Generator for Escape 21

[Ret.LEO]

Actually two small inverter gens like a Yamaha, Honda or the very reasonable priced Champion inverter. Any of these can be "daisy chained" together or used separately to give you as much or little power needed. The Champions would be my choice. Proven inverters at a great price.

[Ksambor]

Our 3400 watt dual fuel Champion is great. Check it out.

[AnglingMad]

Thanks for the tips. I have passed on the 2200 as you rightly say the power output is to low. The Champion Model #100523 3100-Watt Inverter has great spec/feedback and at a good price particularly as it will only be used occasionally. I just need to find the best place to buy one for delivery to me in BC.

[AnglingMad]

Having just concluded a 220 Yamaha is not man enough I just got this back from Escape so me thinks it must be a lower powered A/C unit in the new model but also an endorsement for Champion Products.

"I just finished speaking with Reace regarding your generator question and he has verified the Yamaha 2200 will have absolutely no problems running that air conditioner. One thing he did mention was before you hook the trailer up to the generator, turn off the battery disconnect switch. When the converter detects power, it will automatically want to charge the batteries and this will put too much of a draw on the generator.

He also let me know, he uses a cheap Champion 2000w generator for his 5th wheel and has no troubles whatsoever!"

[Seneca]

Thanks. Here's my take:

2000 watts--you can probably get away with it, at least some do.
2200 watts--it will work, but you'll need to disconnect the battery and put no other load on it while the a/c is running
2400-2500 watts--it will work, no need to disconnect the battery, the fridge and the water heater should be on propane, but you can have a light or two on, in the bare minimum range per the a/c mfg.
3000 watts--it will work, and you're fully operational, just don't run the hair dryer or the microwave at the same time
solar--smug replaces smog as the principal pollutant, you may be sweating, but you're uber kuhl

[AnglingMad]

I tend to agree and when we fly back into BC at the weekend I will be looking out for the nearest Champion dealer. I think having 3Kw capacity would also be useful output for home in the event of a prolonged power cut. I have a lot to learn over the next few weeks when we get our hands on our new 21. We will also try and get along to the Osoyoos meet.

[John in Santa Cruz]

problem with the 3000s they are 100 lbs or more, and really a 2-man carry, and hard to load/unload out of the back of a truck. the 2000's, I can carry with one hand.

[padlin]

Originally Posted by Seneca

Thanks. Here's my take:

2000 watts--you can probably get away with it, at least some do.
2200 watts--it will work, but you'll need to disconnect the battery and put no other load on it while the a/c is running
2400-2500 watts--it will work, no need to disconnect the battery, the fridge and the water heater should be on propane, but you can have a light or two on, in the bare minimum range per the a/c mfg.
3000 watts--it will work, and you're fully operational, just don't run the hair dryer or the microwave at the same time
solar--smug replaces smog as the principal pollutant, you may be sweating, but you're uber kuhl

Good synopsis, I'll add...

2000/2200 - 45 lbs
2400 - 75 lbs
3000/3100 - 75+ lbs

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

problem with the 3000s they are 100 lbs or more, and really a 2-man carry, and hard to load/unload out of the back of a truck. the 2000's, I can carry with one hand.

I have the Yamaha and it weighs about 300 lbs. I can still put it in the bed of the truck, but if is getting too be quite difficult, besides would never dream of taking it camping. Love my solar.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by padlin

Good synopsis, I'll add...

2000/2200 - 45 lbs
2400 - 75 lbs
3000/3100 - 75+ lbs

One of the main reasons I didn't go bigger than the Yamaha 2400 - 75 lbs is my limit to be able to lift onto the tailgate of the truck. Glad it has two handles!

[AnglingMad]

Thanks for all the feedback really appreciated. I will now reconsider my options as that weight is a no.no.

[jking1224]

Run your Escape A/C on a single 2000w generator.

There is a another option in the generator question. It is possible to run the A/C on a single 2000w generator. Not the 2200w, the 2000 watt models.

This allows you to carry and move around a lighter generator. The need to buy two and daisy chain them is not needed in this solution. And its less expensive than two generators and the daisy chain kit.

I installed the Micro-Air Easy Start 364 device. This $300 device modifies the A/C unit so that it does not demand as much current at compressor start as factory default does. The result is that 2000w is sufficient power to run the A/C and get over the hump of compressor start.

I made a brief video of my experience.

https://youtu.be/OWw2c_JC_CI

[richardr]

We also installed the Micro Air Easy Start in our AC and run it using our Honda 2000. The generator easily picks up the load as the AC compressor starts.

