20A-30A adapter?

Bustinbeards · 07-02-2022, 01:40 PM

My pops had this brand new looking generator, not sure if it had ever been ran. I brought it home put non ethanol in it and it fired right up. My camper is 30A. Is it safe run the air conditioner with this thing and an adapter? If so what type? Thanks.

jsb5717 · 07-02-2022, 01:45 PM

It should have the power to run the AC if you have the EasyStart installed. The MicroAir Easy Start is designed to reduce the AC’s startup power demand so it can run on 20amps. What I don’t know is how good a standard generator is on the electrics in your trailer. Most will use an inverter/generator which provides more stable, even power which is safer for sensitive electronics.

wiredgeorge · 07-02-2022, 01:50 PM

I ran a non inverter Champion to power the stuff in my house (via a pro installed transfer swith) for years. Never hurt any of the electonics to include computers, TVs, window A/C, refrigerators, etc.

**sourdough** · 07-02-2022, 02:04 PM

It looks like a construction type, open frame gen set. It will probably work in a limited capacity (20A) but I suspect it will be pretty loud. I used to carry a 7500W open frame generator (30A connection) and placed it as far from the trailer as I could so we could talk. Built an insulated and vented cover for it so it could run in the bed of the truck when on the road...but you could definitely hear it all night.

wiredgeorge · 07-02-2022, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourdough

It looks like a construction type, open frame gen set. It will probably work in a limited capacity (20A) but I suspect it will be pretty loud. I used to carry a 7500W open frame generator (30A connection) and placed it as far from the trailer as I could so we could talk. Built an insulated and vented cover for it so it could run in the bed of the truck when on the road...but you could definitely hear it all night.

Any generator needs to be protected from the rain. The big heavy ones are best left in the tow vehicle's bed and some sort of tent or cover fabbed.

Bustinbeards · 07-02-2022, 10:05 PM

No easy start. I just did not want to try it if it was
Going to mess anything up with the ac unit.

Bustinbeards · 07-10-2022, 09:57 AM

Well I got a chance to give it a shot. It ran the ac for a bit really well then the ac cut off. I unplugged and unhooked from batteries to reset everything. checked breakers nothing was tripped, but I reset the ac breaker.

I went back out and hooked up batteries, restarted generator and hooked back up. I had the thermostat on auto on the first try so I set it to low. I heard the fan ac turn on and the compressor kick on. It stayed on blowing cold for a few mins and cut back off.

At this point I figured something wasn’t working between the two and gave up on the generator. It doesn’t have a 30A tt plug so I was using a dog bone and my surge protector that indicated everything was good with the power coming from the generator. I have a Hughes watchdog EPO but haven’t used it yet.

skids · 07-10-2022, 02:06 PM

Did you try turning off the converter? They run on something like 400 watts.

Bustinbeards · 07-10-2022, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skids

Did you try turning off the converter? They run on something like 400 watts.

I did not. I didn’t want to push my luck and burn a board or something in the ac up due to low voltage. This is the first time I have run the ac on this tt. I guess my next step is to get a 30A TT plug wired where I have it or a proper generator for the usage I need.

**sourdough** · 07-10-2022, 03:52 PM

I don't know what usage you want from the trailer but given the results of this current effort I wouldn't be trying that generator any longer. No sense in killing a perfectly good A/C unit trying to make a free generator "fit the bill".

You Watchdog might tell you something if plugged into that adapter but you have to have the app, get into it, figure out the codes etc. etc. - the reason I won't have one. Depending on what your usage expectations are I would go with the independent 30A RV connection for the trailer. I made do for years using this and that then finally decided enough was enough and had a 50A ped installed on our property - love it. Night and day difference between it and "trying to make do".

Bustinbeards · 07-12-2022, 08:51 AM

Bought a champion dual fuel 4500 (20988)inverter generator to power the tt

I liked the propane option and will run it on propane for the most part.

Anyone have this generator and do you think it will be enough for the 30A tt to run the AC and a few select things.

Javi · 07-12-2022, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bustinbeards

Bought a champion dual fuel 4500 (20988)inverter generator to power the tt

I liked the propane option and will run it on propane for the most part.

Anyone have this generator and do you think it will be enough for the 30A tt to run the AC and a few select things.

Yes it will run one A/C if you install a Easy Start https://www.microair.net/products/ea...r-conditioners

I went with the 4650 dual fuel but I'm doing the same thing.. It will run two 15K A/C units with Easy Starts, if you turn off the converter and use the fridge on propane.

29 amps is 29 amps regardless of how you cut it up..

NH_Bulldog · 07-12-2022, 11:08 AM

That generator should be able to power a 30A load, but as you can see, it is designed and wired to power multiple 20A circuits. You could tear it apart and rewire it to a single 30A RV outlet, but that is very risky in MANY ways. That is a great jobsite generator and unfortunately that’s about all it’s good for.

Bustinbeards · 07-12-2022, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog

That generator should be able to power a 30A load, but as you can see, it is designed and wired to power multiple 20A circuits. You could tear it apart and rewire it to a single 30A RV outlet, but that is very risky in MANY ways. That is a great jobsite generator and unfortunately that’s about all it’s good for.

Bulldog, are you talking about the open frame I tried or the champion 4500?

NH_Bulldog · 07-12-2022, 02:52 PM

The open frame. The Champion is a solid choice for RV use. I have an EasyStart on my 13.5 Dometic AC unit and it lets me run everything but the water heater off a 20A circuit or my Generac GP3000i inverter generator

Bustinbeards · 07-13-2022, 03:08 AM

Well, I cancelled the champion 4500 and went with the Westinghouse 4500Dfc, it had a better load rating, was close in price, quieter, had a float charger for the battery and came with a remote.

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