What size Generator to Power a T@B 400 AC Plus Lights, Refrigerator and TV

jpi68

Hello everyone, My wife and I are retiring next year and are scheduled to buy a T@B 400 early in 2019. We have been researching and planning this for over a year. We plan on doing some boondocking and therefore want to have a generator as part of our kit. I have consulted with Nucamp and they suggest a 2800 W generator to handle the start up surge of the AC. I have seen others who have run the T@B AC with a 2000 W generator (2200 W peak). Looking to hear if any others have had a similar experience. 

RollingBnB

Tab 320 and 400 have very different a/c units. 2000 watts is fine for a 320 with a 5k btu unit. 400 needs more, maybe 3000 watts.

jpi68

We are currently looking at a pair of Champion 2000W generators hooked up in parallel. Has any one else tried this set up with a T@B 400?

Sharon_is_SAM

This thread may be helpful.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/6495/easy-start-for-your-dometic-ac-anyone#latest

jpi68

Yes, I have looked at that thread and downloaded all the info, however, reading the Dometic Cool Cat manual, installation of the Micro-air Soft Start would void the Cool Cat's Warrantee... Therefore we have been looking at a generator system that would work and not break the bank, or my back..

unclemikebob

I purchased a Honda 2800 after talking with the tech guy at nuCamp. Runs the ac in my 400 just fine.  I had a Honda 2000 and it would start and run the ac, but seemed to bog down just a little on start up. The 2800 is heavier and takes more room but I can manage and only fill it when I have it sitting where its going to be used for a while.

N7SHG_Ham

Another option may be go with smaller generator like the Honda 2200 and upgrade the off grid battery/inverter systems. The hybrid inverter systems are able to pull power from the battery bank to assist the generator momentarily with loads that exceed the generator output such as Cool Cat starting. That type of system is NOT inexpensive but may be better than lugging a huge generator that is only needed for the air conditioning. Victron has offerings starting at $1100 plus installation that would fall into this category of inverter. Bottom line is there is not going to be an inexpensive solution to running air conditioning while off grid.

jpi68

N7SHG_Ham - I agree, it seems that the most reliable would be the Honda Parallel system at $2,200, followed by the Yamaha at $1,911 and then the Champion at $916. Unfortunately the best ratings are in the same order as the highest to lowest cost...

N7SHG_Ham

@jpi68 well you usually get what you pay for, sometimes less and hardly ever more...

jpi68

OK people, I have now read comments by three different T@B 400 owners who have run their Cool Cat AC using a 2000 watt generator. One used a Generac 2000, the other two were Honda's. One person ran the AC at altitude with the Honda 2200. As far as I understand they ran these without the assistance of the Micro-Air or other soft start assistance. Can any one else elaborate or collaborate on a similar experience?

Tundra57

I have a Honda 2800i generator. It runs the AC fine, but sometimes it will trip my power input protection unit on ac startup. I bought and fitted a microaire soft start. The guys at the supplier were great got it off Amazon. Install was relatively easy. The difference is huge. The generator never bogs down and my power input protection unit never trips. If I have a problem with the coolcat I'll just take the micro air off and no one will be the wiser, since the micro-air has almost zero chance of damaging the coolcat, in fact it helps the compressor on startup.

I am very impressed with the unit. Ran it off my generator for 8 hours and never refilled the generator. It was 90 outside and 74 inside. No problem. :-). BTW, it makes a huge difference to the thermostat cut on and off depending how you set the floor vent opposite. If you point it at the thermostat it turns off way too early.

simonseyz

I'm using a Honda eu2200i to run every thing that came with my 2018 tab 400. It runs the a/c with no problems, I do shut it off for a few minutes to operate my microwave or coffee maker and then turn the ac back on. It's light weight and starts with just one pull!  I first tried the off brand models and found out, you get what you pay for!

