Kawasaki GA3200A Generator

I had a Ramsond 3500 inverter generator, and they swore up and down when buying it that it would have more than enough power to run my AC. It would do it.....barely. She worked her guts out to run anything bigger than a light bulb. Lol That generator was a huge disappointment. The inverter finally died (after the battery, starter gave up long before it), and instead of paying $300 for a new invertor to fix it, I paid $399 for a 3000-4000 Champion at Costco. Let me tell ya, this generator "is" a champion. Runs my AC without even breaking a sweat. And it will run my microwave at the same time. I don't know anything about step down this or 240/120 that. If she runs it, it'll work, if not, she'll trip and you'll know either way.

Huntindog wrote:
My first Generator for my first TT was a Honda EX3300S.
A 120/240 generator. It would start and run my AC, and run the microwave while the AC was running.
According to what I am reading here now.... That was impossible.
All I know is I did it a lot.

Same here.Worked just fine.

My current Generac is the same 120/240 and runs the air and microwave at the same time.

TECMike wrote:
He says it has a 30 amp plug and two 20 amp plugs. Do you suppose it already has an inverter inside for the 30 amp plug?

If it does not have an inverter inside, what type of inverter at Home Depot would work? Thanks so much.

Mike

Plugs make no difference. Having a 30 amp plug does not mean that it puts out 30 amps. It means that they wanted you to have the option of connecting something that probably has a 30 amp connector on it, so you would not need an adapter. What is crucial is the generator, and no, it does not have an inverter. Inverters are not magical devices that cure all ills.

Generators are made in two flavors. Either it is an inverter generator, which actually makes 12 volts DC, which the inverter converts to 120 volt AC, or it is not an inverter generator that produces 120 volts AC OR 240 volts AC AT THE GENERATOR. This particular generator makes 240 volts AC at the generator. It does not contain an inverter, which is of zero use on such a rig.

Generators are also made to produce either 120 volts or 240 volts. This particular generator makes 240 volts. This is split into two 120 volt circuits, and the rating of 3200 watts is over the two circuits. Neither 120 volt circuit is capable of 3200 watts, only 1600 watts.

1600 watts will NOT run an RV AC. It just won't. The startup surge on that AC is going to pull about 2000 watts. The second the AC compressor kicks in, the generator's overload protection will kick the generator offline.

The only way your bud can get that unit to power his AC is via a step down transformer. To get 3200 watts, he needs both sides of the 240 volt generator.

There is no inverter on the planet that will help this situation. Better to save some money, buy him a bag of popcorn, it will be more useful than an inverter.

*************************** EDIT
Some folks report 3000 watt/240 volt generators that do work. It occurs to me that one might build a unit designed with the limiting factor being the power of the engine, rather than the capacity of the generator head. Such a unit would indeed be capable of delivering 3,000 watts on either side, but only 3,000 watts total. I would expect it to cost more to make than necessary otherwise, but companies do that sometimes. So I herewith stand corrected, with the caveat that one should test the unit in question to see which way it is.

If unsure, I poke at it with a voltmeter. No guessing.

Talked with him today. He does not have a manual but says the person he got it from operated his A/C on his trailer successfully, so guess things will work out for him.

I have not seen the generator but he says it is heavy. My Honda 3000 weighs in the neighborhood of 135 lbs.

Thanks so much for all the help.

Are we sure this is 240V? A 30 amp plug with 240 volts would be producing over 7,000 watts. Does your friend not have an owners manual or are the plug ins not labeled 120 volts/240 volts? It would make no sense to me to have a 30 amp plug on a 240 volt generator producing 3200 watts.

Tell him to fire it up and turn on the AC. He'll will know within 5 seconds. Easy nuff!

He says it has a 30 amp plug and two 20 amp plugs. Do you suppose it already has an inverter inside for the 30 amp plug?

If it does not have an inverter inside, what type of inverter at Home Depot would work? Thanks so much.

Mike

You can buy inverters at Home Depot for use as stepdowns or any luggage travel store. We use them all over the world. plug into one of them. You'll have 3200 A 120V.