Generators

[fiftysomething]

Do any/many/most of you carry a generator? Any suggestions as to size or recommendations would be great. Many thanks.

Fiftysomething (and should know better!)

 

[l77 tuf]

all our crowd carry honda with us we all use the same 1s

 

[fiftysomething]

Thanks. What size or power would you recommend?

Fiftysomething (and should know better!)

 

[shortcircuit]

I carry a £60, 850watt banger of a generator and use it when I am at Kart meets. It is only used to keep heating running and to charge leisure batteries.

What do you want to use it for is the main question, which will determine the size and type?

You will get the solar brigade following on but useless at this time of the year. The noise brigade will also follow on and that is just down to your responsible use.

 

[Proff]

I have a Honda suitcase 600 plus a Honda 1kw invertor type
Both very quiet and both only used on other peoples vans since I've had Solar...
nice to have one, just in case of an eclipse tho'

 

[Airecraft]

Another vote for the Honda eu10 1kW. Never had a cheaper one though so can't say whether the Honda is worth the xtra £.

 

[vwalan]

hi, i carry a kiper diesel big enough to work an inverter welder .grinders drills etc .yes its extreme but sometimes neccasery. depends where you are going. also have a bank of solar panels and 700 ampof batteries .never needed to charge my batteries with a genny but could if needed i do carry a seperate battery charger just in case as the charging from gennies direct is not that good. the secret is dont use too much leccy .i have gas lights ,gas heating . only use leccy for water pump ,telly etc .never used the ehu for mains wouldnt fit one next time. never use sites so its a waste 10 yrs never used it.
work out what you need the gennie for always get a bit bigger than you need .there is some very cheap ones out there ,they get cheaper all the time.

 

[derekfaeberwick]

Hi, a 1kw Kipor does for me, only use it to charge the batteries if I've been parked for a few days. The 1 kw is quite economical and big enough to charge the van and laptop batteries at the same time as the telly is on, any bigger would be wasting petrol, space and payload for my circumstance. Hope this helps.

 

[bigboack]

Hi we have a 2kw onan generator built into the van, It was already in when we got it, We use it when wilding for using the microwave, Have used it once to charge flat battery,very useful,and it runs off the gas so we dont have to carry petrol. Its a bit noisey the only down side. But then the baffle is missing from underneath the van.

 

[hogan]

We have a 950 W Spanish petrol generator bought at Carrefour for €80, only used it 3 times in anger no problems found.
If it packed up I dont think I would bother with a genny again.

 

[Telstar]

Oh no not generators again.....

Never carried one, never needed one and will never need one.

Solar Power has seen me alright for years. Even without, 5 days reasonable use was obtained out of a 85ah battery without worrying. But then I don't go away to watch TV, power laptops, microwaves or any other power hungry items. Consider alternatives, gas powered hair straighteners! LED lights, just using the fire on gas rather than the blown heating setting etc, etc

Jon

 

[vwalan]

you have to remember that gennies are a tool .not a necessity they can be usefull .you have to weigh up the inconviniance of noise etc . most long termersend up with solar its cheaper abroad. works better and is quiet. a small gennie for me is useless .i visit way out places were damage etc can be a cause of concern broken springs etc. most things can be used on 12 volt and these days you can get power regulators fitted to alternators of your vehicle to give enormous outputs .a quick drive around should top up batteries .i mamaged for a few years in the truck with only taking a lead off the main battery to charge van battery while on the move. solar now means i can run a compressor fridge etc . gas ones dont work in hot climates . its all horses for courses . i get amazed when someone travels 200 miles to a show then gets a gennie out runs it till late at night .then first thing in morning on it goes untill late at night .what is that all about . takes alot to make a world. cheers alan.

 

[Firefox]

.....what is that all about . takes alot to make a world. .....

Good point, Alan!

Went to the NEC show recently and overheard some conversations at lunch between 3 couples which reminded me of the Harry Enfield sketch with the nouveau rich Brummies: "Way are considerably richer than yow"

They were in actual fact Brummies too, and it was quite comical.

