honda 2 kva not running van

[Bmhdg76]

I borrowed a mates 2.4kva Yammie the other day and got to try it out yesterday. Wouldn't start the A/C. Just for kicks I swapped leads as the one I was using was an extra heavy duty 10A builders lead. I tried the crappy 15A lead that came with the van and it worked!!!!

Gonna get my dads Honda eu20i again and try it with this lead and see if it will run!

How were you plugging into the van with the 10amp lead? Please don't tell me a dodgy bros job! Lol

Could it be as simple as a bad lead? I wouldn't think that the air con by itself would draw more than 10amps to start to short or fry the lead.

BJ

 

[Bellbirdweb]

I spoke to a generator guy at the Newcastle show on the weekend. They reckon the EU20i will run the air command provided you use a heavy duty 15A lead that's around 4m long. Might be worth looking at heavier cable to reduce the voltage drop.

I'll be interested to see how you go

 

[Bellbirdweb]

I spoke to a generator guy at the Newcastle show on the weekend. They reckon the EU20i will run the air command provided you use a heavy duty 15A lead that's around 4m long. Might be worth looking at heavier cable to reduce the voltage drop.

I'll be interested to see how you go

 

[Burnsy]

I can run my ibis rooftop aircon no worries with my eu20i (haven't tried heat). My 15A lead seams to be thicker than other cables but not sure about wire gauge.

 

[Hubble80]

It is funny you mention voltage drop as I measured the voltage at 242Vac with the Honda. I guess the 10A lead just didn't have the current carrying capability. The crappy 15A must have bigger conductors but nowhere near the amount of insulation and protection!!!

Next purchase ... new leads!

 

[Hubble80]

Well I lashed out and bought a new 15A lead. 10M long. No go. Had a look at my 10A lead and as it is a heavy duy lead it has 1.5mm2 conductors. Baffled now as to why one lead worked with the Yammie 2.4kva and the other didn't. I might try shortening up my old 15A lead and try that. Might try and make it about 5M.

I am not really wanting to purchase a 2.4kVa Yammie. It is very heavy and awkward to move around alone. If I can get the system working with the Honda, I will be a lot happier. Would possibly buy the Yamaha 2.0kVa though due to newer technology and it quieter as well.

 

[17triton]

I tried my honda 2.0 on the weekend and it was no good with the aircon. May look at the lead as well.

 

[Gadgets 21.63.1]

2 or 2.4 kva, will not start most air cons, just does not have enough power. hate to say it but the cheapo 3.4 kva remote start pet gen on ebay is well worth it, very quiet, large fuel tank and will start and run air con (1 or them but not 2 of them, i have tried). the other option is a soft start fitted to the aircon, this can be done by a electrician who does air cons. very cheap and easy mod to have done, then your geni will run the air con, as they only draw around 1.2 kilowatts....

 

[Dean81]

I run my Honda 2kva to my 17.56.2 and it will run aircon on the genie, but not in econ mode. never use microwave or kettle on it as the Honda dealer said not too, because of the heating elements..

 

[Gadgets 21.63.1]

very true, i did not know the honda had eco more. my ebay chepo does. eco mode is good for soft start small items. it is quite and more efficient. but normal mode gives you higher rpm which will take a quick peak startup current better as the motor is already revving harder. the microwave in my new expanda draws 1200 watts and works fine, same power as the air con. the kettle normaly 2000 watts and is a no no. a toaster is around 850 watts for a twin unit and should be fine. i use a coffee machine (1300 watts), microwave (1300 watts) toaster (850watts) or air con (1100-1200 watts) of my inverter or generator without issue. standard 15 amp caravan power lead, does not make any difference. the honda if is rated at 2kva cont. should be able to do all the above when not running on eco mode.

 

[Dean81]

Turn the Eco boost off, higher revs.
It stills chews a little more juice. But at least the van is cold with aircon pumping.

 

[DRW]

View attachment 20707 Turn the Eco boost off, higher revs.
It stills chews a little more juice. But at least the van is cold with aircon pumping.

You must have a different air conditioner to us, the Honda runs it okay but the van cold bit never happens!!

 

[Dean81]

mine is the sparrow - air command I think..

 

[DRW]

mine is the sparrow - air command I think..

Perfect explanation, ours is the Dometic Sh box

 

[Hubble80]

Mine is the Heron 2.2, maybe they have different start up corrents of the compressor motor which causes the issue...

 

[gwadir]

amp = watts /volts

2200/240= 9.1666666

Don't forget to add in the power factor, that will increase your current draw from the genny which may put it over it's max load.

Dave

 

[gwadir]

The problem is the inrush current on startup. If it is pulling 18A at start up of the compressor, your 2kVA generator would only be rated around 9A.

So whilst the capacity of generator might be OK to run it, it will have a lot of trouble when it starts.

I'm looking at the Air Command IBiS for my van which is 2.8kw cooling and 3kw cooling, but the startup current is 20A, as a result to run that aircon, I would be looking at 4800w, so I need a 5kVA generator to run it efficiently, and not overloading the generator.

Obviously this is a much larger and heavier unit, but that's the trade off if you want to run aircon.

Mmmm forgot to factor in inrush current, usually 3 - 5 times full load current.

Dave

 

[gwadir]

As you can probably see I'm playing catch up on this thread.

Dave

 

[gwadir]

I borrowed a mates 2.4kva Yammie the other day and got to try it out yesterday. Wouldn't start the A/C. Just for kicks I swapped leads as the one I was using was an extra heavy duty 10A builders lead. I tried the crappy 15A lead that came with the van and it worked!!!!

Gonna get my dads Honda eu20i again and try it with this lead and see if it will run!

Mmmm maybe check the size conductors in the cable, 15Amp one probably has 2.5mm² whilst 10amp cable is probably 1.5mm².

Dave

 

[17triton]

2 or 2.4 kva, will not start most air cons, just does not have enough power. hate to say it but the cheapo 3.4 kva remote start pet gen on ebay is well worth it, very quiet, large fuel tank and will start and run air con (1 or them but not 2 of them, i have tried). the other option is a soft start fitted to the aircon, this can be done by a electrician who does air cons. very cheap and easy mod to have done, then your geni will run the air con, as they only draw around 1.2 kilowatts....

Thanks Adam I will look at the soft start option. Any idea of cost?