5 Best Generators for 15000 BTU Air Conditioner

RV camping is growing by leaps and bounds. Industry analysts estimate that there are now more than nine million RV’s and travel trailers in the US. Almost all these RVs have air conditioners in the 15000 BTU range. Many new RV owners wonder what the best generator is to power a 15000 BTU air conditioner.

A generator to power your RV with a 15000 BTU air conditioner normally needs to be in the 3500 to 4500-watt range. Most 15000 BTU RV air conditioners require about 3500 watts at startup and, once running, require 1500 watts continuously. Your generator must supply these amounts of energy plus any other appliances or equipment that you want to operate.

Getting off the grid is one of the biggest attractions of RV’ing and boondocking. However, many of us appreciate the comforts that we bought with our RV. We want to enjoy nature but still have the conveniences such as air conditioning, a cold refrigerator, and hot water. If you are five miles up a dirt road and not a power pole in sight, a good inverter generator is an answer.

Let’s Take a look at our picks for the best inverter generator to power your RV and its 15000 BTU air conditioner.

Reliability is a big concern for many RV owners who shop for an inverter generator for their rigs. Reliability is an honest concern. There is nothing worse than hauling an inverter generator several hundred miles to your favorite campsite and have it fail.

Champion Power Equipment has a reputation for trouble-free power equipment. Overall, RV’ers who buy and use Champion inverter generators give this equipment high marks. The comments we found most about these inverter generators rain in the categories of:

Weight is always an issue with an RV, especially travel trailers. Add too much weight and you can quickly exceed the towing capacity of your pulling vehicle. The Champion 4500-watt inverter generator is no lightweight in the generator field. Fully fueled, the Champion 4500-watt inverter generator will top out at just over 100 pounds.

The Champion 4500-watt inverter generator does come equipped with wheels and a handle, but if you must lift the generator into the back of a truck, you best have a friend along. The wheelset makes the Champion inverter generator easy to maneuver around a campsite. Lifting this unit above waist height is almost impossible for one person.

The other downside of running a generator at your campsite to keep the AC blowing is the noise. Any gasoline-powered equipment will produce levels of noise that can be irritating and distracting.

The Champion 4500-watt inverter generator is a champion (pardon the pun) in the noise department. These fully encased 4500-watt inverter generators produce only 61 dBA. Considering that a vacuum cleaner produces around 75 dBA, operating the Champion 4500 on the backside of your RV is not noticeable to most people inside.

Generac is probably one of the most well-known makers of portable and stationary generator sets in the US. You can find Generac equipment protecting hospitals, water treatment and pumping facilities, and fire stations. It makes sense that RV owners trust the reputation delivered by Generac equipment.

The IQ series of Generac portable inverter generators are made expressly for powering events on the go. These inverter generators are perfect for your RV and include all the features you want in a portable inverter generator.

The Generac IQ 500 is a solid piece of kit. These inverter generators from Generac are not lightweights. Fully fueled and with oil, the Generac IQ3500 sits at almost 110 lbs. One hundred ten pounds is not a bulky weight, but you may need a helper to get this generator into the back of your truck.

If you want wheels, you must purchase a separate accessory pack. Several companies offer aftermarket wheel kits for the Generac 3500, including an all-terrain set of oversized pneumatic tires for those who are truly adventurous.

Generac is spot-on with its sound management designs. The Generac IQ3500 creates a noise level of about 57 dBA at 10 feet. This dBA rating level is quieter than most people keep their TV when they are watching. Operating normally at the end of most RV electrical tethers, the Generac IQ3500 won’t be noticeable inside the RV.

You should, of course, observe any park or area rules concerning the use of any generator. You certainly don’t want to disturb someone else’s quest for peace in the outdoors.

The Predator line of generators is offered almost exclusively by Harbor Freight. When Harbor Freight introduced the line in their stores, I was a little dubious. Harbor Freight is not known for having premium quality in their larger power tools. However, I took a second look when I needed an inverter generator for my RV.

I was familiar with the Predator power plants. I have replaced several small engines on other equipment with small Predator engines from Harbor Freight. They seem to be well built and have provided excellent service at a very reasonable price for me. The features list on the Predator inverter generators caught my attention.

The Predator 3500 inverter generator weighs about one hundred pounds with fully fueled and ready to run. One hundred pounds is right in the middle of the weight class for this size inverter generator. You will probably need a friend to help load this inverter generator into the bed of your truck.

However, once on the ground, the integral four swivel casters make moving and positioning this inverter generator a breeze. The wheels don’t work well for rough or rocky terrain but suffice when the ground is relatively smooth.

The construction of the housing of the Predator 3500 inverter generator makes it one of the quieter entries on our list. The soundproofing does its job. One big challenge when trying to control sound with an air-cooled gasoline engine is generating enough airflow. Any opening that admits air has the possibility of releasing sound.

Predator has done an excellent job of partitioning and controlling the exhaust sound to keep noise at a minimum. A 57 dBA sound level is certainly impressive. You won’t notice the Predator 3500 running.

Westinghouse has been a household name for electric appliances for many years. It stands to reason that Westinghouse should have a presence in the portable inverter generator market. Their years of experience with electrical generation and innovation make it seem natural.

The Westinghouse Igen 4500 inverter generator is purpose-designed for tailgating and RV’ing. These inverter generators include LED monitoring, remote start and an 18-hour runtime. The feature list goes on to include:

Filled with fuel and oil, the Westinghouse Igen 4500 weighs in at just over 100 lbs. At 100 lbs., this is by no means a lightweight inverter generator. However, on a watt per pound comparison, it is one of the lightest.

The included wheels and extendable handle also help mitigate the weight issue. You may have to find a friend to help move this inverter generator up and into a pickup bed. However, once on the ground, the handle and wheels make this machine easy and quick to position.

A gasoline-powered engine will make noise. There is no denying or getting around that fact. The trick is to reduce the noise to a level that we can easily overlook or accept. Westinghouse has gone to great lengths to reduce the noise associated with its Igen 4500 inverter generator.

A fully enclosed generator and engine compartment with state-of-the-art insulation do most of the job. Specially designed asymmetrical cooling fans and a low tone muffler keep noise to hardly noticeable levels. At 52 dBA, the Westinghouse Igen 4500 probably creates less noise than a normal conversation.

Often when someone mentions Pulsar, we think of TVs, watches, or even cameras. What many don’t realize is that Pulsar has a large presence in the retail electrical generator market. All the expertise and knowledge from Pulsar’s dedication to innovation shows up in these electrical generation products.

In particular, the Pulsar PG4500iSR portable inverter generator is a great choice for RV’ers. For larger RV’s or those who demand more from their inverter generator, the Pulsar PG4500iSR may fit the bill precisely. A few of the features of this inverter generator deserve mention.

The Pulsar PG4500 inverter generator is no lightweight. At 108 lbs. without fuel or oil, the Pulsar is probably the heaviest of the inverter generators on our list. If you don’t have to muscle the Pulsar PG4500 in and out of a confined space or pickup bed, the portability is exceptional. The telescopic handle and the never-flat tires make getting the machine around easy.

The extra attention to the strength of the housing is probably the main reason for this extra weight. The Pulsar PG4500 is housed in a heavy-duty enclosure that can withstand some severe abuse and use.