Generator questions

[time2play]

I have some question about our Honda generators (2000i).

If we're running both the A/C and the television, would it make sense to run the TV to the inverter and the A/C to the generator? Or should both the A/C and the TV be hooked to the generator?

Also, with both the A/C and the TV hooked to the generator, should the microwave oven be used?

Also, we have two 15,000BTU A/C's. Just to confirm...one can never run both A/C's unit at the same time to the generator. I'm pretty sure the answer is No...but just want to make sure.

Thanks again for all your help!

[Phoenix]

You television doesn't draw much current, so it doesn't make any difference what it's hooked up to. If the generator is running, I'd just plug it into the 120v AC outlet (that's probably powered by the generator through your shore power cable). Otherwise, the inverter is OK, too.

However, your microwave will most likely overload the generator, if your air conditioning compressor is running. To avoid overload, turn the air conditioner to FAN while using the microwave; then turn it back to COOL when you're finished cooking/reheating. Of course, you could also briefly turn the air conditioner OFF.

[time2play]

Thanks for the information Phoenix! That's good to know. And what about the two 15K A/C's? The only time I can run both is on shore power? Correct?

And again, thank you.

[Phoenix]

Sorry, I am unfamiliar with the larger Airstreams. I suspect you have a 50 amp shore cable, so I doubt if two Honda EU2000i's will provide enough power to run both air conditioners at the same time. Each generator outputs 13.3 amps, so the total of the two in parallel would be 26.6 amps. Therefore, I think one air conditioner would be the limit. However, I'm sure other AirForums members who have similar model Airstreams will provide the correct answer for you.

You should be able to run the one in the living room/kitchen area during the day, and switch to the one in the bedroom at night. Or, you could run one of the air conditioners; and, at the opposite end of your Airstream, set the FantasticFan to OUT, to draw the cool air to that end. However, with only one air conditioner running, the heat load may exceed the cooling power of the single unit; and your Airstream may be uncomfortably warm.

We also have two Honda EU2000i's, but our 2005 19-foot Bambi has only one air conditioner. Plus, in the summer, we figure if we need to run the air conditioner (highest Phoenix daytime temperature has been 118 degrees, so far), we are camped in the wrong spot. In the summertime, everyone here heads for the mountains, like Flagstaff, the White Mountains, the Mogollon Rim, or the Colorado Rockies, where the daytime highs are a little over 80, and nights are in the mid-50's.

[jdalrymple]

No, one cannot run two AC units with a set of EU2000i generators.

One would need on the order of 6000 watts to run both air conditioners and have any left over capacity.

It would be better to power the TV from the generator. Converting 12 DC power to 120 volt AC power is an inefficient process. So, using the inverter to run the TV, even though the load is small, will draw more current from the generator than just the TV alone.

It would also be best to not run the microwave and AC at the same time. If the AC compressor were to try to start while the microwave was running, the generators would probably drop out.

One could trade up to two EU3000is units and have enough power to do all at once.


Regards,


JD

[time2play]

Wow...great information everyone! Thank you.