reading the replys I am leaning to twinning a couple of 2000s together. Anyone brands besides the Hondas and Yamahas able to quietly do this. Generacs , Westinghouse, Hyundai, etc?

[pianotuna]

Hi wa8yxm,

That's just another good reason to have a hybrid inverter/charger. When the air conditioner starts, the inverter goes into load support mode to deal with the surge, and lowers the charging rate to what ever is "left over" once the air is running.

I do think that 2400 VA is on the edge as far as running the air. I know that my 2800 va Yamaha 3000 sIEB did not powering it in the mountains. But that's in the past now with the Magnum hybrid inverter.

wa8yxm wrote:
so the converter has become a BIG TICKET item pulling (in my case) as much as 1,100 watts of power Leaving not enough for the A/C.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Reveille is the moment when electrical apparatus get their calisthenics. The Coffeemaker, the batteries cry "Are We There Yet", and facing that plus a greedy A/C will freak-out all but the largest generators. Getting up with the chickens, is one way to outwit this trap. Run the generator for a couple of hours without working up a sweat. But this takes an iron hand. Few if any lightweight accessories permitted with the air conditioner online.

[2oldman]

wa8yxm wrote:
so the converter has become a BIG TICKET item pulling (in my case) as much as 1,100 watts of power Leaving not enough for the A/C.

Good point.

You may find you don't actually run your air as much as you think you will. Gasoline supply and the storage of same becomes an issue if it's hot enough.

[wa8yxm]

The Yahama 2400 is a good choice, The problems come from folks who do not understand how the RV works

You see you have big ticket items like the A/C, and the Microwave, and the Water heater.. And one more item I'll get to.

You can turn off the Water Heater and you already said you don't use the Microwave much so let's discount it.

But there is that one other item

Many people, boondicking run all night on batteries, but when the sun comes up they want AIR so the fire the generator and when the thing kicks in .. WHAM, the generator checks out.. Worked fine at home, so what's wrong?

The batteries... they are hungry, so the converter has become a BIG TICKET item pulling (in my case) as much as 1,100 watts of power Leaving not enough for the A/C.

The solution.. in about 2 hours everything will work just fine.

[2oldman]

2 Honda 2ks work great. Made my own parallel cables.

[GordonThree]

Isn't the hot start / hard start kit just a capacitor, or is it something more?

I took a peek in the motor area of my Coleman and there's a good size capacitor in there already... I couldn't read the ratings on it, so I don't know if it's hard start or regular start, if there is such a thing?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Questions?

Is the issue of hot start kits for roof air, a dead idea? Seem to me I cannot find this discussed, above?