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Old 06-21-2019, 04:30 PM   #1
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Honda 2000i cant run A/C on our 21

I just found that our 2000i will not run our 2016 21 A/C. It gives a low voltage error code within about 15 seconds of the compressor kicking in. We live very rural and need to be able to run the A/C in the summer when our power goes out.
a few years ago we had a 17 ft Casita and the Honda ran the A/C fine. Does anyone else have this issue with their 21 and a 2000i Honda.
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Old 06-21-2019, 05:12 PM   #2
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Reace told me to turn off the trailer master switch and inverter to run the A/C with the 2000 Honda.
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Old 06-21-2019, 06:12 PM   #3
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Some of us on this forum have installed the Micro-Air Easy Start into our air-conditioner. Makes for quieter and easier starting of the AC unit with no issue starting with 2000 watt generator.

Do not confuse with Soft Start or Hard Start Kits as they are totally different animal.

https://www.microair.net/products/ea...nt=30176048267

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Old 06-21-2019, 09:20 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RicVic View Post
Reace told me to turn off the trailer master switch and inverter to run the A/C with the 2000 Honda.
What are you referring to as the "trailer master switch"/
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Old 06-21-2019, 09:33 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Kent View Post
Some of us on this forum have installed the Micro-Air Easy Start into our air-conditioner. Makes for quieter and easier starting of the AC unit with no issue starting with 2000 watt generator.

Do not confuse with Soft Start or Hard Start Kits as they are totally different animal.

https://www.microair.net/products/ea...nt=30176048267

Did you install the kit yourself? If so, did you have any prior electrical or A/C training?
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Old 06-21-2019, 10:24 PM   #6
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I am referring to the battery shut off. He said the inverter draws a lot of the power the generator.is producing.
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Old 06-21-2019, 10:45 PM   #7
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Also make sure if you have the electric hot water option that it is turned off as well.
As soon as you plug the trailer into the generator the element will come on trying to heat the water.
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Old 06-21-2019, 10:46 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RicVic View Post
I am referring to the battery shut off. He said the inverter draws a lot of the power the generator.is producing.
The inverter is an entirely separate issue, and isn't used when on a generator. The generator already provides AC power, so there is no need to invert DC to AC.
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Old 06-21-2019, 10:53 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thumper-tx View Post
Did you install the kit yourself? If so, did you have any prior electrical or A/C training?
Yes I installed myself and posted pictures on below link, page 4 post #37. No professional electrical or AC background. Just watched the YouTube video on my prior post as they had the same AC unit on the late model Escapes and I read directions. I did have to call Micro-Air regarding one wire as the color wire I had did not match the directions.

http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9...tml#post264660
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Old 06-21-2019, 10:59 PM   #10
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Also if your trailer battery is low, as soon as you plug it into your generator the built in charger will try to start charging the battery. This would also be a draw on your generator.
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Old 06-21-2019, 11:19 PM   #11
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Also if your trailer battery is low, as soon as you plug it into your generator the built in charger will try to start charging the battery. This would also be a draw on your generator.
Maybe that is what the poster meant above. The charger/converter will attempt to charge the batteries, if the battery isolator switch is on.
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Old 06-21-2019, 11:52 PM   #12
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Could be...sometimes if it is said a different way it may make more sense.
Having the charger and maybe hot water element start up as well could make the difference.
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Old 06-22-2019, 09:15 AM   #13
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I second the MicroAire. I bought it and a propane conversion kit from Hutch Mountain and after doing the required start-stop with the MicroAire.my Honda i2200 doesn't even run up to full RPM when starting the AC
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Old 06-22-2019, 09:17 AM   #14
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Also set the refrigerator on propane. It only draws a couple of amps on 120V, but to run the AC on the 2K generator takes just about everything it can produce. If the refrigerator is on auto, it will switch to AC when the generator kicks in.
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Old 06-22-2019, 09:42 AM   #15
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I have a 2015 5.0ta. All I had to do to run my AC off a Honda 2000i was turn off the surge protector on the trailer. Of course the inverter, fridge and water heater were not on 120v at the time. Also I researched the AC on my Escape and it already has the soft start integrated into the unit. Give it a try, it won't cost you anything to try it.
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Old 06-22-2019, 10:03 AM   #16
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I believe the fridge needs 12vdc to run, even when on gas. if you turn off the 12vdc master, does the fridge still work?
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Old 06-22-2019, 10:16 AM   #17
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I believe the fridge needs 12vdc to run, even when on gas. if you turn off the 12vdc master, does the fridge still work?
No, except when on AC & plugged in or on a generator so the converter is supplying 12V.
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Old 06-22-2019, 10:39 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CoolCampingKid View Post
I have a 2015 5.0ta. All I had to do to run my AC off a Honda 2000i was turn off the surge protector on the trailer. Of course the inverter, fridge and water heater were not on 120v at the time. Also I researched the AC on my Escape and it already has the soft start integrated into the unit. Give it a try, it won't cost you anything to try it.
Ouch! I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings but the low voltage condition that the surge protector was tripping on while on generator could cause the A/C compressor to fail due to high amps and longer startup times.

If the A/C won't run with the surge protector enabled, I would reduce the trailer load somehow or get a bigger generator.

Replacing the A/C compressor can get expensive.
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Old 06-22-2019, 11:10 AM   #19
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Originally Posted by tdf-texas View Post
Ouch! I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings but the low voltage condition that the surge protector was tripping on while on generator could cause the A/C compressor to fail due to high amps and longer startup times.

If the A/C won't run with the surge protector enabled, I would reduce the trailer load somehow or get a bigger generator.

Replacing the A/C compressor can get expensive.
Ahhh good point. Time for the Honda 2200i.
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Old 06-22-2019, 04:52 PM   #20
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After much Internet searching we bought a Honda 2200i to run our AC when needed. Much to our disgust, it would not run the AC in our 2011 '19. ('fridge on propane and hot water off.)


Bought and installed a MicroAir easy-start. Now the generator will run the AC, we're cool and happy. The AC is a lot quieter starting up also.
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