One of the most beneficial inventions of our time, electricity has been a primary driver of human progress for millennia in fields like medicine and science as well as modern conveniences. Particularly when it comes to the world of camping, that field of greater technology living is not constrained.
But when we comprehend technology, we can employ it to its fullest potential. Sometimes we struggle with where to begin and how to make anything work. This is also true of the air conditioning in your RV. A heated trailer is the worst thing ever! So what size generator should you buy to power your RV’s air conditioning?
For them to start up and stay operating, air conditioners need a lot of electricity. The generator must have a minimum output of 2000–4000 watts in order to run the typical RV air conditioner.
There are many variables that will determine what size generator would work best for you, but for the most part, a 2000 watt generator will allow you to run your air conditioning and other appliances.
Given the wide range of generator sizes available, it will take a closer examination to determine which one would meet your exploring needs. We will examine the AC unit capacities and what is needed to run it because not every RV or travel trailer will require a 4000-watt generator.
Although it’s wonderful to know that you have so many alternatives, this piece will help you by explaining how generators operate in detail. It will also assist you in determining the ideal generator size for your needs and those of your adventure.
In This Article...
Can an air conditioner be powered on a Honda 2000 watt generator?
Overall, using a Honda EU2200i generator to power one air conditioner is definitely possible. In fact, the majority of 2,000-watt generators can also power an AC unit. A soft starter is the only other tool you will require.
Although it may be tempting to skip the soft starter, it is essential for maintaining your appliances and gadgets in working order and preventing damage.
Your AC unit and the generator’s lifespans will both be shortened if a soft starter is not used for this application.
So, keep in mind how miserable the heat was the last time you planned an RV vacation, and be sure to include an AC unit and a soft starter to your shopping list!
A Honda 2000 generator can power what?
With a Honda EU2200i 2,200 Watt Generator, What Can I Run?
- a freezer or refrigerator.
- Chargers for tools and phones.
- Dehumidifier or a sump pump.
- Small RV air conditioner.
- Small room air conditioner
- Power tools, such as a sawzall, grinder, and drill.
- kitchen appliances, such as an electric frying pan or microwave.
- Fan and lighting.
What can a 2000 watt Honda generator power?
When trying to decide on a new generator to replace my old one, I conducted a ton of research. Due to the Honda 2200eu Generator’s reasonable price, dependability, quiet operation, and ability to power practically anything I requested of it—with moderation, of course—I ultimately decided to buy one.
Almost every device in the house, including a small air conditioner, a washing machine, a dryer, a refrigerator, a microwave, hotplates, blow dryers, various power tools, water pumps, and more, can be powered by a 2000 watt generator. A 2000 watt generator can only operate a certain amount of power at once.
We measure electrical output using watts. A generator that generates 2000 watts of power can only support gadgets that consume that amount of power. With a 2000 watt generator, you can run 100 20 watt light bulbs and a 1500 watt air conditioner, but not both at once.
Let’s get a little deeper into everything as it can get a little confusing.
For a 13500 BTU RV air conditioner, what size generator do I need?
You would require a starting wattage of approximately 3,000 watts for a 13,500 BTU air conditioner like the Dometic Brisk Air 2. The A-iPower 3,800-Watt Portable Inverter Generators – 3,000 Running Watts – Gas – Manual Start # 289-SUA2000i-2 is your best alternative for it.
Can a 5000 BTU air conditioner be run on a 2000 watt generator?
Most frequently, inquiries for 5000 BTU units come from campers. This is due to the fact that those are typically considered the smallest AC units.
Here is the size of generator required for a 5000 BTU air conditioner:
- A 500 W generator is required for devices with standard efficiency (10 EER rating).
- Units with low efficiency (EER rating of 8) require a 625 W generator.
- A 400 W generator is required for high-efficiency units (EER rating 12.5).
For the majority of the 5000 BTU air conditioners, a 500 W generator is required. The best option would be a generator like the Jackery 500W model.
Most of the time, it will. Just make sure the 5000 BTU unit’s EER rating is 10 or higher.
#1 Option For Camping: Battery Powered Air Conditioner
The traditional method of cooling a tent is as follows:
Basically, you need to purchase two gadgets (which is not ideal). You need to transfer and manage each of the devices, which will cost you roughly $500 each.
The most popular option for camping is a modern battery-powered air conditioner. The Zero Breeze Mark II battery-operated air conditioner is the best-selling model:
The system weighs less than 20 lbs. and has a battery life of 5 hours of intensive cooling.
