Camping and RV Forums  Recreational Ve...  RV Maintenance ...  Suggestions in Choosing the Right Generator
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New Post 10/21/2011 12:51 AM
  padmej
124 posts




Suggestions in Choosing the Right Generator 
First off, we finally managed to convert my brother and his wife to become RVers (they used to be avid tent campers only and would not want to go camping in a trailer). They recently bought a pop up trailer with a 30 amp service. They got this generator from Lowes--a 3250 Watt generator. They were told that it would be more than enough to run their pop up. They brought it with them when we went camping last week for the first time. The generator ran fine, until it came to turning the A/C on. The breaker kept tripping everytime they tried to open it. Any suggestions on what kind of generator would be best for their popup? We use a TT so I might give them the wrong suggestions.
 
New Post 10/26/2011 9:55 PM
  jeremy
126 posts




Re: Suggestions in Choosing the Right Generator 
The rule of thumb when buying a generator for a popup or any RV is to first calculate the total wattage you'll have on at the same time and then multiply it by 2. Some electronic items would need more power when they power up. If the total amount that you get is still lower than the maximum capacity of the generator that they have, have them check their fuse and circuits. There might be a short circuit somewhere that's causing the generator to trip.
 
New Post 10/27/2011 8:26 AM
  murffdog123
189 posts




Re: Suggestions in Choosing the Right Generator 
I assume you were boondocking, no shore power.
Place a volt meter in a wall socket, plug into shore power and see what the meter does when you turn on the A/C. If it holds at 110/115v, you have no ploblem but if it drops way down, you have an issue with the A/C. (too much draw) Borrow a 4000w generator and see what happens.
 
New Post 1/3/2012 7:28 PM
  padmej
124 posts




Re: Suggestions in Choosing the Right Generator 
 jeremy wrote
The rule of thumb when buying a generator for a popup or any RV is to first calculate the total wattage you'll have on at the same time and then multiply it by 2. Some electronic items would need more power when they power up. If the total amount that you get is still lower than the maximum capacity of the generator that they have, have them check their fuse and circuits. There might be a short circuit somewhere that's causing the generator to trip.


Thanks for your advice, jeremy. Just spoke to my brother about his pop up trailer. He had it checked with an electrician. Apparently, my brother never mentioned to me that the used pop up trailer that he got was rather old and he never had it check since he got it. The fuses and some of the wirings need to be replaced.
 
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