generator question

supercraig1 · 05-08-2019, 02:27 PM

Octane 160 owner here.

Anyone have suggestions for generator that will run the AC? Obviously want the quietest/smallest option.

Honda 2200i?

Briggs and Stratton p3000?

Thanks

JaycoChix89 · 05-08-2019, 03:17 PM

you will need a minimum of 3800 watts to run an ac only!

RAurand · 05-08-2019, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaycoChix89

you will need a minimum of 3800 watts to run an ac only!

UNLESS you have installed a Micro-Air soft start.
https://www.microair.net/collections...nt=30176048267

Then a 2000 watt will be enough.

JaycoChix89 · 05-08-2019, 03:30 PM

Briggs and Stratton p3000= would need 2 of these
or Briggs and Stratton p3000= 1 of these

Gogrampa · 05-08-2019, 07:53 PM

I have a Octane 222SL with a 15k AC
I have a Westinghouse Igen 4500
About $700-1000
Remote start 10plus hrs on a tank of gas
Quite
Wt 97lbs.
Wheels with retractable handle.
Runs everything in my 222.

Moto_Family_264 · 03-02-2021, 01:35 PM

we used this with one. we only ran the air on it... turned the air off when we wanted to use the microwave or coffee pot.
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/c...aw.ds#store=90

GABob · 03-02-2021, 03:50 PM

Check Harbor Freight options as well, as I hear they do pretty well when compared to the Hondas. I purchased a 4375 watt one for the home (non-inverter type) but haven't used it yet. Looks to be built pretty well.

Jagiven · 03-02-2021, 05:38 PM

Most important thing is to use an Inverter style generator. There is a hybrid version out there now, but I am not fully sure what benefits it might bring.

Inverter generators provide much cleaner electricity than a construction grade generator. Our modern electronic filled life really need this clean power. They are also a LOT quieter. Unfortunately they cost a lot more too.

Hondas are highly rated and is considered the as the gold standard. Some people have no issues running an AC with a Honda EU2000i. Others have issues. At minimum you will need a hard start capacitor. A soft start like MicroAir would be best.

I reviewed a lot of generators. I wanted cheap, small, and reliable. I narrowed it down to the Champion duel fuel 2500. Light weight, if I only needed one, that was all I need to run. If I needed more power, I could use a parallel kit. Unfortunately I just could not find any.

I settled on a Champion 3500 dual fuel. I like it, no issues, fairly quiet, but not as quiet as a 2500 would be. What I do not like is the weight (~100 pounds) and size. It takes two of us to get it in to the TV. It also does not fit on any of my shelves in the garage.

If I could find a used Honda 1000 for a good price, I would pick it up in a heartbeat Its job would quietly charge my batteries (no AC with this little guy).

Good luck

Marcm157 · 03-02-2021, 06:12 PM

We use a (Harbor Freight) Predator 3500 and it runs the 13,500 AC on my camper just fine. I also run TV, lights and even a coffee maker while running the AC. We just don't use the microwave. It has served us well for the past 3 seasons.

It is heavy but with the wheels removed it does fit under the hard tri fold bed cover of my truck. Once its in the truck it stays there for the season. As JaGiven said it takes 2 of us to get it in the truck.

phoenixbound · 03-03-2021, 06:39 AM

Agreed. We also have the Predator 3500. It's heavy, but it is very quiet. They are a little hard to find at the HF store. I just kept going back and calling till I found one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcm157

We use a (Harbor Freight) Predator 3500 and it runs the 13,500 AC on my camper just fine. I also run TV, lights and even a coffee maker while running the AC. We just don't use the microwave. It has served us well for the past 3 seasons.

It is heavy but with the wheels removed it does fit under the hard tri fold bed cover of my truck. Once its in the truck it stays there for the season. As JaGiven said it takes 2 of us to get it in the truck.

Racinforthefinish · 03-03-2021, 08:02 AM

My brother has the Predator 3500 from Harbor Freight and loves it for the quietness and the price. I have a Honda 2000. It would run my 3500 AC but I added a SoftStart and now there is hardly any sound when the AC kicks on or off. I really like that. It will run the AC, TV, and charge the batteries. I don't use the Microwave.

Kmo · 03-03-2021, 08:16 AM

I used to run a Yamaha EF3000ISE, before I bought my seismic it was quieter than the Honda I had, had a 2 and 3000 Honda as well, the thing I liked about the Yamaha was it had a " Boost" which allowed for the initial start up of the air conditioner, I think the boost ran for 5 or 10 seconds, I guess now if you have a soft start on your air conditioner it is the way to go as the Yamahas are at the high end of the price range.

RichCarter · 03-03-2021, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAurand

UNLESS you have installed a Micro-Air soft start.
Then a 2000 watt will be enough.

I have an Honda 2K inverter generator. I tried a hard-start cap and it didn't work. Did you have success with your Honda and a 13,500 AC with this Micro-Air cap?

Racinforthefinish · 03-03-2021, 10:41 AM

Don't know where the 1went on my post, I trued to say 13,500. The Micro-Air and the SoftStart are basically the same . Either will work with 13,500 or15,000 AC.

RAurand · 03-03-2021, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichCarter

I have an Honda 2K inverter generator. I tried a hard-start cap and it didn't work. Did you have success with your Honda and a 13,500 AC with this Micro-Air cap?

Yes, BUT I have a Yamaha 2000 inverter Generator. (Actually, I have 2 for when running a lot of electrical equipment) But I have run the A/C on just one.
I tried a hard start and it didn't work. Put the Micro Air on and did the 5 starts per the instructions while plugged into shore power.

There are a lot of folks on this site that will testify that the Micro-Air WORKS!

Route 66 Traveler · 03-03-2021, 11:26 AM

Thanks to this Forum I have greatly improved my AC performance with the addition of two products that I found here, the SoftStart and the RV Airflow System. When using my Predator 3500 watt Inverter I hardly notice when my AC turns on.

The airflow from my ceiling vents has increased tremendously, from a measly 5 to 8mph air speed to almost 20mph air speed, using the RV Airflow System on my 15k Coleman Mach 15. An added plus is that it also made it quieter.

These two additions were not cheap, but I am certain that they will make the AZ and TX summers a lot more comfortable.

https://www.softstartrv.com/

https://www.rvairflow.com/

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