Generator
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
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=11513
Printed Date: 02 May 2025 at 12:48pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Generator
Posted By: Tracydr
Subject: Generator
Date Posted: 03 May 2018 at 8:42pm
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j7st bought a generator because the dog show this weekend doesn’t have electric and it’s supposed to be 89 degrees Sat. Any tips on using it? Any good ways to lock it up while using it? Where do you store it? I have the 182G model. I could probably rearrange sme stuff and use one of the under storage areas. It’s a Honda 2200i model. Other than AC I use a water pot and maybe microwave although I could use the stove for both.
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Replies:
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 03 May 2018 at 9:14pm
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You should try the air with the generator. You probably have enough power to start it but you could be cutting it close. I really think you're fine, but check when you can. For locking, there ought to be something you can run a cable through. Do that and run the cable through the frame somewhere. For storage, it all depends on what size it is and what you have available. It's going to be heavy for getting in and out of the storage area. I haul mine on a cargo carrier attached to my front bumper. The back of a pickup is an option, of course. A Stromber-Carlson cargo tray (Google it) for the tongue of the pod is another one. You don't have to move the gennie from there to use it and you can lock it down too. You will definitely overload the generator if you try to run the air and the microwave at the same time, but that's easy enough to deal with. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 03 May 2018 at 11:36pm
https://postimg.cc/image/ukkqfcpp3/">
------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 9:34am
| When unhitched, I sometimes run the safety chains thru the handle and then padlock the chains together. That way I only have to carry an extra padlock. |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 1:12pm
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Hondas are usually pretty good about exceeding their ratings, so a 2200 may very well handle the air conditioner but little else. Also, that 2200 rating is a peak rating. We run two Honda EU2000i generators in parallel when we need the air conditioner or just one if we don't. ------------- Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats |
Posted By: Tracydr
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 3:41pm
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Just checked,it is too tall for the lower storage spaces. I put it in the garage for now. It’s a little high for me to lift it in there but plenty of room and basically out of the way. I may have to find a strong man to help lift it in and out for me is the only drawback with that.
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Posted By: Tracydr
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 3:47pm
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Yup,I just fixed up a chain and padlock for it and noticed a good spot on the front of the hitch to place it that will set the generator far enough off. Tried it with the AC running and it seems to work quite well,even with the fridge on AC. My husband decided to turn on the microwave and that set the overload off and everything quit so I know what it can handle now. I’m hoping I’ll only need it for the afternoon to keep the dogs cool. I can’t let my papillon out in the ex~pen “yard” by herself or she finds a way out and comes looking for me. If I’m showing in the afternoon she has to be kept in the camper. Once the sun is lower I hope it gets cooler and breezy,then I can open the windows and turn the AC off. Boy is this generator quiet and now we don’t have to worry about stocking up on water jugs in case of a hurricane next fall,either. It should be able to run the well without an issue. |
Posted By: Tracydr
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 3:50pm
| I’ll purchase a solar suitcase panel to augment although I suspect that I won’t need to dry camp too often anyway. This is the only dog show locally that I’ve found without hookups. Maybe when we go to the beach or something. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 4:49pm
There is one other thing you might need. When you connect to shore power, the power is bonded at the supply (ground and neutral). Generators, on the other hand, have what is called a "floating neutral." If you are using a power analyzer, this will show as a fault. To get around this, buy, or better yet, make a bonding plug. It is really easy. Go to the hardware store. Get a three prong male plug, preferably outdoor/weatherproof. Get a short length of wire, 10 or 12 gauge. You only need a very short piece. It should be long enough to connect the neutral and ground terminals and short enough so that it can be tucked inside the plug body. Strip just enough off the ends to connect to the terminals like this: The gold (narrow) blade is the hot connector. Leave it alone! The silver (wide) blade is the neutral connector. Connect one end of the wire to it. The green connector is the ground. Connect the other end of the wire to it. Close your plug body and, if desired, use a little sealant to plug the hole where the wire would normally run. Congratulations! You will have just made a bonding plug. Your circuit analyzer will now be happy. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 10:46pm
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StephenH I just read through your explanation about a bonding plug and how to build one. Sounds simple to build but I missing something here as to where and how this "bonding plug" is used with a generator? I understand the concept of "floating neutral" that you say generators have but with ZERO experience of using a generator with our campers I'm having a hard time conceptualizing all this in my mind. If you can explain further or point all of us to a website that explains this in more detail I know I'd appreciate it and I'm sure others on the forum will too. Thanks! ------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 04 May 2018 at 11:27pm
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Good ol youtube:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2GqbM0JxlM ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 8:08am
Mike beat me to it with a video. However, how to use? Simple. Your generator should have two 15A outlets. Plug the bonding plug into one of them and your generator cord (with adapter) into the other. You can see it toward the end of the video where the bonding plug is next to the RV's power cord (with adapters). Hopefully, between this and the video, you will understand why a bonding plug would be needed, especially if one is running a circuit analyzer that will not allow current flow with an open ground. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 2:58pm
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A picture is worth a thousands words! Thanks for the video Mike and extra explanation Stephen now I got it!
