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mcarter View Drop Down
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Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Generator
    Posted: 18 Jun 2018 at 5:07pm
You can run everything on that 2K with some power management. 20A is good. You can run your charging circuit and micro, or disable charging circuit and run AC. Do a test in your yard. Just fire your genset up, start plugging things in and unplugging things, in 45 minutes you will know all you need to know. Better than 4 pages of comments on this forum, plus you'll be the wise man. BTW a 30A plug isn't drawing 30A.
Mike Carter
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FrayAdjacent View Drop Down
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Posts: 31 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jun 2018 at 9:50pm
Originally posted by StephenH

Originally posted by FrayAdjacent

Posted as a separate post:

I brought my 176 home from the dealer yesterday. Didn't own it for 6 hours before I began modding! I installed a MicroAir Easy Start and went through the start cycles on AC power from the house. I then tried my 2200W Westinghouse generator. It started the AC just fine. I then shut the AC off and switched the generator to Eco mode, and the AC started just fine! 

SO... I'll always recommend for small campers like ours, a 2000W generator, with the MicroAir Easy Start installed will be perfect for running the AC on generator. 

I took a quick look at the MicroAir Easy Start and it looks quite different than the hard-start capacitor I tried and removed because it made the AC harder and not easier to start. I'll have to see what is required for our AC unit.

How hard was it to install?


If you've ever wired anything up, it's really simple. It doesn't come with the install kit, so make sure you get it, unless you have a couple butt connectors  and some blade connectors. I think the 10-12ga size are the ones I used. 

If you had all the stuff and tools up on the roof with you, I'd say you could knock it out in 30 minutes. There's an open area behind the compressor that I stuck the Easy Start to, using a couple 3M double sided adhesive patches that I had for some GoPro mounts. Those things are crazy sticky! 



Here's a YouTube video about the installation. Our AC units (at least on the 2018 models) are identical to the one shown, even though the one in the video is a 15,000BTU unit. The layout and wiring is all identical. 
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Posts: 31 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jun 2018 at 9:55pm
Originally posted by rawest50

I have 2 for my house but. 1 big that would power everything on the RV but loud. I have a 2200 watt but it only has the 20 amp plug. Operates at 59 dB which should be okay noise wise in a National Park according to a previous post. With 20 amp service what can I operate on the RV at the same time? AC, refrig, TV, lights? Here at the house the trailer is on a 15 amp circuit. I can operate things but have to watch what I have on.

I'd recommend only using one 120V appliance at a time. 

Run the fridge on LP, it's more efficient that way, and barely sips battery power and barely uses any LP. 

Turn off the breaker for the converter, and it will turn off the battery charger, which draws 120V power. 

The TV probably doesn't even draw 100W. I'd be surprised if it were over 50W, but I haven't looked it up. 

You'll generally have to watch what you have on when you're on the generator. 

Personally, as I mentioned (I think), I'll use a 100W solar panel to keep the battery charged, and I'll turn off the converter, so the 12V systems operate only on solar/battery. Check the battery voltage at night, though. Make sure it's not getting too low, if it does, turn the converter back on for an hour or two on the generator. 
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6465 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Jun 2018 at 9:17am
Originally posted by FrayAdjacent

If you've ever wired anything up, it's really simple. It doesn't come with the install kit, so make sure you get it, unless you have a couple butt connectors  and some blade connectors. I think the 10-12ga size are the ones I used. 

If you had all the stuff and tools up on the roof with you, I'd say you could knock it out in 30 minutes. There's an open area behind the compressor that I stuck the Easy Start to, using a couple 3M double sided adhesive patches that I had for some GoPro mounts. Those things are crazy sticky! 

Thanks. I had been looking at the videos and thinking it would not be too difficult. I do have a good assortment of connectors and appropriate sized wire already so I don't think I would need to purchase the installation kit.
StephenH
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Posts: 103 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 2018 at 7:20pm
I looked at easy start site.  there re different sizes of east starts.  which one are you folks putting on the roof top a/c?

thanks

tom
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Posts: 31 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jun 2018 at 1:00am
Originally posted by Billy Bob

I looked at easy start site.  there re different sizes of east starts.  which one are you folks putting on the roof top a/c?

thanks

tom


The single phase unit, the 364. That'll do the trick!


I did some looking around, Dometic shows the newest 13,500BTU AC unit runs at 1670W. 

We'll all want to be sure we have generators that can at least cover that usage. More if we'll be at higher altitude. My 2200W Westinghouse runs at 1800W. I'm actually thinking I'll sell it and get the Westinghouse iGen 2500.. it runs at 2200W.. that gives some overhead! 
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Posts: 6465 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jun 2018 at 1:55pm
My EasyStart is on order and should be here in a few days. Once I get it installed, I will know how well it will work with our Generac iX2000 (2,200 starting, 2,000 running Watts).
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Joined: 07 Apr 2016
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jun 2018 at 4:31pm
SH,

Interested in your results, I have same genset and it runs the AC. I would like to know what you gained from this mod, PLZ.
Mike Carter
2015 178
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Posts: 6465 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jun 2018 at 4:41pm
I am hoping it will help in hotter weather and higher altitudes. The Generac iX2000 does start and run the AC but it really surges at compressor start-up. I am hoping this will smooth out the generator's running during compressor start-up since it will lower the initial required amperage. I doubt it would enable me to run the AC and microwave simultaneously though.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Joined: 07 Apr 2016
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jun 2018 at 5:11pm
I agree, not enough watts to do that. I use my genset sparingly, charge battery, run micro, run AC, none of which at same time. Price - size and weight, meets my needs. Interested in what you find.
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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