Honda 2000i eco throttle problem

[Mobilesport]

I'm powering a 5000btu window air conditioner off of my Honda 2000i and I normally run it in ecomode with no problems but recently the air conditioner stops blowing cool air , so I flip the eco throttle off and then there's plenty of cool air , if I flip it back to ecomode it quits blowing cool air  , sometimes it will snap out of it and start blowing cool air for a while when ecomode is on , other times I might get it to work in ecomode for a while and then it starts acting up again .
The strange thing is that it seems like its more likely to work while in ecomode at night when its cooler outside .
Its AlWAYS set to maximum cool and the fan on high wether its day or night.
Also it wouldn't power my toaster completely even with ecomode off.

 

[29chico]

I'm powering a 5000btu window air conditioner off of my Honda 2000i and I normally run it in ecomode with no problems but recently the air conditioner stops blowing cool air , so I flip the eco throttle off and then there's plenty of cool air , if I flip it back to ecomode it quits blowing cool air  , sometimes it will snap out of it and start blowing cool air for a while when ecomode is on , other times I might get it to work in ecomode for a while and then it starts acting up again .
The strange thing is that it seems like its more likely to work while in ecomode at night when its cooler outside .
Its AlWAYS set to maximum cool and the fan on high wether its day or night.
Also it wouldn't power my toaster completely even with ecomode off.

You are torturing the inverter module in your generator.  I would suggest that you consider just using the genny to power the a/c in non-eco mode as you will have a much lower chance of the inverter module failing.  The inverter module is known to fail with some regularity on the eu2000i .  The inverter module is a non-serviceable part and costs about $600

It is not strange that your genny can run the a/c better at night in eco mode since an a/c unit needs less starting power when temps are lower.

It might be a very good idea to get some Caig DeOxit (link bleow) and clean up the connections into and out of the inverter module.  Also, most small window a/c units don't have a starting capacitor as they are designed to run on grid power.  You can probably find some DIY help online on how to add a starting capacitor to your a/c.  Doing so can make a big difference in ease of starting of an a/c.  Connecting your a/c to the genny with the the shortest possible power cord that has the fattest wire in it that you can find would help also.

link:  https://www.amazon.com/CAIG-DeOxit-Cleaning-Solution-Spray/dp/B0002BBV4G

 

[Mobilesport]

Chico29    thanks for posting .
My thought was that the Honda should be able to handle powering the 5000 btu in ecomode because the 5000 btu ac is only like 440 watts , the Hondas is supposed to handle up to 500 watts in ecomode and once its up and running theres no more startup surges , only the initial surge when I start out and that doesn't seem to phase it.
I'll look into a capacitor , anything I can do to make the generator work less sounds good. 
Thanks

 

[sushidog]

Whenever the compressor cycles there is a surge in power needed. This is more than twice the running wattage needed, but is only required briefly (a second or so.) In eco mode (when the engine is idling) it can't rev up fast enough to meet such a rapid demand in power. This is not a problem on non-inverter generators that operate at a fixed RPM, as they only have to throttle up, not rev up like inverter generators must do because the generator engine is already running at the required speed.

Does that make sense?

Chip

 

[Mobilesport]

Whenever the compressor cycles there is a surge in power needed. This is more than twice the running wattage needed, but is only required briefly (a second or so.) In eco mode (when the engine is idling) it can't rev up fast enough to meet such a rapid demand in power. This is not a problem on non-inverter generators that operate at a fixed RPM, as they only have to throttle up, not rev up like inverter generators must do because the generator engine is already running at the required speed.

Does that make sense?

Chip

Yea but the compressor is'nt cycling on and off if I'm running the air conditioner with the thermostat set to high , the only time I'm getting a surge is during initial startup.
Now if I were to adjust the thermostat down I could see your point because then the compressor would not only draw a surge during startup but also every time the compressor kicked on

 

[highdesertranger]

put a Killowatt meter on that AC. get us some real numbers. highdesertranger

 

[ArtW]

Yup, could be the AC unit
My old as dirt (1985) 5000 btu AC sometimes fails to kick on on grid power. It'll try, you'll hear it draw down, the lights react more that when it's successful, and then it'll let up, and a few minutes later, try again, successfully
I'm fairly sure it's a bad relay or the compressor is just getting old and balky

 

[ZoNiE]

The AC unit may be on all the time, if you have the fan set to on in stead of auto, but the compressor still cycles on and off. Higher temps mean higher head pressures which mean longer LRA (Locked Rotor Amps) times. I'd bet your AC unit has some smart (brownout) circuitry it to protect it when it cannot draw the current it needs to start the compressor. Since the start time is longer in the daytime, It is probably kicking out before the eco throttle has a chance to react to the load.

