Charlie
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We rare new to "wilding" and the other half wants to buy a small generator in case we get stuck somewhere...any ideas guys?
asel
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Dont bother with gennie, in emergency just start your engine and let it charge your batteries.
It willprobably use less fuel than a gennie.
It willprobably use less fuel than a gennie.
Kath
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Or get yourself a solar panel, but as said above, forget the gennie!
shortcircuit
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As I understand it once the starter battery is charged the alternator reduces its output so very little charge to leisure batteries needing engine to run for a long time and therefore very inefficient.
A small generator can either be connected direct to the leisure battery or to the far more efficient on board charger.
Have you any idea what you wish to power from the generator?
Siimplyloco
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Screwfix sell a small and light gennie at sensible money. It gets great reviews.
BTW the Electrobloc controls the alternator feed to both hab and starter batteries, so there is no need to worry if you haf vun of zees!...
John
Impax IM800I 700W Inverter Generator 230V | Generators | Screwfix.com
sparrks
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The problem with that line of thought is that the average battery drain per engine start is 2%, so assuming you stop with a fully charged starter battery, when you next start the engine if it starts easily then very little charge would be put in either battery.
Charging of the battery is determined by how depleted the battery is and the voltage you are charging it at. If the leisure battery was nearly flat and you used connecting cable of a good size to avoid volt drop then then when the engine is started the depleted battery will drag down the voltage on the starter battery, the alternator will 'see' this load and charge both. If the split wire cables are very thin then the charge rate will be poor.
tim m154
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Plus one on the solar panels, no noise or fumes. Also in the winter keep a jump lead across both batteries and keep the van battery topped up, done this for the last three years and no problems.
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shortcircuit
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Are split charge relays not voltage sensing and only activate once the starter battery has been charged? Appears very simple and I ask why B2B chargers are fitted?
Siimplyloco
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shortcircuit;502721SNIP Appears very simple and I ask why B2B chargers are fitted?[/QUOTE said:
Charlie
Guest
Thanks for advice re gennies
We have read all the previous threads on this in the archives..I think we are just a little nervous about our real first wilding week. After last years "two days here and there" we so enjoyed the freedom of not using sites we want to do more and go for longer this year. (But found we were running short on power after 2 days) During the winter we have installed a 80w solar panel and an extra 85amp/hr leisure battery (so now have 2 split charged) use electric for lighting and maybe a couple of hours of tv occasionally and the fridge.
We have read all the previous threads on this in the archives..I think we are just a little nervous about our real first wilding week. After last years "two days here and there" we so enjoyed the freedom of not using sites we want to do more and go for longer this year. (But found we were running short on power after 2 days) During the winter we have installed a 80w solar panel and an extra 85amp/hr leisure battery (so now have 2 split charged) use electric for lighting and maybe a couple of hours of tv occasionally and the fridge.
shortcircuit
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I am sure Stirling power will agree John?
Charlie
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Gennie...
Good advice thank you... Yep I had forgotten about water pump...The "extra" leisure battery is in addition to the engine battery..so 1 engine battery and two leisure batteries plus the 80w solar panel. I am sure in the summer it will be fine but this time of year and in this weather...doubtful maybe.
Good advice thank you... Yep I had forgotten about water pump...The "extra" leisure battery is in addition to the engine battery..so 1 engine battery and two leisure batteries plus the 80w solar panel. I am sure in the summer it will be fine but this time of year and in this weather...doubtful maybe.
sparrks
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Split charge relays can be volt sensing and will switch on at the predetermined voltage - usually around 14v which is the output voltage of the alternator.
Can't vouch for Yakult, but can for my Sterling B2B.
Not sure of the very latest cars with their high dependency on electrical sytems, but the charging systems of cars and vans in the past were never designed to charge the starter battery to 100% capacity, there is or was no need. If the vehicle engine was running all day then the battery would get close to being fully charged but most are not run all day.
My B2B can charge at up to 14.8v which is higher than an alternator output so can put a greater current in over a shorter period of time and it also incorperates a 4 stage charger for fully charged batteries.
Siimplyloco
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Definition for Marketing and Sales. Marketing identifies or creates a need: Sales fulfills that need. Both Yakult and Sterling have grasped this!
If British MH manufacturers fitted sophisticated units like Electroblocs which sense leisure battery voltage when on the move, then Sterling would not be selling many B2B chargers...
John
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Obanboy666
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I use my Honda EU20i and only have to use it over the winter months due to lack of daylight for my panel and higher power usage when wilding. Once the longer days arrive I manage with an 80 watt folding solar panel and 2 x 105 amp batteries unless I need to use the microwave.
If you do decide to go down the genny route, Honda the best imho. Mine is used every week at home, on a shoot and the motorhome. Always starts first time and 100% reliable.
Regarding comments about smell, I have both the genny and petrol in purpose made heavy duty carry bags that prevent any petrol smell.
If you do decide to go down the genny route, Honda the best imho. Mine is used every week at home, on a shoot and the motorhome. Always starts first time and 100% reliable.
Regarding comments about smell, I have both the genny and petrol in purpose made heavy duty carry bags that prevent any petrol smell.
sparrks
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What benefits would an Electrobloc have over a B2B? they look like totally different beasts.
FULL TIMER
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Back to the original question, I have a Hyundai HY1000si http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hyundai-HY1000Si-inverter-Generator-portable/dp/B0034UNGL8 great little generator that has not let me down yet, I mainly use it for re charging the battery bank when at meets or places with no hook up I just plug the mains lead into it and let the on board charger do it's work only takes about an hour and a half, while it's on also charge the laptops and phones etc.
GRWXJR
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Biggest problem with poor starting after standing is the unleaded fuel. It goes off and can evaporate and leaves a varnish like residue behind. The galleries and jets are so small in these little engines that it gums up the works so they either wont start or stutter and hunt badly.
To prevent this turn off the manual fuel tap while its running with no load on, and let it run the carb dry. If no tap, drain the tank and then do the offload runout.
It'll make it a hell of a lot easier to start next time you want to re-commision it into service.
Or.... simply start the thing up for a few minutes regularly instead. Just dont leave it with juice in the carb!