champion 2000watt genny - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Problem Solving | Owners helping each other
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 12-13-2017, 07:18 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
titanizer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Ashland City, Tennessee
Trailer: 2016 21' Classic
Posts: 263
champion 2000watt genny

Will the Champion 2000watt generator run the AC in my 2016 21' Escape? Will use to charge battery and maybe run AC when temps are uncomfortable. I'm not interested in the Honda or Yamaha brands or prices. Rural King has the Champion on sale for $399. What say ye?
titanizer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 07:39 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Zardoz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Marana, Arizona
Trailer: 2018 Airstream Flying Cloud (Escape 19 & 5.0 previously)
Posts: 1,078
Quote:
Originally Posted by titanizer View Post
Will the Champion 2000watt generator run the AC in my 2016 21' Escape? Will use to charge battery and maybe run AC when temps are uncomfortable. I'm not interested in the Honda or Yamaha brands or prices. Rural King has the Champion on sale for $399. What say ye?
Our Honda 2000i seems barely up to the task so I’d be doubtful the Champion would do the job. Honda are pricey, but for something as important as AC, we bit the bullet and paid the premium.
__________________
Rich & Mary
"Everything in moderation, including moderation."
- Oscar Wilde
Zardoz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 08:01 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
What's the surge and running wattage?
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 08:13 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
titanizer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Ashland City, Tennessee
Trailer: 2016 21' Classic
Posts: 263
2000watts peak power; 1700watts running.
titanizer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 08:41 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: North of Danbury, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2018 Escape 21C
Posts: 3,033
Since you appear not to be concerned with noise levels and price is the motivating factor , check out Menards . They recently had a 4000 watt open frame , contractors generator on sale for $189.99.
You may not be the hit of the campgrounds but it is cheap and it will run your A/C
I also would not spend the money for a Honda or Yamaha generator, mainly because I am cheap and believe generators are better suited for construction sites then campsites.
steve dunham is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 08:48 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
Quote:
Originally Posted by titanizer View Post
2000watts peak power; 1700watts running.
Going just by the numbers, you should be okay. My honda 2k is 1600 watts.

Fwiw, running the a/c had nothing to do with me getting a 2000, if it were I would have gone with the Yamaha 2300, I think it's 2300. I'd rather have a little extra then just enough, kind of like my truck.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 09:13 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
titanizer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Ashland City, Tennessee
Trailer: 2016 21' Classic
Posts: 263
Steve, let me educate you on the finer points of the Champion 2000watt. I'm not cheap, nor am I a contractor. I do not need a 4000 watt, open frame contractor grade generator that weighs much more than the 49lbs. the Champion does and sure to make way more noise than the 52dbs the Champion does. Although the $189 Menards bargain would surely power the AC, I'm not interested. But if and when I have the opportunity to camp next to you, I may have to make an exception. Thanks for the opportunity.
titanizer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 09:23 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Greg A's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Trailer: 2015 Escape 19 "Seventy Degrees"
Posts: 3,495
I got the WEN 2000 for $370 on a woot deal. Having run both the Honda and Wen they are comparable in every way except price is ridiculously better for the WEN. Used it for a year now and it’s a workhorse.
The specs on the Champion seem good, but I’d be suspicious of the 52dbs as the Champions I’ve heard running are usually pretty loud. If you could hear it run first and it appears to be legit then sounds like it would be good. Is the Champion an inverter generator?
Greg A is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 09:26 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
AKCamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2016 Escape 19
Posts: 555
Quote:
Originally Posted by titanizer View Post
Will the Champion 2000watt generator run the AC in my 2016 21' Escape? Will use to charge battery and maybe run AC when temps are uncomfortable. I'm not interested in the Honda or Yamaha brands or prices. Rural King has the Champion on sale for $399. What say ye?
We went ahead and bit the bullet and bought the Honda. It is pricey but as a retired mechanic I know I will always be able to find parts and service for it. As little as we have used our Honda though $399 would be tempting.
AKCamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 09:44 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Mark James's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Victoria, British Columbia
Trailer: 2016/ 5TA Spirit Bear
Posts: 322
If noise is not a factor then the 2000 watts should be adequate but not great for the AC. On both my power boat and my 5 TA I run two Honda 2000 generators wired in parallel. I just transfer the units between the 2.
Mark James is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 09:50 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
titanizer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Ashland City, Tennessee
Trailer: 2016 21' Classic
Posts: 263
Greg, yes, it's an inverter generator. If I decide to buy it, I can return it if I think it's too loud. The specs said 52 dbs at 23 ft. Normal conversation level is 60. I know it will be louder under load; but, it has gotten great reviews and it has a 3 yr. warranty. You probably couldn't even hear it while tailgating.
titanizer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 10:53 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
BCnomad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: O town, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 "Lightning"
Posts: 1,467
Quote:
Originally Posted by titanizer View Post
Greg, yes, it's an inverter generator. If I decide to buy it, I can return it if I think it's too loud. The specs said 52 dbs at 23 ft. Normal conversation level is 60. I know it will be louder under load; but, it has gotten great reviews and it has a 3 yr. warranty. You probably couldn't even hear it while tailgating.
I own the first gen yellow machine (1600 running/2000 peak). It did not run the AC when I tried once at 1200' altitude. In hindsight I could have tried feathering the fan to get it rotating before making the compressor kick in, but didn't at know the trick at that time.