[jennykatz]

We bought the SUA2300i from Sams club put in non ethanol 89 octane fuel let it run for 15 min and then hooked up a small vacuum cleaner then a fan it ran fine . We tried hooking up my boats 9200 Coleman Mach 8 and it wouldn’t even start it Then on to the Escape 21 with the Dometic 1100 (2017 model) again it starts then quits Everything in trailer is turned off AC would not start Tomorrow I will try shutting off battery switch and converter off and turn
Everything else off your.
I keep hearing that a Honda 2000 will run the AC ? We have a 2400 Yamaha that runs both
Generators. Please enlighten me on what could be wrong ? Maybe need to send this one back? Jim

[jking1224]

Originally Posted by jennykatz

We bought the SUA2300i from Sams club put in non ethanol 89 octane fuel let it run for 15 min and then hooked up a small vacuum cleaner then a fan it ran fine . We tried hooking up my boats 9200 Coleman Mach 8 and it wouldn’t even start it Then on to the Escape 21 with the Dometic 1100 (2017 model) again it starts then quits Everything in trailer is turned off AC would not start Tomorrow I will try shutting off battery switch and converter off and turn
Everything else off your.
I keep hearing that a Honda 2000 will run the AC ? We have a 2400 Yamaha that runs both
Generators. Please enlighten me on what could be wrong ? Maybe need to send this one back? Jim

A Honda 2000 WILL NOT run the A/C on an Escape trailer. That's what is wrong.

When you say it "starts then quits", I'm guessing the A/C fan-only starts (first phase), then the compressor attempts to start at about 15 seconds after fan starts. A Honda 2000 does not have enough power to start the compressor on a a factory original Escape A/C unit. The A/C shuts downs.

However, if you modify the factory A/C unit with a Micro-Air EasyStart device ($300), then a Honda 2000 will run the A/C.

As to your other questions, I suspect the Sams Club SUA2300 is too low powered to run the A/C (in factory original, non-modified condition). Heck, the online description even touts its clean energy and quiet operation. Avoiding promoting the primary feature of a generator: its power generating ability.

And I think you meant to say the Yamaha 2400 runs both "A/C", not "generators".

[jennykatz]

Yes the 2400 Yamaha does run both AC units So I need easy start what about just going with a bigger capacitor ? I figured if a 2400 works why wouldn’t a2300 one do the same? JimAlso I thought Escape put in an easy start on there new AC units we have a 2017 model delivered in November 2016

[jking1224]

Originally Posted by jennykatz

Yes the 2400 Yamaha does run both AC units So I need easy start what about just going with a bigger capacitor ? I figured if a 2400 works why wouldn’t a2300 one do the same? Jim

You can try a larger capacitor, but if that actually worked, then Micro-Air would have no market selling $300 Easy Start devices. So, I'd guess a simple capacitor doesn't work.

As to why a 2300 doesn't work when a 2400 does? Uh, cuz 2300 watts is less than 2400. Plus a low cost brand like the Sams Club versus a quality brand like Yamaha, Honda, Champion Power.

The extra current required to start the compressor is large but only lasts a fraction of a second.

There are no short cuts. Either spend the extra bucks to get a small (and light), but quality 2000 watt model AND modify the A/C to run on it for $300. Or buy a bigger generator. Honda makes a 2200 watt model that others have reported will run the A/C un-modified. If you don't go with Honda 2200, I've only heard of 2400 watt models working, or even larger if run on propane. But then its larger, heavier, burns more fuel and louder.

[jking1224]

Originally Posted by jennykatz

Yes the 2400 Yamaha does run both AC units So I need easy start what about just going with a bigger capacitor ? I figured if a 2400 works why wouldn’t a2300 one do the same? JimAlso I thought Escape put in an easy start on there new AC units we have a 2017 model delivered in November 2016

And I missed the second part.

I doubt that Escape will ever put Easy Starts in the A/C. It "may" void the factory warranty from Dometic. It should not void it according to MicroAir, but its not up to them or Escape, and we all know Dometic will do almost anything to avoid honoring their warranties. MicroAir even recommends removing the MicroAir device before seeking warranty support.

And it costs $300 and Escape avoids anything that costs extra.

[Greggo]

Honda 2000i is more than adequate to run our ac.

[rubicon327]

Originally Posted by jennykatz

Also I thought Escape put in an easy start on there new AC units we have a 2017 model delivered in November 2016

I think there has been some understandable confusion on this over the years. Old threads indicate that Reace started putting in simple “hard start kits” that are essentially a big capacitor to aid starting. This was to help owners who desired to run the A/C on a 2000W generator but there are altitude and other factors. The Micro-Air soft start kit being referred to here is not the same as a hard start kit. It is a much more sophisticated device with microprocessor controls.

https://www.microair.net/collections...nt=30176048267

(I have no skin in this game as my 9,000 BTU inverter compressor mini-split runs easily on a 2000W generator. This has to do with the smaller demand and the inrush is very low with an inverter compressor that slowly ramps up in speed. My hope is eventually mainstream RV rooftop A/C’s get there!)