Portable Generator / AC

[FlyingScot]

Code RVGEEKS is good for $25 off Micro Air soft start.
I just ordered a soft start from them and used it. If it works well, I may order a second one.
I would like to be able to run my 16k btu off the Honda 2.2k.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by JimsCAL

You can just go to your local hardware or Home Depot and buy a bare plug. Connect a wire between the neutral and ground. That's all a generator bondingl plug is.

That's what I did for under $10 for two of them.

[WDR]

Originally Posted by JimsCAL

You can just go to your local hardware or Home Depot and buy a bare plug. Connect a wire between the neutral and ground. That's all a generator bondingl plug is.

I am beginning to understand it all now. I found instructions on the website for the generator and it shows clearly how to do it at the generator panel.

Now one more question and it relates to ramblinrod’s comment “ but note you can only have one neutral/ground connection at any given time.”

Does that mean only one item can be used in the entire boat OR one connection being the shore power cord, and I can run the battery charger and the AC at the same time so long as I have enough wattage.

[transmitterdan]

Before you assume that the neutral wire is floating i suggest that you check it first. If you don’t know how to check if the output is floating ask an electrician friend to check for you. If you just short neutral and ground there is a possibility to cause damage and even smoke/fire.

Many cheap generators do not permit shorting neutral and ground. These generators are not ABYC compliant.

[JimsCAL]

Originally Posted by WDR

I am beginning to understand it all now. I found instructions on the website for the generator and it shows clearly how to do it at the generator panel.

Now one more question and it relates to ramblinrod’s comment “ but note you can only have one neutral/ground connection at any given time.”

Does that mean only one item can be used in the entire boat OR one connection being the shore power cord, and I can run the battery charger and the AC at the same time so long as I have enough wattage.

Basically there should be one neutral-ground connection and it should at the "source", i.e. at the generator or at the panel. NEVER make the connection after a load. That can put power into the ground.

[svJasmine]

make sure the genset is not set to eco throttle. It must be running full blast to start the compressor. My honda 2000 will run my 12000 btu ac, BUT it won't do it without doing that.

Rich

[transmitterdan]

It’s a 3.5kW generator that sells for about $400 US. It doesn’t have an eco mode. And it would be concerned it might not last a whole week at sea.

[WDR]

This is the generator and it is floating. These are the instructions.

Bonding Neutral to Ground (100573) - Champion Help Center

Originally Posted by transmitterdan

It’s a 3.5kW generator that sells for about $400 US. It doesn’t have an eco mode. And it would be concerned it might not last a whole week at sea.

Might not last long, but it has made it past a week , by about a month. Time will tell. A little more than $400 also, but not by too much.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by svJasmine

make sure the genset is not set to eco throttle. It must be running full blast to start the compressor. My honda 2000 will run my 12000 btu ac, BUT it won't do it without doing that.

Rich

Just an FYI

With the Micro Air soft start my Honda will start my 16k unit in ECO and it does it in a nice easy way on the Honda. But it wouldn't start the 7k unit in ECO even with the hard Start kit installed and even then the it really stresses the Honda.

[svJasmine]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Just an FYI

With the Micro Air soft start my Honda will start my 16k unit in ECO and it does it in a nice easy way on the Honda. But it wouldn't start the 7k unit in ECO even with the hard Start kit installed and even then the it really stresses the Honda.

Interesting. Shame they are so expensive.

[WDR]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Just an FYI

With the Micro Air soft start my Honda will start my 16k unit in ECO and it does it in a nice easy way on the Honda. But it wouldn't start the 7k unit in ECO even with the hard Start kit installed and even then the it really stresses the Honda.

I may end up there too but I will get that neutral bonded first and see what happens.

The LRA, which I have learned is the peak draw figure, is LRA62 but I don’t know how to read it or what it means, yet.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by WDR

I may end up there too but I will get that neutral bonded first and see what happens.
.

Has nothing to do with starting a load. All it doesn't is prevent breaker tripping if you have a trip pak setup and the reverse polarity light.

You will mostly like need at a minimum a hard start capacitor kit. They are like $15.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by svJasmine

Interesting. Shame they are so expensive.

Like $275 with the promotion code that is easy to find.

Cost of being able to run the 16K air conditioning in the Gulf oF Mexico/Florida in June-Sept at anchor with your Honda generator ...................... PRICELESS!

[WDR]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Has nothing to do with starting a load. All it doesn't is prevent breaker tripping if you have a trip pak setup and the reverse polarity light.

You will mostly like need at a minimum a hard start capacitor kit. They are like $15.

Maybe so.

First I have to bond to get the battery charging system to work properly, as one of the reasons I wanted a generator on board was in case the solar panels are not enough to keep batteries topped off.

Also, this is not a 2kw generator. It is a 3.5kw and surely it won’t need more than that to start, but I might be mistaken on that.

The LRA is listed at 62 which I am starting to believe is 62 amps. Since I only have 30 amps coming from the shore power, and it works fine on that, it is somewhat confusing.

Possibly it already has a hard start capacitor built in to the control module for the AC.

Also, it may be a 20k BTU unit.

Someone that knows something about marine AC units should be able to look at my photo of the data plate label and give me more info, I would think.

I will upload it again and see what comments come forth.

I did take off the control panel on the generator and it is not quite as straight forward as the procedure I posted but I am sure it is still doable.

[a64pilot]

LRA or locked rotor amps is the absolute max possible amps and is usually never reached, it’s also of extremely short duration so yes, a 30 amp shore power connection can handle it.
Some generators can handle surge much better than others, my little 3.5 generator has a 6 kw generator, so that it handles surge very well, what makes it a 3.5 generator is engine power, same generator on a bigger motor is a 5.5.
Then some generators are rated conservatively meaning they will actually make more, and some are rated on fantasy, they will never make rated power output.
I guess there hasn’t been any truth in advertising for along time now.
If your generator is actually a 3.5, then you won’t need a soft start, cause 3500W at 120V is 29 amps.