What type of Generator?

[elbrinkman]

We have a 2005 24T with a 13500 AC unit. We are looking to get a generator that will be able to run our AC and some lights while we are desert camping. We have never had a generator before although this is our second Hi lo. We don't know enough to be shopping used at this point. Any suggestions?
Thank you in advance, Mary B., Erv's wife

 

[JackandJanet]

Hi Mary - I'll give you my thoughts but others may well have much better advice.

I THINK your AC would run with a generator that has 2500 Watts peak output, but, if other things are on in the trailer too, you'd be better off with two, 2000 Watt units. The problem is that the starting electrical pull of the AC is quite high, generally more than 2000 Watts, but the running Wattage is lower. If you have other things, such as the lights, maybe the refrigerator, the hot water heater and possibly a microwave on when the AC starts, it may pull more than 2500 Watts. They have "pairing" cables that you use to connect two generators together to double their output. If you don't want to use two generators, a 3000 Watt unit would probably be fine.

Whatever you do, get an inverter generator that is QUIET! We've been at some campgrounds where a neighbor runs a generator that sounds like a jet engine. This is very unpleasant, and rude to your fellow campers as you can imagine. Units from Honda and those you might find in Home Depot or Costco are good in this respect. Look for ones that have a noise level less than 65 db. My Honda has a sound output that is equivalent to human conversation, but it is only a 1000 Watt unit.

- Jack

 

[elbrinkman]

Thank you. Quiet is a HUGE factor for us as well. Noise takes the joy from the outdoor experience.

 

[RichR]

Thank you. Quiet is a HUGE factor for us as well. Noise takes the joy from the outdoor experience.

What Jack is talking about is inverter type generators. Not only do they run much quieter they also produce better quality AC power that is important to electronic device operation. In AC I mean alternating current, not A/C (air conditioning).

 

[elbrinkman]

Thank you Jack

 

[cva34]

Gen

Thank you. Quiet is a HUGE factor for us as well. Noise takes the joy from the outdoor experience.

I'm with you ...But sleeping with no AC in hot weather takes the JOY out too...
My 25 buck 5500 /8500 surge is Quiet enough for us...That 25buck really makes me sleep well....I got a 50f 8ga ext cord that helps too..
Hope you can find a 25buck one too!

 

[oldcarguy]

We power our 2307C with a single Honda 2200i at the moment - a second 2200 with paralleling cables will be added prior to doing any hot weather camping where we'll want to run the ac. The Honda is quiet and economical, generally running for several hours in eco mode over a couple of days on a 1 gallon fill.

Unfortunately, generator theft is a concern in busier campgrounds, so we never leave it unattended. When in use, it's secured to the trailer tongue with a heavy motorcycle cable lock; the rest of the time, it's locked up out of sight in a "between the rails" truck tool box inside our pickup's camper shell (we bought a very good quality box used on CL that's bolted solidly to the bed - it has room for two generators plus tools & a couple of small gas cans inside).