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Old 05-05-2014, 06:32 PM   #1
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Generator size to run an A/C unit

Does anyone have any ideas for generator size needed to run an air conditioner, would a 2000 watt Yamaha be large enough?
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Old 05-05-2014, 06:37 PM   #2
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Most likely not. Have heard of some guys putting a hard start kit on compressor and getting it start with the Yamaha 2400. The running watts is not so much the prob as is the starting amp draw on the genny.
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Old 05-05-2014, 06:42 PM   #3
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You tube user claims this unit will. have not tried ours as yet, loks as if we may not need it where we are headed come friday, snowing still and 30 degrees, hope the furnance works well at this pont in time. Will have to let you know about the ac when we get there.
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Old 05-05-2014, 06:44 PM   #4
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Our 2,000 watt Honda will not run the air conditioner.
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Old 05-05-2014, 06:48 PM   #5
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Old 05-05-2014, 06:48 PM   #6
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It will, but will barely start it. I mean barely to the point that I'd imagine the AC would be burned up before too long. And once running you can tell the little genset has it's tongue hanging out. You can do anything else, microwave, TV, etc. on a 2000, but the AC is a nono.

Look into a 3000 or getting another 2000 and running them in parallel. Then you'll be golden.
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Old 05-05-2014, 06:49 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sdoner View Post
Does anyone have any ideas for generator size needed to run an air conditioner, would a 2000 watt Yamaha be large enough?
generally, a 2000w generator will NOT run a a/c. but you need to post what size a/c you're talking about!
5k btu, 13.5k btu, 15k btu or something else? make a big difference.

or post year, make, model of RV you have.

a 2000w one is good for everything BUT the a/c.
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Old 05-05-2014, 06:50 PM   #8
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Old 05-05-2014, 06:59 PM   #9
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My old Generac 2000 would not not would my fathers honda 2000. Just too much amp draw on startup. It will try but the voltage drop will kill the ac
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Old 05-07-2014, 01:26 PM   #10
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Ran our two Honda 2000 parallel and still wouldn't run AC. We had a 13000 BTU unit at the time.
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Old 05-07-2014, 01:31 PM   #11
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Ran our two Honda 2000 parallel and still wouldn't run AC. We had a 13000 BTU unit at the time.
Interesting, sounds like there was an issue with them paralleling up, a total of 4000 watts should have been more than enough, my 4500 will run both my 15K and 13.5K at the same time.
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Old 05-07-2014, 09:26 PM   #12
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Interesting, sounds like there was an issue with them paralleling up, a total of 4000 watts should have been more than enough, my 4500 will run both my 15K and 13.5K at the same time.

We couldn't figure it out either. We use the generators when our electric goes out at the house. Run 2 fridges, TV, coffee pot, light and recharge a few things. Had my nephew look at them when he visited, and the electric went out. He uses generators at his job, he said they were connected correctly. So, who knows. All I can say is it didn't work for us. Ran everything else and the Keurig too, but didn't run the AC without shutting down the generators. Still a mystery and now we have a 50amp 5ver with 2 ACs so won't be trying them again.
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Old 05-07-2014, 09:43 PM   #13
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We couldn't figure it out either. We use the generators when our electric goes out at the house. Run 2 fridges, TV, coffee pot, light and recharge a few things. Had my nephew look at them when he visited, and the electric went out. He uses generators at his job, he said they were connected correctly. So, who knows. All I can say is it didn't work for us. Ran everything else and the Keurig too, but didn't run the AC without shutting down the generators. Still a mystery and now we have a 50amp 5ver with 2 ACs so won't be trying them again.
There's a procedure to synching them up, I don't recall what though but it sounds like you're only running on the power from one. I just looked at the manual, there's nothing clarifying though.

I run my 50A 5er through a twist lock 30A generator adapter and the voltage holds rock steady at 114V even with both on. Startup of the second unit pulls the voltage down to 100V for .2 of a second while the throttle catches it then right back to 114V. I won't try running the microwave or anything else like that, but it holds steady with both units.

I'M rated at 4500W surge, 3500 continuous. You're set for 4000W surge and 3200 continuous, so you should be more than good. I'm not arguing with you, I'm suggesting that something might be wrong with one of your generators or the parallel setup.
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Old 05-07-2014, 09:45 PM   #14
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There's a procedure to synching them up, I don't recall what though but it sounds like you're only running on the power from one. I just looked at the manual, there's nothing clarifying though.

I run my 50A 5er through a twist lock 30A generator adapter and the voltage holds rock steady at 114V even with both on. Startup of the second unit pulls the voltage down to 100V for .2 of a second while the throttle catches it then right back to 114V. I won't try running the microwave or anything else like that, but it holds steady with both units.

I'M rated at 4500W surge, 3500 continuous. You're set for 4000W surge and 3200 continuous, so you should be more than good. I'm not arguing with you, I'm suggesting that something might be wrong with one of your generators or the parallel setup.

Yes we thought the same. We keep saying we're gonna take them to a dealer, just haven't yet. Don't mind you explaining. That's not arguing that's being helpful. Thanks.
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Old 05-07-2014, 10:26 PM   #15
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Ran our two Honda 2000 parallel and still wouldn't run AC. We had a 13000 BTU unit at the time.

My two runs my 15K at 6000 ft
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Old 05-07-2014, 10:26 PM   #16
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At 7000ft my 3500/4000 wouldent start a 13.5 ( no hard start cap)...my champ 2000s paralleled will sometimes start my 15k (with hard start). But not always...my honda 6500 is the only one that will ALWAYS start my 2012 dometic 15k units (with hard start caps)...so no...3500 watts isnt always enough in all situations

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Old 05-08-2014, 09:31 PM   #17
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It takes a Onan 5550 to run our 5er. Had a 3550, but it would not run the AC.
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Old 05-09-2014, 08:55 AM   #18
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My 2300w regular old generator runs mine. Ours is a 13.5k 2014 model. Bought the hard start cap but didn't need it.
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Old 05-09-2014, 09:31 AM   #19
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For those with 3500+ gensets that won't run their AC, how well does everything run when plugged in at a cg? Reason I ask is 3500 watts is 29 amps at 120V.
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Old 05-09-2014, 10:03 AM   #20
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Our Yamaha 3000SiB (3500 watts for 5 minutes) will only start and run our Coleman Mach 3 15k AC when NOT in ECO mode.

After the mods to the Air Conditioner (hard start and fan delay relay) it will reliably start it in ECO mode. Start up amps (can see them now with the Franks Autotransformer mod) has exceeded 29 amps when the campground voltage gets wonky.
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