Roof AC vs Honda 2000

[Vic K]

FYI:
I hooked my recently purchased Honda 2000 into the electrical system of the Mary Jo today. To my surprise It ran the Dometic roof AC 13,500 BTU (heat pump) I installed this summer. Put the AC through a few cycles and the Honda just kept on ticking. Found out the quiet little Honda is capable of making noise. I have a 'hard start' capacitor but it was never installed on the AC unit. Started with the Honda on 'eco' setting and as soon as the compressor kicked in the Honda let me know it. Watching the overload light I saw it blink twice when the compressor first came on and not again. I was advised to forgo the 'eco' setting and use the regular setting. The generator wasn't running at full tilt but I believe it was close. The battery charger was on when the AC was running but I shut it down as I didn't want to push my luck. I only ran it a little over an hour so I don't know if running longer would change anything.

The electric 120 water heater put more stress on the Honda than the AC. Think that may have to stay a dockside thing or change it out to a engine water system type.

This was a used Honda that I bought not a new one. I did use it in my shop and it ran great. The next thing is to find a place to put it when running like maybe the swim platform in a box and getting an extended run fuel tank.

Hope this info helps.

Vic

[JT48348]

Fantastic! This is excellent news and matches what I've read online. Thanks

What type of 120v water heater are you running?

[Vic K]

I don't recall the brand name. I'll have to get that. It's a 3 gallon that I put in the starboard locker. Didn't realize how much power it took until today.
Vic

[Beta Don]

If it's a household water heater and not a marine one, it probably has a 1500 watt element in it - That would make the little Honda work pretty hard. The marine heaters use smaller elements, though they do take a little longer to heat the water. I have a stainless 6 gallon marine unit on the stbd side of the engine bay, just in front of my genset

If you install the soft start kit in the A/C (so the compressor comes up to speed before the fan kicks in) I think the Honda will do OK with it even in the Eco mode - It's the extra amps required when you start both the compressor and fan motors at the same time that overloads most small generators

I have a Honda EU-2000i also - Great little generators. I think the swim platform would be the best place for it, especially if you intend to run it overnight

Don

[Vic K]

Don,
Thanks for the input. With this AC the fan starts first then the compressor,but since I already have the start kit I might as well get it installed, can't hurt.
Vic