Generator volts drop with hot water heater load

[Connerkip]

I am confused by one aspect of the generator in operation.

Running my 5kw Onan generator, With all loads turned off, including the a/c's, the volt meter in the cave shows 125v output. When I turn on the water heater only, which I believe is only a 1500w load, the voltage drops to 120 and stays there.

When I run both a/c's only, no other loads, including not running the hot water heater, the generator starts at 125, and stays at 125 except for the momentary blip when compressors kick in. 2 A/C's with pump have a total running wattage of 2650w.

Why do you suppose that is? By far the a/c's are a much larger load than the hot water.

 

[pleeson]

Resistive loads like heating elements are by far the biggest drag on a small generator. The starting load on a compressor is high and then drops substantially once it is running, a heating element is a constant big load - hence the difference. It's like pushing water uphill, one momentarily, the other continually. 120 v is not a problem for any of your other loads and the generator should be able to handle several other smaller items as well as the water heater but perhaps not an electric kettle which is another heating element....

 

[Connerkip]

Thanks. My interest is to understand more why I am unable to run both of my air conditioners and the hot water heater at the same time. When I do I trip the breaker on the generator each and every time, right away.

 

[Andrew Custis]

Hello Kip,

That is too much power for the generator to handle. The reason we put in two separate lines of power is just for this reason. You should be able to run one AC unit and a hot water heater but not both. You also have the battery charger pulling against the gen capacity because of the way it's wired into the pass through.

Thank you,

 

[Connerkip]

Thanks Andrew,

I'm new at this, please accept my apologies for the questions. Please would you explain more about the battery charger and pass through?

 

[Connerkip]

Thanks Andrew, for the phone call. I have a much better understanding of how the generator and the inverter/charger work as a system. Also, I had been baffled when adding up the wattage of the 2 airconditioners and the water heater, finding it less than than the 5kw generator output, yet still popping the breaker on the generator. I see now the generator actually has a two pole breaker, such that it trips when the load on one pole exceeds 20 amps. Now I understand why one airconditioner only can be run with the hot water heater on. I appreciate your patience and more importantly your knowledge and support. Thanks!