Experiences with Onan Portable Gas Electric Generators

[JoeChiOhki]

While I was searching for something, I stumbled across an Inverter Generator that Onan is manufacturing, the P4500i.

It's a four stroke, gasoline powered inverter generator, rated at 3700watts continuous, 4200 watts peak and like the smaller 2000 watt units, can be paralleled.

Onan P4500i Spec Sheet

RV Parts Country has a demo video of one of these, but they never put it under any load, so the noise level measurements probably can be called into question.

P4500i Demo Video

From most of the places I've seen pre-ordering/backordering for this, its going for around a $1000, which is considerably less than comparable 4000 watt Hondas or Yamahas.

I'm wondering if anyone here has any experience with Onan's already existing portable Inverter Generators and how their real world performance / quality holds up.

[otrfun]

The Onan P4500i's specs on paper are pretty good. If these specs hold-up in the realworld . . . along with some proven reliability and warranty/parts support, then Onan may have a competitive entry here. Agree with theoldwizard1 though, the Onan P4500i appears to be a rebranded Ducar generator with possibly some minor tweaking for resale by Onan. A common scenario for many generators these days. If I was in the market for this particular generator, I'd purchase it from a distributor (regardless of brand name) that provided the best after-the-sale warranty and parts support---which may or may not be Onan.

[AISURFFISH]

The onan also runs for 18 hours on a tank of gas 3.5 gallons.
It has remote start..
It also has a gauge to let you know run time left and fuel left.

Really way to many things to compare to Honda..wheels.. handle... the list goes on

.
Believe me I have had a honda it lasted about 4 years in the salt environment.

[AISURFFISH]

I ran it side by side.
My lance 992 running the ac
Vs a lance 1181 running its ac off a eu3000i

My onan does not surge as much as the honda when compressor kicks i.

My onan is also just as quiet as the honda.

[AISURFFISH]

I have the p4500i.
It's super quiet...
It's an ONAN..
IT'S got a 3 year warranty
Came in 2day shipping from onan factory in ohio.

[Kayteg1]

I measured my TC AC to draw 6.9 amps when running.
I had 15k AC on my conversion and that was taking 8.5 amps.
On my conversion I had 2400W inverter, so I could start AC on inverter power and then switch it to generator.
So you will find lot of ways to make it working without carrying hundreds of lb of generators.
100 lb on rear platform adds like 160 lb load on rear axle.
So we side-sweep your question, but that is what you get on the forum.

[otrfun]

JoeChiOhki wrote:

GeoBoy wrote:
Install a MicroAir on your AC and get a Honda 2200i to run it.

The Brisk is brand new (I bought it as part of the parts for the camper restoration, it was $440, the smaller units were quite a bit more, also with the Jalousie windows and the snap-n-nap, the camper is going to be somewhat leaky air-wise, so I went with the 13500 to make sure we could compensate).

My apologies if I misunderstood your reply, but I get the impression you may believe the Micro Air (Easy Start) is a smaller capacity a/c unit? It's not. It's a device that can be installed on any size RV a/c unit which dramatically reduces the amount of inrush current needed to start the compressor. Without a Micro Air it may take a 3000-4000 watt generator to simply start some RV a/c units---even though a 2000 watt generator could easily run it. A Honda EU2200i can easily start and run most 13.5k and 15k RV a/c units with a Micro Air installed. Yes, there are some very inefficient 13.5/15k RV a/c units (especially those made by Dometic) that may be beyond the continuous current capability of the Honda EU2200i even with the Micro Air installed, but that's more the exception than the rule.

For some, spending $250-$300 for a Micro Air Easy Start is money well spent. In some situations it can potentially allow one to cut their generator wattage . . . and weight . . . requirements nearly in half.

[JoeChiOhki]

GeoBoy wrote:
Install a MicroAir on your AC and get a Honda 2200i to run it.

The Brisk is brand new (I bought it as part of the parts for the camper restoration, it was $440, the smaller units were quite a bit more, also with the Jalousie windows and the snap-n-nap, the camper is going to be somewhat leaky air-wise, so I went with the 13500 to make sure we could compensate).

otrfun wrote:
Carefully consider warranty and parts support when choosing a generator. IMO, Champion and Honda offer some of the best in the industry.

Harbor Freight's "warranty" looks good at first glance: free replacement for 90 days (or 1-2 yr, one-time free replacement for additional cost). However, after that you're completely on your own. HF offers zero/no repair capability (only total replacement under warranty) and very little to no parts availability.

