Generators and Air Conditioning, etc.

[Artemus Gordon]

Our Yamaha 3000 iesb works great with one air units, tvs but not much more. As Dick mention when converter kicks in, power is used. We have remote start and extended gas option. Last thing, I bought a voltage and amp reader. It plugs in between an appliance and wall socket. Can also work inline with 30 amp cord. Very interesting what appliances draw. It will shock you. My friends borrow it often for their RVs. Hair Dryers are the worst. Also if you have a counter top toaster oven, it will surprise you what that device can consume.

[jchw]

I have a Powerhouse 3100Ri generator and it has no problems carrying the 15,000Btu A/C and lights. This gives me about 28 amps to work with. Can't run the bedroom A/C at the same time though.

Regardless of what my power source is, I turn on just the fan first and let that run for 30 seconds, before flipping the switch for the compressor to come on. Has never caused me problems.

[steelpony5555]

We use our Champion for emergencies or when stopped at truck stops or Walmarts....Can't even hear it over idling trucks....usually just run the 13.5 BTU bedroom AC since it is newer and uses less power...normally it is enough to cool up down.

[Twopetes]

I am entering the discussion a little late, but we looked at this issue as we prep for full timing. I like the duel Hondas but you are into $2500 to get 30 plus amps. I looked at the options at Camping World and did internet searches. I settled on a Champion 3500/4000 watt unit with remote electric start and a 30 amp RV plug. Bought it on-line for $400. Looking at options as to where to mount the unit (in truck or a rack mount on 5er - our 353RL's power plug is in the rear) I have tested the set up in the yard and have no problems pulling a 15K A/C alone with lights (LED) TV and Frig. This set up is only planned for overnights at truck stops or friends yards. I do have Honda 1000 that will run the lights, TV and such, but it is JIC.

Side issue - who has surge protectors? What size?

[twindman]

I had the Surge Guard 50 amp hard wired protector. The protector would trip with a generator because of a floating ground or something like that. The Generator salesguy/techy told me how to rewire the genny to fix this. Also, you can make a pigtail thing that does the same. Search here for instructions on how to do that.

[Ozz]

You can make an extended run assembly easily. Get the cap from a Honda outlet and the parts in the pictures:

https://goo.gl/photos/waW2X3YYUNVsuh64A