all power generator

[jeffman164]

Chefdennis - Don't you have one of those Honeywell brand generators ?? Only 2 decibles louder than a Honda ?? Which model is it , where did you buy it at , how much $ was it and how satisfied are you with it ?? From previous posts , you said that it would run a A.C. and T.V. at the same time . THANK YOU !!

 

[layoutshooter]

I always back my straight truck as far back as I can beside a big truck. With my generator running, I walk to front of row and 99 times out 0f 100, I hear the big engines over my generator. I have never had a complaint and have always been considerate of my neighbor with this thing. But loud or not, I am going use it if I need it. I know that when it is running and I am in my bed, I can still hear a reefer over it. So I don't worry about the noise anymore.

And I am like gregg. The air dryer discharging every two or three minutes drives me nuts. You know they have to have a pretty good leak somewhere.

We back as far back as we can too. Not so much do to noise. We don't want our exhaust pipe right next to someones sleeper.

 

[chefdennis]

Jeffman, it is a Honeywell HW2000i. it will run everything in my van including the frig micro wave 20 in hd tv 12,000 btu ac all at the same time. it runs 5 hours on a tank of gas and 30 hrs on the extended range tank (a 6 gallon tank, but i never fill it pat 5 gLLONS) while just running the ac. It holds a half a quart of oil and i chance it out every 2nd extended tank of gas run through it. I works great.

I paid something like $468 , they have gone up to $498 but that includes shipping....here is the link, and they hip quick:

Honeywell HW2000i Portable Generator - HW2000i - 2000 Watt Portable Inverter Generator

 

[jeffman164]

What kind of engine is in the Honeywell ?? Their site doesn't specify it .

 

[chefdennis]

I have no idea who makws the engine....all i was concerned with was the output of the generator...2000 w continous run 2200 surge...this is my 2nd one and I would buy another in a heartbeat.....

 

[jeffman164]

Just curious . Why Honeywell over a Honda if this is your 2nd one .

 

[AMonger]

I guess your right inconsiderate is inconsiderate regardless where a person parks.

It's not inconsiderate. It's playing the cards you're dealt. There are always other spaces for YOU, you know.

 

[fedexhatch]

where are these generators mounted? or are they?

 

[asjssl]

I have my honda 2000i mounted to the back door in a metal box a fabed up....all built in/wired....no chaining anything...no setting anything up....my a/c is built into the side door window......still can't figure out how chef thinks that a honda will not put out as much as his honeywell??.....hmmmmm keep buyin and replacing those "other" brands.....only need to buy a honda 1 time.....mine is carb compliant too....

 

[layoutshooter]

Has anyone in here "stripped" an old ProHeat, used it as a generator only to run a roof mount AC unit? If so, how is it working? How many BTU's does your unit have?

 

[chefdennis]

I figure that the Honeywell has more output because it is a 2000 watt continues run and 2200 surge, where the honda is 1600 continous run 2000 surge. As for buying another one, lay that honda on its side and let the oil run away from the piston and you will be buying another one also...mine was knocked over in Houston in the middle of the night and seized up.


I am not bad mouthin the Honda a bit, they are a good unit, the only issue i had and it was done at the honda dealers shop, the newer one stalled when my ac unit hit the compressor surge..it did it twice and the dealer sstraight up said my ac unit was too big for that generator....it was an issue with the AC unit, not the honda not being a good unit....

Now if I had the space, you can bet I'd have a honda 3000 and permanently mount it under the floor and use the remote start.

As for mounting, id love to mount it like asj ha, his is a great setup....but i am too lazy to fab up the box and I am not spending $900 to buy one. So I store it strapped to the side wall on top of the lt rear wheel house and chain it to the rear tire when i use it...works fine until I build a new truck....

So if the honda works for your needs, by all means buy it, you won't go wrong. It just didnt work for mine....

 

[asjssl]

Actually I wouldn't be buying another because hondas have a low oil shut off any thing less than full and it shuts down..... ( And the way its mounted it can not move) .maybe somebody kicked yours over because. It was to loud??? Been tempted a time or 2 ...

 

[layoutshooter]

Actually I wouldn't be buying another because hondas have a low oil shut off any thing less than full and it shuts down..... ( And the way its mounted it can not move) .maybe somebody kicked yours over because. It was to loud??? Been tempted a time or 2 ...

