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Topic ClosedInverter/Generator help needed
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mjh203 View Drop Down
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Joined: 10 Jul 2016
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Posts: 19 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Inverter/Generator help needed
    Posted: 10 Jul 2016 at 7:07pm
Hello,

I did a bunch of research on portable generators and decided on a new Generac iQ2000 Inverter. It is quieter than a Honda EU2000 and had really good reviews. So, I went on a trip and tried to use this for the first time on my 2015 R-Pod 178. The generator fired right up and gave me the green ready light. As soon as I plug in the camper, it switches to red and will not power anything in the R-Pod. The only things turned on in the camper are the clock on the microwave which instantly comes on with electric and the clock on the Radio/DVD player. I cant turn these off. Everything else was off and/or unplugged. 

I tested my dads old 1978 camper with the iQ2000 and it worked just fine. Not enough to power the AC, but lights and outlets worked fine.

What am I doing wrong? Shouldn't this unit be adequate for this small little camper? Thoughts or suggestions?

I went ahead and returned the iQ2000 today. Suggestions from any other R-Pod owners for a good size inverter/generator unit? 

Thanks
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 2016 at 8:57pm
That genny should be fine to run the pod as long as it's not the a/c. My bet is a ground issue.

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mjh203 View Drop Down
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Posts: 19 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 2016 at 9:01pm
I'll check out the ground issue....thanks!
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WillThrill View Drop Down
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Posts: 298 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jul 2016 at 9:56pm
Originally posted by furpod

That genny should be fine to run the pod as long as it's not the a/c. My bet is a ground issue.

Link.

+1

A cheap outlet tester that can be bought at a local hardware store will tell the tale.  Just plug it into an AC outlet when you have shore power and see what it reads.

And you can turn off the microwave and almost anything else by switching off the appropriate breaker in the panel.  Oftentimes, folks that successfully run their AC with a 2 kW generator have to do this in order to turn off the converter/charger, which can draw several hundred watts if it's charging the batteries.
"Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien

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Jackdaddy View Drop Down
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jul 2016 at 11:52am
Hi All,

I purchased a Honda EU Invertor 2000i Companion 30a generator a few months ago and finally used it with my 2014 Rpod 182G and it worked great.  I was told that it would not power the A/C but those who said it wouldn't were wrong.  It was 95 degrees here in San Gabriel, Ca yesterday so I hook up the generator again to just verify it runs the A/C and sure enough it works great.

Steve
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TheBum View Drop Down
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Posts: 1407 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jul 2016 at 12:40pm
Hondas are known for exceeding their surge ratings, which is one of the things that makes them preferred if money is no object. We just bought one regular EU2000i and one Companion.

I'm not sure I'd trust a single EU2000i if I'm running anything other than the A/C. Was your battery fully charged? If so, that's probably why it worked: very little power zapped by the converter.
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Jackdaddy View Drop Down
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jul 2016 at 1:12pm
The battery was 80% charged.  I also had two lights on and the TV on with no problems.
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WillThrill View Drop Down
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Posts: 298 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jul 2016 at 1:47pm
Originally posted by Jackdaddy

The battery was 80% charged.  I also had two lights on and the TV on with no problems.

Once a lead acid battery reaches about 80% capacity, a 3 stage charger like the one in the Pod's converter/charger will step down the amperage, usually to around 6 amps or 72 watts, plus the wattage consumed by the converter/charger itself.  So it wasn't drawing much.

I've heard numerous reports of people running their AC with a Honda or Yamaha 2 kw generator (it seems like about half or fewer are successful), but I haven't heard the same of any other brands of 2 kw generators.
"Not all those who wander are lost." Tolkien

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Jackdaddy View Drop Down
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jul 2016 at 1:52pm
I appreciate the advice.

Thanks!
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6428 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jul 2016 at 11:26pm
I have been able to run the AC with a Generac iX2000. It is rated at 2000 Watts running with 2200 surge Watts. Some of the others, the iQ2000 included, are 2000 Watts surge but only 1600 Watts running. Those 400 Watts make a difference.
StephenH
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