I recently bought a nice 10.5 Dutchman slide in camper for taking the family camping. But I was thinking about getting a generator for it so I could run the a/c when not around a 30amp plug, it would give us a lot more options on where we could camp at during the summer months. Or is there any other way to run it off a few deep cycle batteries with a converter? How many watt generator or convertor would I need? Thanks.

 

George, do you know what size AC you have in that unit?

I don't know about slide-ins, but travel trailers usually have either a 13.5k BTU, or a 15k BTU unit (or multiples). Neither of those sizes will run reliably on a 2,000 Watt generator. A 13.5 may run on a 2,600 Watt, but it is questionable. A 3,000 Watt will run any one of them. Your slide-in might have a smaller unit, I don't know. A 3,000 Watt is heavy and can barely be called a portable, so many people buy two Honda 2,000 Watt, and connect them together with a paralleling kit. Or Yamaha, Kipor, etc. They all have about the same things available.

Be sure to check the continuous wattage output of any generator you consider. For example, a Honda 2,000 has a continuous of only 1,600 watts, and can only handle peak wattage of 2,000 for a few seconds.

 

Some of the slide-ins are running 7,000 BTU coolers so you have a little less amp draw, but it wouldn't hurt to have a bit extra from the genset. The most reliable gensets, I think by far are the Hondas and Yamahas and the advice regarding two Hondas tied together is a good one. I would forget about trying to run a cooler with an inverter and batteries. Even the RV industry doesn't do that with less than 8 batteries on board and a generator with an auto start to kick in when they go flat.

I carry a Yamaha 2400 surge, 2000 steady output, but it is an inverter genset so it really screams to run an AC. I only use it to test units, not for steady running. The smallest unit you will normally find in an RV is a 2,800 and most of the slide-ins I see have Generacs given their small size (although I do not think they last quite as long as competitors.

I see a load of gensets when NASCAR comes to town as so many campers bring them and can only say the voltage regulation can be very bad on some right out of the box. I know some will disagree with me, but with generators I think you get what you pay for. Some folks choose to go as cheaply as possible and just throw em away when they burn out. I have had my Yamaha for five years and it is still quiet and rock solid in voltage regulation.

A Honda 3,000 is an excellent choice, but you better have a friend to help you carry it and with the newer RVs, the industry no longer puts a hard start kit in the air conditioners, so I often have to add one to get them to start even with a 3,000 kicking the power.

My thoughts,

Steve

 

In my owners manual for the a/c it says it is rated at 7,100 BTU's and operates from 115 VAC, 60 Hz, single phase power supply.

 

A quick google around shows that the unit probably needs about 20 amps to start, and around 13 continuous. That is questionable on a Honda 2000. A 2400 would be a safer option, like the Yamaha.
YamahaGenerators.com EF2400iS-HC - Premium Inverter Generators -

If you don't care about noise, or your neighbors, the contractor style gensets are a lot less expensive. I don't like them myself.

 

So guesstimating about an 11-12 amp draw on a 95 degree day. You might find a 2000 watt will run it, although I know a couple of cases where the board blew then folks did that on really hot days assuming we are talking roof top unit.I think two Honda 2000 tied together would make you happy. Less fuel consumption when you don't need the air and enough power when you do. Otherwise you may want to consider a built-in Generac Impact, if you have the room for it.

Steve

 

The hardest thing about guesstimating amp draw is it rises with ambient. Somedays I see about 10 on my meter in the morning and in the area of 14 continuous in the afternoon. You do need a genset that will surge to get it running. A Yamaha 2400 will do that.

Steve

 

I have a Honda 2000, and I bought it knowing it would not run the AC. That wasn't important to me. I try to not camp anywhere I would need AC.

Spending $1,000 on a Honda that might start it, but which might need a second $1000 unit, may not be wise when for $1,300 you can get one you know will run it.

Just depends on how important the AC is to you and how often you will use it.

 

here's what we use. admittedly its overkill for camping but we need it for a variety of other things as well!

DuroMax XP8500E Electric Start 8500W Gas Generator NEW! - eBay (item 200515443707 end time Jul-29-11 21:07:10 PDT)

 

Well, it has wheels. Maybe you could tow it.

Oh, and 72dBA is NOT "Super Quiet"!

 

And your camper has how many air conditioners?

Steve

 

I am going camping this weekend, I will bring an amp meter and measure what I am pulling while my fridge still running on LP.

 

I'll be listening for the genset to ramp up under the load,

Steve

 

What do you mean? I will have it plugged into shore power.

 

My question is where are you going to store the genset when you are traveling? With a slide in camper, your storage space for that size of an appliance is, well lets say, limited.