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Old 09-19-2012, 05:41 PM   #41
2Wanderers
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When you try to run the AC off the two Yamahas, make sure the hot water heater ckt breaker is off. If that doesn't do it turn off the converter ckt breaker too. The hot water heater draws a lot of current and can be run off propane. However, you will eventually need the converter on to bring the charge back up on the batteries unless you have solar. Just an idea.
 
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Old 09-19-2012, 06:20 PM   #42
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Thanks 2Wanderers for the idea of turning off the circuit breakers. We will give that a try. We have tried everything we can think of to no avail.

UPDATE: We heard back from the local Cummins Onan dealership today and for a mere $7000 they will install a 6500watt (2 30amp) model including the EC30W Wireless Energy Command Center. Keith just about fell off his chair so I think we will be ordering it off of Norwall.com as they were EXTREMELY helpful on the phone and the generator is $4800 from them. The sales rep said they help over the phone with installation issues and he was VERY helpful answering my questions. I know that the 5500watt is probably enough for our needs but what can I say...when you are married to an Electrical Engineer more WATTS is always better!
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Old 09-19-2012, 06:53 PM   #43
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quote:Originally posted by BusyCarol

I know that the 5500watt is probably enough for our needs but what can I say...when you are married to an Electrical Engineer more WATTS is always better!
Tell DH that the 5500 is the "standard" generator that most manufacturers will install. I can't even remember who offers a 6500 as an option, maybe others can chime in on that. But the 5500 is plenty and remember these things are not exactly fuel-efficient any way
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Old 09-19-2012, 07:05 PM   #44
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Thanks Seahunter! I will pass that on to DH! Discussions like these always remind me of Tim on the show Tooltime (Tim the Toolman Taylor) and his discussion about BTU on a BBQ and he had one that was something like 40,000BTU and he kept grunting when he fired her up! It just gives me the giggles but maybe you had to be there!
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Old 09-19-2012, 07:17 PM   #45
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quote:Originally posted by BusyCarol

Thanks Seahunter! I will pass that on to DH! Discussions like these always remind me of Tim on the show Tooltime (Tim the Toolman Taylor) and his discussion about BTU on a BBQ and he had one that was something like 40,000BTU and he kept grunting when he fired her up! It just gives me the giggles but maybe you had to be there!
LOL - Loved that show. No, I totally get the Toolman approach to beefing everything up. If 25,000 BTUs is good, well then 40,000 BTUs HAS to be better His primitive-man grunting is one-of-a-kind!

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Old 09-20-2012, 03:46 AM   #46
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"MORE POWER (grunt, grunt)"

Carol, another thing, as Greg said these genny are not the most fuel efficient and the 6500 is even less so than a 5500, not sure but might even be a few bucks cheaper. Our 5500 will run both of our ACs without a problem.
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Old 09-20-2012, 01:16 PM   #47
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Thanks mbs4771! I have let the husband know about fuel economy and cost as mentioned by many...and so far he is still 'grunting'! I will call and get a price on the 5500 and see if I can show him how that cost difference would pay for a trip...he may bite then. I got my washer/dryer so if he wants the 6500 I can't begrudge him his 'WATTS'!

Thanks again to everyone who is helping us wade through all of the choices! One issue we are trying to figure out is if we decide to install this ourselves HOW do we get the 'beast' into his hole? The generators weigh 279-290lbs and it is a small space. Any suggestions?
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Old 09-20-2012, 01:31 PM   #48
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quote:Originally posted by BusyCarol


One issue we are trying to figure out is if we decide to install this ourselves HOW do we get the 'beast' into his hole? The generators weigh 279-290lbs and it is a small space. Any suggestions?
I'm always amazed at what you can find on youtube... Bet someone has posted their genny install on there.
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Old 09-20-2012, 02:36 PM   #49
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Maybe if you could rent an engine hoist, not sure if you could get the arm low enough, but it could handle the weight.
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Old 09-20-2012, 03:04 PM   #50
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Renting a fork lift would probably be better, then you could slide the genny into it's place (with some strong help of course). Just thinking out loud. Makes me glad I had ours factory installed.
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Old 09-20-2012, 04:37 PM   #51
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Two of us picked my Onan 4000 up and slid it in place. Of course I did put a A/C on the roof by myself a few years ago.
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Old 09-20-2012, 06:11 PM   #52
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Okay...I have taken many of your suggestions into consideration but I think this youtube video is VERY clever! I don't think my husband is going to go for it but for all of you modifiers/tinkerers out there you have to admit this is an extremely clever idea!



Let me know what you think! I got the giggles off of this! I can just imagine showing up to Quartzite with this rig! Ozz eat your heart out!
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Old 09-21-2012, 07:36 AM   #53
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Cleaver but I hope that is storage only and he does not run it in there. I did not see any plumbing for the exhaust.
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Old 09-21-2012, 11:41 AM   #54
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They make note of the fact that when they get where they are going is that they lower the generator down to the ground to be able to fill it with fuel and move it if need be. Clever solution.....
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Old 09-21-2012, 11:45 AM   #55
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Don't think it would out to good with new units with the front dropped frame. Can you imagine how high you would have to raise the front end to get that thing under there?? Think I'll stick with my onboard Onan
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Old 09-21-2012, 01:48 PM   #56
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I thought it was a clever idea but I will still want the onboard Onan too!!! So does Hubby which means it will probably happen. The dealership was trying to convince me today NOT to order online but I explained to him that I would love to do business locally but this other dealership is $1200 cheaper! If it was $50-100 that would be one thing but $!200?! That would cover the cost of a trip for us! I told him to feel free to lower his price and I would be happy to purchase from him. He then told me to be careful that it wasn't a refurbished model. Don't think so since other MOC owners have purchased from the company and had great luck!

I still thought the video was funny and clever!

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Old 09-21-2012, 03:16 PM   #57
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You just don't want to be around when they fire off the Champion genny. Folks a couple of rigs over from us at last years Hershey show had one running in the back of their TV, talk about loud. Everyone in the parking lot gave a sigh of relief when it came time in the evening to shut down all gennys.
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Old 09-21-2012, 07:55 PM   #58
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Love the lift idea. It would work great for my Honda EU3000i with room to spare. Drop it down and roll it out to use it. Lift it back in for travel. I may have to think about this over the winter.
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Old 09-21-2012, 08:36 PM   #59
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by BusyCarol

Okay...I have taken many of your suggestions into consideration but I think this youtube video is VERY clever! I don't think my husband is going to go for it but for all of you modifiers/tinkerers out there you have to admit this is an extremely clever idea!



Let me know what you think! I got the giggles off of this! I can just imagine showing up to Quartzite with this rig! Ozz eat your heart out!
Hmmmmmmm, interesting idea, Thanks for sharing! I have a generator which looks just like that one except mine is a 5500 W. I never considered that it would even fit into that area, I think it's a cleaver idea though! I also think it would be too noisy to use that way. Ours is made by Generac and its loud. Thanks for the link!
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Old 09-23-2012, 02:20 AM   #60
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Clever idea for sure, but I suspect that the generator he has chosen will be quite noisy. After lugging two Honda EU2000's in and out of our horse trailer and running out of fuel at 2am on an 80 degree night, I want nothing more to do with portable generators. It might be expensive but I like having the convenience of built in controls at my finger tips. I'll take propane bottles over gas cans any day. Just my opinion.
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