Solar panel Vs generator

The genny V's solar power debate is going to go on & on. What i would say is nobody with a genny has ever asked me if it was OK for them to spark up their genny......ever. It's taken as a god given right by most. The concept of carrying a generator at all times to be used only in the event of an emergency is a entirely new to me :confused: The MH'ers I know who go to the extent of carrying a generator do so because it's the only source of power they have. When they stop the genny comes out......they have no alternative & in my experience that's the way things work. Irrespective of who's in the locality they need 240 power & they're not going to go asking if it OK. Have a reality check :rolleyes: And while we're on the subject, if the answer to the question was an emphatic NO what would you do then ?

I can also state that small 1 or 2 KW Honda or Kipor generators are not silent, especially whilst on load. I know because I've got a 2 KW inverter Kipor & a friend of mine has the equivalent Honda & also the 1Kw Honda. Using a cheap genny on anything equiped with a circuit board is sheer folly. The wave form & frequency are only loosely controlled & at some point something on one of your boards will expire.

May I also suggest that you lighten up a little & not be so quick to rise to the bait, no names mentioned ;) Shortcircuit. With a user name like that you might be better of with solar power :)

Right I've got to go for now as the ice in my G & T's begining to melt. Please don't take any of this personally as it's not meant that way.

Regards, Dave.
 
Davesport;40544
The MH'ers I know who go to the extent of carrying a generator do so because it's the only source of power they have.
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I suppose it depends on the way electrics are in your van, I have 240v and
12v but i only use the 12v.

Right I've got to go for now as the ice in my G & T's begining to melt. Please don't take any of this personally as it's not meant that way.
Enjoy your G & T.;)
 
Davesport said:
May I also suggest that you lighten up a little & not be so quick to rise to the bait, no names mentioned ;) Shortcircuit. With a user name like that you might be better of with solar power :)

Regards, Dave.
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What a sad little man you are. I have only stated facts and you come out like a child insulting others without obtaining facts.

I attend Kart meetings when we need 240volts to clean rubber off tyres using hot air guns. I also attended meetings early and leave later, possibly 4/5 days. I have 220 A/h of battery however using blow air heating discharges these in that timescale and the generator is used to provide a boost to the batteries. The instance I relate to was at a Kart meeting and I was attempting to highlight that solar power could not have overcome the problem that existed.

Generators are accepted at Kart meetings and can run on for a considerable time. If you found it unacceptible then you would need to move on. So far I have not found the need to run my generator on public sites as there is either a hookup or I am only there for a short time.

As far as solar power is concerned, I am unable to justify the costs, as they do not stack up

I have no need to justify my actions to you and as has been suggested if you cannot put a constructive posting then do not bother. Perhaps your need to indulge in G&Ts so early in the day sends another message
 
***** said:
Also.
At the Cromford meet, a few vans (most)(I cant remember if yours was one of them had battery problems and ran their engines to charge up:eek:
No need for me to do the same as if I did have a problem, I could just run the geny for a few minutes on the next day:cool:
A good reason to have a geny as back up:cool:
And the Honda suitcase inverter geny is a damn sight quieter and less smelly than a diesel engine in the M/H and better for the environment:cool:
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ME ME it was me I had to start my van.
It was dark at 4.00 and put on blow heating on gas gives heat but the fan is run by battery:mad: .85 amp battery not very good so no choice but to
start van not that ***** has a problem with this or he would of said:D
sorry but not decided what to choose if any of them at all:eek: for now
Wild camped for 3 days in France and did not staret the van once:D
Reason no HEATING no LIGHTS no TV, so if you don't use nowt
you are all right:D
 
***** said:
Hi Tim, no problem at all as we live and let live and your engine did not bother us at all:D
By the way, I think you were not alone so don't beat yourself up.
We went for 5 nights without starting the engine, however I must admit that I did run the geny once for less than half of one hour but did not really need to (just did it for something to do as I was a little bored:D and it needed a run as not run for a couple of months:D
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Passably that is why the battery did not last long, first time out in 3 months drove in rain and semi dark so needed lights on and only 60 mls:eek:

Didn't see or hear your genny and if i did I would have unplugged your plug and put mine in HeeHee:D:D
 
As I said in my earlier post. Toymakers thread has been hijacked. Looking at this thread in its entirity most of the replies contain little or no relevant information. I generally find this board to be helpfull but this thread has reflected well the attitudes of those who choose to use their generators regardless of those around them.

If anything the vitriol in some of the replies has merely served to reinforce my own beliefs There are a minority of selfish people who will do exactly as they wish.

