Generator question!

[mashburn]

Hi, we're taking our Cougar 336BHS camping during the solar eclipse - for one night we'll be staying at a place without power or water. We're looking to rent a generator for the weekend, and simply want enough power to run the AC. Our AC is a Dometic 15,000 BTU. According to the guys at our local RV dealership, we only need 20 Amps to run the A/C, and the Honda EU3000i generator puts out 25 Amps. That leads me to believe that we should be good with that generator, but can't run much else except for a couple of lights, which is fine. We'll unplug the outdoor fridge and put the indoor fridge on propane.

My question is, have any of you out there run your 15,000 BTU AC on a 3kW generator, specifically the Honda?

I'd hate to rent it and then have a 134 pound paperweight along for the trip. It starts getting cost prohibitive to rent two 2000kW and run them in parallel, and too noisy to go with the 3.6kW one our local rental place has (it's not an inverter generator).

Thanks!

Mary

[gary31]

Mary,
I have a EU300is and use it regularly with my TH. It will run the A/C and lights without problems. You have to manage power usage like set the fridge and water heater to propane. Then anything like Microwaves or hair dryers should not be used when operating the A/C. We typically will just shut the A/C off and leave the fan running when microwave is needed. If you use common sense you can manage with the Honda, the best thing about this genny is the fuel consumption it does not use a lot compared to my On board Onan.

[B-O-B'03]

I have a Champion 3100 inverter and I can run the AC (15K Dometic), inside fridge, converter and outside fridge on it, at the same time.

I start with all breakers off and then turn on the AC, let it stabilize, then flip on the rest of the breakers.

As stated above, you cannot run any other high load item, while the AC is running.

Not sure what altitude you are going to be camping at, but there is a factor for de-rating them for altitude.

-Brian

[mashburn]

Thanks Gary and Brian! I feel like we'll be good renting the Honda then. We'll be near Cookeville, TN, so about 1,000' altitude. As far as I can tell, it looks like we'd have to get to about 3,500' before needing to adjust for altitude. Our biggest limiting factor will be temperature, so hopefully it won't be TOO hot.

Great idea about starting with all the breakers off then gradually turning stuff on.

Thanks again,
Mary

[Desert185]

Thanks Gary and Brian! I feel like we'll be good renting the Honda then. We'll be near Cookeville, TN, so about 1,000' altitude. As far as I can tell, it looks like we'd have to get to about 3,500' before needing to adjust for altitude. Our biggest limiting factor will be temperature, so hopefully it won't be TOO hot.

Great idea about starting with all the breakers off then gradually turning stuff on.

Thanks again,
Mary

The altitude that affects the engine is density altitude, not actual altitude. Air density is affected by air pressure, temperature and humidity.

Standard temperature is 59F at sea level, and decreases 3.5F for every 1000' increase in elevation, so roughly 55F at 1000'.

As a ball park (without taking into account air pressure), density altitude increases 600' for every 10F over standard temperature, so 1000' elevation at 85F the DA will be approx 2800', which shouldn't really affect your generator operation. Mine isn't affected until ~8500' DA.

FWIW...