What's your latest purchase?

Feels like... FREEDOM!



With a strategically placed tailgate to hold the soap and shampoo.

 

❤️

 

I am very thankful I sold my snowblower 15 years ago, and, You know, I haven't missed it

 

Ordered a new bimini for the boat.

 

Is your EU2000 enough to power up your A/C and other electrical needs. Do you have A/C soft start, if you do, what kind? Reason for me asking this question is, I have trailer i use when I go to the racetrack with rooftop A/C and MY EU200 can't get it going...

 

This.

 

So the short answer is "Yes" with some fine print details:

My trusty little Honda is actually an EU2200 rather than 2000.
The bigger (and I think probably more important) difference isn't the extra 200 Watts so much as the 2200 has a bigger motor. They went from 98cc to 121cc for the 2200.
I think the extra displacement and additional torque helps it lumber through the big hit of an AC kicking on.

I do not yet have a soft start, I keep thinking I should add one, but we don't "need" the AC all that often. (I love those trips where you get home and realize you didn't run the furnace or AC the whole time you were camping)
It does pretty well without it, but I kinda' do my own little DIY "soft start" procedure.

Try this:
Rather than just turning the thermostat to "COOL"... turn on "FAN HI" and let the blower run long enough for the gen to throttle up and stabilize from the fan load. (like 30 seconds)
THEN, turn it to "COOL".

This breaks the AC draw into two smaller hits instead of one BIG one, which is essentially all the soft start does. (Unless it's one with a capacitor that stores juice)

If/when I do install a soft start it will absolutely be a Micro-Air EasyStart. https://www.microair.net/collections/easystart-soft-starters

It's far and away the unit of choice on my Lance Owners forum, never heard anyone give a bad review of them and the install sounds super easy even for an electrical nincompoop like me.

Another thing that works in my favor is that my small trailer has a small AC, it's only a 9.2K BTU so it doesn't draw as much as some bigger units.

Lance trailers (at the time my '17 was made) came with one of three AC units, depending on trailer size) 9.2K, 13.5K, or 15K

I know people were running 9.2's and 13.5's on the 2200 and I'm pretty sure even the 2000 with a soft start, but I don't think the 15's.

Do you know what size your AC unit is?

Elevation can complicate things too, where's the track?

The only things I need the gen for is microwave or AC. I can run one or the other, but not both at once.

If I were smart I would turn off the breaker for the converter while AC is running since my 600W of solar keeps the batteries happy, but I never remember. Generally by the time it warms up enough to need AC, my batteries are already back to 100% SOC so the converter isn't doing much.
You could also try turning off the breakers for converter and anything else you don't need while AC is chilling.

You could always pick up another EU2000 and pair them when needed. (Make sure they're compatible for pairing)

I hope some of this is helpful.

 

Much appreciate you response. I can't remember what size is my rooftop, i know it is Dometic. I did try starting the unit like you describe fan than low cool but as soon as I put it in medium cool it overloads the genny.
"Most" of the time power is available at the track I just wanted to have something in event power goes out when I am for example at Road Atlanta in July if you know what I mean. Buying another 2k is an option but I really don't want another one to load unload etc. Probably will try to sell this one and get something bigger.
After reading up about soft start you suggested, I may try that first.
Thanks for the info!

 

I would see if you can find the model/BTU's of your AC, then you should be able to find the specs on running and starting watts. The starting watts are generally the problem... the BIG spike when the compressor hits.
The soft start is never a bad thing, your AC and generator will both thank you for it, but once you have the specs on everything - generator output, AC running watts, AC starting watts, you should know (before spending the money on the easy start) whether or not your current setup can handle the load.

Just food for thought, if you sell your 2000 and get something bigger, the bigger one is probably gonna' be 100 lbs. or better. (hint, even if you do get a bigger one, keep the trusty little Honda)

I totally get it about another thing to load and unload, just ask my wife.

But the nice thing about another 2000 is if you only need one, you only pull one out, then if you need both you grab the other one. I'd rather move/load/unload 50 lbs. twice, than 100 lbs. once.

If you do go bigger and don't wanna' spend Honda money, from everything I hear the Harbor Freight Predator generators are supposed to be pretty solid. Champion is good too.

102 lbs. but you get electric start!

 

I need that !! how much and where did you get it ? what else can you do with it ?

 

I bought it off the Carista site and a one-month subscription. It let me turn off and change chimes, change my key fob one touch all windows down, change hvac settings, radio volume etc. Myself and 3 friends shared the cost. It also acts as an diagnostic tool, but i didn't get into that.

 

how much was it ? hard to do ?

 

Carista is pretty much plug and play. You just need the app to access the functionality. Where are you located?

 

right outside of Chicago and you ?

 

Im in PA. If you want to borrow my Carista EVO, send me a DM and we will exchange the details.

 

Where are you in Pa? I am in York county.

 

Reading area, Berks. York is an easy commute.

 

Arrived today....

 

Got shelf paper for the cabinets from Lowes that we ordered. Because they didn’t have enough at the store. Anyways, look at the big box it came in. Box was filled 1/2 ways with that air filled package stuff. The top flaps were bent in. With 3 strips of tape going across. Anyone could’ve put their hand in to pull the stuff out. Amazingly all 18 rolls were there.