generater for caravan aircon

Hi Broome time

Our Dometic runs off a Honda 2 kva, but i recall from the Caravaners Forum (the old msn one that how now been closed so can't access), that people with the Ibis needed bigger like the Yamaha 2.4. Certainly find a way of 'try before you buy'. Even with the Dometic, some people have had the Honda 2 cut out in really hot conditions. We rarely need to run our air con; often we are driving in the hottest part of the day and if not, usually sitting outside in the shade is enough. A swim helps if there is a safe river nearby. I don't like the heat, hence the main reason we bought the Honda, but we haven't used it for the air con since January 2005! Used it on mains power last year in Darwin and Mt Isa while in town in a caravan park. We have a 12 v fan which helps on hot still evenings.

Motherhen

Air Command state that their current Ibis model will run without issue on a Honda EU20i - no ifs ... no buts.

I agree with Motherhen, that you should 'try before you buy'. Like her, my Dometic runs fine on a Honda 2KVA, though I have to limit other power use when running the air con. Other than testing, we have only run the air con once, for a short period off the gennie. But it is worth being able to.

The advantage of the Honda over the Yamaha 2.4, if it works, is it is much smaller and lighter.

Norm C

Before I bought our Honda 2.0i I did two things

1. Googled Air Command air cons and had a look at the power requirements.
The Wren which I have needed 1560 watts max I think the Ibis is similar power requirements

2. After finding out that the Honda should do the job I borrowed a genny and tried it running the air con and a 300watt heating element, all good.

Cheers ob

Thanks to all those who replied to my question, all good so will probably go with the 2kva honda after we have tried it out......Cheers Broome time....

most people we have come across don't use their Honda's to run the generator as it screams it's t-ts off. It will do it unless very hot. Bit like driving you car in 2nd gear at 60km, it's might not be red line but you couldn't put up with it. I'd go the 2.4 Yamaha, yes heavier and bigger but if buying it to run an aircon ......

Hello Broometime.
A Honda/Yamaha 2 kva is only rated at that for about 30 minutes – continuous rating about 1.6kva (6.5amps). A 2.4 kva unit will produce 2.4 kva for about 30 minutes and about 2kva (8 amps) continuously. Borrow or buy a clamp on ampmeter and plug your airconditioner into the mains - If your air conditioner draws about 6 amps (1.5 kva), as a lot do, a 2kva unit will be working its guts out in hot weather - so go for a 2.4kva. If your airconditioner draws 5 amps or less a 2kva unit should do.
Starting current, when a compressor kicks in, is quiet a bit higher than its running current and some gensets handle this better than others and it would be advisable to try your airconditioner on a borrowed genset if you can.
Regards Dennis