Generator Question for R-196

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   Thanks Van. I was making an assumption that 100 watts of solar wouldn't go far when boondocking. I actually don't have my unit yet. I pick it up next week. It's great to know that my solar panels will keep my 12V battery charged. I'm going to be winter camping so I was thinking I would also need a generator for more (optional) power. I'm a newbie to RV camping, so I've got a lot to learn, which is probably mostly learned by experience, trial and error. Thanks so much for the info!

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Gypsiejanie Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 24 Oct 2020 Location: New Mexico Online Status: Offline Posts: 16	Topic: Generator Question for R-196 Posted: 08 Nov 2020 at 12:43pm
	Thanks Van. I was making an assumption that 100 watts of solar wouldn't go far when boondocking. I actually don't have my unit yet. I pick it up next week. It's great to know that my solar panels will keep my 12V battery charged. I'm going to be winter camping so I was thinking I would also need a generator for more (optional) power. I'm a newbie to RV camping, so I've got a lot to learn, which is probably mostly learned by experience, trial and error. Thanks so much for the info!

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 08 Nov 2020 at 12:37pm
	2500 starting watts won't be enough, but with an easystart it should be ok. I suggest you call Micro-Air and ask them what their customers' experience is with that generator. They are nice folks to talk to.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

pedwards2932 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 21 Sep 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 333	Posted: 08 Nov 2020 at 12:25pm
	Hmmmm looks like the Home Depot link broke try this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/CHAMPION-POWER-EQUIPMENT-2500-Watt-Gasoline-Powered-Recoil-Start-Inverter-Generator-with-Champion-79-cc-Engine-100889/313554748

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 08 Nov 2020 at 12:24pm
	My a/c uses about 1700 watts running, so I'd get one with a continuous rating of that or higher. Just to be clear though, likely none of those will start the a/c without an easystart.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

pedwards2932 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 21 Sep 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 333	Posted: 08 Nov 2020 at 12:19pm
	I have been looking as well.....you can get the Harbor Freight Predator for about 400 but it is a 2kw peak 1600 watt running, so not sure if it would run the AC. I saw this at Costco: https://www.costco.com/a-ipower-powered-by-yamaha-inverter-generator.product.100653776.html It is 2300 peak and 1800 running so it may be able to run the AC....it uses a Yamaha engine and has a 30 amp RV plug in. I also saw this at Home Depot: https://www.homedepot.com/p/CHAMPION-POWER-EQUIPMENT-2500-Watt-Gasoline-Powered-Recoil-Start-Inverter-Generator-with-Champion-79-cc-Engine-100889/313554748 It has 2500 peak 1850 running. It has a 20 amp outlet. It should be able to run the AC. It weighs 32lbs which is a big plus. Since I haven't tried any of these I can only go by the specs so I am not sure they would run the AC.

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 08 Nov 2020 at 12:08pm
	The problem with the a/c is the compressor’s very high startup current, not running it after startup. The easystart fixes that, reducing the starting current by 3x or more. The Honda 2k (now 2.2k) are under 50 lbs. Works reliably with the easystart to run the a/c. Very well proven solution by many many people. There are other generators in that size and weight range too.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Tars Tarkas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1447	Posted: 08 Nov 2020 at 11:28am
	If I'm looking to buy a generator, i.e., I don't already have one, I think I'd go for the versatility of a a generator that could be counted on to run the AC without having to worry about the expense and installation of an EasyStart. I have a Yamaha EF2400iSH (so I'm biased towards it), but it starts and runs the AC fine. If I thought I'd never care to run the AC, a lighter weight 1000 to 1500w generator might make sense, as mentioned above. I'd rather have a little power to spare though. As for 100w solar panels, I agree with Pod People, as long as you're camping somewhere with fairly reliable sun. I take my solar panels to the beach, for sure, but I don't even pack them when we go to the Smokies, for example. I always take my genny unless I know I'm going to have hookups. A couple of days of rain and clouds and your battery could be in trouble if all you have to boost it is solar. For just topping up the battery, yeah, go for a smaller, lighter genny. I'm getting old and even a 75 lb generator is enough for me. (Just looking at Yamaha, my 2400w genny is 75 lbs; their 3000w genny is 150 lbs. Their 1000w genny is only 28 lbs! So, yeah, if you don't need the AC or the microwave, solar panels backed up with a 1000w genny would be a good way to go. TT
	2010 176 FJ Cruiser

Pod People Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1078	Posted: 08 Nov 2020 at 10:02am
	you asked about a generator-which I can't help you with. However, you also said that 100 watts of solar "won't go very far in boondocking". I have to disagree totally. We have been out for many days using a 100 watt suitcase solar panels. It keeps our 2 6v GC-2 batteries fully charged. We can keep our batteries charged indefinitely if we can get about 3-4 hours of sun each day. Have you tried using the solar panels? Have you tried to be energy conservative? Everything will work except the microwave and air conditioning. you can easily boondock without those two power hogs. Vann
	Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 08 Nov 2020 at 8:51am
	You certainly can run the a/c with a 2.0 or 2.2 kw generator, I run mine all the time with a 2kW Honda. You need to add an Easystart device to the a/c to reduce the starting current. You can't run anything else (other than the converter at a low level to maintain the battery) while running the a/c. If you want to run the microwave that's fine, turn the a/c off while doing so. Some of the inverter generators, even up to around 2.5-3kw still won't start the a/c without an Easytart device BTW. The combination of a 2.2kw generator and an Easystart provides the lightest weight option, but not the lowest cost, option.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

podwerkz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966	Posted: 07 Nov 2020 at 9:40pm
	If you 100% KNOW you will not be using the microwave or roof A/C then you can get by with a smaller genset....using it only to recharge the batteries and keep all the other systems functioning if you dont have enough solar. A typical 1000-1500 watt inverter generator will keep the batteries charged, barely sip gas, and are easy to carry, along with being pretty quiet. Again, they wont be able to power a microwave or the roof A/C...but if you are boondocking in pleasant weather, nothing too extreme (hot or cold) then you may be fine with one of those. If you DO plan on powering the microwave and/or the roof air, then you will need a large and heavy generator, or two compatible gensets and a parallel kit as mentioned above.
	r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!