Honda EU2200, Propane, Gas, Easy Start load testing

[ghaynes755]

I did some testing with my newly installed Easy Starts on the 15K air conditioner's yesterday using both propane (Hutch Moutain conversion) and also gas. Results were interesting.

Conditions outside were 90 degrees, 7% humidity, altitude 5,000 ft with a density altitude (what the air with actual air pressure, actual altitude and temperature factored in) of 7,800 ft. All AC draws in the trailer turned off including the battery charger.

Propane test was first. Started out fine. Watched the AC amps with a meter and later with a Progressive PT-50X EMS unit, run at about 4 amps. At about the 4:30min mark the amps started to ramp up peaking at about 15amps. AC compressor churning out cold air for about 2 minutes then got an overload light on the Honda. Amps dropped back to the startup amperage from the Easy Start.

Same test with gasoline with similar results. Gas has more BTU's/power than propane and the usual difference is stated as propane is 10% less power out of a generator.

Watching the PT-50X as the amperage ramped up the voltage began to drop until at about 95 volts (really not a good place to be) and the Honda would go into overload.

Today I did a bit more controlled test using a couple of electric heaters for load. Same type of results. I could drive the Honda up to about 19 amps but the voltage was miserably low at 90 volts. Heaters don't seem to care, Honda kept running since the loads were steady.

Voltage started to go down as I started going above 13-14 amps.

Results pretty much support the Honda manual. For each 1000 ft of altitude output is reduced by 3%. My effective altitude was about 8,000 ft which would take my 1800 running watts and reduce it to 1410 watts on gas and 1270 watts on propane in perfect conditions. Just not enough oomph there for the altitudes here in the west.

Altitude Gas Watts Propane Watts
0 1800 1620
1 1746 1571
2 1694 1524
3 1643 1479
4 1594 1434
5 1546 1391
6 1499 1349
7 1454 1309
8 1411 1270

I'm planning to use the Honda primarily to recharge the batteries in my solar system to be installed in the next several weeks. With a Magnum Hybrid Convert/Charger it will use batteries and solar augmenting the output of the Honda to run an AC unit when needed while boon docking. Set the Magnum for 13amps of 'shore' power and let solar and batteries make up the rest of the power requirements for the the AC unit.

[wulfraat]

I have a honda 2000 with propane conversion, 15k dometic AC, EasyStart and live at 5,500'.

The most I can sustain out of my Honda (was running it just this past weekend) is about 1,100-1,200 watts at 5,500' on propane. The Honda 2200 will give you about 1,200-1,300 watts sustained (10% more).

The compressor on the 15k AC unit will start on the 2000 but amperage will quickly climb as pressure builds in the system. After 5 minutes or so, AC running at 90 degrees outside air temp the 15k dometic will draw about 1,800 watts steady-state.

As you can see - with or without EasyStart, the amperage GAP is simply too large to fill by the little Honda (at altitude with propane of course, sea level is another story).

I have a Victron Multi 3000 and lots of lithium batteries and solar, so I use it in hybrid mode and draw additional amps from the batts/pannels when I want to run the air con...

[SYC2Vette]

Really good information. Thanks! Looks like for my 13.5K unit I will still need 2 of the Honda 2200 on propane even with the EasyStart. Dometic recommends a single generator of 3.5KW or a double of 5KW as a general guideline without EasyStart. Rethinking whether or not to install the EasyStart I purchased as while it may increase life of A/C unit, it is one more thing to fail. Did learn from posts to keep the old components in place in case of failure so you can switch back and bypass EasyStart.

[Rocinante]

Good info. However, the better news is that campers at or above 6,000 feet don’t usually need much air conditioning while at those altitudes. That’s why we go there.

[HHPJ]

Thank you for your time in testing and sharing the results.

I basically have the stock AS system with Zamp 180 portable plugin and two AGM.
I was really hoping the Honda 2200i with Easystart was my panacea for summer Boondocking in warmer climates now and then.

The hybrid system seems to make sense if you upgrade to an adequate solar system (500w +?) to keep up with demand. I am assuming Lithium batteries would be the logical choice when considering space/capacity. It’s a worthwhile investment and a goal to set in a few years.

Meanwhile, upgrading to the Honda 3000 generator would be an option, yet I resist because of the weight loading/unloading into the back of the F150...

I do not really want to go parallel with two 2200i because of double the maintenance /upkeep of the units.

I don’t know...

[HHPJ]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Good info. However, the better news is that campers at or above 6,000 feet don’t usually need much air conditioning while at those altitudes. That’s why we go there.

Yes and no. Was in Santa Fe New Mexico a few weeks ago, 7000 feet and 95 degrees AS in full sun... the “High Desert” areas in New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, etc, can get mighty hot during the day.

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by HHPJ

Yes and no. Was in Santa Fe New Mexico a few weeks ago, 7000 feet and 95 degrees AS in full sun... the “High Desert” areas in New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, etc, can get mighty hot during the day.

Good point. However, that's when we would also move north while grabbing elevation as needed for additional coolness. Colorado and Montana come to mind...as long as they aren't too inundated with smoke.