Honda Generator at altitude
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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=2870
Printed Date: 24 May 2025 at 9:03pm
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Topic: Honda Generator at altitude
Posted By: Camper Bob
Subject: Honda Generator at altitude
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2012 at 8:21am
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Just returned from 4 glorius days at Paulina Lake at 6,500' in Oregon. Had a brand new Honda 2001i generator and a Supco capacitor installed in the A/C. Started the generator and let it come up to speed. Turned on the fan in the Rpod and then the A/C. Unfortunately at that altitude the Honda could not handle the load. It basically shut down. It will, however, run the microwave and alternately the hot water heater. Not both together. This was our first dry camping trip in the Rpod and someone else had mentioned that even with judicious use of water they only got 4 showers out of the tank. They were correct. On the third day I took the camper to the dump site cleaned out the waste tanks and added another full load of water. All good. We have not tried the generator at lower altitudes, yet. Hope that helps. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2012 at 8:55am
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Thanks for the update. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2012 at 8:58am
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Welcome. Does what happened make sense to you? Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2012 at 10:15am
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Yes. Altitude and warm temperatures both give you thinner air. Thin air = less oxygen, so you get less than the rated output. There are rules for so much % lost depending on degrees above 77 F and above sea level but I would have to find them. Also if you get high enough you may have to adjust the unit so the fuel mixture doesn't get too rich. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Kickstart
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2012 at 5:06pm
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Camper Bob, thanks for the report on A/C and 2000 inverter @ altitude. It was as I feared, but hoped not to hear. I have a 2000 Yamaha and am contemplating getting a 9000 BTU A/C for our pod. I don't now anticipate that combo will do much better boondocking at elevation than you did. When you get a chance, please give us some info on how you do at lower elevations with your Honda and A/C. ------------- '10 RP 175-Replaced by 2014 Kodiak 173 QBSL '12 Toyota Tundra '05 Sportster (half a Harley) Retired-We're on Beach Time! |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2012 at 5:37pm
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I chose to get a genset that was rated for the full pod load. Lots less hassle as far as I am concerned. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2012 at 7:21pm
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A >$200 portable A/C should work with a 2000 watt genset.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2012 at 9:19pm
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Even a 13,000 BTU air conditioner should be within the capacity of a 2,000 watt genset. But not when you add the dc power for the trailer, the nuke box and the water heater. If you are dry camping you need the 12volt stuff as much as the air. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2012 at 11:32pm
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My thoughts are that at 6,500' the engine couldn't generate enough horsepower to power the A/C. We live at about 500' above sea level and I still have some fuel left in the Honda. So after some chores tomorrow I will fire it up and see if it can run the A/C at this lower altitude. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 27 Aug 2012 at 11:49pm
I found out this summer that my generator would not run the A/C on the POD. It's an older Onan contractor unit (built in 72, the year I graduated high school) that says it puts out 2500 watts but.....it would not do the job. It takes 2 1/2 men to lift it and after dragging it down to the POD was not happy that it did not work as planned, we are at around 700 ft above sea level. Goose  ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 12:06am
My 3000 watt does not even hiccup when the compressor comes on on the AC. It shows down a little when the microwave and AC are on at the same time. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 11:52am
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When you become more senior in age, lifting, becomes more of a factor. I would love to have a larger generator while camping, but don't think the two of us could lift it. And even if we could, storing a 3kw generator in our tv would be a problem. So either we get full hookups wherever, or camp in cooler climates. Do have a 5.5 kw in the garage on wheels for the occasional power outage here, and a plug on the side of the garage that feeds the transfer switch in the basement. So good with major outages. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 12:20pm
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The good news is that rarely at high altitude do you need air conditioning at night to sleep. An open window is normally good enough even on the hottest days in the mountains, so the generator is not essential. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Footslogger03
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 12:25pm
======================== I hear ya about the weight and lifting stuff. It doesn't mix well with a heart condition. We bought the Honda EU2000i this year and have used it on several occasions. Given our low humidity out West here, we rarely would ever need A/C and the 2000 powers everything else - - so for now, we're content. If we start to travel back East during the summer months we may consider adding the EU2000 Companion. We're light packers and both would fit in the back of the Tacoma. We shoot for full hook-ups but have found out there that some of the nicer/pristine campsites are "primitive" in nature. We run the generator for about an hour in the morning and 2 hours at night. That gives us all of the 110V we need and keeps our battery topped off. We like the freedom the generator gives us to extend a trip for 4-5 days where hook-ups are not available. 'Slogger ------------- Livin' the Dream ...'Slogger |
Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 12:36pm
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Footslogger, we are right in lockstep with your comments. As far as needing an A/C at altitude, Keith-N-Dar are correct. Just wanted to try it at altitude and see if the Honda could carry the load. The first night it dropped to 29 degrees. During the day it was a very pleasant 70-75 degrees. So hope that gives everyone enough info to make an informed decision. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 12:38pm
I understand that. I can barely lift my 3k generator Sean ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 5:16pm
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I found the numbers for altitude/temperature in my Generac owner's manual:
Maximum power decreases about 3.5 percent for each 1,000 feet above sea level; and also will decrease about 1 percent for each 6° C (10° F) above 16° C (60° F) ambient temperature ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 7:26pm
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To recap. Took our 171 up to 6,500' with the larger Supco starting capacitor installed in our 13,500 btu A/C unit. Started our brand new Honda 2000i and let it come up to speed. Then turned on the A/C. The generator shut down. Showed an overload fault on the generator. So at altitude it doesn't have the power to operated the A/C. Then took them home and parked the 171 in our driveway which is at 512'. Tried the same experiment and got the same results. Soooo, I'm guessing that a 2KW generator even with a larger starting capacitor installed in the A/C, will not operate the A/C. Bummer! Anyway, there is the upcoming Seaside Rpod meet in Sept. Have a full hookup and being on the beach don't expect to need A/C, but can run it if we have to. Hope to see many of you there. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: Footslogger03
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 7:29pm
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Guess I'll hold off on the capacitor mod and save up for a 2000 Companion then ...to run paralell with my 2000i - - when and if we ever need A/C.
Thanks for the update. 'Slogger ------------- Livin' the Dream ...'Slogger |