I have the Truma Climaster Comfort air conditioner in our caravan. Have tried to run it off our Honda ECO EU2000i generator unsuccessfully. Looked up the Truma manual and it lists a 20amp startup current. By my calculations this means I'd need a 5.5kva generator.
My question is this... any Grey Nomads who run same air conditioner off a generator and if so, what size and model of generator are you using?
Thanks Hetho. That's quite helpful. I'm hoping a 3.5kva generator will work as I can locate one of them for under / around $500. Awaiting further replies.
We have had quite a few customers say their Honda 2.0i generator won't run their air con, or if it does get it going the generator stops powering the air con after an hr or so or simply shuts down. Honda resellers make a special very short lead made form very heavy cable that they say will run the rooftop rattlers, but it means the generator is directly below the power inlet point ....... not great for peace inside the van or with the neighbours.
We have successfully powered a lot of rooftop rattlers using the Projecta IP2000 inverter powered from lithium batteries. If the generator is required because there isn't enough solar, it is used to power a 50 amp battery charger and the Honda 2.0i can power that without a problem.
Many customers have given away carting the generator around and use a Dc to DC charger from the tow vehicle's alternator to top the battery up if required, so that is another option.
T1 Terry
__________________
You can lead a head to knowledge but you can't make it think. One day I'll know it all, but till then, I'll keep learning.
Any links to any sites or products is not an endorsement by me or do I gain any financial reward for such links
Thanks Terry. I've spent the day with our Honda EU20i and the Truma airconditioner and it's worked perfectly. Not sure why it failed on me previously. Will do more testing to see if it was just a lucky day or whether it will work reliably. Today I started the airconditioning on 240v and only later turned it off and then hooked up the generator. Tomorrow I'll try the generator from the start.
I also spoke to a fellow who used to sell the Truma model I have and he was confident he had customers using it with the E20i.
There also appears to be an aftermarket soft start device that helps. Interested in hearing if any have used such a device successfully.
4mmsq is 11AWG, so between the purple line and the light green line. The chart is in feet, so 50 mtrs is 164ft, so rounded up to the 200ft mark and even 4mm sq cable would not be enough to carry the 2,000w plus load over 50 mtrs. That special lead the resellers have is about 1.5 metre long and 4mmsq cable, so to get the generator 20 mtrs away you would need real heavy extension lead, 10 AWG is 5.26mmsq and that is represented by the light green line, that would be about the minimum size cable you would need to get the Honda 2.0i to power the air conditioner without risk of damaging the generator from overload or the air conditioner from under voltage burn out.
T1 Terry
__________________
You can lead a head to knowledge but you can't make it think. One day I'll know it all, but till then, I'll keep learning.
Any links to any sites or products is not an endorsement by me or do I gain any financial reward for such links
So about a 10 metre cable using 4mm2 is about as long as you can use ($110.00)
It does pose the question that are all those 25metre 1.5mm2 caravan leads being used, are they a touch under rated?
I always thought they were. I wouldn't use a 1.5mmsq cable for 15 amps even over a short run of 5 mtrs or so, I just don't consider it capable of carry the full load without voltage drop. 2.5mmsq or 4mmsq I still try to limit to under 15 mtrs if I think it will be carry the full 15 amps for an extended period, but maybe I'm just a bit over cautious.
That 6mmsq stuff looks good, it would be heavy and not terrible flexible compared to the 4mmsq stuff, but it would do the job if voltage drop is the only problem.
T1 Terry
__________________
You can lead a head to knowledge but you can't make it think. One day I'll know it all, but till then, I'll keep learning.
Any links to any sites or products is not an endorsement by me or do I gain any financial reward for such links
I have got this type of rubber cable on an ARRI 2000 watt lamp, they over engineer everything on these lamps as they get abused beyond comprehension, frightening stuff. It is very flexible cable. I will take the plug off & see what thickness the actual wire is & how fine it is.
__________________
Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!
50L custom fuel rack 6x20W 100/20mppt 4x26Ah gel 28L super insulated fridge TPMS 3 ARB compressors heatsink fan cooled 4L tank aftercooler Air/water OCD cleaning 4 stage car acoustic insulation.
I have got this type of rubber cable on an ARRI 2000 watt lamp, they over engineer everything on these lamps as they get abused beyond comprehension, frightening stuff. It is very flexible cable. I will take the plug off & see what thickness the actual wire is & how fine it is.
Thanks. I'm quite interested in what you find. This has been a useful segue for me. I've been using 25 metre 10 amp rated extension leads (with no noticeable issues) up to now. But have been contemplating getting some better rated leads before we start our big lap
My 2 decade old ARRI light has Titanex three core 2.5mm2, overall diameter of cable is about 11.0 to 11.7mm, a 7m long lead. The cable easily wraps around the terminal box, it's that flexible!
Thanks. I've been able to run the air conditioner successfully 7 times in a row with my E20i. Previously, it failed twice and worked twice. Haven't been able to work out exactly what caused it to fail, suspect the water heater is one contributor.
Yes, the water heater must be turned off. I also only use one major appliance at a time if wanting Gene to run aircon. I also have Gene's 'echo' switch OFF.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
__________________
Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