Kicking over somebody's generator is a REALLY good way to get "knuckled" and I mean good!! Just what is everybody going to do anyway. Idling is expensive and not good for the truck. It is illegal in many areas. Good quiet generators cost a fortune. I don't believe that there is one really good answer. If someone comes up with one they stand to make a LOT of money!!

 

[greg334]

Has anyone in here "stripped" an old ProHeat, used it as a generator only to run a roof mount AC unit? If so, how is it working? How many BTU's does your unit have?

Yes, it does ok. I would not recommend it for those who don't know how to setup the electronics.

 

[chefdennis]

The Honeywell also has a "low oil shutoff"...but as with the Honeywell I am pretty sure that the honda laying on its side . with no oil getting to the piston skirt , it only takes seconds to wipe out the piston and cylinder.....

Too load, yea 2 decibals higher then the honda, but then again it is bigger also...As to it being knocked over on purpose, maybe, but i figure some one got too close parking and hit it, my bad for having it in that spot that night.....I came in late and just tosed it out and chained it up so i could get to bed with the ac goin...Mounting it as asj has, has its advantages no doubt....

 

[layoutshooter]

Yes, it does ok. I would not recommend it for those who don't know how to setup the electronics.

I would have to have it done. I understand HOW it works, just not HOW to do it. I have to do something. That A/C just does NOT cut it. Too wimpy for one thing and it needs a lot of work. New hoses etc. I would rather spend that money to get MORE BTU's than keeping the same.

 

[greg334]

I wouldn't even bother with it in your case. Read about Phil's setup and duplicate it.

The funny thing is, there isn't anything to these APUs and no one reason why they shouldn't work for at least ten years. The A/C isn't hard to fix, or actually hard to design for a sleeper (meaning the technical requirements in selecting the parts). The hard part is getting past the "we can't work on it here" crap.

 

[layoutshooter]

I wouldn't even bother with it in your case. Read about Phil's setup and duplicate it.

The funny thing is, there isn't anything to these APUs and no one reason why they shouldn't work for at least ten years. The A/C isn't hard to fix, or actually hard to design for a sleeper (meaning the technical requirements in selecting the parts). The hard part is getting past the "we can't work on it here" crap.

They told me that it would be 4-500 dollars to replace the lines. Then I would still have a unit that is too small for my sleeper. 10,000 BTU's is just not enough. The other plus to running my ProHeat as just a generator and putting a roof top on is I get shore power. I could add that to the ProHeat for $1000. Then I would STILL have a too small unit. I can get up to 15,000 BTU with the roof mount.

Phil has a Onan, does he not? Good unit. I just don't want to buy ANOTHER engine when I have a 4000 watt generator that works just fine. It is the AC that sucks. It is also R22 so it is difficult to have re-charged as needed and it needs it often.

 

[greg334]

Hoses are 40 to 50 bucks to be made. I had a bunch of hoses made for my truck and my 'great' bentz sleeper for $115, which covers everything on the truck.

If the system uses R22, then it has to be really old, say something like 15 years old. I would tell the tech to pitch the R22 system and go with R134 - they can do that you know.

How big is your sleeper?

96" or 250"?

You may need a insulation overhaul on the sleeper, especially the floor.

The real issue with any conversion to an ac generator is the control unit. I guess you can disconnect the compressor on the unit and run with the generator, but the one I gutted, I took everything out and replaced the controls with a generator controller.

 

[layoutshooter]

Hoses are 40 to 50 bucks to be made. I had a bunch of hoses made for my truck and my 'great' bentz sleeper for $115, which covers everything on the truck.

If the system uses R22, then it has to be really old, say something like 15 years old. I would tell the tech to pitch the R22 system and go with R134 - they can do that you know.

How big is your sleeper?

96" or 250"?

You may need a insulation overhaul on the sleeper, especially the floor.

The real issue with any conversion to an ac generator is the control unit. I guess you can disconnect the compressor on the unit and run with the generator, but the one I gutted, I took everything out and replaced the controls with a generator controller.

The system was new in 2005. I have been told by 4 Carrier dealers that it would cost a lot of money to covert to R134.

The insulation is a REAL problem and needs looked at. The only problem is time to do it.

The cheapest I have be told on getting hose done was $400 and that price was ONLY if it was done in conjunction with a TCU PM. I guess I could do it my self, if I knew how. It should not be that hard. I have been told that the "rubber" hoses are part of the problem, that newer, less porous, teflon hoses are what is needed. The hoses are about 14 feet long.