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EchoGale 
Senior Member 
Joined: 10 Mar 2019 Location: FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 461 |
 Topic: Inverter/GeneratorPosted: 23 Mar 2021 at 9:59pm |
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Thank you, Stephen.
I found that Firman and if it weren't so heavy it would be my choice. There's no way I can manage that though. Have had an electric lawnmower and a manual one but always avoided these pull-starts. I wish there were a way to try it out. :)
Still I'm hoping someone will have experience wiht the Champion 2500 |
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Julie
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6288 |
Posted: 23 Mar 2021 at 9:40pm |
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The Firman dual-fuel generator I purchased has electric start. That is really nice. I'm thinking that I can rig up a ramp or hoist to help get it in and out of the back of the truck if I can't find help to lift it. It is heavy. Not having gasoline in it saves a few pounds.
If you have to use a manual rope-start, if you an pull the rope on a lawnmower, you should be able to pull the rope on a small generator. Put one hand against the generator to brace it and keep it from shifting, then pull the rope with the other hand.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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EchoGale
Senior Member
Joined: 10 Mar 2019 Location: FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 461 |
Posted: 23 Mar 2021 at 7:35pm |
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Hi Folks,
I'm going way back to the original 2020 post in this thread about the Champion 2500 dual fuel generator. Has anyone since had experience with this? I'm looking at it and hoping it might run my a/c but I am prepared to have an easy start installed if it can't start it.
I've learned from the thread why lighter generators are less powerful but I have to balance that with whether I can lift it in and out of my SUV. I am anxious about the pull start but none of these smaller ones seem to have electric start. Will it be hard for me to start it? I've never done that before and can't really tell how much strength it takes. (internet guys seems to pull all their weight into it too lol). Any other things I should be considering? Julie |
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Julie
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podwerkz
Senior Member
Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966 |
Posted: 23 Mar 2021 at 2:27pm |
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I changed the oil at 5 hours (first oil change, per manual) and then continued to run and test the new genset powering my r-pod and its systems for the next 4 hours till it ran out of gas...I had only put about 1 1/2 gallons of gas in the tank to begin testing, so it ran for about 9 hours total (per the built-in meter) on less than 2 gallons.
The load was varied from light (only the converter/charger powered on) to about 50% (A/C running and water heater electric on and electric space heater on and converter/charger on). So far, so good....after break-in I would expect it to do a really good job for me!
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r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!
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offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 21 Mar 2021 at 6:18pm |
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My experience with my Honda 2k is that its really pretty loud when running at full load. Most of the noise comes from the exhaust. In eco mode at low rpm it is quiet, but running a high load like the a/c I doubt there’s really much difference between an open frame constant rpm genny and a “quiet” inverter generator.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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podwerkz
Senior Member
Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966 |
Posted: 21 Mar 2021 at 10:41am |
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I am breaking in a brand new Champion open frame inverter generator as we speak.
It has about 3 hours on it so far...It is lighter and more efficient than my OTHER big-honkin Champion genset...and this one will also start and run the r-pod rooftop A/C no problem. It is open frame tho, so while it is easier to lift and drag around, it is NOT quiet. It is a bit less noisy than my OTHER big-honkin Champion genset, but it is certainly noisier than my small 1000w inverter generator...(the blue one in the background) as one might expect. It does run at low speed most of the time...it surges just a bit when the A/C compressor kicks in but then settles back to almost normal low speed...which will presumably save gas. I like that it is rated to run about 22 hours on a 4 gallon tankful at 25% load. We will see! I got a good price on it, and it takes up less room than my OTHER big-honkin Champion genset...and that OTHER big-honkin Champion genset will now be my home backup genset...we have frequent power outages here due to a variety of factors...life in the country on an electric co-op! I can actually lift this new one onto the tailgate of my truck without busting a gut! So far, I like it!   |
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r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6288 |
Posted: 03 Mar 2021 at 9:59pm |
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I installed the EasyStart after the warranty expired. I did not know about it before. Given what it does, I would likely have installed it even if the unit were new because it does work. It is worth the money.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 03 Mar 2021 at 7:00pm |
+1. Just take out the Easystart and return the a/c to its original status if you have a warranty claim. The Easystart itself will make things “easier” for the a/c not harder. As for the price tag on the Easystart, if your back doesn’t want to deal with a 100 lb genny (whose does?) and you want a/c boondocking then you need it and it’s worth it’s price. Dometic could solve this problem themselves by updating their a/c to a modern high efficiency variable speed compressor system like everyone else uses now but they choose instead to stick with 40-50 year old technology. If that creates an opportunity for MicroAir to be paid to meet an unmet need in the market it’s certainly not their fault (I have no affiliation with them BTW other than that I like their product). |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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podwerkz
Senior Member
Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966 |
Posted: 03 Mar 2021 at 3:18pm |
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Even IF the EasyStart voids the warranty (not sure that it does and you can always remove it...just sayin) I would generally assume that an EasyStart would probably extend the useful life of an A/C unit simply because it gets the moving parts moving with less 'jolt'.
In electronics we sometimes use 'inrush' current protection to extend the life of sensitive components. I would be very surprised if a test was conducted and the EasyStart did not extend the life of a compressor, start capacitor, and associated relays and such. Of course, it's cost is around a third to a half of a new rooftop A/C so the argument might be moot.
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r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!
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Colonel Podder
Groupie 
Joined: 25 Sep 2020 Location: Lexington, SC Online Status: Offline Posts: 68 |
Posted: 03 Mar 2021 at 2:08pm |
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Thanks for the info and explanation. I can understand this a little better now.
The Easy start is something I have considered. However my camper is new and I'm fairly certain this would void any warranty on the A/C unit? So this makes the decision a little harder. Thanks again!
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2021 R-pod 196
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Inverter/Generator