podge
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 10
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Post by podge on Feb 6, 2020 16:31:43 GMT -5
Have a new 2019 KZ Sportsman 250 THLE. At this point we love it. No major issues and the dealer has been great. Am looking for a generator do we need a 120/240 unit? We have all the regular stuff a 12 v fridge and a 15000 AC. Prefer to find a unit that is as lite as possible. Any suggestions? Thanks Mike
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Post by jetzen on Feb 6, 2020 16:38:31 GMT -5
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Post by Edd505 on Feb 6, 2020 18:10:36 GMT -5
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Post by lynnmor on Feb 6, 2020 19:32:53 GMT -5
You don't need 240 volts for anything. That 15,000 air conditioner is the highest load and you should have 3000 watts or more while using it. Many choose to use two 2000 watt quiet generators that can be paired. They typically weigh about 50lb making them easy to move and if the air conditioner isn't needed, then run just one. Honda and Yamaha are the premium brands and there are a number of cheaper brands available.
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podge
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 10
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Post by podge on Feb 6, 2020 22:00:36 GMT -5
Thanks appreciate the input. Would really like to buy one o those 3000kw suitcase jobs but am a little concerned if it can run the air fridge, lights and hot water all at the same time.
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Post by nvguy on Feb 7, 2020 0:12:52 GMT -5
The A/C has a big starting surge 1500 W +/-, but once it gets going the drops a lot, to about 700-800 W (+/-) Refer is about a 1,000 W, but you can switch to gas only when you're running the A/C, same thing with the water heater load 1,000 W. lighting is probably the lightest load of the bunch. I like the Honda as you can get service pretty easily, something that may be an issue with the cheaper brands.
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Post by wyomingta on Feb 7, 2020 6:46:39 GMT -5
Remember when buying that a generator has 2 numbers--watts at Peak or start and watts while running---a 3500 watt might only actually be around 3000-- I have camped while using several different generators for 20 years and i would not buy anything under 3500 peak especially if you camp at higher elevation ---they loose power at elevation--The Big Horn mountains are about 9000 feet and a 3500 will barely run the air conditioner with nothing else on--- A onan 4000 will run A/C and coffee pot at the same time---the closer you get to 4000 the better off you are--IMO--- I also have a small 2400 Westinghouse portable and friends have 2000 Hondas and they will not run a A/C unit !!!!!
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cmack1
Newbie RV’er
currently 15 Durango 345SE on order 20 Durango Gold 381REF
Posts: 16
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Post by cmack1 on Feb 7, 2020 8:11:43 GMT -5
I have been running the Harbor Freight for 2 years with no problems. My son has been running the champion for four years with out issues . Both are great for RV use.
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Stephen
Weekender RV’er
Retired and enjoying it
Posts: 70 
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Post by Stephen on Feb 7, 2020 9:30:58 GMT -5
I've been running a champion 3500/4000 for a 30amp unit for 6 years. It runs everything with no problems
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Stephen
Weekender RV’er
Retired and enjoying it
Posts: 70
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Post by Stephen on Feb 7, 2020 9:31:22 GMT -5
I've been running a champion 3500/4000 for a 30amp unit for 6 years. It runs everything with no problems
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Post by laknox on Feb 7, 2020 11:39:57 GMT -5
Have a new 2019 KZ Sportsman 250 THLE. At this point we love it. No major issues and the dealer has been great. Am looking for a generator do we need a 120/240 unit? We have all the regular stuff a 12 v fridge and a 15000 AC. Prefer to find a unit that is as lite as possible. Any suggestions? Thanks Mike The HF Predators get decent reviews and price can't be beat. Personally, I prefer the Champion as I feel that they're a bit better quality. One thing that I recently found out about Champions is that, if the parallel plugs on 2 units are the same, you can run 2 different size gennies, i.e. a 2k paralleled to a 3k. Found this info on the Champion web site. Also, Champion has one 3k+ model that has a higher continuous load rating than does Honda, for several hundred $ less. My =one= real issue with Champion is that they have slightly smaller tanks than comparable Hondas, so total run-time is lower. Champion also has dual-fuel gennies so you can use either gas or propane. With any 3k genny and a single 15k A/C, the A/C is about all you'll be able to run and, even then, you might consider installing a hard start kit on the A/C to help reduce the start-up load. Running LED lighting won't be much of an issue, but you sure don't want to run the water heater and/or microwave while the A/C's running. One feature that some Yamahas have is their "burst" output. Basically, on a heavy load, like an A/C startup, it will pull power from the starting battery for about 10-15 seconds, giving about a 500w boost. Likely it's a patented feature, as nobody else has it. Lyle |
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podge
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 10
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Post by podge on Feb 7, 2020 18:08:05 GMT -5
Thanks all. Was really hoping I could make a 3000kw unit work.