"Way've got a genny".... "Oh, only 1? Way've got 3!"... "Ours are more powerful than yowrs"..."Our motohome is longer than yowrs"... etc

The real point of the guy who just done 200 miles to the show and then running his genny was to proclaim to all his neighbours he's got one. Strange, but that's how it works

 

[John H]

I'd like to add my voice to the anti-generator brigade. There is nothing worse than pulling up in an ideal quiet spot only to have another van pull up beside you and get out the bloody noise-generating machine. We have a solar panel which provides all our off-site needs (including recharging mobile and laptop and powering the television if you must). If you want to generate power at night, try a wind generator - they are quiet and disturb no-one.

 

[johnybegood]

I carry Honda 3200 model, drives Alde heating or Dometic air con, pumps out 16 amps weighs 75kg and uses 25lt fuel in 14 hours. 89db @7metres.
Excellent bit of kit.
Jbg

 

[derekfaeberwick]

I'd like to add my voice to the anti-generator brigade. There is nothing worse than pulling up in an ideal quiet spot only to have another van pull up beside you and get out the bloody noise-generating machine. We have a solar panel which provides all our off-site needs (including recharging mobile and laptop and powering the television if you must). If you want to generate power at night, try a wind generator - they are quiet and disturb no-one.

You're opinion perhaps ,but not what the O.P. was asking, the pro anti thing has been done before methinks.

 

[rickboy]

Generator.

Do any/many/most of you carry a generator? Any suggestions as to size or recommendations would be great. Many thanks.

Fiftysomething (and should know better!)

Hi. Have you camped without one?

I just use extra batteries from a scrap yard or better still standby power AGM batteries once taken out of service after 5 Years (They usually are good for 10) not wired in perminantly to give maximum flexibility.(you need more in the winter and less in summer)

You can recharge via an inverter and a regular battery charger from the van battery and let the alternator recharge the van.(will have a mucher higher charge rate than goes to the leisure battery if you have one installed).DONT RUN THE VAN BATTERY DOWN SO IT DOESNT START THE VAN.

Best to calculate your amps usage ,double it and take batteries to match.ie 100ams usage take 2 x100ah batteries and dont run them down too much.There are loads of articals about batteres to confuse you.You will be an expert by the time you finish motorhoming.

I have a 2 stroke 950 w cheap generator,be aware they may damage sensative equipment like modern electronic chargers ,control panels,lcd tv ect.
I would hesitate pluging it directly into a moden motorhome!!!


Try the cheapest ,easiest options unill you know your needs unless you like supporting the Chinese economy that much.

I use my camper for skiing with no electric hook up ,solar or generator,works for me.!!! WE have good lighting and watch tv a lot.

I take a splitter to double up onto someones generator but have never needed it yet.(polite thing to do is offer a bottle of wine ect, quite a common practice in France I noticed).

Everyone has they own solution to this challenge,just experiment first,maybe borrow a genertor before splashing the cash.

Best of luck

Ifb

 

[Firefox]

You can recharge via an inverter and a regular battery charger from the van battery and let the alternator recharge the van.(will have a mucher higher charge rate than goes to the leisure battery if you have one installed).DONT RUN THE VAN BATTERY DOWN SO IT DOESNT START THE VAN.

Blimey, I've never heard that angle before! You're stepping up the voltage with an inverter and then stepping back down with a 240v - 12v charger, probably losing 20-25% efficiency in the process, as well as (possibly) risking the van battery if you're not careful. I think I'd rather just charge the leisure battery off the alternator and accept any inefficiencies in the process

 

[derekfaeberwick]

;

I just use extra batteries from a scrap yard or better still standby power AGM batteries once taken out of service after 5 Years (They usually are good for 10)

Tell me more, sounds good.

 

[John H]

You're opinion perhaps ,but not what the O.P. was asking, the pro anti thing has been done before methinks.

The original question WAS asking whether any of us had generators or not and what we would recommend, so if I can turn one person away from the noisy beasts then I am happy.