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04-24-2020, 11:19 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: East Wenatchee
Posts: 12
M.O.C. #25660
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Predator gen and AC
So I fired up the 3500 predator generator and hooked it up to our 2020 3120rl. Used a 50amp-30amp dog bone to plug it into the 30amp plug on the generator. I was shocked turning on one of the ACs and the generator lugged way down and repeatedly cycled between run and overload. Am I doing something wrong? I certainly would expect this generator to run at least one of the ACs.
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04-24-2020, 11:28 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,924
M.O.C. #20477
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Firebowl,
Welcome to the forum!
It should run one air but not much else. Need to make sure your water heater and fridge are on gas. Also if your batteries were down your converter may have been drawing a lot to recharge your batteries.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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04-24-2020, 11:32 PM
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#3
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Established Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: East Wenatchee
Posts: 12
M.O.C. #25660
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Hey thanks for the info and welcome! Everything else is off. The rig has been plugged in for several days so I think the batteries should be good, but I’ll check on that.
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04-25-2020, 01:04 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Menifee
Posts: 1,109
M.O.C. #22986
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Both my 3500’s in parallel run my entire coach. Both ac’s, fridge 3 tv’s even the microwave. One should run 1 ac pretty easily.
__________________
2018 3920fb 2020 GMC Denali 3500 4x4 Duramax, 10 speed Allison. LB SRW, Firestone air bags with Airlift wireless onboard compressor. Anderson Ultimate Hitch. MX4 folding cover. 50gal titan in bed transfer tank. Onan 6500 lp genset installed by me ! Had: 2 HF 3500 Inverters with Parallel Kit
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04-25-2020, 07:35 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,547
M.O.C. #2283
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I have a motor home with an Onan 4000 watt. The generator required major repair after 35 hours. The generator repair man said to check the air conditioner to see how many amps it was pulling. I did and it was pulling way too many amps. The AC was working it seamed just fine but it was still bad. Check your AC.
Lynwood
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04-25-2020, 09:43 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,680
M.O.C. #24086
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__________________
Daryl and Marianne,
2019 3130re 20th Anniversary Edition
2016 F350 Lariat
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04-25-2020, 10:08 AM
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#7
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Marysville WA
Posts: 138
M.O.C. #26029
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Will adding this void warranty ???
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04-25-2020, 10:23 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,680
M.O.C. #24086
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Good question. Maybe call Dometic and check with them first.
__________________
Daryl and Marianne,
2019 3130re 20th Anniversary Edition
2016 F350 Lariat
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04-25-2020, 10:27 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Alton
Posts: 2,680
M.O.C. #24086
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Here is a good article about the easy start in Trailer Life magazine
https://www.trailerlife.com/tech/this-is-cool/
__________________
Daryl and Marianne,
2019 3130re 20th Anniversary Edition
2016 F350 Lariat
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04-25-2020, 12:36 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,690
M.O.C. #12947
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Firefowl
So I fired up the 3500 predator generator and hooked it up to our 2020 3120rl. Used a 50amp-30amp dog bone to plug it into the 30amp plug on the generator. I was shocked turning on one of the ACs and the generator lugged way down and repeatedly cycled between run and overload. Am I doing something wrong? I certainly would expect this generator to run at least one of the ACs.
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Were you literally “shocked”, as electrically shocked? If so, you might have a polarity issue with the generator.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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04-25-2020, 12:48 PM
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#11
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Established Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: East Wenatchee
Posts: 12
M.O.C. #25660
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Oh, no! Sorry. Surprised would have been a better word I guess. The batteries look good and it does the same thing when either AC is started. Sounding more like a generator problem. I don’t know. I had plans to get a second one and parallel them. I guess I’ll try that and see what happens before getting too excited and bail on the predator.
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04-25-2020, 12:51 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,547
M.O.C. #2283
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If there is no problem with the generator of the AC the generator will run a AC. How many amps is the AC pulling?
Lynwood
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04-25-2020, 12:59 PM
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#13
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Established Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: East Wenatchee
Posts: 12
M.O.C. #25660
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That I couldn’t tell you. I’m not even sure how to check that. it’s cycles back-and-forth between run and overload quickly enough that it makes it difficult to read the screen on the generator. Does it seem odd that it would happen on ACs?
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04-25-2020, 01:00 PM
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#14
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Established Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: East Wenatchee
Posts: 12
M.O.C. #25660
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I just had a thought. I’m going to take the generator over to my buddies fifth wheel and hook it up and see what happens when we turn on his AC.
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04-25-2020, 01:39 PM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bastrop
Posts: 2,892
M.O.C. #20753
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Just a thought. How hot is it when you are doing your test? if it is cool that may be your issue
__________________
Mocha, one-eyed toothless, hurricane survivor, Pirate dog
2019 20th Anniversary Edition 3701LK
B&W 20K for Ford OEM Puck
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat CCLB PSD DRW KJ5CQH
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04-25-2020, 02:14 PM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,547
M.O.C. #2283
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Do you have the generator on Eco mode?
Lynwood
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04-25-2020, 03:45 PM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Grand Rapids
Posts: 1,896
M.O.C. #9561
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turn the temp down low so the A/C will always run...you avoid the heavy start/restart. Make sure that only the A/C is on when you start too. You can add the TV, frig after it is running.
You can always do a 'soft start' kit for another few hundred.
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04-25-2020, 04:37 PM
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#18
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Established Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: East Wenatchee
Posts: 12
M.O.C. #25660
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Mid 60s
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04-25-2020, 05:13 PM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,945
M.O.C. #5651
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I have a Progressive EMS and it has a readout for current/voltage. When I start the A/C the amps are 16-17 and quickly drop back to 13-14. However, when running in the summer (June 1 or so) and 105 degrees, the current draw is up to 18 or so.
since these 3500/3600 gennys should be putting out 25-30 continuous amps, you should have no problem running an A/C. (without the easy start option)
__________________
Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
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04-25-2020, 05:25 PM
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#20
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Established Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: East Wenatchee
Posts: 12
M.O.C. #25660
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Eco mode is off. In all the research I did prior to buying this generator, I never found any instance where it would not run a single air conditioner. I think I’m headed back to Harbor freight to address this.
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Linear Mode
