Generator for powering heat/AC?

[Nesquik]

Hello everyone. While reviewing my options for climate control in my van, I see many options, but have not come across anyone using a generator for the sole purpose of powering either a small window unit AC or space heater.

Of course I’d hook up to a power source whenever possible, and this would more often than not only be used at night.

If it matters it’s a GMC Safari. For the record I’m trying to make it comfortable for dogs/pregnant wife, who don’t have a high tolerance for uncomfortable temperatures. Trying to get it as comfortable as possible.

My largest concern is safety. How far away (and I assume only downwind) does the generator need to be?

 

[86scotty]

Works fine, just look at the wattages. A Honda 2000 will power a space heater or small window unit just fine. I have no experience with any other brands.

 

[dwh]

At night? Anyone nearby will complain.

 

[Bbasso]

If your climate can support, try a DIY swamp cooler.

 

[Nesquik]

At night? Anyone nearby will complain.

If there are people nearby that are able to complain, there’s probably a receptacle that we could plug into

 

[Nesquik]

If your climate can support, try a DIY swamp cooler.

No clue what that means! Will look into it now.

 

[huskyhauler]

The simplest route is to run a generator and a stand up household AC unit. NO fabrication required, except for figuring out how to seal the exhaust hose out of a window (duct tape and cardboard can work in a pinch).

Honda EU2000i generator will work fine. It's portable, reliable, small, quiet, and used ones can be found for $500-$600.

 

[FlipperFla]

I run a Yamaha 2K generator that will power a 5K BTU AC unit mounted in my rear door window. At a campground we use shore power , dispersed camping the Yamaha

 

[WVI]

Ha...Flipper I was looking at this thread to refer them to contact you to see how you run your AC....Was wondering how you did so of that one solar panel....

 

[FlipperFla]

Ha...Flipper I was looking at this thread to refer them to contact you to see how you run your AC....Was wondering how you did so of that one solar panel....

I tested the AC on the inverter, you could actually watch my volt meter drop like a rock. Run time with both AGM 31s...... probably 15- 20 minutes! The 100w panel gives me a charge of around 6A which is really not a lot, The 100W panel offsets my discharge when the van is sitting at the boat ramp parking lot all day in the Florida sun with the windows up and the fridge runs non stop. Probably going to upgrade to a 175-200W panel. Even with the Yamaha Inverter/generator when the AC kicks on you can hear the Yamaha load down. Another note if anyone is conidering a microwave they are rated on there output so take for example it is a 500W microwave it takes 1000W to run it. That also makes the meter spin fast.

 

[RC000E]

Running the fridgidaire 139.00 5k btu soft start unit from Home Depot off of a Briggs and Stratton 2200w quiet gen made to compete with Honda. Isn't quite as quiet as Honda, but not bad when running the AC.

 

[FlipperFla]

Hello everyone. While reviewing my options for climate control in my van, I see many options, but have not come across anyone using a generator for the sole purpose of powering either a small window unit AC or space heater.

Of course I’d hook up to a power source whenever possible, and this would more often than not only be used at night.

If it matters it’s a GMC Safari. For the record I’m trying to make it comfortable for dogs/pregnant wife, who don’t have a high tolerance for uncomfortable temperatures. Trying to get it as comfortable as possible.

My largest concern is safety. How far away (and I assume only downwind) does the generator need to be?

I try to keep it at least 50’ away from my van. I also have a carbon monixide/ smoke detector. If there is a security issue with the gen I chain it to a tree facing it behind (cutting down the noise factor) and the exhaust away from the van and always taking into consideration of my neighbors. Just remember wind direction can change in the middle of the night without you knowing. Down here in Florida a lot of people with larger boats with AC will put their generators on their swim platforms assuming the fumes will not go over the transom and back into the boat. Several years ago a family did this, the wind changed direction in the middle of the night blowing the exhaust back over the transom and down into the cabin killing everyone onboard. I would highly recommend the carbon monoxide/ smoke detector for piece of mind.

 

[RC000E]

Great tips there ^

Good things to consider for sure. I am mounting my gen on a hitch carrier with a barrier for noise and exhaust, but...still shows that strange things can happen. CO detector on board definitely critical.

 

[Mwilliamshs]

Carbon monoxide is lighter than air. It being blown "down into the cabin" seems unlikely but thinking it wouldn't naturally rise above the transom is ignorant. Genturi exhausts are great safety measure to get the noxious fumes up and away from campers with installed generators. There are several DIY projects online. A fan plugged into and blowing on a portable generator (or into its enclosure's intake) is a good way to dilute and evacuate its exhaust as well as aid cooling and even make it seem quieter upwind of the fan.

 

[FlipperFla]

Carbon monoxide is lighter than air. It being blown "down into the cabin" seems unlikely but thinking it wouldn't naturally rise above the transom is ignorant. Genturi exhausts are great safety measure to get the noxious fumes up and away from campers with installed generators. There are several DIY projects online. A fan plugged into and blowing on a portable generator (or into its enclosure's intake) is a good way to dilute and evacuate its exhaust as well as aid cooling and even make it seem quieter upwind of the fan.

Maybe you should check the boat design of a cruiser with a transom door and what bimini style anchoring is and what can happen with a wind direction change before you run your mouth and call someone ignorant, look it up it happened at Ponce Inlet. ******************