Generator/ A/C question

[starbuc71]

I'm in the process of looking to buy a portable generator. I really want to get a honda due to the quietness and reliability. My question is, what size generator would I need to run my A/C? That is really the only reason I want one since stove and fridge will run off propane. I was looking at the honda 2000 model and didn't know if I had to link (2) 2000 or go up to the bigger 3000 model which I really don't want to due to the weight and size. Any help would be appreciated. My A/C unit is a standard TT model

 

[LarryJ]

I'm in the process of looking to buy a portable generator. I really want to get a honda due to the quietness and reliability. My question is, what size generator would I need to run my A/C? That is really the only reason I want one since stove and fridge will run off propane. I was looking at the honda 2000 model and didn't know if I had to link (2) 2000 or go up to the bigger 3000 model which I really don't want to due to the weight and size. Any help would be appreciated. My A/C unit is a standard TT model

IMHO you need two 2000 or one 3000 Honda to run the A/C. IMHO the flexibility, size and wt. of the 2000s make them the best, but more expensive option. I dry camped a lot with a single 2000 and it was great. I still throw it in the Van for our trips just in case I need it for whatever reason.

Larry

 

[SCIMACER]

I looked around a LOT before buying.. A friend had a Honda 2000 and let me try it.. Running it alone was on the edge of overload (although it ran my main 15000 btu a/c just fine).. I finally decided on a Yamaha EF2400iS, I did buy two of them (with the tie em together kit) but have never camped but with one. It will weight about 75# so it is managaeble. I have a 36" Jayco with twin a/c's.. You will only be able to run one at the time though (unless you run both gens)..

I'm in the process of looking to buy a portable generator. I really want to get a honda due to the quietness and reliability. My question is, what size generator would I need to run my A/C? That is really the only reason I want one since stove and fridge will run off propane. I was looking at the honda 2000 model and didn't know if I had to link (2) 2000 or go up to the bigger 3000 model which I really don't want to due to the weight and size. Any help would be appreciated. My A/C unit is a standard TT model

 

[stacktester]

I have the Yamaha 2400 as well. It's great for races and other dry camping needs. It works on a 13.5 btu a/c with no problems. I would like to one day have another one and the parallel cords. Just keep the oil changed and it will last forever.

ETA: If you have about $900 more to spend on the Honda 3000 I would do it. I just don't need one that badly to spend that much. If you did buy the 2000's and hook em together that would be the lightest way as they are not heavy at all.

 

[Dirtslinger]

You should consider the run time on one tank of fuel vs the others. I don't know the 2000 honda or the yamaha 2400 very well so someone else may be able to help you with them. I have had a yamaha 3000 with the boost and found the Honda 3000 to be better and way more efficiant for me while running one 15,000 BTU A/C. I made a mount for my 3000 and just left it in the 2" hitch on the back of my TT and 5'er. Now I just look at it in the garage and hit the button on the dash for the onan in the motorhome. Oh, I could run the A/C with the 3000 honda for about 12 or 14 hours and 8 to 10 with the 3000 yamaha on a hot day before refueling.

 

[kristler]

You may want to look at a hard start capacitor add on / change for your A/C to help with running off a generator. I just installed one this weekend not because of my generator, but because my factory stock starting capacitor went out. After the install, we have a MUCH lower inrush on startup. It certainly helps the generator. I installed an SPP6E from Patriot Supply. I read about it at Mod My RV. I have nothing to due with either site, just helped me out a lot this last week before heading to Floridia with a dead A/C

-Bill

 

[clkelley]

My dad told me that a lot of folks have been raving about the Honewell 2000. Actually has a better loading than the Honda 2000 and at a better price.

http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-G...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[chilipyro]

I own a Honda 2000. It is very quiet, and it is a great generator. If you hunt around, you should be able to pick one up for under $900. We had some success with using the generator to run the 13Kbtu AC on our previous trailer, but only after adding a hard start capacitor. I don't recommend that setup, if you want to rely on having an AC. It would start most of the time, but would sometimes not restart after the compressor cycled off and then on again. Also, the quietness of the Honda 2000 was no longer there with that high load, and the gas runs out pretty quickly at that load. We still love the Honda 2000 for other generator needs, but as an AC power supply, it didn't really cut it (and doesn't work at all, now that we have a bigger trailer with a 15Kbtu AC).

We looked at the Yamaha 2400s. Also a nice generator, but they were too bulky and heavy. The Honda 3000 is great (not the new 'handi' model though - that one is loud). But, the Honda 3000 is not portable by any reasonable stretch of the imagination.

If I were to decide that a reliable generator source for an AC was necessary, I would buy a second Honda 2000 (the new Honda 2000 companion, with an RV plug) and run them in parallel. Having a second Honda 2000 would allow me to bring just the one Honda 2000 for times when I didn't need AC. Or, if I needed AC, lifiting two Honda 2000's separately is much easier than one Honda 3000. If (like me) you are not sure you really need a quiet generator that runs the AC, but do want a generator for other things, the Honda 2000 provides a great upgrade path later on, if needed.

By the way - I also own a Champion 3500 generator, which runs the AC fine. So far, the only times where I have wanted AC and didn't have hookups were trips where the noise level was not an issue. At $300 (on sale), that is an inexpensive solution that works for many.