Others require you to ship or transport the generator to their nearest repair facility hundreds/thousands of miles away. I'd venture to say many would simply settle for a paper-weight than deal with the cost/hassles of packing, insuring, shipping, and/or transporting a 50-100 lb. generator these kinds of distances.

Aye, that's part of why I was curious about the Onan branded unit, as there's actual Onan locations around. I usually use Champions (That's my current generator, which is an open cage Champion of similar capacity) but to my knowledge, there's not any local service places, I would likely have to do it myself.

[Grit_dog]

Lol Kayteg, give it a rest.....

[otrfun]

Carefully consider warranty and parts support when choosing a generator. IMO, Champion and Honda offer some of the best in the industry.

Harbor Freight's "warranty" looks good at first glance: free replacement for 90 days (or 1-2 yr, one-time free replacement for additional cost). However, after that you're completely on your own. HF offers zero/no repair capability (only total replacement under warranty) and very little to no parts availability.

Others require you to ship or transport the generator to their nearest repair facility hundreds/thousands of miles away. I'd venture to say many would simply settle for a paper-weight than deal with the cost/hassles of packing, insuring, shipping, and/or transporting a 50-100 lb. generator these kinds of distances.

[jimh406]

I don’t think the Onan’s are any better than others, but generally not very quiet. I’d probably go Harbor Freight 3000 if you want a cheap generator for less (around 700 or less on sale) if you want to go big. I’m sure it won’t be as good as a Honda 3000, but still more power than a Honda 2200 although a lot heavier.

The only issue with running a generator that I’ve heard is startup. Otherwise, most can run on ecomode so a easy start kit is money well spent. Fwiw, even large TCs with lots of appliances only include the Onan 2500 LP version, so I’d think 2500 should be plenty.

[GeoBoy]

Install a MicroAir on your AC and get a Honda 2200i to run it.

[JoeChiOhki]

Kayteg1 wrote:
My Honda 3000 starts even 15k AC on ECO mode and that's with charging and like 150W Water heater element on.
Than I hear more and more that adding easy start to AC makes it running on 2000W quite possible.
So even there is nothing wrong with having bigger generator, where are you going to carry it?
Than I drove via Oregon twice this summer. Never run generator in the state.

Same place I am currently carrying the 4200 watt non-inverter that I use for our home, on the rear basket. I'm currently looking to improve the basket design to make it easy to lift and lower, but I may not need that with the much lighter inverter unit, our current generator weights well over a 100lbs and is a royal pita to shift around, even with the wheels on it, which is why I was debating designing a drop basket with an electric motor on it like a scooter lift.

I usually tend to go east into the desert country when I travel, so being able to keep the house cooled when its 90-110 degrees out is a must, especially with pets onboard.

Oregon is only cool and comfy in a small part of the state during the summer months, and that's mostly the coast line, the central mountains and east are alot warmer (a good portion of it is scrub desert), plus on our longer trips we do alot of wallydocking / urban boondocking where having sufficient power is a necessity in some cases to run the A/C along with microwave, or other appliances at the same time.

Our camper also doubles as a dressing studio periodically when we're at costumed events where power is not available, and nor are changing studios and larger draw items like curling irons and what not are used simultaneously. We have some outfits that take 3-4 hours worth of makeup and hair work to get into for the events.

[Kayteg1]

My Honda 3000 starts even 15k AC on ECO mode and that's with charging and like 150W Water heater element on.
Than I hear more and more that adding easy start to AC makes it running on 2000W quite possible.
So even there is nothing wrong with having bigger generator, where are you going to carry it?
Than I drove via Oregon twice this summer. Never run generator in the state.

[JoeChiOhki]

Kayteg1 wrote:
Do you have dual AC on your TC to need 4200 Watts?
Not likely smart TC owner would buy one, but I would post in TT and ClassA sections.
Also check Costco. Traveling via few states and provinces, I have seen quite a selection of generators at Costco.
Some of them dual-fuel, what is the way to go if you want generator for TC and also back up for your home.

The bulk majority of standard RV A/Cs will not start on a 2000 watt generator without tapping it out to the max, leaving little extra power. Alot of folks here, just buy two 2000 watt generators and team them together.

The running wattage is 3700 watts, which is a basic 30 amp service. 4500 watts is peak/surge, not a sustainable load rating.

In the case of my unit's A/C, which is a Duo Therm Brisk Air II 13500 BTU Rated unit, the recommend generator rating is 3.5kw.