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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4709
Registered: 9-2-2003
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Portable Generators for Truck Campers
I would appreciate help in finding a Small Portable Generator for my new Lance Lite Camper; It has Refrig-A/C-Lites-Small Micro-Wave.
Any suggestions?
has there been a previous Thread?
thank you
Skeet/Loreto
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
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Depending on the size of the A/C, a Honda eu2000i is a great unit. Light enough to carry if needed and VERY dependable (in my estimation) as well as
quiet in operation. If you don't need much power, the Economy mode gives you about 12 hours running on about a gallon of gas. If your A/c is a large
one, this won't run it.
No Bad Days
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And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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surfer jim
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Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: high desert
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I bought the Honda Bajalou mentioned....about $850 (internet)...quiet...portable....but I don't have a/c or microwave and those are the big power
users.....
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jerry
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i personally wouldnt get a 2 kw gen set for a ac unit the ac wont last
check with the maker of the ac find out the starting amperage when the compresser kicks in
then add some for what ever else your going to be running at the same time
because if ya have a gen set ppl are going to use it while the ac is running and that will cause low voltage burning up the ac moter just my opinon
jerry and judi
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jerry
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coffee makers, hairdryers,curling irons, microwaves are all big drawers of electricity
jerry and judi
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turtleandtoad
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For a better understanding of starting vs running loads, check out Generator Joe. He also give typical loads and how to size your generator. This site is primarily for home or small business systems, but
everything applies to a truck camper, just not as big.
Mike & Robin; Full-Time RV\'ers
37\' Georgetown w/3 slides & 275 Watts of Solar Power
06 Taco TRD
www.turtleandtoad.com
I am here
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
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Thanks for all the Information:
Just have to figure out the A/C Looks like a Honda EU2000 if my wife has to stay Cool!!!
Always Good Help from the Amigos.
Skeet
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burro bob
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I am also looking at the Honda eu200i. This is a very quiet generator, something like 53 db. This is quieter than human speach.
Also with an optional cable you can hook two of them togeather and run them as one 4000 watt generator.
The i at the end stands for inverter. That means it puts out true sine wave power. This is very important if you will be using any items that have a
converter, such as a printer or camera battery charger.
The Hondas also have a two year warrenty, not bad for an electrical appliance.
burro bob
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MrBillM
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A/C
I've mentioned in the past that I use a 2700W Genset (Honda 5.0 engine) to run my bedroom 5000 btu A/C along with any other loads on at the time for a
number of years without any problems. The genset will run for 2.5-3.0 hours on a 5/8 gallon fuel tank. The newer units have a larger gas tank (size
unknown). It's not as compact or quiet as those "suitcase" gensets, though. Probably an important consideration with a Camper.
BTW, ALL of my electronics, including my (3) HP printers and a multitude of device battery chargers, run just fine on my Trace 2500W "Modified" Sine
wave Inverter. For that matter, they will all run on my Statpower 150 Inverters. Over the years, I ran into "one" device battery charger that would
not work on those inverters. The cautionary advice I've have seen (Backwoods Solar, etc) regarding printers has described problems with "Laser"
printers.
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pacificobob
Super Nomad
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gen set...
the honda eu3000 has a huge following. a great machine up to the tasks you describe.....might be to bulky though......i have one on my camper
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DonBaja
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I bought the Honda Eu2000i from this place www.alamia.com they had the best price I found. Free shipping no tax. You have to call them to get prices but it is worth it. Mine was $ 867.00
total.
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DonBaja
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Registered: 5-9-2006
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Here is Alamia's number. 1-800-861-0029
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
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thanks all you good Nomads. I decidedo that the Honda eu2000i is what I need..
Headed on a 3 Day Maiden Voage to Springer New Mexico, Taos{Where I at one time hunted jack Rabbits on the Mesa, sold them to the Taos Pubelo Indians
for $.50 cents each} but that is another Story in my younger Years.
From Taos up to Chama then to Pagosa Springs and back down through Raton
That also reminds me of a Mexicano{Spanish School Teacher I met while Dancing}I was 17 she was 23! Made love outside the Gym in a Snow Storm.
Those were the Days, but I degress from Inverters so thanks again for all the good Help.
Skeet/Loreto
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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Location: Sonora
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Not so fast, Skeet!!!!
