Two Power Saver ACs on 30 Amp

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by wdconnors

Love the idea of adding the AC meter. If I want to put that at my main monitor panel where do I tap in?

The best place to measure "short power" and generator output would be right at the back of the breaker panel on the input wires.

[Beau388]

If you install a Progressive EMS HW-30C, you will have an amp meter on the remote display.

[gmtech16450yz]

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

The best place to measure "short power" and generator output would be right at the back of the breaker panel on the input wires.

("shore power"?)

Exactly. That's the advantage to using a hall effect amp pickup, you can easily put it anywhere. The sense wires from the pickup are small and pretty long too so you can put the display where you want. I did have to extend the wires in my Vegas though since the breaker box was on the other side of the coach. Not a big deal. Just make sure you're in a spot that will show both shore power current and generator current.

[JamieGeek]

LOL yeah grew up boating so "shore power"

[gmtech16450yz]

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

LOL yeah grew up boating so "shore power"

Oh no, shore power is fine, it was the typo that threw me. haha. I was like "what's short power?"

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by gmtech16450yz

Oh no, shore power is fine, it was the typo that threw me. haha. I was like "what's short power?"

LOL Didn't even notice the typo...read right over it (hmm something could be said for not seeing your own mistakes!).

[wdconnors]

Originally Posted by gmtech16450yz

("shore power"?)

Exactly. That's the advantage to using a hall effect amp pickup, you can easily put it anywhere. The sense wires from the pickup are small and pretty long too so you can put the display where you want. I did have to extend the wires in my Vegas though since the breaker box was on the other side of the coach. Not a big deal. Just make sure you're in a spot that will show both shore power current and generator current.

Would you mind sharing some photos of your install if you have them?

[Lugo2214]

You can install an easy start box ($300) on each AC and it will run both ACs with a smaller genny

https://youtu.be/p2K0ptvYb6Q

[JamieGeek]

That EasyStart is rather interesting.

[Lugo2214]

Got it installed
I run my 15k btu AC with a Honda 2000 or house 115v 15 amp since it cancels out the compressor big power draw

[carlgorski]

You have to worry about start up current draw.. No way you can start them up at same time. Some people run a separate power cord to pedestal (110/20).

Originally Posted by wdconnors

I have a 30 foot Freedom Elite 29FE with a Coleman Mach 3 13.5k AC unit. After exhausting all options to keep heat out, I've decided the coach has to have a second AC unit to keep cool in Florida.


The coach doesn't have an energy management system or similar so I'm thinking about buying two of the Coleman Mach 3 13.5k Power Saver units and replacing my current unit while adding the second unit in the rear.


Coleman specs these at 10 amps and 1,000 watts on high cool. At those numbers I could still be around 50% generator load. I do a lot of multi-day generator only parking during football season so the generator being able to run both is a must.


Am I wrong in thinking the Onan 4000 and any 30 amp campground service could handle running both of these without issue? I don't really use my microwave and I'd run the water heater on propane. All lights in the coach are LED, etc..

[Metalman]

Originally Posted by Beau388

Several more things to consider: ambient temperature and altitude. The Onans are rated at 500 ft ASL and 75 F degrees. Both factors reduce the generator's output considerably (3.5% per 1,000 ft altitude and 1% per 10 degrees)....

I believe I saw a carburetor adjustment for altitude compensation on my 4,000 watt Onan generator. Would that allow it to produce more power at higher elevations?

[Chance]

At very high elevations the ambient temperature is often cooler, so you may be able to get by with one A/C. That’s been our experience traveling through the Rockies. That’s not to say you may not need to adjust the carburetor anyway, just that you may not need enough power for both A/Cs at same time.

Regardless, with thinner air at higher elevations, non-turbo engines can lose about 3.5~4 % power for each 10,000 feet. If camping on North Rim of Grand Canyon at 8,000 feet, as an example, it becomes significant.

[wdconnors]

I’ve purchased a 13.5k power saver model to replace the rear vent.

I want to be able to run this second unit off the generator as well as via an external plug when I have shore power.

What’s my best option for accomplishing this flexibility?

[TurnerFam]

if you wire it into a typical weather rated 15amp 3-prong male extension cord, you can use either an outside outlet, such as the GFCI plug at the power pedestal, or when on Generator you could plug it into one of your coach’s own internal outlets, since your main AC is probably already on it’s own circuit.

[wdconnors]

I'll be adding a new 20 amp breaker for the 2nd AC so maybe I'll try and run that to a storage bin as an outlet and then run the AC power to the same spot so I can plug into the coach power or extend to a pedestal. I think someone else on the forum did something similar.