If this is not the case, and the compressor is running and then it quits, it still may be the brownout circuitry shutting it down because the current draw is too high due to the higher temps. If it has R410 refrigerant in it, (Not likely being 1985 vintage) it is surely running at very high pressure. Since it is old, that can happen too. It is getting old and drawing more current.


Just turn the eco throttle off during the day.

 

[ArtW]

Zonie, you got me crossed with the OP, I'm on grid power
No idea if his AC is as old as mine, and positive mine is R12, or whatever was standard in 1985

 

[Mobilesport]

put a Killowatt meter on that AC.  get us some real numbers.  highdesertranger

Good thinking I'll report back later with the results.

 

[Mobilesport]

Whenever the compressor cycles there is a surge in power needed. This is more than twice the running wattage needed, but is only required briefly (a second or so.) In eco mode (when the engine is idling) it can't rev up fast enough to meet such a rapid demand in power. This is not a problem on non-inverter generators that operate at a fixed RPM, as they only have to throttle up, not rev up like inverter generators must do because the generator engine is already running at the required speed.

Does that make sense?

Chip

Zonie, you got me crossed with the OP, I'm on grid power
No idea if his AC is as old as mine, and positive mine is R12, or whatever was standard in 1985

My air conditioner is about a year old 
Artic king model  ewko5cm5
It has no automatic funtion  it has
Thermostat 1-----7

Hi cool
Low cool
high fan
Low fan
Off

I dont think its the air conditioner because my toaster acts up too , the toaster lights up very dim and takes a long time to make toast , and this happens when eco mode is turned off.


Off

 

[ArtW]

I'd bet a hat on the genny being the problem here

 

[29chico]

double post

 

[29chico]

Are you really sure about the compressor running all the time when you set the thermostat to max cool ?  If an a/c's compressor runs all of the time the cooling coils will ice up and efficiency will be greatly reduced. So every a/c that I have seen, and paid attention to, will cycle the compressor to prevent the ice  issue even when set to max cool.  This is for both mobile and residential a/c units.

I'll bet that your genny will perform at least a bit better if you clean up the connections to the inverter module with DeOxit.

 

[Diesel4Life]

The EU2000's are fantastic generators I own two. But changing the oil, fuel filter and cleaning the air filter regularly is extremely inexpensive insurance for happy longer living units. Also the poor quality of fuel and ethanol junk in it these days does not help. I make a habit myself and advise others to shut the fuel off and let all small gasoline engines run out of fuel when they will no longer be needed for the day or longer. This one step helps to mediate the ethanol and other junk from remaining in the jets and fuel bowls and drying there. Also inexpensive hour meters can be purchased online and the sensor wire wrapped around the spark plug wire and the meter display double sided taped somewhere on the units to help keep track of hours of use between service intervals.  

These little generators are air cooled and need sufficient air-intake and clean air filters to operate efficiently, remember to check and clean your air filter regularly. And if at all possible try and keep the unit in the shade  in a well ventilated area.

 

[Benjamin Dejo]

For what it's worth, my Honda EU1000i ran my 5K BTU window unit for 2 hours during a recent power outage. Did it with ECO turned off, of course.

 

[sushidog]

I run my 5,000 BTU AC in my Aliner with this cheapo 1,200/1,500 watt Triron genny, even at altitude through my little trailer's converter which draws some power too.

It is not an inverter type, so does not have an eco mode. Your Honda is a 1,600/2,000 watt generator so should have no problem with the load if it is running properly.

Chip

 

[ZoNiE]

Oops on the mixup on the posters...

Regarding the new arctic king, yeah, probably an R410.

Regarding the toaster, what is the wattage on that?

If well below the 2K, then, yeah, maybe a generator issue, but it runs fine at night?

"scratchy head"

 

[Mobilesport]

put a Killowatt meter on that AC.  get us some real numbers.  highdesertranger

5000 BTU AC
Hondas ecomode OFF

Startup  14 amps    970 watts

Running  4 amps    470 watts  AC was blowing cool


5000 BTU AC
Hondas ecomode ON

There was no start up surge .
Amps and Watts slowly climbed until it
rested at the numbers below

Running   5 amps     465 watts AC was blowing cool

My toaster was 775 watts and toested my toast just fine , lately my toaster has been taking a long time to make toast and if I look inside it the coils are very dim.

I will test everything again when it gets extremely hot outside.

 

[Mobilesport]

For what it's worth, my Honda EU1000i ran my 5K BTU window unit for 2 hours during a recent power outage.   Did it with ECO turned off, of course.

That was probably pretty loud wasn't it?