NCNative

I use a Predator 3500 from Harbor Freight. It runs the AC no problem. I also run the microwave off of it (I shut off the AC first)

jpi68

Interesting.... We bought a Honda eu2200. It will run the AC at elevations below 2,000 feet, i.e., the Midwest, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio...... Here in Colorado no such luck, at elevations of 5,000 feet the generator will not run the AC. The Honda will run the microwave, at altitude, no problem. Thankfully, it has been our experience that at our altitudes, and humidity levels the Fantastic Fan is all we need to cool off the cabin... Still we think that we will eventually pick up the Honda 2200 Companion, which would give us up to 4,400 watts of power. That could possibly power our AC and microwave at the same time... not that we would need to do that...

N7SHG_Ham

I live at around 3000 feet, I just bought a new Honda 2200i with a propane conversion. It will start and run the Coolcat in my 2019 400 even on eco mode. I will likely add a microair easy start in the future to make it less of a jolt and help with start up at altitude. If you can get past the startup, any 2000 class generator should be able to maintain running, the current draw running is just a little over 1/2 of the rated power of these generators.

jpi68

I have heard good and bad things about the micro air. The good is that it helps in running the T@B 400 AC on a 2,000 watt generator at altitude. The bad is that it may void the warranty on theT@B AC.

N7SHG_Ham

jpi68 said:

I have heard good and bad things about the micro air. The good is that it helps in running the T@B 400 AC on a 2,000 watt generator at altitude. The bad is that it may void the warranty on theT@B AC.

True. I think key word is "may". I think Dometic would have to prove the mod caused failure and MicroAir has indicated they would defend the product.

Reality is have you ever heard of an EasyStart causing a failure or for that matter anyone having to replace a CoolCat under warranty for any reason? I haven't, so I think mostly nothing to worry about.

jpi68

I am not very handy, and even though I’ve seen the wiring diagrams and pictures of how to install the easystart not sure that I want to try it. I have heard of people going to RV shows where there was an easystart booth and that they installed the unit at the show. Has anyone else heard of this?

NCNative

I have 2019 400 BDL with a Coolcat AC. I use a Predator 3500 from Harbor Freight that works well running the AC

cafyrman

My EU2200i runs the AC on my 2018 400 pretty well, but it goes into overload when I'm up at 4000 feet.  Oddly, it doesn't seem to do it when the AC first starts, but right in the middle of running.

Any thoughts on that?  Will the Microair help with that?

N7SHG_Ham

@cafyrman the MicroAir only comes into play at compressor start, so unless the issue mid running is when the compressor comes back on, I don't think the MicroAir will solve the overload issue.

cafyrman

N7SHG_Ham said:

@cafyrman the MicroAir only comes into play at compressor start, so unless the issue mid running is when the compressor comes back on, I don't think the MicroAir will solve the overload issue.

That's the only thing I can figure... maybe the compressor is coming back on while the fan is still running and I don't notice that it's kicked off and back on.  I think I might try to dig up my Kill a Watt to measure actual use while hooked to shore power.

TacoDr1ver

I'm thinking of getting an Ecoflow 3600 watt solar generator. Would that run the Cool cat in my 2021 400 Boondock and for about how long?

Denny16

A 3600-watt solar generator is the size of the unit’s inverter, which should power the CoolCat AC.  The question is how big of a battery does that unit have in it, this is what is going to determine how long you can run the AC.  It takes about a 400 amp hr. Lithium battery to run the AC for about 6 hrs. in avg conditions.  The other question is the ambient air temp, inside the trailer and the outside air temp, which will determine how hard the AC needs to work.  Lots of factors at play here.

Cheers

Citruscountytab400

I use a Honda 2200eu companion generator and the 400 AC along with all other appliances such as the microwave lights and refrigerator can run at the same time.  I do use the water heater on gas when running off the generator.  in general, you will never use all appliance at the same time, so I would suggest you look at a Honda or Yamaha suitcase generator and buy it for life.

dlb

I use a Honda 2200eu as well and we are very satisfied with it’s performance.