Hello all,

A-iPower Powered by Yamaha Inverter Generator that I got from costco.

Hello Rodger. Sorry to hear you are having a problem with your genny.

I think it won't help you to try keeping your generator at max speed when turning on your microwave (turn off your eco mode), but you could give it a shot.

On another recent "generator not big enough" thread "Johninidaho" mentioned that if your TT battery(s) are low, your converter in your trailer will suck a lot of energy from your genny as it tries to charge them. This can also be contributing to overloading your Yamaha when you try using your microwave.

You should have an overload light on your genset that comes on if it senses an overload condition...if the overload condition continues for too long, power is cut off via a cb as it tries to protect itself. If your loads are too large, a bigger generator would be needed.

You could try running an extension cord directly to your microwave to see if it indeed overloads your genny as it would take all other loads out of the equation. I think it will still not be enough generator, but that is just me.

Your generator sounds like it is too small for what you are demanding from it and this could damage your Yamaha genset if you keep overloading it. I would keep that in mind as well.

I have a 3300i (3300 watts surge, 3000 watts continuous) I will be using for our trailer. A bit extra capacity you may wish to consider. Mine is a FIRMAN from Costco, great little unit, super price. I also use it at home during power outages. I did swap out the spark plug when I got it as the one provided was cracked.

There you go, hope this helps you out!

Andy

A typical 1000 watt micro draws over 1800 watts. Mine at home pulls 1835 watts continuously. I haven't tested the 'Pod micro because the plug is hard to get to.

You prolly need more generator.

Thank you for the feedback. I shut all the breakers, but the main, and the generator ran the microwave. when plugged into the POD. I guess I'll need another 2000w generator to run in parallel when necessary. I typically never run 120v items, but it is nice to have the option.  

Next step is to find out what other ac loads are left on. I would suspect the water heater element or the fridge might be on ac rather than propane. Turn on one breaker at a time and listen for the generator loading up. If it's the water heater just leave that breaker off unless you are on shore power, or you can shut it off using the little partially hidden switch inside the water heater external cover.

You quite likely do not need a second generator as long as you manage your loads carefully. Especially you can't run the micro and a/c simultaneously, but that's really not much of a hardship. That's the way several of use do it here.

You will need an Easystart soft starter for the a/c. A 2kw generator can run the a/c but does not provide enough current for compressor startup. Lots of posts here on the Easystart. Cost is about $300, install is pretty easy but you do need to get on the roof to do it.