What size of generator is neeed? what kind?

[muzbomb]

Hey guys i just bought a RV in Sept. I am looking at getting a generator for it. I am not sure how many Watts i need to be able to run stuff? What kind are good and quiet also? Thanks

[papap]

Honda 4000 watt

[LadyWindrider]

It all depends on what "stuff" you want to run, and how much weight you want to carry, and what campgrounds you are going to without power, and their rules.

I'll try and explain. A Honda 2000 watt is light, dependable, efficient, and very quiet, so it won't bother the neighbors. It will not run the the air conditioner, but is great for the electronics, like television, and dvd players, and satellite. Microwave is a toss up, depending on how much other stuff you are running. The Yamaha 2400 is probably next, but same problem. It might run the Air Conditioner, but then nothing else. These are true sine wave generators which your electronics REQUIRES. Now you can buy two of the small Honda's, and a parallel cable, and tun the AC. Not sure on the Yamaha. All of this is pricey, a couple of thousand, and I know some one will start posting cheap deals, so I'll move on.

Next is the campground. Many only allow generator usage during certain times of the day, and almost never at night, so there goes the AC again, and now all the electronics.

Lastly is being a good neighbor. Most people will get their generator as far away from their site as possible which means it is in your bedroom window. How loud do you want it to be?

You can to the big box store and get a contractor generator for the AC, but the electronics may not work, and it will be loud. And if you keep your neighbors up at night with a generator running, they will be up early, banging pots, pans, tent pole, setting the alarm on their car, thus causing the horn to blow......... and the list goes on.

Search on here for generator, many post, some reviews by owners, and do some homework.

Figure out what you want to do, and post back, someone will help.

[muzbomb]

Originally Posted by papap

Honda 4000 watt

that will be enough to run fridge, coffee pot, microwave, 15,000 btu a/c all at the same time?

[donn]

You first must figure out what you want to power and for how long? Next you need to figure out how much you want to spend.
Forget using a generator for the AC except in extreme circumstances. Do not even use it for the microwave. The new ones are really touchy, and generators sometimes cannot supply clean enough power. So that leaves battery charging, maybe a hair dryer for DW. For that a 2KW Honda or Yamaha will do just fine. If you insist on using generator for the AC then a pair of 2KW Honda plus a parallel kit or a Yamaha 3KW will do fine.

[muzbomb]

i want a generator that doesn't have to run everything, but i would like to get one that can run the a/c and say something else like tv,fridge, coffee pot.... as like something like that. My friend has a 3600WATT HONDA that he said will run to major things at the same time like fridge and a/c.... As for the camp ground i can't say for sure i plan on staying where there is full hook up but not all the time i will get lucky. It is a toss up for the camp ground and rules i can't say for sure. I dont want to piss people off with loud gennys cause i would be pissed off to with a loud genny.

[muzbomb]

Originally Posted by donn

You first must figure out what you want to power and for how long? Next you need to figure out how much you want to spend.
Forget using a generator for the AC except in extreme circumstances. Do not even use it for the microwave. The new ones are really touchy, and generators sometimes cannot supply clean enough power. So that leaves battery charging, maybe a hair dryer for DW. For that a 2KW Honda or Yamaha will do just fine. If you insist on using generator for the AC then a pair of 2KW Honda plus a parallel kit or a Yamaha 3KW will do fine.

so why no generator with a/c? what is the reason for that? I am new to this RVing so any info will help and i will defenitly be smarter this summer when RVing.thanks

[papap]

I was told if you have a 30 amp breaker. The must your system can draw is 3600 watts. Also if is is 50 amp it can draw 6000 watts. Not sure if this is true.

[papap]

Muzbomb. I have ran ac for 4 weeks with my 4000 with no problem.

[muzbomb]

ok so is this something i should not rush into and maybe go camping for a year try it out and see what it is like. Then go from there. I am going to try and get full hook ups all the time anywhere i go. Got 3 young young kids no dry camping for this guy.LOL

[LadyWindrider]

Papap,

Yes your math is correct, Watts equals Voltage times Current. If you have 30 amps, at 120 volts, then you have 30 times 120 equals 3600 watts. Will that run everything in your trailer, probably not. You have losses in power cords and plugs and such, with no margin what so ever. To run everything in your camper, assuming 30 amp service, you would need a good 4000 watt generator, and a good, pure sine wave one, for all the electronics most people seem to have to take camping with them. That is why the Onan's and others found in motor homes cost thousands of dollars.

[bikendan]

muzbomb, you really need to educate yourself about inverter generators and what's out there.

