my Honda 2000 and my '07 Dometic a/c

[bikendan]

i finally got my Kill-a-watt out and did some testing.

my '07 Roo 23SS's batteries were down so i plugged in the shore cord.
while i was doing this, i decided to see how much the a/c drew on startup and running. it was 82 degrees outside.
so, here's what i got in amps.
on startup, the Killawatt showed around 13.5amps.
while running, it varied from 13.9 to 14.9amps. it never went above 14.9amps.
so, i'm assuming this is why my Honda can run the a/c, even while recharging low batteries. and i didn't turn any breakers off.

any comments?

[kz08h5]

It doesn't seem right that the start up current is less than the running current. But you got it to start and run, that is the main thing. how many BTU is your AC? Where in the circuit did you have the Kill-a-watt? The converter in the RV will not draw much since it is basically a trickle charger. Glad you can run the AC with the Honda. I will have to see if mine will do it. I have never tried. Everything I have read says a 13,000 BTU AC draws too much current for the Honda on start up.

[dlhoppe]

Bikendan, Interesting news. I plan to test mine out later this month when dry-camping.


kz08h5, the charger in our 23SS's are more than a trickle-charger. They're actually a 3-stage charger capable of putting out plenty of current. The amount of which depends on battery state and load/consumption.

[KyDan]

It's great that you can run your AC on the 2000 honda genny.
Most of us can't.

Charging batteries isn't necessarily a high wattage job.
If your batteries are getting 10 amps that's only about 120 watts
out of your generator capacity.

[bikendan]

the a/c is 13.5btu.

i had the Killawatt on the male end of the shore cord.
of course, the startup probably was more but i had to run out, from inside the trailer, after turning on the a/c and that's what i read when i got to it.

but, it never went over 15 amps during any of the time.
we've got some hotter weather coming so i'm going to continue testing.

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by bikendan

the a/c is 13.5btu.
i had the Killawatt on the male end of the shore cord.
of course, the startup probably was more but i had to run out, from inside the trailer, after turning on the a/c and that's what i read when i got to it.
but, it never went over 15 amps during any of the time.
we've got some hotter weather coming so i'm going to continue testing.

So you really couldn't see the meter during that all important compressor
start. I bet for 1 second you were way over 1500 watts but it did start.
That's the important thing.
Have someone else flip the thermostat while you watch the meter some day.

The true test is when the outside temp is 85 + and the compressor
is cycling off and on. If the genny makes it thru that, you're good.
Higher altitudes not included

[kz08h5]

Good to hear your models have a 3 stage charger. My TT has a converter with a trickle charger. I now use an 3 stage charger when I dry camp.