Predator 3500 at Altitude?

[Woody1959]

I read through this whole thread. I live at 6200’ and camp anywhere from say 4500-10,000’ always boondocking. We do a fair amount of high desert boondocking as well. I don’t have a generator, but keep going back and fourth between the predator 3500 and the champion 3400 or 3500. I send champion an email and they came back saying at my altitude I would require two 3500s to run my AC because you lose 3.5% per 1000’. Below is the quote from Champions email:
“No amount of altitude jetting, etc. will restore this lost power which occurs at 3.5% for every 1,000 ft in elevation you travel. In Cortez, CO you are at about 6,200ft. This is a loss of 21.7%.”
I’ve been all over websites and most people say a 3500 will run the AC, but no one mentions altitude.
I would like to run the AC and microwave, but not necessarily at the same time and some of the other nice features of the trailer. I have an 2018 Rpod with a 13,500 BTU AC.
Any experience running the predator and or the champion 3400 at altitude for the AC?
Thanks in advance

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Woody1959

Any experience running the predator and or the champion 3400 at altitude for the AC?
Thanks in advance

In May I spent a lot of time between 6,000 and 9,000 feet, running my 3500 W Champion "Inverter". Ran fine and started my 13,500 watt AC. Due to the altitude I used the LPG side of my Dual Fuel generator as it automatically adjusts fuel mixture for altitude. Fumbling with jet changing is not required which is great if your trip takes you "Up and Down".

No, no more power, just a cleaner and smoother running engine. Altitude causes gasoline engines to run rich and produce more CO which is why I went with the Dual Fuel model. Propane further reduces the power output but considering that I can start and run my 13,500 btu AC on a 15 amp circuit and off the end of a 50' extension cord, the generator had just enough "oomph" to get it done.

The loss of power is noticeable if batteries are down and under heavy charge. A/C still works fine but if you want to use the microwave then the converter will most likely need to be switched off while doing so.

If you go higher, say above 10,000 feet, The 3500 watt unit will probably run the AC but ONLY the AC.

On a final note, re-jetting won't make the Engine put out more power, it will just let the engine run more efficiently and not load down as if you still had the choke on. Your campground will also have less Carbon Monoxide floating around when properly jetted for the altitude.

[uncbearfan]

I have used the Predator 3500 at 10,000 feet and it has no problem running my 15k AC.

[007matman]

Can't beat that price right now!

[poriggity]

I've been eyeballing that predator 3500 lately, and the sale price makes it very tempting!

[007matman]

Looks like a couple of companies make dual and tri-fuel carbs for them too..

No reviews from anyone I've seen though.. I wonder how well they work.

[Woody1959]

Thanks for the replies. TM thanks for your insite on running propane at higher attitude. Almost sounds like fuel injection. I know at 10,000’ you very rarely would need AC. Spent a few days around Silverton, CO.at the end of July and camped at 10,500’. Days were low to mid 70s and the nights were a nice cool 36° when I got up at 6:30.

[Woody1959]

Originally Posted by 007matman

Looks like a couple of companies make dual and tri-fuel carbs for them too..

No reviews from anyone I've seen though.. I wonder how well they work.

Would be interesting to see from feedback on this.

[Bedlinedf250]

My brother has the champion 3500. Two weeks ago we did a 5 day trip on our property here in New Mexico, it's at 9,000ft. It ran my a/c fine no issues what so ever didn't even notice if the machine bogged down when the a/c kicked on. All of my camping is boondocking and that is the only time I've turned on our a/c they supposedly check for our annual inspection though. Not sure if it's a 13,500 or a 15,000 but my wife enjoyed it so much she took a 2 hour nap. We didn't try out the microwave.

[Woody1959]

Originally Posted by Bedlinedf250

My brother has the champion 3500. Two weeks ago we did a 5 day trip on our property here in New Mexico, it's at 9,000ft. It ran my a/c fine no issues what so ever didn't even notice if the machine bogged down when the a/c kicked on. All of my camping is boondocking and that is the only time I've turned on our a/c they supposedly check for our annual inspection though. Not sure if it's a 13,500 or a 15,000 but my wife enjoyed it so much she took a 2 hour nap. We didn't try out the microwave.

That’s good to know. Do you if it’s the duel fuel Champion? And all our camping is boondocking as well.
Thanks for the reply!

[Bedlinedf250]

Not dual fuel. I'll see if he can send me the model number

[Bedlinedf250]

This is it I'm waiting to see if he sends the model number. It also has the electric start.

[Woody1959]

Originally Posted by Bedlinedf250

This is it I'm waiting to see if he sends the model number. It also has the electric start.

Ok got it
I know what model number.
Thank you

[Bedlinedf250]

100262

[Bedlinedf250]

I haven't heard a 3000w Honda but this unit isn't as quite as a 2000w Honda. But it's in a different category, like comparing apples to oranges. But is pretty quite for what it is, the only thing I have to compare it to is our 5000w construction site generator which is load as @#$_ even with a hundred foot extension cord.

[Woody1959]

I just really hate dropping 1k on a generator that won’t run the AC only to find out I need another one and run parallel.

I came across the Westinghouse igen 4500 inverter on the internet and I like the added wattage for around the same price of the Champion 3500. Lots of mixed reviews on it.
Decisions, decisions, decisions...
Thanks for your help.

[Bedlinedf250]

Like I said our camp is at 9000 feet and it ran mine perfectly fine no issues what so ever. And unless the camper came with a soft start from the dealer there is no reason why it shouldn't run yours. I'm more than positive they don't include the soft starts. I would just make sure that everything is off micro fridge lights whatever my draw power, once it's started and running fine then try turning each thing on one at a time to see what trips it.
If it was me I'd go with the champion because my brother has used it for a year living out of his camper with no issues. If I wanted something bigger I'd do the Briggs and Stratton 6000w. Amazon has that one for $1300. I'm very brand specific so what ever treats me good though the abuse I put things threw I will buy again. Never used a B&S generator but there lawn mowers log splitter, hedge trimmer have never let me down.

[Woody1959]

Looked into this one, but it is not designed for RV use and does not have 30 amp receptacle. I found this on a review of the B&S 6000.
FWIW....
“I find the answers to this question, especially the one from B&S, to be very misleading. This generator is designed as a home emergency back up generator and not specifically for the RV market. It has a running power rating of 5000 watts and supports short duration surges up to 6500 watts. 5000 watts corresponds to 20.8 amps when used on a 240 volt load, like a well pump. When powering 120 volt loads, it provides two separate 120 volt circuits that can support up to 2500 watts and 20.8 amps each. These cannot be combined to support a single 120 volt load greater than 20.8 amps or 2500 watts. Since RVs tend to be 120 volt only, the most you'll be able to use is 2500 watts, even if you use a 30 amp RV connector (using an adapter to connect to the generators L1430 plug). Some generators intended for use with RVs have an output voltage switch that will combine the two 120 volt into a single higher capacity circuit available through the 30 amp RV connector. This unit doesn't have that feature.”

[poriggity]

I ended up buying the predator 3500 at the HF for $689.00 It was too good of a deal to pass up.

[uncbearfan]

Originally Posted by poriggity

I ended up buying the predator 3500 at the HF for $689.00 It was too good of a deal to pass up.
Attachment 202331

Good choice. I've really liked mine.