Q for those running A/C with 2 EU2000i's

[Pick]

Do you run them on Eco-Throttle? Run one on Eco with the other one off?

Going to try running 2 this weekend, one on propane, one on gasoline. Should be interesting!

[CanoeStream]

Say Pick -- Can you give us a report on just how this worked out?

[reference: Pick's previous thread on Propane Powered EU2000i]

[panabax]

I run mine both on ECO mode and I run them both on propane. They work fine on ECO mode to drive my 15K btu carrrier unit. The unit will not run on a single EU2000i whether eco is on or off.

I only recently finished the propane conversion so I do not have a good idea of realistic run times, but I would think that it should run all weekend on one 40# bottle which is just under 10 gal of propane. We will see. The conversion is pretty slick. No more gas smell in my trailer or my TV. No more trying to fill the tank without spilling over. I always spilled over. Even the fumes are nicer.

I posted photos of the conversion and its steps on the EU2000i yahoo group. Here's the link:

http://autos.ph.groups.yahoo.com/gro...os/browse/c9cd

I eventually plan to perform a run time test on a 20# bottle of propane, but I have not gotten to it yet. Maybe this weekend.

Panabax

[HowieE]

panabax

Any chance you can post your comment on this site or another site that does not require a membership?
I do not yet have generaters but would like to see what you have done. Were are you carrying them and were are they placed when in use.

[CanoeStream]

Hello HowieE -- Pick's post above shows the LP conversion process. RoadKingMoe, another veteran forums member, shows a wiring harness he made at http://home.att.net/~roadkingmoe/Honda/. Honda sells these parallel cables for a pretty penny -- but I'd recommend them unless you were absolutely confident in your electrical skills.

[panabax]

OK, I went ahead and posted pictures of the propane conversion step by step here on airstreamforums.com. The link is:

http://www.airforums.com/photo...mageuser=12023

I am very happy with the conversion, although I have not gotten an opportunity for a true field test so I can figure out realistic real world run times on a given amount of propane. I will update you when I have time to test it out.

Panabax

[Pick]

We started boondocking on Friday night, and I fired up the propane unit at about 4 PM. Friend Jim brought his gas powered 2000 and we fired it up at about 7 pm, running both on Eco mode. For some reason A/C breaker tripped at about 2 AM, so we turned Eco mode off, till about 8 AM. We had 4 people sleeping in camper in 90 degree weather.

We experimented with different modes all weekend, and found breaker tripped in middle of night, no matter how we ran them. I am going to replace breaker, as A/C seems to run fine.

During 3 days and 4 nights of camping we used about 6 gallons of gas, and slightly more in propane.

Jim, was really impressed with the performance of my unit, is tired of spilling gas on his unit, (those Blitz gas cans are the pits) and wants to convert his to propane ASAP.

[Chuck]

why does it take 2 of these to run an a/c? I noticed a recent spam ad from camping world featured this series of generator, and they say that the 2000 puts out 16.7 amps. Is that just a fantasy of the Honda marketing department? if the a/c is on a 15amp circuit, shouldn't a single generator be enough? (running nothing else, of course...fridge on gas, etc, etc).

[davidz71]

Originally Posted by chuck

why does it take 2 of these to run an a/c? I noticed a recent spam ad from camping world featured this series of generator, and they say that the 2000 puts out 16.7 amps. Is that just a fantasy of the Honda marketing department? if the a/c is on a 15amp circuit, shouldn't a single generator be enough? (running nothing else, of course...fridge on gas, etc, etc).

Compressor start-up is where the problem lies. A Honda 2000 may run the fan but when the compressor kicks in, wattage needed for the surge is not satisfied with just one of the little guys. My AC brocure from Dometic/Duotherm specifically says that I need at least a 3,500 watt generator for my unit. It runs fine with my Yamaha EF3000iSEB which has the battery boost to 3,500 watts. I'd hate to try it with anything smaller. Two Honda 2000's would run it fine also.

[Chuck]

on the 15 amp circuit in my trailer, the most you could hope for is 1800 watts before that circuit breaker pops...unless I'm like, totally confused, here. 15amps x 110 volts=1650 watts. if you've got a whole 120v on the line...1800.

[RoadKingMoe]

The service manual says our 13,500 btu DuoTherm draws about 15A for both the compressor and the fan on high, and Airstream put it on a 20A breaker. But keep in mind that at start-up it can draw double or more its running amps, and the breaker (and most heavy-duty fuses) will pass more than their rating for a specified time, depending on how far over the rating the current is.

The EU2000 is rated for 13.3A continuous, and 16.7A for up to 30 minutes at a time. Because of the cycling, our AC would never operate it in the higher range for more than a few minutes. But there are two problems with trying to use just one EU2000. One is, as mentioned, compressor start. The other is that pretty much anything else in addition to the AC will put it in overload. That includes the converter charging/maintaining the batteries and powering any 12 volt appliances.

Here's our setup.

