Honda 2000i and AC

[Bob and Susie]

We have a 2018 5.0 with EMS installed. Would I need to turn off the EMS to run
A-C on the generator and will this cause a problem to electrical system. Thanks for any advice.

[sclifrickson]

Your EMS will prevent your non-grounded EU2000 from powering your trailer, unless you shut the EMS off, or you get (or make) a neutral bonding plug.

If I ever get a genset, the very next thing I get (or make) will be a neutral bonding plug. EMS is a good thing. I don’t want to turn it off.

[rubicon327]

As was stated, all you need is a bonding plug. Plug this into one of the unused outlets on the generator and you are good to go. You can keep the EMS active. An inverter generator is a pretty reliable source of power but one thing that no one has been able to answer for me is if a low voltage condition occurs as a generator runs out of gas. If it does the EMS should catch it and protect the A/C and anything else running at the time. I've been meaning to test this myself but haven't gotten around to it.

https://www.campingworld.com/portabl...iABEgKB3PD_BwE

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by rubicon327

As was stated, all you need is a bonding plug. Plug this into one of the unused outlets on the generator and you are good to go. You can keep the EMS active. An inverter generator is a pretty reliable source of power but one thing that no one has been able to answer for me is if a low voltage condition occurs as a generator runs out of gas. If it does the EMS should catch it and protect the A/C and anything else running at the time. I've been meaning to test this myself but haven't gotten around to it.

https://www.campingworld.com/portabl...iABEgKB3PD_BwE

Low voltage from running out of gas is not so much the problem - it's the inrush current on compressor startup. If anything is powered at the same time, converter charging, heater fan on, etc., the Honda 2000i doesn't have the capacity to start the A/C without the voltage dropping too low. Even with everything off, it's marginal running the Dometic 11000 btu A/C with such a small generator. The surge protector enabled will trip if the voltage gets too low which is a good thing as low voltage to the compressor could damage it.

From Dometic Penguin 11000 btu literature: 10.5 amps compressor, 2.6 amps fan - minimum recommended generator 2500 watt.

Remember - the Honda 2000i is not a 2000 watt generator, it's a 1600 watt generator that can handle up to 2000 watts for less than 30 minutes. I understand that someone may own a 2000i from use with an earlier trailer (usually Casita) but that was using it to run a 9000 btu A/C - not a 11000 btu. It's just not going to be the right choice for a 5.0TA.

[Defenestrator]

I wouldn't worry too much about undervoltage as it runs out of gas. Undervoltage causes overheating, but I'd expect the generator running out of gas to be a brief enough transition that it wouldn't be an issue.

[rotateclockwise]

Our EU2000 is a 2006 model and it runs the AC in our 21 just fine. Though, the challenge comes when the system wanted to also begin recharging the batteries. It can't do both operations at the same time.