This dual fuel inverter generator can easily start and run a 15,000 Btu RV air conditioner, with power to spare. Using gas or propane, it provides power to run appliances and electronics inside your RV. Simple, push button electric start.
Features:
Specs:
Note: Gas generators produce carbon monoxide, which is poisonous. For your safety, always be sure to operate this gas-powered generator outdoors.
Certifications
Meets the following important certification standards:
To choose a generator that meets your needs, you must match the size of the generator (that is, the starting output and running output in watts) with the electrical demands of the equipment that you want to operate.
Starting (surge) wattage is the power a device requires at startup. Running (rated) wattage is the power needed to keep the device running. A large appliance with an electric motor such as a furnace, refrigerator, air conditioner, or washing machine may require 2 to 3 times more starting wattage than running wattage.
It is always best to start your generator with no load connected, then add each device one at a time. Additionally, a good practice to consider is connecting your devices in order from highest starting watts to lowest starting watts. As you connect and start devices, your available wattage decreases. This order of operation allows you to start devices with the highest power demands when there is more power available.
At etrailer, we perform numerous tests on generators to put them through real-world experience. An extensive part of this testing includes starting and running RV air conditioners. The following table will help you decide if the e3200 inverter generator has enough power to handle this critical function in your RV.
| Air Conditioner | Will it start and run? |
|---|---|
| Single 13,500 Btu | Yes |
| Single 15,000 Btu | Yes |
| Dual 15,000 Btu | No |
| Appliance | Running Watts | Starting Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Air compressor (1/2 hp) | 1,000 | 2,000 |
| Air conditioner (15,000 Btu) | 1,600 | * |
| Air conditioner (13,500 Btu) | 1,300 | * |
| Air conditioner (10,000 Btu) | 1,000 | * |
| Blender | 400 | 850 |
| Cell phone charger | 11 | 0 |
| Clock radio | 4 | 0 |
| Coffee maker (high setting) | 1,066 | 0 |
| Crock pot (low setting) | 126 | 0 |
| Crock pot (high setting) | 374 | 0 |
| Desktop computer | 150 - 350 | 0 |
| DVD player | 14 | 0 |
| Electric drill (3/8" / 4 amps) | 450 | 600 |
| Electric space heater (high setting) | 1,450 | 0 |
| Floor fan | 100 | 0 |
| Hair dryer (low setting) | 160 | 0 |
| Hair dryer (high setting) | 1,300 | 0 |
| LCD television (32") | 68 | 0 |
| Microwave | 1,000 | 0 |
| Refrigerator | 800 | 1,600 |
| Washing machine | 1,150 | 2,250 |
| Work light (quartz halogen) | 1,000 | 0 |
* The starting wattage on air conditioners can vary greatly depending on several factors, including the assistance of built-in capacitors and cold starts. Because of this, we can't list a standard starting wattage as every application can be different.
When choosing a generator, knowing the amount of power you will need is crucial to your decision. Whether you are preparing for an emergency situation at home or taking a weekend trip in the RV, planning out your application is essential. The two calculations below provide power estimations that will help point you to a generator that is right for your needs.
The Industry Standard Calculation is a quick and easy way to determine your required wattage. It may provide some padding in your wattage requirements, which could give you more power than you actually need, but you shouldn't have to worry about not having enough power. The following steps will help you quickly calculate the correct size generator to meet your application.
As stated earlier, you should always start your generator without any load, and then connect each device one at a time. The following calculation requires this approach to work. However, using this calculation removes the worry of connecting devices in a certain order.
1. Determine the starting watts and running watts for the devices that you want to plug into the generator.
a. Find the starting (surge) watts and running (rated) watts for each device that you want to plug into the generator. Look for a sticker or plate on each device or check your owner's manuals.
b. If your device or manual only shows amps and volts, watts can also be determined through a simple formula. (Amps x Volts = Watts)
c. List all of your starting watts and running watts as seen in Table 1 below.
