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07-07-2012, 04:40 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member
2012 25' FB Flying Cloud
Georgetown
, Texas
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 101
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Two Honda EU2000s, Eco mode, and A/C
Hi All,
Wondering what the consensus was regarding using Eco mode on two Honda EU2000s hooked in parallel when running the air conditioning? Will they rev up fast enough for the A/C, or is it best to run the gens with Eco off (which is what I'm currently doing)?
Thanks in advance,
Jeff
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07-07-2012, 05:07 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1966 24' Tradewind
1995 34' Excella
Lynchburg
, Virginia
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,225
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Jeff
You will get the most accurate answer by running your generators in eco mode and see what happens. I suspect they will work fine, but you won't know for sure until you try it.
Dan
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07-07-2012, 05:47 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2005 19' Safari
GLENDALE
, AZ
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,453
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Haven't tried using ECO mode with air conditioner, but microwave is OK. You can hear engine in generator slow slightly, then immediately rev up. I suspect that the generator would do the same with the air conditioner.
Owners manual instructions say ECO mode should be turned OFF, if high-current load is present. Please note that instructions seem to imply "multiple high-current loads", although this is unclear. However, this may be specified to reduce constant throttling up and down as load changes.
With ECO mode ON, I suspect that there is a slight "brown-out" when the compressor cycles on; so I personally turn ECO mode OFF to prevent damaging the air conditioning unit. However, this is just my opinion, which may be incorrect.
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Extract from Honda EU2000i Owner's Manual:
ECO-THROTTLE SWITCH
The Eco-Throttle system automatically reduces engine speed when all loads are turned off or disconnected. When appliances are turned on or reconnected, the engine returns to the proper speed to power the electrical load.
If high electrical loads are connected simultaneously, turn the Eco-Throttle switch to the OFF position to reduce voltage changes.
When using the DC output, turn the Eco-Throttle switch to the OFF position.
ON: Recommended to minimize fuel consumption and further reduce noise levels when no load is applied to the generator.
OFF: The Eco-Throttle system does not operate.
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07-07-2012, 06:16 PM
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#4
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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I'll have to find my owner's manual, but I seem to remember it said not to use eco throttle when using two units with the parallel cables.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
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07-07-2012, 06:30 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1965 22' Safari
Vassar
, Michigan
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 848
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I run my Honda 3000 in Eco mode w/air all the time. No problem. Of course I don't try to run anything else at the same time. I've let it run all night long that way and it uses very little gas. I'm sure your double 2000's will handle it.
__________________
Tim
TAC MI 14
Everyday is a Saturday
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07-08-2012, 06:39 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1995 30' Excella
Bowie
, Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
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I have my owner's manual sitting right here - we just got our second unit Friday.
The manual for the parallel cables says, "If high electrical loads are connected, turn the Eco-Throttle switch to the OFF position to reduce voltage changes." So that implies it's okay to leave it on in general.
The manual for the generator simply says both switches must be in the same positions - either both off or both on. That makes sense.
We tested our dual generator setup using the AC in the camper, and without realizing it I'd left both Eco-Switches ON. It started the compressor in the AC just fine, and it was working normally. As someone said, you hear the generators spool up a bit for a moment but that's to be expected. So I think you're good to go.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel
Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
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07-08-2012, 06:39 AM
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#7
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3 Rivet Member
2012 25' FB Flying Cloud
Georgetown
, Texas
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 101
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Thanks for the replies. Regarding Eco mode and the Parallel Cable kit, the instructions (with the kit) say just to make sure Eco mode is set the same on both generators.
I, too, am worried about an initial brown out when the compressor kicks on.
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07-08-2012, 06:43 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2004 30' Classic Slideout
2021 33FB Classic
Colleyville
, TX
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,540
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Works just fine for us; however, if we're going to use the microwave or fire up the water heater, we change the settings. At times, even then the breaker will trip or the generators will go into overload setting. Love those Hondas.
__________________
In dog years, I'm dead!
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07-08-2012, 06:45 AM
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#9
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skater
I have my owner's manual sitting right here - we just got our second unit Friday.
The manual for the parallel cables says, "If high electrical loads are connected, turn the Eco-Throttle switch to the OFF position to reduce voltage changes." So that implies it's okay to leave it on in general.
The manual for the generator simply says both switches must be in the same positions - either both off or both on. That makes sense.
We tested our dual generator setup using the AC in the camper, and without realizing it I'd left both Eco-Switches ON. It started the compressor in the AC just fine, and it was working normally. As someone said, you hear the generators spool up a bit for a moment but that's to be expected. So I think you're good to go.
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Mine says the same thing. They say rhe memory is the second thing to go. I forget what the first thing is...
Quote:
Originally Posted by barrettjl
Thanks for the replies. Regarding Eco mode and the Parallel Cable kit, the instructions (with the kit) say just to make sure Eco mode is set the same on both generators.
I, too, am worried about an initial brown out when the compressor kicks on.
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__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
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07-08-2012, 07:53 AM
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#10
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Rivet Monster
1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,172
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You have a newer unit and I suspect the air conditioner may have the "soft start" set up on it. That works well with the Eco setting in that it allows the generator to spool up prior to dumping the full compressor load on it.
I run a 37 year old Armstrong Baybreeze, it does not like the generators to be on Eco setting. When it kicks in, it kicks in and I have had a breaker pop more than once with the generator on Eco setting. So we leave that setting off, if we are using the AC. YMMV
I think there is a way to put a soft start kit on the Baybreeze, just haven't bothered to check into it at this point.
Aaron
__________________
....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #XXXX AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
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07-08-2012, 08:16 AM
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#11
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Retired.
