I got a new trailer with a weekender package in June and I've slowing been trying to outfit it. On several Websites I saw comments that people were using the new Yamaha EF2400is for their RV's electrical needs. It is supposed to run most 13,500 air conditioners. So I bought one, since it's 1/2 the weight of the 3000 series generators and very quite. Called my dealer and he confirmed that it should run the A/Cunit. In fact he said one of his other brands of trailers was a dealer for the Yamaha generators and were shipping them as a option for their trailers. And that he was looking for one himself to replace the 200watt unit he hauls in the bed of his pickup. Armed with positive feedback off the internet and my dealer, I ordered one.
Well it will run my electric hot water heater, and it will run my stereo. Both at the same time in fact. It will run my A/c unit in FAN Mode. But it will NOT run my A/C unit in Cool mode.
Now the decision. I really don't want a larger generator. I don't want to be lifting a 150lb generator in and out of the back of my truck. And I don't have room in my trailer for one that size. I guess I could mount it to the hay rack and leave it exposed to elements.
I don't hang out at Fairgrounds or Rodeos. If I camp in my trailer it's in the mountains which are usually cool enough. If it had been an option, I would not have ordered the A/C uint. But it came with the trailer, I thought it may be nice to have. I suspect I'll keep the Yamaha EF2400is, it should run a small TV or Microwave if I every add one to the trailer.
I'll call the dealer tomorrow and let him know it won't work with this A/C unit.
Posted 2005-08-03 8:04 PM (#28847 - in reply to #28846) Subject: RE: Yamaha ED2400iS Generator
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 335 Location: Decatur, Texas
At least you have cool mountains to camp in. It was 102 F today at my place. I keep the A/C going in my LQ even though we don't stay in it while parked. Even though it's under an enclosed shed, it will get up to 90F inside without it on. And with the TX humidity, mold can be a problem. So I crank the thermo to 78 and let 'er run to prevent problems. Gosh, wish I had cool mountains to ride in!
Posted 2005-08-03 8:21 PM (#28851 - in reply to #28846) Subject: RE: Yamaha ED2400iS Generator
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
We've had a hot summer, we had 8 days in July that went over 100* here at home. But 20 minutes drive I can go from 4200feet above sea level to 7000 feet. The temp drops 15* just by the elvation change. The I ride up to 9000 feet and it really cools off. So after a hot day at work I can for short drive and with the sun settng enjoy a ride with 70* temps.
For camping I drive a little farther. Hour and half or two hours and camp at a wilderness trail head usually at 8000-9000 foot elevation and the temp there are usually in 50's at night. In fact last week Mirror Lake in the Uintas had 29* night time low temp.
I almost look forward to going camping just for the cool air so I can get a good nights sleep.
Posted 2005-08-05 3:03 PM (#28903 - in reply to #28846) Subject: RE: Yamaha ED2400iS Generator
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Yeah, good question.
The Carrier Owners guide only says "115V AC, 60Hz, 1 Phase power"
The brochure off Carriers Website shows 1820 Watts at 80*.
Looking in the trailer it has a 20amp breaker for the A/C.
If the generator is rated at a continous 2000watts, I should be able to run the A/C with it.
What am I overlooking here???
I can hook my trailer power cord up to my 50 amp 220 power outlet in my garage ( via an adapter that only delivers one leg or 120 volt power) and it runs just fine.
If I plug it directly into 120 outlets ( all GFI protected) it pops the GFI. I attribute that to the length of cable. Since I don't have to have ANYTHING running and it will pop the GFI just by plugging in the cable.
Generator runs at 2600 rpm normal idle. Turn on the water heater and it bumps up to 2950rpm. Turn everything off and try just the A/C and it jumps to 5200rpm for 15 seconds and then shuts off.
Posted 2005-08-05 5:04 PM (#28908 - in reply to #28846) Subject: RE: Yamaha ED2400iS Generator
Member
Posts: 24
Location: buchanan,MI
The length of extension cord with no load shouldn't cause the GFI to trip.It seems as if the GFI is sensing a ground to phase.... You could test this by unplugging your trailer from the last extension cord and checking your GFI.
Posted 2005-08-05 10:45 PM (#28911 - in reply to #28846) Subject: RE: Yamaha ED2400iS Generator
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
GFI's are limited by the voltage drop and a LONG cord will cause that voltage drop. I see this all the time on Construction Job site. The electrical code now requires us to use a GFI in the temp power that we set up on job site. Construction workers unroll cords for work and they start tripping the GFI. We have to come off the 220 ( no GFI) split the legs into 120v and then run our long cords.
At any rate the cord I am using is hard wired into the trailer. I can't just unplug it. The trailer has 15' of so 12 gauge cord built in. Even when I plug it directly into an outlet ( It won't reach the GFI itself So I am plugging it into a dwonstream outlet that puts a load on the GFI. second or third from the GFI.
As I think about this, I remember that it also pops the GFI on my larger 6000Watt generator if I come off the 120v 20amp circuit. It runs just fine if it comes off the 30amp breaker. Hmmmm? More research to do.
Posted 2005-08-06 3:17 PM (#28932 - in reply to #28846) Subject: RE: Yamaha ED2400iS Generator
Member
Posts: 5
Location: Gilroy Ca
It sounds like the AC startup load is way too much for that little generator...I have the Yamaha ed3000is series(love it) that is rated at 3500 watts and it works perfectly on a 13500 ac unit in 100 degree weather12
Posted 2005-08-06 7:05 PM (#28938 - in reply to #28846) Subject: RE: Yamaha ED2400iS Generator
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Alright I think this is more of circuit breaker issue than a generator issue.
I again tried my Generac 6000 generator. This puts out 6000 watts. It has both a 30amp RV plug and two 120v household plugs off a 20 amp breaker.
The A/C pops the 20 amp breaker. But if I plug intot he 30amp RV plug, it runs just fine. So apparently the A/C units draws more than 20 amp.
But that confuses me. The Product brochure says 1820watts max. The trailer has a 20amp mini fuse, That should burn out and need replacing if I draw over 20amps.
Posted 2005-08-07 9:05 PM (#28954 - in reply to #28846) Subject: RE: Yamaha ED2400iS Generator
Location: Illinois
I had the GFI popping on my trailer by just pluggin in the cord. Turns out the ground and the neutral were tied together in the circuit box so I undid the ground and everything was better. I then just had to hook the ground to the frame. The trailer worked fine whenever it was plugged in to anything but a GFI. One easy test would be to put a ground isolator on your extension cord.
Posted 2005-08-07 9:32 PM (#28955 - in reply to #28846) Subject: RE: Yamaha ED2400iS Generator
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Thanks for the suggestion. Where do you found a ground isolator? I found a bunch of them on the internet but they are all for Audio application.
I went out and took a quick look at the trailer. Power cord into a metal junction box. Black/White/Green connect to a 12guage romex. Black/White/Copper As expected.
Under the Jackknife coach there is a Breaker panel and a ground bar. It has all white wires connecting to it except one short length of copper that goes from the ground bar to the traile frame.
Tomorrow evening before the sun goes down, I'll have to try and find out which romex is the bringing the power into the breaker panel.
Yamaha ED2400iS Generator
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