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Old 03-07-2021, 05:43 PM   #1
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Smile Generator Recommendations for micro Minnie Winnie 2018DS

We are looking to purchase a generator for our micro Minnie. Looking for one which runs relatively quiet and would be able to handle most of our hot water, air conditioning and appliance needs. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!
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Old 03-08-2021, 06:49 AM   #2
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How much weight are you willing to lift? To run everything at once (30 amps) it will take a generator in the 90 - 100lb range or two 39lb generators linked together.
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Old 03-08-2021, 07:43 AM   #3
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Air conditioner, hot water and appliance needs?

The Air Conditioner draws somewhere between 13 and 15 amps but takes much more current to start. A Honda EU2200i will usually start one.

The hot water heater can run on propane with only a little DC for lighting the burner. I would not try to heat hot water with generator power.

The appliances may be DC or may be AC. The biggest AC draw is probably the microwave, about 8 amps.

So if you can live with turning your AC down (to make sure the compressor turns off) for a few minutes while you use the microwave or similar high current AC device, the Honda mentioned above will work. Otherwise you are going to need a heavier 3,000+ watt generator as noted above.

The Honda and probably the Yamaha are the gold standard of portable inverter generators. But you can buy models from Champion or others for about half of what a Honda costs.

David
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Old 03-08-2021, 08:07 AM   #4
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Thanks so much!!
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Old 03-08-2021, 08:39 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skipurple View Post
Thanks so much!!
I bought this one last month. It runs great. I have 2.5 hours on it and it works fine for the trailer for everything except the AC. I may buy a second one with the unit to combine the two.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Here is the parallel connection kit.
https://www.amazon.com/WEN-GNA36i-36...5218418&sr=8-1
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Old 03-08-2021, 08:55 AM   #6
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There are quite a few portable generators available these days. The gold standard is the Honda EU2200i. They cost 50% more than the lower end of the market or about $1000 each.

The Honda pretty much created the quieter portable market and now their competitors all try to mimic the honda's features at a lower price. It's tough to spend $1000 for a generator when you can get one that seems to the "the same." but costs $500.

When I bought ours they were $800 and I bought two. I used them on my Travel Trailers for 10 years. They always started. Usually on one pull. They never needed anything but gas and oil changes. And, when we got a motorhome with a built in generator we sold them on craigslist in one day for $1000 ($500 each).

So, I paid $1600 and sold them 10-years later for $1000 which means they cost me $30 a year for each one.

I know the specs are the same on the cheaper models - and it's just a guess - but I doubt you can get 10-years of maintenance free use and a 60% return on the purchase with a no-name cut rate generator.

Just something to consider.
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Old 03-08-2021, 09:23 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by Skipurple View Post
We are looking to purchase a generator for our micro Minnie. Looking for one which runs relatively quiet and would be able to handle most of our hot water, air conditioning and appliance needs. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!
We just bought a Champion 2500w dual fuel because we wanted a propane generator and it weighs only 39 lbs vrs 98 lbs for the Champion 3400 dual fuel. The 2500 will power everything in our MM on propane, including convection microwave, except the AC. It cost half the price of the Honda eu2200i. Haven’t decided yet whether to buy a second Champion for parallel operation, or buy an easy start. Leaning toward the easy start because running 2 gennies burns twice the fuel.
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Old 03-08-2021, 09:35 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by Skipurple View Post
We are looking to purchase a generator for our micro Minnie. Looking for one which runs relatively quiet and would be able to handle most of our hot water, air conditioning and appliance needs. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!
I have a Wen 3800, that’ll run every thing in my RV and has a 30A RV plug on it. And it’s quiet.

https://wenproducts.com/collections/...-fuel-shut-off
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Old 03-08-2021, 03:09 PM   #9
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We use a Honda EU2200i and Easy Start on the AC.

If we didn't already have the Honda, I would be looking hard at this Ryobi 2300, it has electric start plus remote start and shutdown through a phone app. It also has wheels and a retractable handle. This is the first small inverter generator I've came across with electric start and remote start/shutdown.
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Old 03-09-2021, 12:49 PM   #10
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I went with the Honda EU2200i as well, but converted it on day #0 to propane with the Hutch Mountain kit. The propane conversion was trivial. I haul it inside my SUV so I was thinking that not using gasoline was a "very good thing." It can still use gasoline if necessary.

I'm waiting for our first very hot trip to push me over the edge to get an easy start for the A/C. Mainly, I haul the generator as insurance in case we run out of juice in our two Battle Born lithium batteries. I'm hoping to rarely need to lift the Honda other than at the start and end of our trips.
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Old 03-09-2021, 12:55 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigbird65 View Post
I bought this one last month. It runs great. I have 2.5 hours on it and it works fine for the trailer for everything except the AC. I may buy a second one with the unit to combine the two.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Here is the parallel connection kit.
https://www.amazon.com/WEN-GNA36i-36...5218418&sr=8-1
Thanks so much ‘n
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Old 03-09-2021, 12:55 PM   #12
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Thanks so much - very helpful
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Old 03-09-2021, 01:57 PM   #13
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Thanks so much ‘n
You are welcome.
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Old 03-09-2021, 02:11 PM   #14
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Smile

Quote:
Originally Posted by tinglett View Post
I went with the Honda EU2200i as well, but converted it on day #0 to propane with the Hutch Mountain kit. The propane conversion was trivial. I haul it inside my SUV so I was thinking that not using gasoline was a "very good thing." It can still use gasoline if necessary.

I'm waiting for our first very hot trip to push me over the edge to get an easy start for the A/C. Mainly, I haul the generator as insurance in case we run out of juice in our two Battle Born lithium batteries. I'm hoping to rarely need to lift the Honda other than at the start and end of our trips.
Thanks for your info!
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Old 03-09-2021, 05:22 PM   #15
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I also did a lot of research on this topic before I purchased ours. Since I have not seen it on the list I will throw it out there. We went with the Harbor Freight Predator 3500. Quiet, weighs about 100lbs, and will run our camper, including the AC. I usually will keep the hot water tank on propane if needing the AC. So far so good, just make sure you follow the break in instructions that come with whatever brand you get. Good luck and happy camping.
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Old 03-09-2021, 05:28 PM   #16
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Many thanks!!
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Old 03-09-2021, 05:29 PM   #17
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Appreciate this info
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Old 03-09-2021, 05:32 PM   #18
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Thanks

I want to thank you all for your input to our question !! Very helpful
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Old 03-11-2021, 02:47 PM   #19
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To run everything and be like you were hooked up to a normal RV site power post, you will need 3600 watts of stead power supply.
You have to be careful with many of the generators as they may say 2500 watts, but that is just starting wats, and you actually get 1900-2000 RUNNING watts. The running watts is what is important.
Many generators you can parallel two smaller generators together to get more wattage.
I didn't want the hassle of having to mess with 2 generators (fueling them, repairs, etc).
We are getting (had one delivered but it came in damaged) a Westinghouse iGen 4500 Dual Fuel. It provides enough wattage in running state (on gas 3700 watts) to power the entire trailer like we were hooked up to a power post. On propane it provides 3330 watts of steady power. It does weigh around 100 pounds, but two out of shape people can easily handle it.
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Old 03-11-2021, 05:20 PM   #20
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Many thanks for your input
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