Generators

guerdeval said:
I had a gasparini 12 volt genny on my last van, after all its 12 volt batteries you're trying to recharge. It worked on lpg, very good.
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I agree I have one on my MH Very very quiet I feel the vibration more inside the van than any noise outside. I can go to sleep with it on so it is very quiet
 
vwalan said:
there is atime and place for gennies. cant weld broken springs without them .for normal camping m,homing i dont need a gennie .its an insurance hopefully i wont need to use it. does get used though due to the extreme adventures we under take in our trucks. grinders asnd drills used the most but once snapped two sets of springs on the trailer up a mountain in maroc so had to do it. have fun we do. cheers alan.
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Exactly. Couldn't agree more. When they're needed, there's no substitute.

I use my quiet Honda to top up my batteries only when I need to and with due consideration. If I stay put at a location for up to a week, as I often do, it's not a choice, it's essential. However, a couple of times during my recent 10 weeks off-hook-up touring in Brittany, several people (without generators) ran their (noisy) engines for up to 2 hours to charge their batteries. A clattering diesel makes far more noise than a quiet petrol genny but I wonder if the anti-generator brigade have anything to say against that practice? Personally, as I said before, noise comes with the territory and is part of life. I further suspect that many of the 'moaners' will not think twice about pitching up at a place close to a busy road and not think twice about the road noise. For some totally inexplicable reason, it's only 'generators' (not noise per se) that get their goat!

I suspect many of the 'anti' brigade just do weekends away and don't need the services of additional power when the sun don't shine and the days are short.

And, BTW, I also pull a toad all over Europe for months at a time and have never been stopped, arrested, fined, questioned, warned or otherwise been made to feel I was breaking some law.

There seem to be a lot of myth-makers out there but fortunately they dwell only in 'forum-land.' The real world, fortunately, is just fine.
 
I have a suspicion that there might have been a little dig at me in there somewhere Fred.

I will coin an old saying but in my case its true.

I was in Baghdad when you were still in your dads bag.
 
fred ee said:
A clattering diesel makes far more noise than a quiet petrol genny but I wonder if the anti-generator brigade have anything to say against that practice? Personally, as I said before, noise comes with the territory and is part of life. I further suspect that many of the 'moaners' will not think twice about pitching up at a place close to a busy road and not think twice about the road noise. For some totally inexplicable reason, it's only 'generators' (not noise per se) that get their goat!

I suspect many of the 'anti' brigade just do weekends away and don't need the services of additional power when the sun don't shine and the days are short.
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I love a good argument, so here goes! Yes I do have something to say about running diesel engines to charge up batteries - and you'll find out what it is if you ever park up next to me and do it. And, no I am not a "weekender". Although I technically live in a house for 3 months every year, in practice it is a lot less - so I am a long-terming complainer! As for the "noise per se" bit, it depends on where you are. If I park up next to a busy road (which I rarely do) then of course noise comes with the territory. What I object to is finding a lovely quiet spot somewhere where the church bells or the cows are the only noise (part of the territory) and then having some idiot park next to me, get out his generator and run it all night so he can listen to "Strictly Come Prancing" or whatever. That is most definitely not part of the territory - unless you live in a different territory to me.
 
fiftysomething said:
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!)
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Sorry, Fiftysomething; there has been a bit if thread-drift going on :eek:

In answer to your original post, more people carry generators than not, I believe. On my frequent and lengthy travels here and abroad I have spotted the 'little red Honda' (or similar) in other peoples underfloor lockers more often than not. It's a form of insurance. You'll never know when you'll need it but there will always be a time when you will be glad you're carrying one.

FWIW, I have a Honda EU2.0. For my particular circumstances, I find it more useful to have a 2.0 rather than a 1.0 Kw.
 
big kipor diesel thinkmits 3kw. it is niosy very . i did carry a 1.3kw genforce but it is not big enough to be usefull for me. that was niosy as well. when you hear my gennie there is work to be done . dont like to use it for anything else or i would fall out with myself its that bad.
if you complain you will probably asked if you like sex n travel. ha ha
 
fred ee said:
Sorry, Fiftysomething; there has been a bit if thread-drift going on :eek:

In answer to your original post, more people carry generators than not, I believe. On my frequent and lengthy travels here and abroad I have spotted the 'little red Honda' (or similar) in other peoples underfloor lockers more often than not. It's a form of insurance. You'll never know when you'll need it but there will always be a time when you will be glad you're carrying one.

FWIW, I have a Honda EU2.0. For my particular circumstances, I find it more useful to have a 2.0 rather than a 1.0 Kw.
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a) If you are Wilding, and if you're a member, I assume you will be, then agreed.

b) No question, a definite.

c) The whole point of your question, 1 kw. does me. 0 kw. I might be in bother, for me it's a back up so I can overstay if I have found a place I don't want to leave, even in the North of Scotland in winter. It has happened and will again.


