haste maker
alabama
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Joined: 05/29/2009
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I have seen where Cummins has said that the Onan generator needs to run 2 hours each month under load (with the A/C on)..my question is what would you need to run during the winter when it's to cold for A/C.
Retried Teamster
2007 Allergo
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StarkNaked
West Seattle, WA
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Joined: 09/13/2006
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Electric heater.
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wolfe10
Florida
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StarkNaked wrote:Electric heater.
Needs to be electric heaters PLURAL. If engine block heater, turn it on (assuming you are parked). Heat pump as long as ambient temperature above 40 degrees F.
You are looking for around a 50% load.
Brett Wolfe
Ex: 2003 Alpine 38'FDDS
Ex: 1997 Safari 35'
Ex: 1993 Foretravel U240
Diesel RV Club:http://www.dieselrvclub.org/
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KD4UPL
Swoope, VA
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Joined: 03/16/2008
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I always used a 1,500 watt heater on my 2.5 kW Onan. If you have a 4.5 kW a single electric heater is probably fine. If you have a 5.5 kW or larger I'd use 2 electric heaters.
You really should have an electric heater anyway. They're only about $25 and can save a lot of propane if you camp much in cold weather. I always run the electric heater on the camp grounds power that I'm paying for anyway instead of using up my propane.
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Tom/Barb
Oak Harbor, Wa
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Joined: 10/16/2009
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My 7.5 Onan got
120 hours in 22 years.. still works
2000 Newmar mountain aire 4081 DP, ISC/350 Allison 6 speed, Wrangler JL toad.
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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I'd use 2 1500 watt heaters. If 50 amps--one on each leg.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.
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SuperBus
Michigan
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Joined: 09/25/2019
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I usually turn on the Aquahot electric heating element and run the heat pumps. That'll put 40 - 50 amps worth of load on the generator. The theory is, I suppose, that "free-revving" an engine is never a good idea (hence the need to apply a load, since generators run at speed) and sitting engines have plenty of issues with drying, rusting, etc. (the frequency and duration).
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Dutch_12078
Winters south, summers north
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Joined: 10/07/2008
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From Onan:
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/CXSlhCEl.jpg)
Dutch
2001 GBM Landau 34' Class A
F53 chassis, Triton V10, TST TPMS
Bigfoot Automatic Leveling System
2011 Toyota RAV4 4WD/Remco pump
ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/Blue Ox baseplate
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joebedford
Home for the summer.
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Joined: 09/03/2003
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I'm sure the documentation for my Onan 5500 says 30 minutes a month. I guess Onan has upped the hours in the 12 years since mine was installed.
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wa8yxm
Davison Michigan (East of Flint)
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I had always heard a shorter period of run but won't argue.
I used electric heaters in the winter.. Usually while changing campgrounds.
And the Roof A/C's in the summer. Never had a generator issue other than a sticking choke and I never noticed that (Mechanic spotted and fixed it as part of an oil change)
Home was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times
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