Generators and BTU
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11286
Printed Date: 28 Jun 2025 at 1:03pm
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Topic: Generators and BTU
Posted By: dennis
Subject: Generators and BTU
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2018 at 7:32am
I watched a video of a guy running a 10,000 btu AC in his camper using only 1 Honda 2000i generator. I have to use 2 (the 2000i and it's companion) to run my 13,500 AC. Is there anyway to use his AC. It's small but quieter and would cost less to run. I guess I'm stuck with what I have. 
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Replies:
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2018 at 9:48am
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You can do about anything you want to do and can afford. Where we camp, for the most part, we don't need air often, so we don't mind the sound. I haven't priced a conversion like that but I bet the cost of one of your red gen sets would have paid for most of it. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2018 at 12:11pm
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Not sure I totally understand your question, but, yes you could swap out your current a/c unit for something smaller, that would need less generator to run. $$$ is the question. You would be removing a perfectly functioning unit to replace with a new unit. Coleman makes a nice 9,200btu unit used in many small camper roof top installations. The Polar Cub. Depending on a few variables, many owners, by adding a $20 "hard start capacitor" to the existing a/c, can and do, run on a single Honda 2000 inverter. Ours would do it without the cap. ------------- |
Posted By: dennis
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2018 at 1:06pm
| I think what I'm trying to ask is why didn't they put a smaller, quieter AC in the R-pod that could run on 1 gen instead of 2? Do you have a link for a how-to on this?...Depending on a few variables, many owners, by adding a $20 "hard start capacitor" to the existing a/c, can and do, run on a single Honda 2000 inverter. Ours would do it without the cap. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2018 at 4:20pm
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They put a 13.5 in there because, in some parts of the country, that's what's needed to keep up with the summer heat, AND, because they buy them by the freaking train car load. FR builds a heck of a lot more big campers then they do small. You can run the a/c on one genny, you just need one that is a little larger. I don't have a link for the install. Google "install hard start capacitor in an RV a/c". It's two wires. We used the SUPCO SPP6 on a friends a/c. ------------- |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2018 at 5:04pm
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+1 Furpod, I have been able to run my Pod AC for three years off a single IX2000 Generac gen set. When I want to run AC I shut off the Converter CB. When I want to charge battery I turn off the AC and turn the Converter CB back on. No capacitor changes. 1 50lb genset. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2018 at 5:05pm
True dat. I was going to say "gospel" but changed my mind. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Danielw1
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 12:00am
| Troll |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 7:52am
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Apparently my sense of humor offended someone. My apologies. There's not much more to say on the subject though. Use the 2 2000w genies in tandem; get a quick start capacitor, get a bigger generator or get a smaller air conditioner. With the 2 x 2000w genies in tandem you can run anything you want in the Pod, in any combination, which can be a pretty big plus. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 7:58am
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I googled "hard start capacitor for RV" and there was a ton of stuff available, including videos on how to install it. For about $20 it looks like you can solve a problem with a generator that doesn't have enough surge capacity but can otherwise provide enough juice to run your AC. We bought a Champion 3500 w. to run a household refrigerator an a boiler circulation pump in case we lost power after a storm. Sandy was the stimulus for that, but we moved before any more storms hit. Now we plan on using it if we go somewhere where we need AC. My biggest concern is the noise. I'm not so sure I'd like that thing running in the night and after 9 or 10, in most camp grounds, thankfully, you can't make loud noise anyway. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 8:14am
 if that offended someone........................................... ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |