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Old 08-14-2018, 08:49 AM   #1
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Generators

We are trying to determine what is the best generator and size to purchase for our 18ec work and play. To be able to run the AC, Refrigerator, Hot water tank, Stove etc. We are currently looking at the Champion 3500-Watt RV-Ready Dual Fuel Portable Inverter Generator which is also a 3150-Watt on propane. Can you give your recommendations. Want to make sure we have a strong enough generator.
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Old 08-14-2018, 10:45 AM   #2
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If you have 30 amp service and one A/C then the 3500 watt genny should be plenty. However, if you have 50 amp service you're going wish you had a bigger genny.
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Old 08-14-2018, 11:07 AM   #3
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Also look at the HF Predator 3500 watt genny...

If you have 30 amp service to your trailer either the Champion or the Predator will work...

if you plan on using propane for fuel, look into run times on a 20# tank... you might be surprised at how quick they get used up...
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Old 08-14-2018, 11:22 AM   #4
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The ones that can handle are 50watts are just to darn heavy. 200# or more. My Champion 3500 is 85#.
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Old 08-14-2018, 12:00 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Guy Gordon View Post
We are trying to determine what is the best generator and size to purchase for our 18ec work and play. To be able to run the AC, Refrigerator, Hot water tank, Stove etc. We are currently looking at the Champion 3500-Watt RV-Ready Dual Fuel Portable Inverter Generator which is also a 3150-Watt on propane. Can you give your recommendations. Want to make sure we have a strong enough generator.
I think that you will be borderline at best with that generator. I had a Champion 4000/3500W generator that I used on our 26RR, and it barely ran those loads on a warm day. When the temps got into the 90's, it had a hard time running just the AC, fridge, and converter. I then went to a Honda EM5000SX and never had an issue. I believe that the biggest reason for this was the engine size.....the Champion had a 6.5HP engine, while the Honda was 13HP. This was definitely noticeable during large load starts....the Champ would bog really bad, and the Honda barely changed speed.

I now have a Honda EU7000is.....its a heavy beast, but has enough wattage to power mine and my neighbor's camper when it is 95* outside. Plus, if/when we upgrade campers, it will power those too.
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Old 08-14-2018, 05:01 PM   #6
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I think that you will be borderline at best with that generator. I had a Champion 4000/3500W generator that I used on our 26RR, and it barely ran those loads on a warm day. When the temps got into the 90's, it had a hard time running just the AC, fridge, and converter. I then went to a Honda EM5000SX and never had an issue. I believe that the biggest reason for this was the engine size.....the Champion had a 6.5HP engine, while the Honda was 13HP. This was definitely noticeable during large load starts....the Champ would bog really bad, and the Honda barely changed speed.

I now have a Honda EU7000is.....its a heavy beast, but has enough wattage to power mine and my neighbor's camper when it is 95* outside. Plus, if/when we upgrade campers, it will power those too.
if your 7000 /5500 runs two campers and ac's then a 3500 should run one . the honda 3000 is only a 163 cc motor the 7000 is 389 cc but only 5500 running watts . i think the champion 3500 inverter 3200 watt running is more then enough to run any 30 amp rv .
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Old 08-14-2018, 08:15 PM   #7
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if your 7000 /5500 runs two campers and ac's then a 3500 should run one . the honda 3000 is only a 163 cc motor the 7000 is 389 cc but only 5500 running watts . i think the champion 3500 inverter 3200 watt running is more then enough to run any 30 amp rv .
I didn’t say it wouldn't.....I just said it would be borderline based on my experience with a Champion Generator with similar specs. On hot days, power draw from the AC can vary widely..... I’ve seen up to 500w variances from early morning to afternoon when it’s hottest. And while I did run 2 campers, the one on the 20A circuit was rigged for reduced electrical. The only things running were the AC and converter. Steady state load was around 5300W with spikes to 8k when first starting the 2nd AC.
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Old 08-14-2018, 08:31 PM   #8
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Your stove is propane and WH and fridge can be propane as well.
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Old 08-14-2018, 08:43 PM   #9
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What kind of stove do you have? I doubt you will be able to run the A/C 1500 watts and the water heater 1400 watts plus the refrigerator and the stove. The startup amps of the A/C will probably put you WAY over the top. Connect to a 30 amp and see if you can get by on that. If you can then that is 3,600 watts.
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Old 08-14-2018, 08:46 PM   #10
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Your stove is propane and WH and fridge can be propane as well.

THIS ^^^

It will save you a lot of extra generating capacity (probably 500 watts on the fridge and 1500 on the water heater). The fridge uses very little propane, and if you only fire up the water heater when you need hot water, you will also use little propane.
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Old 08-14-2018, 08:53 PM   #11
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We have a Suburban SDN2 gas
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Old 08-14-2018, 09:14 PM   #12
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Suburban SDN2 gas stove
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Old 08-14-2018, 11:50 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by Guy Gordon View Post
We are trying to determine what is the best generator and size to purchase for our 18ec work and play. To be able to run the AC, Refrigerator, Hot water tank, Stove etc. We are currently looking at the Champion 3500-Watt RV-Ready Dual Fuel Portable Inverter Generator which is also a 3150-Watt on propane. Can you give your recommendations. Want to make sure we have a strong enough generator.

Your Champion geny on LPG will give you approximately 26 amps.
Keep in mind as the genset gets heated up the output goes down, if the manual is good it should show you the temp/output curves.

Our 60KW Kohler genset can loose 10% of it's output on 35c/90f days.

Cheers,
Geoff
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Old 08-14-2018, 11:56 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by Bluepill View Post
THIS ^^^

It will save you a lot of extra generating capacity (probably 500 watts on the fridge and 1500 on the water heater). The fridge uses very little propane, and if you only fire up the water heater when you need hot water, you will also use little propane.

Bluepill is correct, run your LPG appliances on gas.

Why convert propane to mechanical energy, convert mechanical energy (your inefficient 4-stroke engine) to electrical energy, then convert that electricity back to heat to heat your water and cool your fridge; use your propane to go directly to heat and do it's heating and cooling as required.

That leaves you gobs of expensive electricity to run your AC!

Geoff
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Old 08-15-2018, 01:37 AM   #15
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I really like the champion dual fuel but did not want to move 100lb unit around. I bought the Micro Air Easy Start for the AC and one Westinghouse 2500 gen. At $569 (I think) and 48lbs I can buy a second one if I need to link them for additional power.

+1 about running fridge and WH on propane and only as needed.
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