At this point I've read nothing on here that resembles a reasoned argument for the use of a generator whilst in the proximity of other people, campers or otherwise. MH'ers who rely on generators for power are in no position to object to others doing exactly the same, regardless of the level of inconvenience caused. So what do you do....stick together, just as has happened on this thread.

Every location I've ever camped at where an owners had a generator it's brought out, started up & run until they've fulfilled their own needs. The funny thing is, I've never seen one owner offering another the use of the his hook-up. IE I'm thinking of starting my genny, do you fancy plugging in ? Nope, we'll all start & run our genny's together.

OK, rant over for now, bring on the flames;)

Dave. (Strictly Solar)
 
Dave As well a your other attributes your appear unable, or unwilling to understand the written word.

In Toymakers initial posting he asked " Any thoughts based on experience greatfully recieved"

I responded with "I had a problem between my leisure battery and the control unit which resulted in me being unable to power the heating. Solar power is not very efficient in the dark and and I fortunately have all small generator which allowed me to use the heater, hot water etc."

Is this not a positive input? I gave no indication of where and when.

Your response to this was

"Looks to me like Toymakers thread has been hijacked by the "I've got a genny & will use it regardless (of the inconvenience & annoyance caused to others) faction. You can put any amount of spin on this that you like. Used inconsiderately generators are ANNOYING.

I personally would be mortified if my leisure activities caused inconvenience or annoyance to someone else.

The attitude of the last three posts is pretty much at odds with my own views. If we ever meet in one of the quiet & tranquil places that I stop at, please don't start your genny.

I'm sticking with my recommendation for solar power.

Anyway, I though only gypsies used generators "

Oh how did you come to that assumption?

In the next posting, which was a bit of a ramble, you then say "May I also suggest that you lighten up a little & not be so quick to rise to the bait, no names mentioned Shortcircuit. With a user name like that you might be better of with solar power" Whats this all about?

In my folowing posting I give you details of the exact situation where generators are used which is totally factual and is not judgemental.

In the early hours of this morning, when solar power dont work, you come back with

"As I said in my earlier post. Toymakers thread has been hijacked. Looking at this thread in its entirity most of the replies contain little or no relevant information. I generally find this board to be helpfull but this thread has reflected well the attitudes of those who choose to use their generators regardless of those around them.

If anything the vitriol in some of the replies has merely served to reinforce my own beliefs There are a minority of selfish people who will do exactly as they wish"

You really need to open your mind away from "the solar power will cover all situations" and try and not be insulting to posters who make a positive contribution
 
Hi toymaker,
solar panel for me! I use a roof mounted 55watt panel, connected to 2 x 85 amp/hr aux batteries and never had any problems, even in the winter months. Fit the largest panel you can afford and have space for on the roof.

Happy Camping. :)
 
I don't think that this general post is aimed at people who go motor-racing or whatever: They do need 12vDC, 24vDC, 115vAC and 230vAC and Heaven knows what else besides :D Why, even the 1/5th scale Racers use them

What a lot of people find stressful is a genny being run on a "normal" campsite. A lot of Sites have now had to issue a notice that gennys should not be run before 10.00am and after 8.00pm.

They do tend to advertise your presence when you're "wilding" it as well:D but not to the same extent that my 100ft wind genny mast does :D
 
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Looking from both sides.

Well, well, well, Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. I nip off to the feast of lanterns and return to find WW3 has broken out and on 2 fronts, the other I havn't a clue about (and no desire to find out) but this one is important.
I owned and used Genny's for 14 years as a narrow boat owner and it was a very important tool in my business as a mobile boatfitter. I have no objections to there use in many differing and divergent environs.
However as a part of the kit in a modern motorhome , I believe things have moved on, and I for one have moved on and gladly so.
A Solar panel on its own will not solve all your power needs especially if you want to replicate how you live at home, If your Ironing, hair drying, watching videos or running a washing machine then forget them.
A moderate solar panal has one use only, to re-charge the battery. However if you take sympathetic steps as I have done, by changing all bulbs to L.E.D. fitting a gaslow refillable gas system, so you can run your fridge on its most efficient source gas, then you are helping those batteries to eke out their energy.

What does occasionally really P**s me off about this site is when the accusations and general treehugger nonsense starts to demean an otherwise friendly but differing argument. I will not give word room to some of the ill informed and meaningless drivel that somehow dismisses the fate of our planet were it to be left to the inconsidered oppinions of the (lets squander the planet now and sod the generations to come lobby) as they are being proved wrong by global climate events as I write.
I use a Solar panal and stand by my original arguments.
I have never had to ask for the use of a genny as I also carry a rechargeable battery emergency starter and 12v source on the van (just in case).
I think it is a little blinkered to dismiss solar or any renewable or energy for free source.
I feel its just me doing me little inconcievable little bit, to taking an infinitely bit less.
In the great scheme of things it probably is laughable to some but I will carry on and I will embrace any new technology that will allow my Grandson Louis to have a little more than a cinder of a planet to pass on to his Grand Children.

