9000btu A/C and a Honda 3000 generator

[mvnvltn]

I have an Ocean Marine 9000btu A/C unit. It runs fine on shore power but when I hook it up to the generator it loads up and throw's the breaker? Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I'm not sure where to look for an issue. Bad cord? I have even added a switch to delay the seawater pump to help alleviate surge. The generator is rated for a 13,000btu unit and has a 30amp outlet on the front that I can plug my shore power cord right in to.

Please help

[rebel heart]

Not sure what year your Honda 3000 is but there was a recall on inverters in units made around 2009. Did similar to what you're talking about.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, mvnvltn.

[mvnvltn]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

Not sure what year your Honda 3000 is but there was a recall on inverters in units made around 2009. Did similar to what you're talking about.

Originally Posted by GordMay

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, mvnvltn.

It's 2 weeks old

[mvnvltn]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, mvnvltn.

Thanks

[sailorboy1]

How are you connecting the 3000 to your boat? Though the shore power connection with a 30 amp rated cord, or with some extension cord that is really only rated for 15 amps?

[mvnvltn]

With the shore power cord right into the 30amp outlet on the front of the generator.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by mvnvltn

With the shore power cord right into the 30amp outlet on the front of the generator.

the problem is your generator then, but I could not say what the problem is (unless you are trying to charge your batteries, run your hot water heater, and run your microwave at the same time as using the AC)

[Sailmonkey]

Is this a 3000 inverter gen or a regular gen?


If its an inverter try running without Eco on. Also, how old is the ac unit?

[HopCar]

The starting load on your 9000 BTU AC is likely to be much higher than 3000 watts.
My little 5000 BTU unit needs more than 3000 watts to start but only draws about 600 watts running including the water pump. Look on the compressor label for LRA or Locked Rotor Amps, that's going to be pretty close to the starting load. The cure is called a Hard Start and can be bought for less than twenty dollars at a refrigeration supply house.

[mvnvltn]

It already has a factory installed hard start kit on it. I had both capacitors and relay checked and they were ok

[mvnvltn]

Why would Honda rate the generator for a 13,000 btu unit if it can't run a 9?

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by mvnvltn

Why would Honda rate the generator for a 13,000 btu unit if it can't run a 9?

How old is your 9K unit? And is there anything else running?

I can run a 9k window unit with a eu2000 gen, but nothing else.

[Zil]

Have you disconnected everything else and then tried the air conditioner?

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by mvnvltn

With the shore power cord right into the 30amp outlet on the front of the generator.

That should work. You need to see if the draw of the cooling water (March) pump has an excessive "kick" past 20 amps.

Barring that, there are so-called "soft start modules" that promise to allow a smaller (Honda 2000) genset run a larger (Marine Air 12,000 BTU) A/C/heatpump, so you should have no problem with 30 amps (probably more like 22 amps, however) and a smaller draw.

Mitigating factors, however, could include resistance in the circuits due to corrosion. You need to test for this before you just go throwing more electricity at the problem.

EDIT: I've now read to the end of the thread, and I don't think it's the genset. I think it may be that initial draw or something wonky in the circuit. Hondas can take "momentary" surges up to 50% or so above rated load, if they are working properly. Yesterday, we had power out at the house for five hours, so I took two 50 ft 14 ga. extension cords and ran my Honda 2000. One cord went to a medium-sized newish fridge with lower freezer, while the other went to an apartment-sized top loading chest freezer. I started with ECONO OFF to begin, and then switched to ECONO mode. I noticed that when either of them kicked off, the engine increased revs significantly and then fell back to typical ECONO speed. Had they both kicked off simultaneously, I suspect that would have shut down the Honda.

I ran the Honda for two hours before the power snapped on. Handy little bugger in a pinch! I used about a quarter-gallon of gas, I figure.

It was quite educational. The only time I've killed the Honda with a surge-type situation is by running a 10 inch circular saw with a 10 amp draw and binding the blade. That snuffed out the Honda well enough, but it recovered and with a less-aggressive approach from me, I got the job done.

The above anecdote is supplied only for illustrative purposes. I find the Honda units, even the 1000s and the old 800s, useful and rated realistically.

Which is why I suggested there could be green stuff in your A/C circuits creating heat and resistance. Bears exploring.