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View Full Version : 30 amp vs 50 amp + generator question


Mikendebbie
02-24-2017, 06:00 AM
2017 Laredo 330RL is 50 amp. The unit has a 15k BTU a/c main unit and second 13.5k BTU a/c in front bedroom. I have a 30 amp outlet at home for the RV and I keep it plugged in using dogbone connector. I also have a champion 3100 inverter generator with a built-in 30 amp plug.

Is it ok to run ONLY the 13.5k a/c on the generator or off of the 30 amp wall outlet using dogbone connectors? Are there generators that will run 50 amps?

canesfan
02-24-2017, 06:51 AM
You can run one AC off the 30 amp outlet.

the sodfather
02-24-2017, 01:24 PM
There are 50 amp generators. They just tend to be very heavy and loud. Honda makes a quiet one for "only" $4,000...

B-O-B'03
02-24-2017, 01:33 PM
You can run either AC unit on 30 amp shore power, the Champion will run either AC unit as well.

Power for other things might be limited, when the 15K AC compressor starts.

I have the same Champion generator and we dry camp with it all the time, I usually make sure all other loads are off, when starting the AC up for the first time. Once the AC unit is running I turn other breakers on (not the HW heater or other high current loads)

I can run the outside fridge, inside fridge and converter + the 15K AC on the Champion.

-Brian

Outback 325BH
02-24-2017, 07:59 PM
There are 50 amp generators. They just tend to be very heavy and loud. Honda makes a quiet one for "only" $4,000...



In true context, a 50amp generator would be 12,000 watts. $4,000 won't get you anywhere close if you are talking about quiet inverter types.

I think Honda's biggest inverter type is 7,000 max watts at $4,500. Even then, you only have 5,500 running watts. You're right at the half-way mark though.

Inverter types are spendy!

For $4,000, I would probably just get 4 EU2000's. Could have 4,000 watts on one leg and 4,000 on the other.

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chuckster57
02-24-2017, 09:36 PM
Last I checked Honda EU gens were about $1.00 watt, so 4 EU 2000's would be more like $8,000.00, right?

bobbecky
02-24-2017, 10:41 PM
With the 3100 watt Champion generator, you only have about 25 amps to work with. That will not work an A/C and too many other appliances. You also have to remember, your 50 amp system is actually two 50 amp legs, for a total of 100 amps. With the 30 amp system, you don't even get 1/3 of the capacity of a 50 amp system.

busterbrown
02-24-2017, 11:16 PM
With the 3100 watt Champion generator, you only have about 25 amps to work with. That will not work an A/C and too many other appliances.

Around sea level, that 3100 Champion powers my 15k BTU A/C unit fine. Running any other large appliance with it will trip the generator. Tvs and small appliances can run concurrently with the AC on.

Outback 325BH
02-25-2017, 06:15 AM
Last I checked Honda EU gens were about $1.00 watt, so 4 EU 2000's would be more like $8,000.00, right?



Honda EU2000's are $1,000 each.


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chuckster57
02-25-2017, 06:26 AM
Almost puts them in my price range.

Outback 325BH
02-25-2017, 07:58 AM
Almost puts them in my price range.



So...

My example of 4 was just kidding around. Although it is doable if you are looking for that many watts. I was just illustrating where one big one isn't always better than multiple small ones.

In reality however, one or two would probably suffice. Depends on air conditioner needs. If you truly need more than two, your boondocking enjoyment becomes questionable.


There are less expensive non-Honda alternatives for about 1/2 the price. I believe the Champions are in the $500 price range for a comparable 2000 watt inverter model.

In my opinion the Honda units are better, however you do pay a steep premium for very slightly better specs. Longevity is pretty much opinion based.


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chuckster57
02-25-2017, 08:18 AM
My example of 4 was just kidding around.

and so was mine :D

Todd727
02-26-2017, 01:25 AM
Honda EU7000 is $3800

the sodfather
02-26-2017, 04:57 AM
Honda EU7000 is $3800

Ya, this is more in line of what I've seen for the EU7000 $3,800-$4,000. Now way I'd pay $4,500...

But my little Champion 3500 does a fine job...

dcg9381
02-27-2017, 01:32 PM
I needed an "emergency generator once and figured something out the hard way:

If you buy a 5000 watt generator with a 240V connector, it's very likely that it is:
5000 watts / 240v * 80% safety (breaker) = 17A breaker.
So when you plug into it, you've got 17A on both "legs" of the deal.

This is LESS power than a champion 3500, which has a 24 amp 120V breaker. I couldn't run my AC for very long on that 5000 watt generator, but I could run it all day long with the champion 3500.

Outback 325BH
02-27-2017, 04:10 PM
I needed an "emergency generator once and figured something out the hard way:

If you buy a 5000 watt generator with a 240V connector, it's very likely that it is:
5000 watts / 240v * 80% safety (breaker) = 17A breaker.
So when you plug into it, you've got 17A on both "legs" of the deal.

This is LESS power than a champion 3500, which has a 24 amp 120V breaker. I couldn't run my AC for very long on that 5000 watt generator, but I could run it all day long with the champion 3500.



Your statements are mostly true. In a 120/240 volt generator, yes the watts are spread across both legs. This is usually a non-issue, however in RV's that doesn't normally help. Your example illustrates why.

Your 80% factor isn't correct though. Even 120/240 volt generators have "running" and "surge" watts. If the generator in your example is 5000 running watts, you have 20.8 amps available on each leg. That is effectively 20 amps per leg. A 20 amp plug would run your ac forever. You would also have 20 amps on the other leg. If you have a 50 amp camper, this would be fairly manageable. If you have a 30 amp rig, it would be less useful. (Only one leg on a 30 amp camper.) In all RV cases, yes having all amps on one 120 volt leg is more useful. I know of no RV appliances that are 240 volt, so 120/240 volt generators are less useful... unless you get big enough to where each leg is useful on a 50 amp rig.

The 80% factor is used in electrical work, but is not related to this.


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dcg9381
02-28-2017, 12:26 PM
My point is to watch to be sure that the rated capacity of the breaker matches the "running" wattage of the generator. The only way I know to do this is to get the parts list for a given generator. 80% is generally the maximum continuous load allowed across a breaker. That is, many 20A breakers will trip if you run them at 18.5A for several hours.

The generator I bought has multiple breakers. But no ONE breaker would have allowed you to get running watts out of a single connection (@ that 240V connector). To get maximum running watts, you'd need to be running off multiple connections...

Just something to watch out for..