I also own a Honda 2000i and have a '93 "Lance Lite"; back then, they were called Lance Squires.
I have what WAS the lowest drawing AC unit that Lance put in their units (there may be lower drawing units now). It's an 11000 Duo-Therm Brisk Air
that has a compressor draw of 8.5 amps and a fan motor that draws 2.5 amps for a total of 11 amps, not counting the initial surge of the compressor at
startup.
My Honda runs this by itself if I am running it near sea level and in temps that dont exceed 85 degrees. But any combination of elevation above, say,
3000 feet or air temps much above 85 and IT WILL NOT RUN THE AC UNIT. Elevation and elevated air temps rob gensets of power; sometimes as much as 20%.
I have even tried it by shutting off the house circuit breaker (separate from the AC breaker) so that even the nominal AC/DC charger was not running.
Still no go.
To overcome this, the options are the much heavier (134 lbs!) Honda 3000 or Yamaha makes relatively quiet units at 2400w and 2800w that are not nearly
as heavy as the Honda 3000.
Or, another option is running TWO Honda 2000s together using a "bridging" cable they sell that effectively gives you about 3500 watts, continuous.
Based on the area you are traveling to, you can decide to bring one or both.
You must find out what the draw of your AC unit is to determine which of these are best for you. It is not SPECIFICALLY listed in most Lance
literature I have seen. Remove the INSIDE grill on the AC unit itself and look for a label that shows what the compressor and the fan draw. IT IS
LIKELY YOU HAVE A 13,500 BTU UNIT.
If the Yamaha EF-2800i unit will power it, I'd go that route. It is less than half the weight of the HOnda 3000 and much cheaper although it is a bit
noisier.
[Edited on 8-14-2006 by Hook]
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
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Thanks Hook!!!!
I have been swayed by the Yahama, forgot about the the elevation/Heat Factor. Your information has helped me with my final Decision! Much Obliged!
The unit will be used around the Texas Panhandle{Ele-3500 Ft}, Mountains of Colorado, Hill C
Skeetountry of Texas.
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Roberto
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Hook, do you have a hard-start kit on your A/C? I'm wondering if the problem is with the initial compressor load, since the unit genset is rated at
2000W max (16.6 amps) and 1600W continuous (13.3A). I'm thinking it may be close, but it MAY run your unit with a hard-start kit. Without one, forget
it.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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Not sure, Roberto.
My unit (which, BTW, was not original on the 93 model, it was installed by a Lance dealer around 2000) has a rotary switch that goes through 3 fan
settings w/o the compressor running and 3 true A/C settings with different fan speeds.
I am not familiar with the term "hard start kit". How could I tell?
Like I said, it runs fine at sea level in moderate temps. I havent taken it to the SOC in summer as I only bought it used about a year ago. A hot, sea
level test would be interesting. Maybe I should drive to Borrego Springs??
But it failed in Vegas last week in 105 degrees at whatever elevation Vegas is at (~2000 feet ?) and also failed in the Sierras in 85 degree heat at ~
7500 feet.
I really almost never use the AC as the Fantantic Vent is about all we need at night. during the day, we are under the awning and in the water.
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Roberto
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Most units will NOT have a hard-start kit. Basically, it consists of a very large capacitor to absorb the surge that occurs when the compressor starts
up, or for that matter, whenever a sudden additional demand for current occurs. They make a huge difference, and I know that many people run units
similar to yours with a Honda 2000 once these are installed. Typically, they cost less than $30 and take less than 30 minutes to install.
If you are interested, you will need to model of your unit, call the manufacturer, and they will give you the part # of the kit. Proceed from there.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Roberto
Most units will NOT have a hard-start kit. Basically, it consists of a very large capacitor to absorb the surge that occurs when the compressor starts
up, or for that matter, whenever a sudden additional demand for current occurs. They make a huge difference, and I know that many people run units
similar to yours with a Honda 2000 once these are installed. Typically, they cost less than $30 and take less than 30 minutes to install.
If you are interested, you will need to model of your unit, call the manufacturer, and they will give you the part # of the kit. Proceed from there.
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Great info, Roberto. You may have saved me a complete generator upgrade. I will research.
So, the capacitor continues to hold a charge even after the AC is shut off? Does it rely on the house battery to maintain this or is the capacitor
charged when house current is initially applied before the A/C unit is turned on?
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
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http://www.kickstartoem.com/
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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