You’ll see that a battery-powered AC unit costs a little more than a 500W generator and a tiny AC unit with 5,000 BTUs. This is as a result of the 2-in-1 unit’s improved new-age technology. But because it’s portable and simple to use, it’s considerably more practical than a brute-force generator, which also lacks some aesthetic appeal.
Can a 10000 BTU air conditioner be powered by a 2000 watt generator?
How much electricity your window air conditioner will use from your generator is one of the most critical factors to take into account when installing one, as we previously indicated. There are several different sizes of these air conditioners, ranging from 5000 BTU to 14000 BTU.
A 5000 BTU air conditioner uses about 450 running watts. An 8000 BTU air conditioner could consume as little as 715 watts, depending on the size of the room. The minimal power requirement for a 14000 BTU air conditioner is 1250 watts.
You can operate a small- to medium-sized window unit with a 1000-watt generator and be fine. A large window unit will require at least a 2000-watt generator to run. If you need to run several appliances at once, a larger generator would be a better choice.
You should also take into consideration purchasing more than one generator because doing so can be advantageous. By doing this, you may maintain operations without placing an undue burden on a single generator. A 2000-watt generator can typically power equipment with a 14000 BTU capacity.
Conclusion
In general, numerous criteria, like the size of your property and the quantity of cooling power you want, will determine what size generator you need for a window ac unit. But we advise choosing a generator that generates at least 1,000 watts of power. This will guarantee that you have sufficient energy to operate your window air conditioner effectively.
Follow these recommendations and upgrade to a newer, more efficient size generator for your window air conditioner if you have trouble running it on a generator.
What is an RV air conditioner’s wattage?
The capacity of an AC, which is expressed in BTUs, determines how much electricity it consumes (British Thermal Units). More power is needed to run an AC unit whose BTU rating is higher.
An RV air conditioner typically has a BTU rating of 13500 or 15000. A typical running wattage for an air conditioner of this size is between 1300 and 1500 Watts, and a beginning (surge) wattage of between 6000 and 7000 Watts.
But because Class A RVs are larger, they need more cooling power. Air conditioners in Class A RVs are frequently rated at 27000 BTUs and have a maximum operating power consumption of 3000 watts.
The most popular RV AC sizes and their associated power requirements are shown in the following table:
Please be aware that the “beginning wattage” refers to the power requirement for the AC to start. Even though this power spike lasts for less than a second, it should be taken into account while choosing equipment size.
How big of a generator should I have for my air conditioner?
- The general size of the generator you require will be this amount.
- If the power requirements are given in amps, you may quickly convert them to watts using the following formula or this amp-to-watt conversion calculator: Amp times voltage equals watt. Recall that 1,000 watts equals one kilowatt. When estimating the size of a generator, you should always convert Amps to kW.
- Write down every device you want to power together with its starting and running wattage needs. This can typically be found in the owner’s manual or on a label on the actual item. Now that most owner’s manuals are available online, you can search for it if you can’t find it. Using the U.S. Department of Energy’s appliance energy calculator, you may easily determine how much energy your appliance uses.
- Count up the total number of watts needed to power all the devices at once. This Wattage Requirement Calculator eliminates the need for addition if you are aware of all the wattage requirements.
You really just need to follow those three procedures to assess the size of your home backup generator.
There is a lot of space for error, so keep that in mind. For instance, you can end up with a generator that is the wrong size if you don’t adequately account for mixing voltages.
Portable Generators
If you’re just looking for a portable backup generator for outdoor activities like camping and tailgating, you should take the same steps of adding up all the electrical devices you’ll need to power, figuring out how long they’ll be on, and then determining whether your generator has enough power to handle it.
Shortcut Generator Sizing Guide
Calculating the electrical demand of your HVAC system, by far the biggest electricity consumer in your home, is the easiest approach to determine the size of your generator.
Look for tons, BTUs, or amps on your air conditioner. If you can’t find the label on the appliance, check your circuit panel for the A/breaker. C’s Is it 30 or 40 or 50 amps?
- You require at least a 14 KW generator if your air conditioner is 3 tons (30 amps, 36,000 BTUs).
- You require at least a 20 KW generator if your air conditioner is 5 tons (50 amps, 60,000 BTUs).
- You require at least a 17 KW generator if your air conditioner is 4 tons (40 amps, 48,000 BTUs).
An ENERGYGUIDE label, which provides crucial information about your appliance’s energy use, should be present on every HVAC unit: