What Size Generator For 15000 Btu Ac

Exactly how large of a generator you will demand for boondocking depends on the total wattage of appliances you have in your RV also every bit how much weight your RV can handle. Boondockers with pocket-sized rigs settle for smaller generators in the 2,000 watt range. But boondockers with medium to big sized rigs typically have generators in the 5,000 to half-dozen,000 watt range.

generator needed for boondocking — Dual Honda 2,200 watt generators chained to produce 4,400 watts

How Big of a Generator Do I Need for Boondocking?

The most popular generator that boondockers get is the Honda EU2200i watt Honda inverter-generator due to its reputation for quality, but is very expensive. The Champion 2,000 Ultralight is also highly popular due to its depression toll, yet still enjoys a stiff reputation for quality and skilful customer support.

Run into the Honda EU2200i on Amazon (approx $2,000.00)
See the Champion 2000 Ultralight on Amazon (approx $450.00)

These generators can provide enough ability to run a microwave oven (1,000 watts), a medium-sized Instant Pot (1,000 watts), coffee maker or espresso maker (ane,000 to i,500 watts). They tin can recharge the batteries in your RV also. They accept USB outlets to recharge phones and tablets.

Inverter-generators in the 2,000 watt range are limited to 30 amp service, just also accept the ability to exist chained together to produce 50 amps. Most boondockers opt to start with merely one inverter-generator and then determine later on to buy a second.

The Reason Why 2,000 Watt Generators Are So Popular

Primarily considering they are light enough to carry inside of an RV. And if you need more than ability, you lot tin can concatenation these generators together to double their output.

Larger generators in the range of iii,000 watts and higher become also heavy to carry, and too cumbersome to pull upwards the steps of an RV. On the other hand, if you lot accept a toy hauler trailer, you tin easily pull a big generator up the ramp door.

Honda Versus Champion and Other Brands

Honda mostly commands the almost respect in the world of portable generators due to its reputation for quality. When y'all're camping ground without hookups, you want a reliable generator. Notwithstanding, Honda generators are very expensive.

Champion has surged in popularity because it likewise seems to enjoy reputation for quality, but is priced far less. Champion'south line of generators are oft three to four times cheaper than Honda. Yet at the aforementioned time, many boondockers and full time RVers have mostly good things to say about Champion and their client support.

Yamaha enjoys a solid reputation for quality, but seems to take a difficult time keeping up with demand. Information technology's very difficult to observe whatever generators in stock, even on Amazon.

Harbor Freight sells a line of generators under its "Predator" brand, and are priced extremely low, well below that of Champion. We don't recommend these! We've seen quite a few of these leak gasoline and do not deliver their advertised wattage.

Should Yous Get A Bigger Generator?

Yep, if your RV has an air conditioning unit, fifty-fifty more and so if information technology has two units, or 3 units. If your rig does non have an air conditioning unit of measurement, you can get away with a 2,000 watt generator for just about all of your boondocking needs.

Air Workout

If your RV, van, or camper has an air conditioning unit, you will demand a bigger generator!

Most RVs these days are being outfitted with air conditioning units that produce 15,000 BTUs of cooling energy. Units of this size require 3,500 watts of power merely to start upwards. Once its running, the unit only needs nigh 1,500 watts. If your RV has 1 ac unit of measurement, you volition need a generator that tin produce at least 3,500 "surge watts".

Alternatively, you can alter your air-conditioning unit of measurement by adding a "soft beginning". This lowers the unit'southward ability needs when kickstarting to near 1,800 to 2,000 watts. Information technology volition still need 1,500 watts to keep running. Many boondockers have reported being able to run a fifteen,000 BTU ac unit with a 2,200 watt Honda generator after calculation a soft start. MicroAir makes the most pop soft start called "Like shooting fish in a barrel Start". (See them on Amazon).

If your RV has ii or more air workout units, then obviously you lot will need an even larger generator. If you have 2 units, y'all will need a generator that tin can produce at least 5,000 surge watts. This is considering once you get-go 1 air conditioning unit of measurement, and it has settled down to where its drawing only i,500 watts, y'all still need some other 3,500 watts to boot kickoff the second unit. Once both units take settled downward to 3,000 watts total, you lot even so have another ii,000 watts to run a microwave oven, watch television, and power other electronics.

Cooking Appliances, Bathroom Appliances, and Electronics

If your generator is powering an air-conditioning unit of measurement, and that generator barely has enough ability for the unit, you may have to turn off the air conditioning before running whatever of the beneath…

Most microwave/convection oven combos installed into RVs these days are the 1,000 watt diverseness for the microwave, and near ane,500 watts for the oven.

Instant Pots will swallow 1,200 watts for 8 quart, 1000 watts for the vi quart, and 700 watts for the 3 quart sizes.
Coffee makers typically swallow 600 watts in the smaller sizes, and 1,000 watts at the larger. Espresso machines will oft require 1,500 watts.
Mixers, blenders, and nutrient processors use virtually 300 to 400 watts of ability.
Curling irons and pilus dryers will consume generally 1,800 watts of ability each in the smaller to medium sized appliances, while larger sizes volition bleed about 2,500 watts a piece.
Electric razors use virtually 15 to 20 watts.
Most laptops require between 100-150 watts of ability when running.
Smartphones will consume well-nigh 20-thirty watts while charging.
A 32 inch LED telly will about 28 watts, while a similarly sized OLED television will require about 56 watts.
C-PAP machines volition require between 30-60 watts.

Before Buying a Generator…

Decide where you will shop the generator while driving. Generators that can produce iii,000 watts or more tin get heavy. If you're young plenty or stiff enough, that may non be a problem. However, generators that produce v,000 watts and upwards are so heavy that they require wheels and handles, and get so bulky that they may non fifty-fifty fit through your RV door. A typical 5,000 watt generator will weigh close to 200 pounds with a full gas tank. Many boondockers with a generator of this size will store the generator in the bed of their pickup truck, and will become some other guy to assistance them elevator information technology. They will strap information technology downwardly in identify, and and so get a truck topper or tonneau cover to protect it from the rain.

Many travel trailers have express carry capacities. It'south common for travel trailers to max out at 800 to 1,200 pounds of cargo carrying chapters. That includes the water tanks, sewage tanks, and propane tanks. After y'all've loaded the trailer with food, drinks, apparel, cookware, etc., you may not accept enough room for that v,000 watt generator. You lot volition have to booty it around in your pickup truck or find a manner to fit it inside your SUV.

Toy hauler trailers are very popular for boondocking considering of the ramp door. A larger generator of v,000 watts and higher can exist easily pulled inside a toy hauler trailer through the ramp door. Also, toy haulers have heavier cargo carrying capacities, and tin easily carry larger generators.

Think most how you will secure your generator from being stolen. Generators get stolen quite frequently when left unattended. It'due south a particular trouble when overnighting at Walmarts. Go yourself a steel cable and lock.

How will you protect your generator from the rain? Generators are designed to work in the rain, however when rain gets heavy enough, or if rained upon long enough, they will short out and cease working. Many boondockers leave their generators in the bed of a pickup truck, with a truck topper or tonneau cover to keep the rain off. They can nevertheless run the generator in there with the topper-door open, and/or the tailgate down. You can also buy rain-shelters for generators (see them on Amazon)