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Post by wyomingta on Feb 8, 2020 8:05:54 GMT -5
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Post by lynnmor on Feb 8, 2020 9:35:33 GMT -5
Generators with a sound level over 60 db have no place in a campground.
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Post by wyomingta on Feb 8, 2020 17:09:11 GMT -5
we dont camp in campgrounds--we dry camp in the mountains !!!!
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Post by laknox on Feb 10, 2020 10:29:45 GMT -5
Remember when buying that a generator has 2 numbers--watts at Peak or start and watts while running---a 3500 watt might only actually be around 3000-- I have camped while using several different generators for 20 years and i would not buy anything under 3500 peak especially if you camp at higher elevation ---they loose power at elevation--The Big Horn mountains are about 9000 feet and a 3500 will barely run the air conditioner with nothing else on--- A onan 4000 will run A/C and coffee pot at the same time---the closer you get to 4000 the better off you are--IMO--- I also have a small 2400 Westinghouse portable and friends have 2000 Hondas and they will not run a A/C unit !!!!! And if you run on propane, you get less power output at =any= altitude. Just sayin'... Lyle |
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Post by wyomingta on Feb 10, 2020 11:07:32 GMT -5
Thanks appreciate the input. Would really like to buy one o those 3000kw suitcase jobs but am a little concerned if it can run the air fridge, lights and hot water all at the same time. I would consider this if you need around 3000-3500 watts----Parallel hook up is a good way to go for the cost and Noise as stated by Podge---a couple 25 watt generators would do the job but make sure the will do Parallel hook up !!! |
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Post by mdcamper on Feb 10, 2020 23:28:49 GMT -5
Consider a soft start kit of the A/C units and you can get away with less output requirements on the generators.
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Post by Chuck on Feb 16, 2020 11:00:09 GMT -5
We have friends that run Honda EU3000 watt generators an run A/C an coffee pots along with lights without any problems, one did put in the soft start kit of there A/C units but the other two friends didn't an have no problems ... What I like about the EU3000 is it fits nicely in the bed of there trucks where are 6500 sticks up about 10 inches above the bed ... As I stated above we have a EU6500 an we have all the power needed, but it is a real pain getting in an out of the back of the truck an we do not carry it on the back rack of the trailer since it is so heavy (262 Pounds) were the EU3000 is (134 Pounds), still heavy but a little more manageable
if your going to put it on the back carrying rack on a trailer ...
The EU2200's combine together is possibly the way to go, they are light an can be managed an provide the power you need an can be like all the Honda generators serviced at most any dealer who sell such ... The only problems I see is with the smaller generators is that they can walk away pretty easy unless they are strapped down, were the large generators are not so easily miss placed in the back of someone truck or car LOL... We still strap our 6500 down under lock an key in the bed of our truck when we are camping, if someone can lift it out of the back of our truck an over the 5th wheel they can have it cuzzzzzzzz i'm not going to mess with them LOL Safe Travels  Chuck |
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Post by laknox on Feb 16, 2020 22:36:05 GMT -5
We have friends that run Honda EU3000 watt generators an run A/C an coffee pots along with lights without any problems, one did put in the soft start kit of there A/C units but the other two friends didn't an have no problems ... What I like about the EU3000 is it fits nicely in the bed of there trucks where are 6500 sticks up about 10 inches above the bed ... As I stated above we have a EU6500 an we have all the power needed, but it is a real pain getting in an out of the back of the truck an we do not carry it on the back rack of the trailer since it is so heavy (262 Pounds) were the EU3000 is (134 Pounds), still heavy but a little more manageable
if your going to put it on the back carrying rack on a trailer ...
The EU2200's combine together is possibly the way to go, they are light an can be managed an provide the power you need an can be like all the Honda generators serviced at most any dealer who sell such ... The only problems I see is with the smaller generators is that they can walk away pretty easy unless they are strapped down, were the large generators are not so easily miss placed in the back of someone truck or car LOL... We still strap our 6500 down under lock an key in the bed of our truck when we are camping, if someone can lift it out of the back of our truck an over the 5th wheel they can have it cuzzzzzzzz i'm not going to mess with them LOL Safe Travels Chuck RV Oddcouple had a Champion 3kw go missing from the cargo rack on their FW while THEY WERE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC IN DENVER. Gen was ratchet strapped down but not cable locked, as they usually do. FWIW, Champions can be paralled with non-identically-sized gens, so long as they have the same parallel plugs. This means that you can hook a 1k to a 2k or a 2k to a 3k, etc. Lyle |
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