Currently Looking...
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, At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wahoonc
I think there is a way to put a soft start kit on the Baybreeze, just haven't bothered to check into it at this point.
Aaron
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I think it's a really large capacity capacitor.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
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07-08-2012, 08:38 AM
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#12
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Rivet Monster
1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,172
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Quote:
Originally Posted by overlander63
I think it's a really large capacity capacitor.
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That is my understanding, some I have seen include a small circuit board of some sort. I know they are available for a wide range of high draw appliances.
Aaron
__________________
....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #XXXX AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
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07-08-2012, 11:51 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1966 24' Tradewind
1995 34' Excella
Lynchburg
, Virginia
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,225
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We ran our Honda 1000w genny for 24 hours straight on eco throttle powering a 5,000 btu a/c unit, 2 lights sometomes, a tv and a laptop. No problems. Just try it.
Dan
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05-27-2018, 09:32 AM
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#14
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New Member
2018 28' Flying Cloud
Islamorada
, Florida
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 4
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Honda 2200i & Companion in Parallel Issues
Hello All,
We recently bought a 28 Flying Cloud with dual air conditioners. We decided to purchase a Honda 2200i & 2200i Companion for power when off the grid.
I'm having the craziest issue: When operating the generators in parallel with Eco Mode OFF, both generators sputter and are having a difficult time powering a single AC unit. However, (here's what's hard for me to understand) when I switch both generators to Eco Mode ON, they purr like a kitten and run just fine.
I can't wrap my head around why the generators can't handle the load of a single AC unit with Eco Mode OFF, yet they run just fine with Eco Mode ON. I even took a video of what I am experiencing and posted it to YouTube. Take a look if you have a minute:
Thanks,
Bo
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05-27-2018, 04:59 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2005 19' Safari
GLENDALE
, AZ
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,453
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BBosso4, the gas cap switches on both generators are in the OFF position. With them turned OFF, a vacuum will form as fuel is used, causing the generators to be fuel starved. That's what's causing the surging.
Rotate both gas cap switches to the ON position (see markings on gas caps), and try running the generators to power ONE air conditioner only.
NOTE: As you are probably aware, two Honda EU2200i generators in parallel will only power ONE air conditioning unit.
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05-27-2018, 06:36 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2018 25' Flying Cloud
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,316
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Quote:
Originally Posted by overlander63
I think it's a really large capacity capacitor.
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The gold standard for soft start kits for AC units is the EasyStart from Micro-Air. It’s a smart microprocessor-based unit that works wonders for those wanting to run a AC on a single 2000watt generator. It’s far more than a capacitor. You'll find multiple threads on the kit on this forum.
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05-28-2018, 04:46 AM
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#17
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New Member
2018 28' Flying Cloud
Islamorada
, Florida
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 4
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Thanks for the reply! I have both gas caps set to what I thought/think is the on position in the demonstration I posted. Once the rain stops down here I'm going to run outside and hook them up again and follow up with you on the results. Thanks for taking the time to answer.
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06-29-2018, 04:19 PM
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#18
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3 Rivet Member
2017 22' Sport
Johns Creek
, Georgia
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 112
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Honda EU2200i runs 13.5k btu in my 2017 Sport 22
Just wanted to report, that I finally purchased my first generator, the new model Honda EU2200i, for my 2017 Sport 22. I tested it in eco mode running virtually everything at the same time, which includes the 13,500 BTU A/C, all interior and exterior LED lights, Dometic refrigerator running on A/C setting, charging 1 cell phone, TV, Apple TV, and cell booster. I'm thrilled that this unit alone can power everything in the trailer simultaneously. Of course I didn't bother trying the microwave too as I know that would send it way over the limit. The A/C does NOT have a EasyStart or starting capacitor installed, as it's stock.
One thing did concern me, however. After about 1 hour the A/C had got the interior temp down from 94 to 74 degrees, which is good. I had already noticed that when the compressor kicks in, there's a downgrade and lull in the air flow for a couple of seconds and then it ramps back up and runs normally. I'm sure this is when the generator is throttling up while in eco mode. This is the brief "brown out" scenario another described, and I suspect it's not good for the A/C unit.
I turned eco mode OFF, then went inside and turned the thermostat up to get the compressor to turn off, then a few seconds later I turned it back down to get the compressor back on. Then I heard a few seconds of a beep coming from the trailer converter/charger area and the A/C turned off. At this point the generator had went into overload mode and stopped outputting power. Stopping and starting the generator and turning on the A/C and compressor worked fine.
So I guess the lesson for me is that the generator cannot deal with the compressor cycling off and back on again within a few seconds. Not something I expected, but just thought I'd share and see if anyone else has a different view of what happened.
Also am wondering if anyone else agrees that eco mode is not good for the A/C in my situation. I don't want to fool with getting a second generator if I don't have to.
Thanks
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06-29-2018, 05:30 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2017 28' International
Jim Falls
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,294
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Well that’s good to know. I have 2 Hondas. Will be using them in parallel this summer to run 2 AC units.
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06-29-2018, 05:38 PM
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#20
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3 Rivet Member
2017 22' Sport
Johns Creek
, Georgia
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 112
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Two Honda EU2000s, Eco mode, and A/C
Cool! Let us know how it works out. I’m sure it’ll be great.
My unit is not big enough to need 2 A/Cs. Right now I’m thinking that although I can technically run the A/C and everything else in the Airstream with this Honda EU2200i, adding an EasyStart may be worth the install trouble since it would help reduce the stress on the compressor when the generator is trying to provide the surge power. It’s succeeding, but I fear over time this may put extra wear on the A/C.
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