------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: Tracydr
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 5:50pm
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How do I know if there’s a fault? Seems to be doing fine except it can’t handle anything but the AC at one time. I’ll probably get a second if I dry camp very much. This is the first place I’ve gone without full hookups. It will be really nice for day shows when I don’t want to hookup.] Btw,I highly recommend the ARB awning for the tow vehicle. The r-dome will be nice if there are two of us and hubby can help but by myself or for short trips the awning on my Jeep is awesome to give my little yard some shade and rain protection. I set up a yard with ex-pens at the dog shows and the dogs can go in and out of the camper if it’s nice and I can leave the door open. |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 05 May 2018 at 7:10pm
http://toolguyd.com/klein-rt600-outlet-tester-review/ - http://toolguyd.com/klein-rt600-outlet-tester-review/ You can find these at most any hardware store. They are usually around $5 or $6, but you can find them for less sometimes. These won't test for a reversed hot, but that should not be an issue with a generator. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: Tracydr
Date Posted: 07 May 2018 at 5:32am
| The tester isn’t downloading in your message. Can you try putting it in again? |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 07 May 2018 at 8:45am
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 07 May 2018 at 9:32am
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I finally got a chance to see the Harbor Freight Predator 3500 in action yesterday. I am very much impressed with how quiet these generators run. The food truck had two of them running and we could stand beside them and talk without having to raise our voices. They are significantly quieter than the Generac iX2000 which I have. The owner said they are very reliable also. He did say that because he runs them so much, he changes the oil every week using synthetic oil. Good oil and non-ethanol gasoline are the keys to keeping any small engine running well.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: itsjoprairie
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 12:33pm
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Does the Honday 2000 run the AC? We have one and just bought an Rpod. We want to work in the camper but don't have power. Ours says it is a 13 amp but the AC needs 15. WE were hoping it would be enough to run just the AC. Where are you storing this, did you make a spot?
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2018 at 4:16pm
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I installed a Micro-Air Easy Start which cuts the initial surge amperage. It allows our Generac iX2000 to run the AC much easier.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: FrayAdjacent
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2018 at 1:29am
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A 2000W generator usually runs at 1600W. The 13500BTU Dometic AC unit draws 1670W of power, so generators that run at 1600W, but peak at 2000W will run harder, but will probably do it. They may not be able to start the compressor without something like an Easy Start. I just did a trip in my new 176, in which I have an Easy Start installed. I used a Westinghouse 2200W generator, and it starts and runs the AC just fine. I had other problems with the generator having to do with the external 'extended run' fuel tank. I am probably going to pick up one of the Harbor Freight Predator 3500W generators, mostly so that running the AC will only be slightly more than 50% output, leaving me overhead to run other (not so big) things. Part of that will be running a small ice maker, so I can remove the freezer box in the fridge, which should help the fridge get cold better. If you want to use a generator to run your AC, take the above into account. The AC draws 1670W. You'll want a generator that runs at more than that. How much more will dictate how much more stuff you can run at the same time. BTW, I also left my converter breaker off. My 100Ah AGM battery lasted just fine for three days powering the lights, fridge (on LP) and the thermostat. I didn't bother to hook up my solar panel. I don't think the battery went below about 70%.
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