Dual A/C units, apartment fridge, boondocking, generator

[camplight]

I have searched the forums for a good portion of my day today and was not able to find sufficient answers to my questions. Hopefully this group and others who own a Hemisphere 356QB or Heritage Glenn 356QB will be able to answer. This 5er is a 50 amp service.

Main A/C 15k btu? amp load running and start up?
Bedroom A/C 13.5k btu? amp load running and start up?
Apartment fridge amp load? (can't switch to propane)
I will not be running the outdoor refrigerator
TV's will most likely be on with A/C.

I want to do some dry camping and am looking for a generator or generators in parallel. So far I can find and Honda 7000 that will work, but it is huge and really expensive. I have seen other smaller 2000-3500 units that you can parallel. Some I have seen even if you parallel the two 3500's you will only get around 4000 continuous running watts, I don't think that is enough.

Will I be able to dry camp with a generator or generators (other than the Honda 7000)? Do some of you with large 5th wheels and children have suggestions for my generator questions?

[Skyliner]

2 Champion 3400 watt inverter generators should work for you.

[mwdilday]

You can parallel 3 or 4 Honda 2000's with the right cable. That should be plenty but a lot to carry.

[Ttramp]

Originally Posted by camplight

I have searched the forums for a good portion of my day today and was not able to find sufficient answers to my questions. Hopefully this group and others who own a Hemisphere 356QB or Heritage Glenn 356QB will be able to answer. This 5er is a 50 amp service.

Main A/C 15k btu? amp load running and start up?
Bedroom A/C 13.5k btu? amp load running and start up?
Apartment fridge amp load? (can't switch to propane)
I will not be running the outdoor refrigerator
TV's will most likely be on with A/C.

I want to do some dry camping and am looking for a generator or generators in parallel. So far I can find and Honda 7000 that will work, but it is huge and really expensive. I have seen other smaller 2000-3500 units that you can parallel. Some I have seen even if you parallel the two 3500's you will only get around 4000 continuous running watts, I don't think that is enough.

Will I be able to dry camp with a generator or generators (other than the Honda 7000)? Do some of you with large 5th wheels and children have suggestions for my generator questions?

Sounds like you'll be in Havasu in the summer. If not, maybe you can close off one area and shut one of the A/C's off. The 2 3500's should give you about 6000 continuous watts.
Happy Camping.

[sasch]

Try looking at the Predator line at Harbor Freight. I have their 2000 watt and really like it but it won't run the AC so now looking at their 3500 super quiet, electric start inverter, lightweight @$700 - both will parallel hook up for dbl the wattage. I am also looking into having an Micro-Air Easy Start installed on my AC unit which should allow the 2000 unit to run the AC.

[carlsbad]

Originally Posted by sasch

Try looking at the Predator line at Harbor Freight. I have their 2000 watt and really like it but it won't run the AC so now looking at their 3500 super quiet, electric start inverter, lightweight @$700 - both will parallel hook up for dbl the wattage. I am also looking into having an Micro-Air Easy Start installed on my AC unit which should allow the 2000 unit to run the AC.

Better check the accuracy of the parallel hookup on the Predator. I think it was a mistake. I heard they will have a kit next year.

[Walholler]

If your planning on running two AC units, TV, Fridge, etc. off of a generator of any size, you will have to carry a lot of gasoline with you.

[NMWildcat]

We only run one a/c at a time on generator, along with converter, tv, etc. We have 2 Honda EU2000is with a nurse tank. We camp in some pretty hot places and the two in parallel work fine. Running both we usually use about 15 gallons of fuel a week. We rarely run them 24 hours a day though.

[camplight]

Originally Posted by sasch

Try looking at the Predator line at Harbor Freight. I have their 2000 watt and really like it but it won't run the AC so now looking at their 3500 super quiet, electric start inverter, lightweight @$700 - both will parallel hook up for dbl the wattage. I am also looking into having an Micro-Air Easy Start installed on my AC unit which should allow the 2000 unit to run the AC.

Look at that more closely. What I read about their parallel kit was that no matter how big of generators attached, max output of the parallel setup was only 4000 watts.

So paralleling 2 3500 watt generators should give you 7000 watts. Their literature says otherwise from what I have seen and read. Does anyone else see this?

If I am in error, then this would be my solution. 6000 watts continuous should be enough.

[N6ZCM]

Originally Posted by camplight

Look at that more closely. What I read about their parallel kit was that no matter how big of generators attached, max output of the parallel setup was only 4000 watts.

So paralleling 2 3500 watt generators should give you 7000 watts. Their literature says otherwise from what I have seen and read. Does anyone else see this?

If I am in error, then this would be my solution. 6000 watts continuous should be enough.

According to Harbor Freight website "Double your power with parallel capability"
I did not see any where saying 4000 watt max... seems silly if tis true to Parallel 2 3500 and only get 4000! I downloaded the manual didn't say anything 4000 max with Parallel Kit.

It does say BOTH units must be the same wattage! 2 2000 then 4000 max, 2 3500 then 7000 max

EDIT!!!
OK I see where you are saying 4000 watts MAX... tho the Parallel kit was for the 2000 watt units I did not see the Kit for the 3500... read reviews and apparently the kit won't be out for a couple months yet(reviews were written 20 days ago)

BUT one gentleman said
"Ran a 15,000 BTU RV a/c along with a residential model fridge, lights, 2 tv's, a ceiling fan and a box fan. The generator bumped for a split second when the a/c compressor kicked on (normal) and never missed a beat while running all the other mentioned items above at the same time. Very quiet unit even when not in the economy mode. Really liked being able to see the amps and voltage readingso when in operation. Time will tell if this holds up but very satisfied as of today. Thumbs Up HB!"

[sasch]

I formulated my post from a review @ HF posted 9 days ago and did say parallel is suppose to be available in a month or two - Best to call HF and confirm all of this to be sure.

[camplight]

It shows it right on the parallel plug and in the specifications....I screen shot the website but can't figure out how to add the photos

[N6ZCM]

Originally Posted by camplight

It shows it right on the parallel plug and in the specifications....I screen shot the website but can't figure out how to add the photos

Yes (did an edit in my post. and corrected myself!

That one is for the Dual 2000 watt units.

They have not released the Parallel unit for the Dual 3500 units.

According to Predator, it will be released in the next couple months

[Jesse]

Only 50 amp generator I have seen with a 50 amp plug is a Cabelas 11,500 watt.
Item: IK-525274 for $999.00
It is heavy at 228 pounds and 76 decibels loud.

Amps = Watts / Volts

50=11500/230

[N6ZCM]

Originally Posted by Jesse

Only 50 amp generator I have seen with a 50 amp plug is a Cabelas 11,500 watt.
Item: IK-525274 for $999.00
It is heavy at 228 pounds and 76 decibels loud.

Amps = Watts / Volts

50=11500/230

I have a Predator 8750 watt with a 50 amp plug... If I am not mistaken it a dual phase so about 4400 watts per leg on the 50 amp plug, well 4X120 and 2X240 twist lock, so I use a twist lock adapter to RV 50 amp cable
But just like the one you posted very loud and heavy. But it can run dual 15K AC's and residential fridge and anything else I can throw at it!!!
It is a workhorse!!!

[Wolverine 1945]

Sam's has a 3500w for $429 !!!
They have several choices !!!

[Ttramp]

Originally Posted by sasch

Try looking at the Predator line at Harbor Freight. I have their 2000 watt and really like it but it won't run the AC so now looking at their 3500 super quiet, electric start inverter, lightweight @$700 - both will parallel hook up for dbl the wattage. I am also looking into having an Micro-Air Easy Start installed on my AC unit which should allow the 2000 unit to run the AC.

I have 2 Honda 2000 gens that I parallel and run the A/C. I don't know about.the Predators but you cannot parallel 2 gens of different watts in the Honda line of.inverter gens.
.

[camplight]

Just wanted to thank everyone for the feedback, suggestions and comments. I have purchased two 3400 watt champion inverters with 3100 watt sustaining. When paralleled, these two should give 6200 watts sustaining and should be sufficient.

They are set to arrive Thursday. I will break them in and try them out in my driveway. Give me a few days and I will post another follow up.

Thank you,
John

[N6ZCM]

Originally Posted by camplight

Just wanted to thank everyone for the feedback, suggestions and comments. I have purchased two 3400 watt champion inverters with 3100 watt sustaining. When paralleled, these two should give 6200 watts sustaining and should be sufficient.

They are set to arrive Thursday. I will break them in and try them out in my driveway. Give me a few days and I will post another follow up.

Thank you,
John

Did they have the Parallel unit?
How much?

[camplight]

Originally Posted by N6ZCM

Did they have the Parallel unit?
How much?

Yes
3400 watt Champion inverter generators $849 each
Parallel kit $75
Paid a hefty price for shipping since I expedited it but needed a for sure delivery date.

I was only able to find these online, no stores in the area had physical stock. The people at Champion tech support assisted me in finding them through their network.