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Old 10-10-2009, 05:29 PM   #1
JMG
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Installing a generator in front compartment

Has anyone added a generator and put it in the front compartment?
Was it hard to do? I would like to put a Yamaha 2400 in there. Any suggestions?
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Old 10-10-2009, 09:07 PM   #2
Art-n-Marge
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I can only comment that a Yamaha 2400 may not be able to support your RV even when you need 30 amps. While it has a surge rate of 3000 watts, the specs for it specify only about 2400 watts.

If you want to boondock and support a microwave and Air conditioner and refrigerator running all on AC almost concurrently, then you'll need to get a generator with over 3000 watts rating, say 3800 and above. If you want to run dual A/Cs, then you'll need about 5500W or above.

If you are looking just to run lights, no A/C, refrigerator on Propane, occasional microwave to minimize 110v power demand, then the Yamaha 2400 should be okay.

Wiring it up is another story - others should be able to comment on that part.
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Old 10-11-2009, 08:41 AM   #3
DonandJudy_12
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Only Onan and one other genset whose name escapes me are designed for a permanent install- Installing the genset you refer to would require an exhaust system to be safe- Imho- Don
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Old 10-11-2009, 10:33 AM   #4
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Two things; the Yamaha 2400 will run the A/C but you natuarlly can't run your fridge and/or microwave at the same time. Also that particular unit will not fit into the front compartment of the Monty. Even if it did it would be very difficult to connect an exhaust system that would meet code for safeties sake. The 2400 is a nice unit and quiet.
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Old 10-17-2009, 05:31 AM   #5
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I am getting ready to mount a genny on the rear of the 5er. Haven't bought one yet but I'm going to build a cargo carrier to slide in the receiver on therear.
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Old 10-17-2009, 05:40 AM   #6
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quote:Originally posted by daily double

I am getting ready to mount a genny on the rear of the 5er. Haven't bought one yet but I'm going to build a cargo carrier to slide in the receiver on therear.
If you have the standard add on reciever, be careful as I believe it is only rated for 200 pounds.
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Old 10-17-2009, 11:50 AM   #7
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You are right about the 200 lbs. I'll probably take that one out and build a new one. I saw a guy the other day pulling a large smoker behind his Monty, he said it weighed about 2200 lbs and he built a hitch for it!!
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Old 10-19-2009, 06:17 AM   #8
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The montana we just bought came with a propane onan 5500. After taking up to the onan repair facility, we were told that in order to run everything on the coach you would need no less then a 7000. Also, he said the propane generator runs through the propane like crqazy. He said if you were going to install the best generator for our unit, it would be the 7500 diesel. Our coach has been modified to have a roof air in the bedroom. If we did not have this additional unit, we could get away with the 5500. Food for thought.
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Old 10-19-2009, 10:55 AM   #9
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quote:Originally posted by jksimons

The montana we just bought came with a propane onan 5500. After taking up to the onan repair facility, we were told that in order to run everything on the coach you would need no less then a 7000. Also, he said the propane generator runs through the propane like crqazy. He said if you were going to install the best generator for our unit, it would be the 7500 diesel. Our coach has been modified to have a roof air in the bedroom. If we did not have this additional unit, we could get away with the 5500. Food for thought.
Technically, they are right... if you tried to run everything in your trailer at once. That means both a/c, the micro wave, TV's, and maxed out the converter. With a little common sense, the 5500 should be fine.
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Old 10-19-2009, 05:27 PM   #10
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we were told no, and the a/c alone trips the breaker on the generator with nothing else running.
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Old 10-19-2009, 05:41 PM   #11
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My 15000 BTU ac and the micro both run on my Onan 4000 Gasoline.
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Old 10-20-2009, 12:19 AM   #12
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by jksimons

we were told no, and the a/c alone trips the breaker on the generator with nothing else running.
You have a problem then. The main a/c draws less than 20 amps during compressor start up. If you are kicking the breaker on the generator, either something is wrong with the generator breaker or the a/c. Since you said nothing about the a/c kicking a breaker on shore power, I suspect the generator breaker, or an issue with the generator power cord. As I stated above, 5500 watts is more than enough for at least one a/c and other items. We run our a/c and other stuff on 3800 watts.
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Old 10-21-2009, 04:45 AM   #13
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The a/c unit on our montana draws 220 on a 20 amp breaker. So, it trips the breaker every time. It won't even run the microwave. The generator is 100% okay, and everything may have run on the generator before the previous owners added a second air unit in the bedroom. Once they wired it in, the repair facility believes that this caused the issue, but a propane 5500 actually can only put out about 4500 also.
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Old 10-21-2009, 05:01 AM   #14
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I have ran my 15000 btu a/c from a 15amp plug before along with the TV and a couple of lights. I can't believe you lose 1000 watts on propane. On a 4000 the lose is only 400 watts. You also give up 3% per 1000f of elevation.
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Old 10-21-2009, 06:53 AM   #15
Tom S.
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by jksimons

The a/c unit on our montana draws 220 on a 20 amp breaker. So, it trips the breaker every time. It won't even run the microwave. The generator is 100% okay, and everything may have run on the generator before the previous owners added a second air unit in the bedroom. Once they wired it in, the repair facility believes that this caused the issue, but a propane 5500 actually can only put out about 4500 also.
OK, something is wrong! The a/c is NOT 220! In fact, nothing in the trailer is 220. If the generator is OK, you definitely have trailer issues. I understand the generator is limited to a steady supply of 4500 watts with the number 5500 representing a max momentary surge capability. But if your a/c or microwave won't operate off of 4500 watts, something is WRONG!!!
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Old 10-22-2009, 07:26 AM   #16
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That will be the next thing we look into. Unfortunatley the day we had an appt to have the trailer looked at by the local rv repair shop, my truck was sitting in the shop in Clovis. The repair shop is booked out an average of six weeks. I definately have the amperage wrong on the a/c, I do know it draws more then the breaker allows.
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Old 10-22-2009, 01:57 PM   #17
Tom S.
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quote:Originally posted by jksimons

That will be the next thing we look into. Unfortunatley the day we had an appt to have the trailer looked at by the local rv repair shop, my truck was sitting in the shop in Clovis. The repair shop is booked out an average of six weeks. I definately have the amperage wrong on the a/c, I do know it draws more then the breaker allows.
Maybe I can explain it this way. The A/C unit is on a 20 amp breaker in the trailer. If it was drawing more than 20 amps, it would trip that breaker when you are on regular 'shore' power. If it is tripping a 20 amp breaker on the generator, then something is either wrong with your generator or your generator power cord.
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