Never mind those with blinkers, if you need power in the short days of a British winter then get a gennie, the size is the only issue. IMHO.:eek: :p
 
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If you google 'EFOY GENERATORS' they put forward a strong argument why running their genny for shorter periods as and when necessary is more economical than running any petrol/diesel generator producing 230volts then onward charging your 12volt batteries, if you're so desperate to run 230volt appliances then why not stay at home or a hotel, travellodge are doing rooms for Easter at £9!! , if you want to charge your batteries you can do it silently with an Efoy or almost silently with a gasparini.
 
For me on full timing i will be going with a gasperini on a better to have than not policy.Untill then it will be weekends for us and weeks here and there so i will go for a cheap noisy polluting one that will disturb everyone.Hope this helps;)
 
guerdeval said:
If you google 'EFOY GENERATORS' they put forward a strong argument why running their genny for shorter periods as and when necessary is more economical than running any petrol/diesel generator producing 230volts then onward charging your 12volt batteries, if you're so desperate to run 230volt appliances then why not stay at home or a hotel, travellodge are doing rooms for Easter at £9!! , if you want to charge your batteries you can do it silently with an Efoy or almost silently with a .
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Because I am skint?

E Foy are stupid money and Gasparini I had never heard of.

I suspect they might be a wee bit dear as well, but if anyone has one that needs testing I'm your man!
 
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I no this is unfair but when I read all the anti generator brigade with their solar panel, gas fires, led lights, paper backs and no tele etc, I immediately think of Ebenezer Scrooge sitting there counting his pennies by candle light with his fingerless gloves on, balaclava and chittering with ice off his nose .

What is life about. We have the technology to enjoy the outdoors and as I stated originally concerning generators, its "just down to your responsible use."

I have had a couple of instances when I had electrical/battery problems and the generator was a god-sent as it kept the home fires burning. If I could fit a convection gas heater it would be magic but as it is I need power to run my heating system
 
Somebody has to say it: BAH HUMBUG!

But I don't feel able to fully qualify for the part because I have a television (and a satellite dish!) and have never shivered inside my van - although I am partial to the occasional paperback. Merry Christmas
 
Thanks John, I was just having a bit fun. Everybody is entitled to an opinion and life would be boring without that.

Up Yur Kilt and have a guid new year
 
shortcircuit said:
Thanks John, I was just having a bit fun. Everybody is entitled to an opinion and life would be boring without that.

Up Yur Kilt and have a guid new year
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It is not obligatory to be nice to people who don't like gennies, espescially not John H.

Get a grip man, say it how it is!!:cool:
 
there is a problem withnewm,homes what happened to catylitic heaters on gas ,gas lights ,instantanious water heaters ,use only the pump . every thingas got hightec fan ovens .micro waves . i built mine so it was convenient and cheap with ability to be self sufficiant. most of the time. maybe i got it wrong.
 
vwalan said:
there is a problem withnewm,homes what happened to catylitic heaters on gas ,gas lights ,instantanious water heaters ,use only the pump . every thingas got hightec fan ovens .micro waves . i built mine so it was convenient and cheap with ability to be self sufficiant. most of the time. maybe i got it wrong.
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Seems that way Alan, I get out of my wee dookit into the van for a wee bit of opulence.

Now where did I leave my smoking jacket?
 
derekfaeberwick said:
Because I am skint?

E Foy are stupid money and Gasparini I had never heard of.

I suspect they might be a wee bit dear as well, but if anyone has one that needs testing I'm your man!
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Gaparini Self Energy EG-20 info at Conrad Anderson website Self Energy EG-20 12V Automatic Generator | Conrad Anderson UK

Best bit of kit I have had fitted. If I want 240v I get it from a 1600w inverter. This system ensures that my 2 x110ah + an 85ah leisure batteries are always topped up automatically. If I run a heavy 240v load this unit cuts in to supply another 20A to my batteries and then cuts out when the batteries reach 14.5v. It can also be used to recharge the vehicle battery if required. Low LPG consumption.

I always check the noise level outside and have often spoken to people passing outside the van and asked them it it is disturbing them. The common answer is "I didn't even realise you were running a generator". I checked this at Peterborough Show, where you are packed together like sardines in a can, just after having it fitted. It was noiser then than it is now, as it has run in.

I am about to have the remote oil filler kit fitted as it is a pain crawling under the van to put oil in it. Joan does this job and gets oil all over her. We have had it 2 years and needed to refill the oil tank twice. It uses Synthetic two stroke oil. We probably use this system more than most average users will.
 
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