Looking at buying a 2000watt generator for my micro camper A/C unit

[RickR]

I am new to this generator/charging battery thing, so will any inverter generator charge a battery via cable? Do I need special cable?
I am looking at the $500 range not the Honda $1000 yet.

 

[huachuca]

Many generators have a cable with alligator clips for charging a battery but I've always found them to be very slow and you have to monitor closely to prevent overcharging. A good 110v smart battery charger plugged into the genny is a much better solution IMO.

 

[EXPO_D1]

if your trying to run an ac system your going to want to look at a generator(gas powered). your price point may limit options.

 

[janders]

Many generators have a cable with alligator clips for charging a battery but I've always found them to be very slow and you have to monitor closely to prevent overcharging. A good 110v smart battery charger plugged into the genny is a much better solution IMO.

Yep, this. Unless you really know what you're doing, charging a battery directly from a generator can have some consequences.

Honda generators in the 2kW size are really good. Might be possible to find them used. I'd rather have a used Honda than plenty of new $500 generators.

 

[Tundracamper]

You need to know the starting current (Or power) for the A/C before you look at generators. Then, you need a generator that can sustain that peak level for several seconds and then maintain the required current after the A/C starts. This assumes everything else in your camper is turned off. For example, the EU2000i will output a peak 2,000 W for like 30 seconds and then maintain a constant 1,600 watts after that (if I recall the numbers correctly). That is how you size the generator to run what you want.

 

[RickR]

good to know, i think I read that some where...but forgot. I will need a bigger gen like a 2300W or larger I guess.

 

[Billiebob]

good to know, i think I read that some where...but forgot. I will need a bigger gen like a 2300W or larger I guess.

Is the generator just charging the battery or will the AC run directly off the generator?

 

[RickR]

From my understanding it would run directly off the generator.

 

[The Roach ...]

the Harbor freight predator 2000 isn't bad... but you need to step up your wattage a bit.

 

[Ceg]

I am in the food truck business. No one wants to hear a load generator and most events we do require generators to be quiet. I use a 2000w Honda which cost me $1000 a few years back. This year I bought at Predator 3500 Watt Super Quiet Generator for $800 from Harbor Freight to power more.

The Predator seems to be doing a good job but runs kinda rough if it doesn't have a very heavy load. I don't use the Predator as much since it is a lot bigger than my Honda.

 

[The Roach ...]

I am in the food truck business. No one wants to hear a load generator and most events we do require generators to be quiet. I use a 2000w Honda which cost me $1000 a few years back. This year I bought at Predator 3500 Watt Super Quiet Generator for $800 from Harbor Freight to power more.

The Predator seems to be doing a good job but runs kinda rough if it doesn't have a very heavy load. I don't use the Predator as much since it is a lot bigger than my Honda.

I have two Hondas. that I link together... but for his budget... the predator seems to fit.

 

[Flipper]

Your going to have a choice. Buy a Honda or Yamaha for $1000 or a knockoff for $500. IMO this is a piece of equipment that you will have for years to come if properly maintained. My first Honda, EX1000, hundreds of hours,I had over 10 years, never missed a beat. Upgraded to a Yamaha Inverter/gen EF2000 because the 1000 couldn’t handle the air. Here are some important questions. Is the company still going to be around in years to come? What about Warranty service? Gonna ship it back to the factory? Where ever that is. Parts availability?and local service ? , slow boat from China? Where is the local Predator Svc center? In my research the Yamaha engine has twice the life expectancy over the Honda, not that there is any thing wrong with Honda’s, I loved mine. An other issue is noise. Contractor generators are noisy and the sound can travel really far in the backcountry, and the last thing I want to hear is someone’s genny roaring away. We were boondocking in Co. last year and our neighbor came over to chat. He couldn’t believe how much more quieter the Yamaha was over his Honda. When you turn it on econo mode and sit it behind a tree you can hardly hear it running, if you turn on a high current draw appliance it comes up to speed and then goes quiet when finished. Also has no problem running a Xantrex marine 20A charger and 2 group 31 AGMs and and other appliances at the same time. Instead of turning off this to run that and that off to run this. Great to have for portable backup for hurricanes down here in Fl. Never a dull moment.

 

[The Roach ...]

Your going to have a choice. Buy a Honda or Yamaha for $1000 or a knockoff for $500. IMO this is a piece of equipment that you will have for years to come if properly maintained. My first Honda, EX1000, hundreds of hours,I had over 10 years, never missed a beat. Upgraded to a Yamaha Inverter/gen EF2000 because the 1000 couldn’t handle the air. Here are some important questions. Is the company still going to be around in years to come? What about Warranty service? Gonna ship it back to the factory? Where ever that is. Parts availability?and local service ? , slow boat from China? Where is the local Predator Svc center? In my research the Yamaha engine has twice the life expectancy over the Honda, not that there is any thing wrong with Honda’s, I loved mine. An other issue is noise. Contractor generators are noisy and the sound can travel really far in the backcountry, and the last thing I want to hear is someone’s genny roaring away. We were boondocking in Co. last year and our neighbor came over to chat. He couldn’t believe how much more quieter the Yamaha was over his Honda. When you turn it on econo mode and sit it behind a tree you can hardly hear it running, if you turn on a high current draw appliance it comes up to speed and then goes quiet when finished. Also has no problem running a Xantrex marine 20A charger and 2 group 31 AGMs and and other appliances at the same time. Instead of turning off this to run that and that off to run this. Great to have for portable backup for hurricanes down here in Fl. Never a dull moment.

great news on the Yamaha. I agree on the Hondas.. Mine have gone 5 years so far... and I have an remote fuel tank system that I got on amazon that runs them for 2 days. (them meaning the main and the companion). 10 gallon system. I might place the Honda's up for sale and get a larger Yamaha.. just for space sake. but used Hondas still pull big money... another thing to look at.

 

[Flipper]

I agree with resale value. I posted my EX1000 on Craig’s list, sold it in about half an hour! For a couple hundred dollars less than I paid for it new. I have an adaptor for my Yamaha that connects to my boats 2 six gal. gas tanks and it’s hose.

 

[Flipper]

From my understanding it would run directly off the generator.

My Yamaha came with a cable with a special connector that can be used to charge batteries, in the manual it states it does not have a voltage regulator for DC charging so you have to monitor them, thats why I run the Xantrex charger to charge my batt bank.

 

[Ruben Z]

We actually have one of these for our BIG RV and it will power every thing with A/C on as well. https://amzn.to/2ZWlkMS

Its actually pretty quiet and with A/C on in the RV you doing hear it.

 

[The Roach ...]

i did see the alp generator... ordered one today. its 499.00 for 1000 watts -- propane. they say you can parallel them.. i'll check the first one out.. and then if its solid I'll get a second and parallel. but you might give it a look.