home reverse cycle air cons for caravan

I would suggest plugging it into a town supply and measure the amps drawn at full on.
Add 10 or 20% and then size your genset to that – a 2.4 kVA would be good for about 8 amps continuous and a 2 kVA about 6 amps continuous (Check with you genset supplier for exact figures)

Hi Ozzimax11
Look on the id plate for amps or in the specs in the instruction book if all else fails google your model
The information will be similar to this off a 7 KW unit
Running Current, Cooling (Amps) 9.4
Running Current, Range (Amps) Max 11.5
Running Current, Heating (Amps) 9
Running Current, Range (Amps) Max 17.5
Input, Cooling (Watts) 2250
Input, Range (Watts) 180-2750
Input, Heating (Watts) 2150
Input, Range (Watts) 170-4180

Once you have this info you can then make a decision allow 50% extra for start up and all should be fine
Kev

thanks kev
mine is an inverter model and spec are:-
running current cooling amps 2.8
range amps 6.0
heating 3.5
range max amps 7.5


input cooling watts 580
range 250-1240
heating 730
range 250-1560

wont be using heating

Sometimes the manufacturers average the amps meaning the 2.8amps may be an average over 1 hr with it varying up to 6 amps at max when cooling and down to maybe 1 to 2 amps when idling between cooling cycles with the average consumption being 2.8 amps
Your safest bet is to assume the worst 6 amps

6 amp x 240 volts = 1.44 kva + allow 50 % for start =2.16 kva

A 2 kva inverter should be fine under all conditions - it wont be much more costly to run as the inverter generators idle up and down depending on load

A 1kva generator will only deliver 4.2 amp approx. which may start the smaller air cons but not be efficient at running yours and the extra $ for the bigger unit wont be much and it will run other things

I run a 2kva Genquip and am impressed with its performance they are quite cheap compared to other brands

Most important is give your details to the supplier and let them suggest in writing what size you need it makes warranty claims a lot easier because the favorite excuse for generator failure is " you must have overloaded it sorry no warranty"

Hope this makes sense
Cheers Kev

many thanks again Kev you have made up my mind
it has to be a 2 kva
main reason was space and weight as travel in holden commador station wagon
but no good being under powered

just adding the genny would be too much for the poor old holden to manage without the van in tow.

And remember the main cause for AC failures in undervoltage on the motors.

A genny that is close to its rated load will suffer in the voltage department

Regards

Geoff

LOL not nice Geoff lol been good getting all good advice
from you guys but picking on the old holden must be a 4 x4 owner
you wouldnt believe the stuff she must be obeyed wants to take but guess you know what its like fitting in sat dish blow up Kayak, generator and the esky just makes it, plus 2 set of chairs etc.
and your right about the generator
will be getting a 2 kva