The plan was to buy a second unit and slave it for the 3200running wattage. Never did need the AC (yet!).


It is quiet while idling and relatively mild when at full throttle, like when I plug the coffee maker in. Overall, a great "not a red, not a blue" generator for the price.
BCnomad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 12:31 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
sunrisetrucker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Nanaimo Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Trailer: 2015 17b "Shelly"
Posts: 457
Quote:
Originally Posted by steve dunham View Post
I also would not spend the money for a Honda or Yamaha generator, mainly because I am cheap and believe generators are better suited for construction sites then campsites.
__________________
Like a lot of fellows, I have a furniture problem. My chest has fallen into my drawers
"Billy Casper"
sunrisetrucker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 01:06 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Mark James's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Victoria, British Columbia
Trailer: 2016/ 5TA Spirit Bear
Posts: 322
Agree with you that to be effective two of these generators wired together would be an option
Mark James is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 03:23 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
rubicon327's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Burlington Twp., New Jersey
Trailer: 2010 Escape 19
Posts: 7,126
Everything you ever wanted to know and more about inverter generators. Reviews for all the major players that are now out there competing with Honda and Yamaha. One is no longer stuck with either a "2000W" or "3000W" choice. Some of the competing manufacturers have a higher rated running load than the 1600W for similar weight of the Honda EU2000 and Yamaha EF2000. Might be just enough for someone who is worried about being on the edge especially at altitude.

Best Inverter Generator | Top Rated Models | In-Depth Generator Guide
rubicon327 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 04:11 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Tennessee, Tennessee
Trailer: Escape 21 - Nov 2017 "Harvey"
Posts: 163
The other consideration is to modify the trailer A/C unit to run on 2000w or less. The A/C units used by Escape are only slightly more demanding than what a typical 2000w can handle. And, it turns out, that peak demand only occurs for a few seconds when the compressor cycle starts. There is a $300 modification that can be made the A/C unit that smooths out the current demand, thereby making the A/C run easily on a 2000w generator. I am planning on making this mod myself (I just got my 21 in late November) on my A/C unit. Then, like others have said, I can use the smaller, lighter weight 2000w Champion. The 3000w are then overkill and much harder to lift and handle.
jking1224 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 04:25 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
AKCamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2016 Escape 19
Posts: 555
Quote:
Originally Posted by jking1224 View Post
The other consideration is to modify the trailer A/C unit to run on 2000w or less. The A/C units used by Escape are only slightly more demanding than what a typical 2000w can handle. And, it turns out, that peak demand only occurs for a few seconds when the compressor cycle starts. There is a $300 modification that can be made the A/C unit that smooths out the current demand, thereby making the A/C run easily on a 2000w generator. I am planning on making this mod myself (I just got my 21 in late November) on my A/C unit. Then, like others have said, I can use the smaller, lighter weight 2000w Champion. The 3000w are then overkill and much harder to lift and handle.
I did run ours on a 2000 Honda this summer. I think as long as you don't run anything else (especially the onboard charger) it works ok. I ran it through the onboard EMS after making a ground to neutral bonding plug. I do agree, with my back I can't lift much more than the Honda 2000.
AKCamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 05:22 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
Kent's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Trailer: 2018 5.0TA / 2018 GMC Canyon/Duramax
Posts: 561
I believe the bigger question is does your AC unit have soft start feature. If not you should be able to add it as many Casita and ETI owners have.

Soft start feature seems to be the difference why some work on 2000 watt and others don't. Not sure when ETI started seller the AC units with soft start I'm sure others on the forum can answer that question.

Just something to consider.
Kent is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 05:27 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
How does one know if they have soft start?
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
padlin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2017, 05:28 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Mark James's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Victoria, British Columbia
Trailer: 2016/ 5TA Spirit Bear
Posts: 322
I have not heard of the soft start on the AC. Is this feature on all the new units?
Mark James is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:59 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.