IMHO, the best choice is two Honda 2000w inverter generators with the parallel kit or one Honda 2000w paired up with its Companion twin.
that way, if you don't need to use the a/c, just take one. if you need the a/c, then take both.
each weighs only 50lbs.

[SaskCampers]

Our EU3000is Honda has on many occasion powered the AC and the coffee maker at the same time in 30+ temps. But again price and they are heavy at around 130lbs.

[MtnGuy]

A Honda 1000 should be enough to charge the batteries, or run 1 small "non heating" appliance.

A Honda 2000 should power the microwave, with minimum other draws.

A Yamaha 2400 should run the AC without any other draws.....mine does. I even cut the fridge to gas only, and there has never been a problem.

A Honda 3000 should run the AC and another small draw "non heating" appliance.

You have more options with a 4000 watt generator.

But......as you get bigger, the generators get heavier. My Yamaha 2400 weighs in at around 80 lbs. with gas in it. That is getting up to about the limit that this ol' boy can handle any more.

You can stay reasonable lite by managing your power consumption. If you want to run the AC with Yamaha 2400, then you don't need to be watching TV or heating something in the microwave. If the missus wants to use the microwave or her hair dryer, then the AC is turned off.

Do yourself, your neighbors, and your electronics a favor by getting an true sine wave inverter type generator.

[ng2951]

1. What does you trailer have, a 30A or a 50A plug?

2. Do you plan to mount the generator permanently onto the trailer or do you plan to tote it?

3. Do you have a means of lifting the generator?

30 Amp
Short story is the Yamaha 2400 will not power the 15,000 BTU A/C. The 2400s were developed to be a the limits of toting and still power a 13.5 A/C.

Dual Honda 2000s will run a 15K BTU A/C. Mine does just fine. Add the boat tanks and they can run for days.

The other option is to parallel the Yamaha 2400s, but I have never seen anyone do this. The genset is capable of this, but I have never seen power kit for it. In theory it give sustain power around 4KW.

Many of the 3KW superquiets will also run a 15K BTU A/C too.

50 Amps
I don't think the Honda 4000 will do that (50 amps is more than 4 KW). The Honda 6500 is a thing of beauty in my humble opinion, but don't count on lifting it.

The Onans are nice, but some people do not like them. They are rugged and well made, but everything is expensive for them. But they are rugged.

The Honda 2000s are probably the most popular of all the gensets. Small, light, and reliable a pair powers most trailers. The other advantage is that they are a pair. If one fails, you are not running the A/C, but you can run everything else.

Also when you don't need the A/C you only need one. It also means you can use each genset individually for other activities...a pretty nice feature.

The Yamaha, Honda, and Bolies are very popular 3KW superquiets. With remote start capabilities it allows you to turn on the TT A/C while driving down the road so the trailer is cool when you stop.

Short of the 6500, you are always doing to have to watch your power. A/C compressor running, don't run any other heavy loads.

[fast murray]

I have a honda 2000. It will run the microwave but you should turn off the eco throttle when hitting it with heavy loads. Don't buy what you think you can get by with. Go bigger if you can. You may not want the motor running at high RPM's for extended times like running A/C. Even Honda 2000's make some noise when you're pushing them. I may pick up a honda 2000 companion in the future to pair with the one I have. They are nice as you can handle them easier and at idle they'll run all day on a gallon of gas. ng2951 is right, if you have the space and $, the EU6500 is an awesome quiet powerhouse. It would also make a great standby generator for the house with the proper transfer switch connections.

[wfmdfm]

Well you are getting a good taste of what you need to consider. But if you think back to basics and how you manage,water, waste, battery, the same should hold true with your 120 volt consumption. We decided a 2400 Yamaha would handle our needs and we will manage around what it can supply. So you will need to consider your demand at a given time, the weight you want to tow, the weight you want to carry, and the noise you want to create in the campground. Its up to you and the $$ you want to spend on these decisions. Good luck but if your next to me I hope you decide on a nice quite unit.
Wally

[campdohbrew]

Originally Posted by bikendan

muzbomb, you really need to educate yourself about inverter generators and what's out there.

IMHO, the best choice is two Honda 2000w inverter generators with the parallel kit or one Honda 2000w paired up with its Companion twin.
that way, if you don't need to use the a/c, just take one. if you need the a/c, then take both.
each weighs only 50lbs.

x2

A lot of people use that setup!

[bsmall]

Honda Companion 2000 for me, can't beat em.....

[Herk7769]

I have a Yamaha 3000 with 500 watt boost and it stays in the bed of the truck. Too heavy to take out routinely, it handles the 15K AC and the microwave just fine.

If I had to do it over again I would buy the two Honda 2000s (one the companion).