Table 1
| Example Devices | Starting Watts | Running Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Air compressor | 2,000 | 1,000 |
| Refrigerator | 1,600 | 800 |
| Microwave | 0 | 1,000 |
| Blender | 850 | 400 |
2. To find the total starting watts required, add the starting watts for the device with the highest value to the running watts of all the other devices from Table 1.
2,000 + 800 + 1,000 + 400 = 4,200 total starting watts
3. To find the total running watts, add all of the running watts together from Table 1.
1,000 + 800 + 1,000 + 400 = 3,200 total running watts
To run all of these devices simultaneously, you would require a generator with at least 4,200 starting watts and 3,200 running watts.
While the method for calculating your power needs outlined above will work, it isn't the most precise. If you aren't afraid of doing a little more math, you can use the Advanced Precise Calculation to get a more accurate idea of how much power you will need and potentially save yourself some money. Because the calculation above pads in enough power to ensure you can start your devices in any order, it may point you to a bigger and more expensive generator than you need. However, by following the more regimented, order-of-operations calculation below, you'll get a much more precise idea of how much power you need, which could in turn point you to a smaller and less expensive generator.
Again, you should always start your generator without any load, and then connect each device one at a time. The following calculation also requires that you start your devices in order from highest starting watts to lowest starting watts. When you connect devices in this order, you can start high demand devices when there is more power available.
1. Determine the starting watts and running watts for each device that you want to plug into the generator.
a. Find the starting (surge) watts and running (rated) watts for each device that you want to plug into the generator. Look for a sticker or plate on each device or check your owner's manuals.
b. If your device or manual only shows amps and volts, watts can also be determined through a simple formula. (Amps x Volts = Watts)
c. List out these devices from highest starting watts to lowest starting watts as seen in Table 2 below.
Table 2
| Example Devices | Starting Watts | Running Watts |
|---|---|---|
| Air compressor | 2,000 | 1,000 |
| Refrigerator | 1,600 | 800 |
| Microwave | 0 | 1,000 |
| Blender | 850 | 400 |
2. To find the total running watts, add all of the running watts together from Table 2.
1,000 + 800 + 1,000 + 400 = 3,200 total running watts
3. In Table 3, shown below, the values from Table 2 are used to calculate the highest total starting watts required as devices are connected and running. This number represents the highest power requirement you will encounter as you connect all of your devices to the generator. To find this, add the starting watts of each new device you connect to the combined running watts of all connected devices. The highest of these numbers will be the total starting watts required. And again, remember to always connect devices in order from highest starting watts to lowest starting watts.
Table 3
| Device | Starting Watts | Running Watts of All Connected Devices | Total Starting Watts Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Air compressor | 2,000 + | 0 (nothing connected) | = 2,000 |
| 2. Refrigerator | 1,600 + | 1,000 (air compressor) | = 2,600 |
| 3. Microwave | 1,000* + | 1,800 (air compressor + refrigerator) | = 2,800 |
| 4. Blender | 850 + | 2,800 (air compressor + refrigerator + microwave) | = 3,650 |
* Even though the microwave does not have starting watts listed, you have to account for the power needed to actually run it.
850 + 2,800 = 3,650 highest total starting watts required
In order to run all of these devices simultaneously, you would require a generator with at least 3,650 starting watts and 3,200 running watts. The starting watts are determined by the highest total starting watts required during the calculation in Table 3/Step 3. The running watts are determined by the total running watts from Step 2.
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used twice so far, issues starting on gasoline but runs great on LP. Had issues with selector switch, talked to Mr. Horstmeyer who sent me a new switch asap, works fine now.
Starts right up. Low noise for the size of the generator. Pull the load fine with 2 ac’s running on our 41 ft.fifth wheel.
Have not needed to use generator yet.
Runs great on gas or propane. Very quite for the size. Plan on using this generator at the Fall nationals in Ennis in a couple of weeks.
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