Irma made me do it, need help with generator

[saus]

We have not been camping without having an electrical hook up so we didn't buy a generator. Now that I am in the path of Irma, I went and purchased one. I looked everywhere but everyone was sold out, except Giant Recreation World. They had a Briggs and Stratton Inverter Generator P3000. I have no electrical knowledge what so ever. After reading the manual, it looks like I will only be able to run my 5er A/C if my camper even survives. Everything is listed in watts. I am used to knowing about how many amps my equipment uses. How do I determine what I can and can't run? Where do I find how many watts specific equipment uses? Thanks in advance for any help.

[ejohnson1144]

Nameplates on appliances if you can find them watts divided by volts = amps

[Wobbles]

I may be wrong on this but go back and buy some electric fans if you need them as your genny should power them just fine. As far as running your AC, if it does, it does, but I would think that you could run nothing else.

I wish you the best with what troubles may come your way. Stay safe...

[BooBoo23]

Here is a web site with formulas for figuring amps, watts and volts. You need to know 2 of the values to get the result. i.e. to know the amps you will need to know the watts and volts.
How to Easily Calculate the Conversion of Volts, Amps & Watts

[rockfordroo]

Divide watts by 120 volts to get amps.

For example: 1500 watts / 120 volts = 12.5 amps.

See here for amps used by many RV appliances:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...aws-17300.html

[dbledan]

Can you buy another and a parallel kit? That would run it all.

3000watts is cutting it close for even the a.c.. You may need a hard start capacitor for your a.c. if it does not have one. My 3400w champion can run my a.c. via propane and tv and inverter without issues.

Startup will be where you find out. Start with all breakers off except for the a.c.. turn fan on first with temp higher than ambient. Let it run a short bit and then lower the temp so compressor kicks in. If it runs check your draw and see if you can run anything else by turning oon breakers one at a time. I usually pick inverter first. You may need to turn things off if the compressor cycles as it could trip the overload.

If it trips overload get the fans.

If you have a hardwired EMS make sure you make a neutral ground bonding plug or it will just show E2. If you don't then not necessary.

Best of luck for you and yours be safe!

[Wobbles]

Bug out if not to late. Save some electric juice to stay online. Keep us in the loop. If things permit a member may be able to reach out to you, as i read it on the forum tonight, "I get by with a little help from my friends."

Stay safe...

[saus]

Thanks for all the help. Unfortunately I can not buy another to parallel. None left in the county. I guess I will just attempt the A/C and hope for the best. Thanks again.

[Life Without Whine]

really tough to think about leaving now...all the mandatory evacuation people heading up the peninsula called FL have the roads clogged & the gas gone. It is really now about prepping for the worse & hoping for the best.
Weighted, sealed & tying down our little microlite tomorrow & if she makes it that will be our home when the electric then goes out for a few days with AC, a great bed & showers...

[wbduckman]

Prayers for all of you in the Path. Take Care!

[KyDan]

I realize you didn't have any options but after this hurricane is over, you now own a
pretty noisy generator.... we really hope you're safe and sound and make it thru with
little or no damage!! (Really glad to be in Kentucky right now, we are having amazing
great weather!)

[DouglasReid]

You should have NO problem running yoru A/C with that generator. You may not be able to run the Microwave at the same time, or her hair dryer but the AC won't be a problem.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, along with every one else in FL. I just got done flying in Beaumont, TX supporting the restoration of their essential services and may very well end up in FL.

Good Luck and God Bless!

[saus]

Thanks for all of your prayers and information. We are on the east coast and it looks like Irma is going to go up the west coast. Still never know what can happen. Prayers to those on the west coast.

[SailorSam20500]

First, wishing you best of luck with the weather. Do what you can to stay safe.

Second, a 3K generator should have no problem running your AC and some other stuff. If you have a problem which I think is very unlikely, it will be when the compressor tries to cycle on. If you are running your water heater on electric, that would most likely be something to switch.

FWIW, many ACs will "run" on a single 2k generator, the issue is startup of the compressor. There is a very short period of time where the AC sucks more current than the generator can support, so the generator disconnects. This is much more common in warm. high humidity situations. There are a number of people who have installed a product called "Easy Start" from MicroAir (not a hard start capacitor) and now run their AC units reliably on a single 2k generator, there is more success with a Honda than some other units.

Hoping you don't have any significant damage to your home and are back out camping for fun soon.

[wildcatter]

You will be fine running your AC (1), however don't run any other appliance (Microwave, hair dryer etc), if you need to run them shut off the AC to run the other things, a fan or two will be fine, run your fridge and water heater on gas only. I do it all the time. If you forget to shut off your AC and run the MW you will trip the circuit breaker or the MW timer will run really slow and you could damage your generator. Also, make sure your generator has been running for aprox 2 minutes (it should tell you in your instructions) before turning on any major appliance, this could also damage the gen.

[Brother Les]

The last thing on my mind would be AC.

Water, food, fuel.

[Oaklevel]

Hopefully this will help. This posted by turbs some time ago


normal appliance amp draws
Wattage % Volts = Amps
Amps X Volts = Wattage

One other thing to keep in mind is many RV appliances require more amps to start the appliance than they do to run the appliance. A roof air conditioner can draw 16 amps to start, but may only use 13 amps once it is running.

120 Volt AC Amp Ratings
Appliance or Electronic Equipment Estimated Amps
Air Conditioner (X number of A/C) 12-16 Amps
Blender 5-6 Amps
Coffee Maker 5-8 Amps
Compact Disc Player 1 Amp
Computer (Laptop) 2-3 Amps
Converter 1-8 Amps
Crock Pot 1-2 Amps
Curling Iron <1 Amp
Drill 2-6 Amps
Electric Blanket 0.5-1.5 Amps
Electric Fan 1 Amp
Electric Water Heater 9-13 Amps
Electric Skillet 6-12 Amps
Hair Dryer 5-12 Amps
Iron 5-10 Amps
Light (60 watt % 120V) <1 Amp
Microwave 8-13 Amps
Microwave (Convection Oven) 13 Amps
Refrigerator in AC mode 5-8 Amps
Space Heater 8-13 Amps
Television 1.5-4 Amps
Toaster 7-10 Amps
Vacuum (handheld) 2-6 Amps
VCR 1-2 Amps
Washer/Dryer 14-16Amps

12 Volt DC Amp Ratings
Appliance or Accessory Estimated Amps
Aisle Light 1 Amp
CO Detector 1 Amp
Fluorescent Light 1-2 Amps
Furnace 10-12 Amps
LP Gas Leak Detector 0.5 Amp
Overhead lights (Per Bulb) 1 Amp
Porch Light 1 Amp
Power Roof Vent 1.5 Amps
Radio/Stereo 4 Amps
Range Hood (Fan & Light) 2-3 Amps
Refrigerator (LP Gas Mode) 1.5- 2 Amps
Security System 1 Amp
Television (12 volt) 4-5 Amps
TV Antenna Booster <1 Amp
TV Antenna Booster 12 Volt outlet Up to 8 Amps
Variable Speed Ceiling / Vent Fan 4 Amps
VCR Recorder / Player 2 Amps
Water Pump 4 Amp

[SailorSam20500]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

Hopefully this will help. This posted by turbs some time ago

normal appliance amp draws
Wattage % Volts = Amps
Amps X Volts = Wattage

Good info, thanks