[AZstreamin]

Originally Posted by Pick

During 3 days and 4 nights of camping we used about 6 gallons of gas, and slightly more in propane.

Pick, I've been following your report this is the next big AS accessory purchase for us....A couple of questions: When you have the AC running is it on high auto or low? What other things do you have running?

I'm curious if the 2 Propane Hondas will run my 13.5 AC..LCD and DVD Player, a few lights. etc.. No Micro in my unit so that's not a concern..But, maybe a coffee maker in the morning.. How much propane will a fridge use in 4 nights?

Thanks,
Brent

[Pick]

Brent, since I have a vintage unit, I do not have any "phantom loads". We ran the A/C on fan high, 40 amp Intellicharge, 120 volt fridge that draws 1.9 amps, 13" color TV and DirecTV sat receiver. Voltage never dropped below 121 volts per "Kill A Watt" ac power monitor.

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by RoadKingMoe

The service manual says our 13,500 btu DuoTherm draws about 15A for both the compressor and the fan on high, and Airstream put it on a 20A breaker. But keep in mind that at start-up it can draw double or more its running amps, and the breaker (and most heavy-duty fuses) will pass more than their rating for a specified time, depending on how far over the rating the current is.

The EU2000 is rated for 13.3A continuous, and 16.7A for up to 30 minutes at a time. Because of the cycling, our AC would never operate it in the higher range for more than a few minutes. But there are two problems with trying to use just one EU2000. One is, as mentioned, compressor start. The other is that pretty much anything else in addition to the AC will put it in overload. That includes the converter charging/maintaining the batteries and powering any 12 volt appliances.

Here's our setup.

Ok, that explains it. and I think I was mistaken, before...its not a 15 amp circuit, its a 20. there are 2 20 amp circuits...I was thinking of the 30amp plug/2...oops. well, thats why I asked.

[CanoeStream]

Originally Posted by AZstreamin

How much propane will a fridge use in 4 nights?

I'd need to find a better source but my sense is I'd go a whole camping season and not run out of two 30# cylinders -- and only think about refilling toward the end due to heating demands.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by AZstreamin

How much propane will a fridge use in 4 nights? Thanks,
Brent

hi brent and other honda hopin, gasoline hate'n, lp gas sniffers......

keep in mind that mr pick is an lp gas user in other ways.......
as in his diesel truck also uses an lp gas injection system......
and he's carry'n a few thousand gallons of lp right?
isn't the bed of pick's truck round and cylinder shaped?
isn't there a 'ferral gas' decal next to his 'air forum' oval...

as for your consumption question brent......
how much lp the fridge uses depends on out side temps,
how often the door is opened,
is it full of food and
do we count the ambient temp to cool down phase,
and what size fridge?......
it does take more energy for the inital cool down,
and when it's 90+ outside....

after long trips when my unit is in covered storage......like now,
i usually just leave the 10 cubic ft fridge on......
usually setting 1 or 2.
after 4 days
i observe a 1/8+ drop in lp on the tank gauge and at 7-9 days a full 1/4 tank...plus a little more.
in this hot weather.....

i've go 40lb tanks....
so you can do the math but that's over 10lbs or
a couple of gallons of lpgas.....give or take a few hundred milliliters.......

also remeber that the tank gauge isn't completely accurate
and doesn't read exactly in a linear fashon......
so it seems the first 1/4 tank always
goes down much slower
than the last 1/4 tank.......which seems to drop quickly.

if one never or seldom boondocks
the lp may last most of a summer season....
but i've got 2 40lb tanks,
with a separate tank for outdoor cooking...
and i've used 3 1/2 40lb tanks since april.....
that's only 4 months...
but about 90 days of camping.....

now for the original ? on eco yes/no for 2 hondas......
vajeep also reports that his 2 hondas work fine on eco mode.....
and he's had no issues......

i called honda about this and they advised not using eco....
that the 2 units will sync/phase better and continously on the normal setting....
i asked if 'eco was ok to try' and they just repeated the original recommendation...

it seems that folks are doing well with 2 units on eco,
but i'd like to see meters on each unit and watch what happens,
do they stay in syn, does one kick up first,
or are than any phase related issues....

i'd suggest getting 2 and living with them awhile before doing the lp gas conversion.......unless your truck is designed like picks!!!

cheers
2air'

[AZstreamin]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

i'd suggest getting 2 and living with them awhile before doing the lp gas conversion.......unless your truck is designed like picks!!!
2air'

That is my thought also...Propane is attractive only because gasoline is just one more thing to carry..since my truck is Diesel.

[Tavis76]

Maybe some of you guys could help me. We have a 2005 31 classic with a duotherm 13500 heat pump. It requires a 3.5 generator to run according to specs. I have two EU2000s that I use on a regular basis. When I am running in ECO Mode with the AC, there is the strain at compressor startup, ramp up of the 2000's then about 50% of the time, AC power cuts off for about 5 seconds, then cuts back on. Is there a brown out power safe guard in newer airstreams? Does the heat pump require more to get started then a straight AC? Any help would be appreciated.