cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

Will generator run my unit

keeperofthecode
Explorer
Explorer
I got a 4000 watt generator that has two 115 plugs and each one is labeled 20amp. It also has a 240 plug that is also labeled 20 amp. I've read on here that a 4000 watt generator should run my trailer with my 13,500 AC unit but this generator doesn't actually have a 30amp plug. Should I try it with the 115 plug adapter or should I be seeking a different generator? Also is there possibly a way to combine the power from the two 20amp plugs to give me more amps? Trailer is a 2014 Forest River RV Wildwood X-Lite 272QBXL and I've already installed all LED lights to help with lowering power consumption as well as energy efficient LED TVs. Thanks for helping a newbie.
9 REPLIES 9

JJBIRISH
Explorer
Explorer
Might be able to cross reference it to something like a Generac and find somethingโ€ฆ

9321-0,1 Generac - 3ZC12/A Dayton
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet

keeperofthecode
Explorer
Explorer
My generator is a Dayton 3ZC12. I found a wiring diagram for it but that is about all. One website let me to believe that the 4000 is what it is rated for normal usage and can actually surge higher but I have found nothing conclusive to verify that.

http://www.partstree.com/parts/?lc=briggs_and_stratton_power&mn=Dayton+3ZC12&dn=6445

Adam-12
Explorer
Explorer
Yes your generator will run the 13.5K A/C. I have twin Hondas (close to a true 30A output) run in parallel for my 15K A/C and it runs perfect. One day just for grins and giggles however, I wanted to try my small Powermate genny in the driveway. It like yours only produces 20A. So, I plugged in the trailer and ran the A/C without any problems. I will say though like others mentioned, I did NOT have anything else turned on while the A/C was running.

Also, I added a "hard start" capacitor to my A/C a few years ago, so I don't know if that was the sole reason why the A/C started right up and the 4000W genny didn't bog down.
Silverado 2500HD Duramax DIESEL/4x4/CC/Z71:W
31' Travel Trailer
2 Honda EU2000i's (parallel)
ICOM 7000
Random wire, dipoles, verticals
Hunting/Fishing gear
Welding/Fabricator
Life endowment member NRA
:B :B

JJBIRISH
Explorer
Explorer
Depends on the generator I guess, my 4000 has a 4000 watts continuous run rating and 33.3 amps at 120 volts and a 6600a surge ratingโ€ฆ
It produces enough stable power that it is equal to the 30 amp CG power in all respectsโ€ฆ

While it has the 120 volt 15 amp, duplex receptacle, It also has a 120v/240v 20a that can be used for a 2400 watt, 20 amp, 120 volt connection, or a 4000 watt, 16.7 amp, 240 volt connectionโ€ฆ

But it also has a 120 volt, 30 amp, round plug to use for the camperโ€ฆ
it gets very limited use and is almost exclusively for emergency powerโ€ฆ
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet

Quality_Johnson
Explorer
Explorer
And I have a 3500W Champion generator that I just bought used. It has a 30A RV receptacle (fused at 25A) on the power panel, plus a 20A standard household outlet. Of course, you can't use them both at the same time to full capacity, as that would total more than the generator rating. But you have a choice which to plug into, or use them both up to capacity of the generator. It just depends on which type of generator you have.
'93 Dutchmen 18' TT, pulled by '02 Dodge Durango 5.9

SprinklerMan
Explorer
Explorer
I have a 3500 watt generator , it will run my camper fine , as long as I turn off the AC if I want to use the microwave .

naturist
Nomad
Nomad
The two 20 amp 120 volt circuits cannot be combined. They will either give you 240 volts or short out and burn up the generator, depending on how you wired that.

A 4000 watt generator produces only 16-2/3 amps at 240 volts, which is why there is no 30 amp receptacle on it. The only way you can get a full 30 amps would be to spring for a 2:1, 240 volt to 120 volt step down transformer.

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
Probably going to be marginal. Best shot is to turn off all breakers except the main and air until the air is running.

Even better would be to break out the power to the air on a separate circuit so one plug could power the air and the other could power the rest.

Or if you can still return/exchange the generator....

RJCorazza
Explorer
Explorer
20a will run your AC. You will not be able to run 2 high current appliance at the same time (microwave, AC, electric water heater for example). I have run my 13.5k AC on a 15a circuit without issue, but with nothing else. You cannot combine your (2) 20a recepticles. Keep in mind your trailer operates on 120v only!