Never had a generator so we've always tried to have hookups. Boon docking for us meant a dead trailer battery after about 3 days.
We want to do start boon docking so I'm researching generators. I'm down to the following: (1) Yamaha 2400, (2) Yamaha 2000, and (3) Honda 2000. I want to be able to run the fridge, lights and the air conditioning when it gets hot. Will I be able to do that with the 2000's or will I need the 2400?
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That depends on your how big your ac is. Also wether or not you want to run other things while your ac is running. I have a honda eu3000 which runs my 15k AC and lights and tv all at the same time. But it will not run the microwave at the same time. I you just want ac and have smaller that a 15k then maybe a 2000 or a 2400 would do.
Need a little more info from you. After re reading you post I would also suggest you leave the fridge on propane while running the AC. If you run all you spoke of in your post I think you need at least a 3000 watt genny.
You'll be lucky to be able to run the A/C with a 2000. Maybe with the 2400, but you would not want to run the fridge on 120v when using the generator anytime..
This is what I would do... Get a dual battery setup 2 12v or 2 6v.. Whatever you like.
Get a 2400 if you have a 13.5k A/C, it might run it (I have a 3000 Honda).
Keep the fridge on gas the whole time. Don't switch it to "auto".
Don't switch you hot water tank to 120v either. Keep it on gas.
If you don't need the A/C or any other 120v appliance, leave the gen off.. (your neighbors will appreciate it.. )
If you find you are running low on battery power, fire up the gen and plug it in and let them charge.
When it gets hot, fire up the gen and run the A/C as needed.. Keep in mind that most parks will have "quiet time hours", so keep within those.. If you are truly out in the 'boon docks' and no one is around, run it 24/7 if you like!
Again, be respective for your neighbors.. Especially if they are in tents...
Good luck with it!
Mitch
*Anything I post is for entertainment purposes only and what usually works for me.. Your Mileage May Vary..
This week has seen this question (or a variation on it) asked several times. The answer is STILL that a 2,000 watt generator is marginal for running a 13,500 BTU AC; some will run, some not, but in no case will that size generator run anything else at the same time, even if it does run the AC. And if it does, it may only do so on a cool day at low altitude, AND will be stressed so heavily as to likely shorten its useful life.
A 2400 watt generator is the bare minimum for running such an AC, but then ONLY if that is all you try to run. Add the water heater, or the fridge, or some lights, and that's too small.
A 3,000 watt generator, or better yet, a pair of 2,000 watt units run in parallel (REQUIRES a crossover kit, don't even think about just hooking up any old pair without it) is going to be the OP's minimum, and bigger would be better.
It should be noted that that since most likely the OP's TT is wired with EVERYTHING on a single 120 volt circuit and cord requiring 30 amp service, this means that if you go with a generator that produces 240 volt power as well as 120 volt, you will need a minimum of nearly 7,000 watts. A 4,000 watt, 240 volt generator is really like two 2,000 watt units THAT CAN'T BE "paired." This unit WILL work, because it produces only 120 volts: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/champion-4000-watt-portable-generator-49-state-model/54135
But THIS unit will not, because it is a 240 volt model: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200419023_200419023
This 5500 watt unit, which is rated 6875 watt surge, however, should be considered the minimum for generators making 240 volt power, as the surge capacity, which is the killer when it comes to generators and AC units, is high enough on both sides of the winding to start the AC while powering other things: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200419023_200419023
This last generator (if you do the math) produces 23 amps continuous, 29+ amps surge on each of the two 120 volt circuits. And that's what 30 amp service for your trailer is designed to use. Note also that to actually get that capacity, you MUST make use of the 30 amp locking receptacle, NOT either of the two 20 amp, 120 volt receptacles. These have 20 amp circuit breakers, which will probably kick off on you.
Please note that I am not recommending any of these generators. I merely cited them as examples for your reference.
I don't think any of the three will be able to run the fridge, lights and AC at the same time. I don't know what size or type of AC so there is no way to know. If you have a very recent 13.5 energy saving AC, then maybe, but I still doubt it. I doubt the 2000 watts will run just the AC. You not only have to consider the running amps for appliances. It takes more amps to start the AC when its cycling. If you need the fridge and AC on at the same time, I suggest looking at nothing less than 3,000 watts. The 2,400 watt may or may not have the starting capacity to run the AC only. My 2,800 watt Yamaha will run my AC, a few lights and TV, but any more and the breaker trips. Good luck.
For air con use on small generators - Install a Supco hard (soft) start capacitor on the AC unit. It's easy and inexpensive and helps smaller gen sets start the air.
A single 2000 may or may not start the air. Two 2000's in parallel will ALWAYS start the air.
My 2400 (with Supco installed) has started my air everytime. My worst case scenario was 6000 feet and 95 degrees.
A solar system will not run an air con unit. They are great investments for frequent and long term off grid camping but not worth the investmest for the average 2-3 days here and there boondocker. I've boondocked over 35 days this summer on 4 seperate trips and I spent maybe $25 in fuel for the generator at the most. NOTE: I have not needed to run the AC unit more than a few hours at most this year. Running the AC will increase fuel consumption by a fair amount.
Any unit larger than the 2400 is too heavy and bulky for me to move in and out of the truck by myself so the 2400 at 70 lbs was my choice. I love my 2400 and my second choice would be twin 2000's.
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I have a pair of Honda 2000's and have been very dissatisfied with them. Their performance is marginal. If I'm running the DirecTV receiver, and the AC compressor kicks on, it kicks off the DTV and it takes about 5 minutes to reload. So, at the time, the AC is on, the TV, DirecTV Receiver, and the fridge; nothing else, and that's well within the ~4000 watt capacity of the generators. I've transferred the DTV and TV to an invertor wired to two Optimas and that stopped the reload, but the gen sets still seem to be struggling. I would not buy these generators if I had it to do over.
borrow someones same model gennie and see how it works.
if you are going to parallel anyway, you may want to look at some of the smaller inverters that have kits available. one for battery charging and twins when the ac runs. less money out of pocket up front.
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