I am thinking about buying an edgestar 13000 BTU stand alonr air conditioner; kind of like the one that Chef has in his van. Do any of you guys know if a 2000 watt generator will power such a unit? Do any of you guys have a 2000 watt generator that you are currently using to power your A/C units? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
What kind of generator do I need to run a 13000 btu air conditioner?
- Thread starter blizzard2014
- Start date
Jack_Berry
Moderator Emeritus
what is the initial start watts req for the a/c?
Energy requirements: 115 Volts/60 Hz; 8 amps; 950 watts.
greg334
Veteran Expediter
2000 watts may be pushing it.
According to my records the last A/C unit I had, it took a 3000 generator to keep it going. The start up current was the problem, it was an older model and used 3200 watts on start up.
13,000 btus is a lot, I have a 5500 in the truck ready to install. I tested it a week ago just for the heck of it hanging it out the window and using idle aire's power and it kept the sleeper very cold.
According to my records the last A/C unit I had, it took a 3000 generator to keep it going. The start up current was the problem, it was an older model and used 3200 watts on start up.
13,000 btus is a lot, I have a 5500 in the truck ready to install. I tested it a week ago just for the heck of it hanging it out the window and using idle aire's power and it kept the sleeper very cold.
Jack_Berry
Moderator Emeritus
initial start up is more than the running watts. we looked at a 5500 btu a/c and it req almost 2k watts start up.
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
I power my 12,000 BTU edgestar witha 2000 watt Honeywell gen. It is 2000 watts constant run, 2200 watt surge. This gen handles it just fine. I think Steady Eddie is using a 2000 watt Honda
AMonger
Veteran Expediter
Is 5500 BTU enough? I would think that wouldn't be sufficient.
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
Greg wrote:
Technology, its a wonderful thing....
Technology, its a wonderful thing....
greg334
Veteran Expediter
I don't see why not. I have 258 cu/ft in the sleeper and about 115 in the cab.
With the insulation in the sleeper, and the 'curtains' shut, it stays cool for a while in 100 degree temps. The sun is the real issue, I have to add the last layer of heat barrier stuff and moisture barrier and then it should be fine.
The cab on the other hand suffers from heat soak, which means after driving a while, the heat comes from the dash and floor. This is where the problem is with a small unit and sitting up in the front won't be an option if you want to stay cool.
The other thing that comes to mind is humidity, with the 5500 btu unit, it doesn't pull as much water out as the larger one but again, the evaporator is small (80 sq/in) so changing the evaporator around to have more surface area may help that.
With the insulation in the sleeper, and the 'curtains' shut, it stays cool for a while in 100 degree temps. The sun is the real issue, I have to add the last layer of heat barrier stuff and moisture barrier and then it should be fine.
The cab on the other hand suffers from heat soak, which means after driving a while, the heat comes from the dash and floor. This is where the problem is with a small unit and sitting up in the front won't be an option if you want to stay cool.
The other thing that comes to mind is humidity, with the 5500 btu unit, it doesn't pull as much water out as the larger one but again, the evaporator is small (80 sq/in) so changing the evaporator around to have more surface area may help that.
Increasing the size of the evaporator will increase your suction pressure and in turn raise your saturated refrigerant temperature. This will decrease the amount of moisture removed. The smaller unit like you have will do more for dehumidification than a larger unit as the evaporator coil will stay cold thus removing moisture. (It will not cycle as often)
Jack_Berry
Moderator Emeritus
spec sheet says 1.5 gal tank runs for 5 hr at 50% load.
do you have a larger tank?
how long did the unit run on the std tank?
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
Jack wrote:
6 gallon external tank, total of 7.5 gallons, it has run up to 10 hours and still had gas in the external tank when i shut it off...I never run it without the external tank connected so i can't say how long it will run without it.
6 gallon external tank, total of 7.5 gallons, it has run up to 10 hours and still had gas in the external tank when i shut it off...I never run it without the external tank connected so i can't say how long it will run without it.
greg334
Veteran Expediter
That's true, I didn't explain it well enough. The surface area is 80 sq/in, my thinking is to increase the surface area, not the volume of the evaporator by using a mount that will also act as a heat sink of sorts. Maybe this will also effect it, what do you think?
danthewolf00
Veteran Expediter
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
I have to figure that one of thosse units cost over 2 grand if not more, considering that if you are a canadian, the Canadian Gov will give you a $1000 rebate...i have less then $1000 in both my Ac unit and Generator/inverter.....and the extended run gas tank....BUT...Thanks for the link to the site Dan, I seen alot of other stuff that can be of use when i set up a new "house bank"....I use Trojan Golf Cart batteries now, but the one the have seems to be a nice and maybe better battery...Again thanks Dan..
Previously posted:
Just a potentially helpful fyi on a/c. I bought a new rooftop r/v style a/c, with heat pump, from these guys in Mo. for $525. Weight is 108 lbs.
COLAW RV PARTS & SALVAGE | WE HAVE YOUR PART!
Colaw RV Parts & Salvage
I-44 Exit 22
10389 Cimmaron Rd.
Carthage, MO 64836
Phone: (417) 548-2125
Fax: (417) 548-7219
Toll Free: (877) 548-2125
It runs OK off a 2000 watt 30 amp generator. Weight is 49 lbs.
I am trying to noodle out an acceptable method to mount the gen. on the rear driver's door that is decent looking and secure. Some kind of locking box I think.
Just a potentially helpful fyi on a/c. I bought a new rooftop r/v style a/c, with heat pump, from these guys in Mo. for $525. Weight is 108 lbs.
COLAW RV PARTS & SALVAGE | WE HAVE YOUR PART!
Colaw RV Parts & Salvage
I-44 Exit 22
10389 Cimmaron Rd.
Carthage, MO 64836
Phone: (417) 548-2125
Fax: (417) 548-7219
Toll Free: (877) 548-2125
It runs OK off a 2000 watt 30 amp generator. Weight is 49 lbs.
I am trying to noodle out an acceptable method to mount the gen. on the rear driver's door that is decent looking and secure. Some kind of locking box I think.