It is at times like this that I have an empathy with Graham Hadfield, and I sometimes feel like going off to pastures new.:(:(:confused:
 
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Well Graham, I for one hear what you are saying.
Its just that when I was using the Genny , starting 20 years ago, it was the right tool for my cicumstances then.
However I do not now need that sort of overkill, and surely the fact that you have only used yours for 10 hours in 2 years, and alot of that by other people, surely that is a testament to the fact that a genny is now pretty superflous to todays motorhoming.
If you were to factor in a solar panel, low draw lighting and refillable gas. You would probably have never used your genny, therefore you would be carrying around all that extra weight , volatile fuel, for nothing.
I have a power battery pak that gives me emergency 12v power and has started my last van when it was needed and has been used to aid other stranded campers on 4 occasions.
This is another clean and renewable power source, which is the way I think we should be heading and when someone with a modern M/H asks the question that toymaker did then I offer my answer having been reliant on both sources of power I feel I come to this particular table with sound and unbiased advice.
However if toymaker was off to five day carting meets where noise and burning petrol fumes were the breakfast, dinner and tea I would say get a Genny!

p.s. It was interesting at the N.F.O.L. that I saw at least 4 traders selling solar panels but none selling genny's.
 
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***** said:
Rick, You still have not read properly.:(
I have it for back up and IT WAS USED for back up when my fridge needed a boost as previously stated.:(
My fridge would not start on gas unless it had been on 240 volt for about 5 mins.:(
I know that it was a fault and it was mended when I returned to the UK, but without the Geny, I would not have been able to use the fridge for quite a few days.:(
That would have been a big problem in the summer heat (France) and proved to me that the geny is a useful back up with NO ALTERNATIVE!!!!:cool:
It works for me :cool: and I am sure that it would for most people, given the same circumstances.:)
No amount of Solar panels would have helped me in those circumstances as the geny was used as a tool to do the job:cool:
I am sure that sometime in the future my geny will be equally useful for some other kind of drama if only to power an electric drill or some kind of ladies hair equipment:D
It is a case of horses for courses, you keep your solar panel & I will keep my geny or put it another way, you do it your way and I will do it my way!!
End of story
Case proved:D
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Solar panel + battery + inverter = 230v = same problem solved!
 
***** verses Tresikay and the debate goes on:D all great friendly opinions:eek: Ithink this debate will go on longer than BIG BROTHER:D:D
 
***** said:
Do you think that I am made of money:p
I would need 2 new big leisure batteries as both need to be the same make, size and age.:D
A large inverter big enough to power anything up to a microwave or hair dryer.:D
A large solar panel:D
A battery powered drill.:D
And that is just for starters:D
That would costalota:mad:
And what about the weight saving??? I doubt any at all:D
I think I will stick with my reliable suitcase Honda geny that will do all that I will ever want it to do and will even power up my house if I am prudent with what I switch on and in this day and age, I think that in the future we may get power cuts and I will be all right jack:D:D
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Don't think you would need all that to start a fridge.
 
***** said:
ha Ha Ha lol
What about all the non renewable fossil fuel used at smokey old BBQs
I was at Hayfield the other week and I have never seen so much smoke in my life even in the Potteries Bottle kiln days it was not as smokey.
Now all those BBQs what a waste and all that pollution.
Good job that I dont use BBQs like most do:D
ha ha ha
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I don,t posses a B.B.Q, I use a gas party grill, one little cylinder (camping gas) has lasted 2 years............. :confused: whats that got to do with starting a fridge.:confused: I agree B.B.q's are an absolute stinking nightmare. prefer a salad myself.
Or even better off to the pub.:):):)
 
***** said:
Nothing, just like your comment about GH and WW3 had nothing to do with it:D:eek:
I do my bit in my own way and you do your bit in our own way.:cool:
I think it is time that we put this to bed and agree to disagree as it is now getting very boring:D;):D
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I agree, now you have had the last word......oops :eek:: sorry
 
... wish I could afford one of these...
or...this...

...OAP...State pension...15 children...9 ex wives...dog...
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cipro said:
How do you change the web site name too your own wording like
wish I could afford one of these:confused::confused::D
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OKey dokey

Write the words down that you wish use ie GATS

Open another browser window and find the address at the top which in this case is http://www.guntrader.co.uk/ - usual nonsense R/H mouse click & copy

Now come back to your original post and highlight the words GATS - then go to the little pic of the world and L/H click it - then paste in the guntrader bit - - tell it OK and its Job done :D
 
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