Underslung LPG Genny Anyone use this one please

Be interesting to see how much smoke it produces, being 2 stroke.
 
Maybe

saxonborg said:
If you are up for spending that kind of money you might as well dig a little deeper and go for the fuel cell that Loozer Cruiser has just fitted (himself). Biggest benefit no noise.
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Maybe but

1 I do not think I have anywhere suitable to fit it
2 If it could fit it would compromise my storage
3 A 3rd Fuel and availability

But yes it is a possibility EFOY more money
LPG genny more convenient... Noise would not be a problem as we normally stay "Far from the Madding Crowd" anyway and would only use it for maybe 1 hr early evening.
Solar mainly does for us ... I am not convinced I need either with our current usage (Both MoHo and Battery)
 
Edina said:
Be interesting to see how much smoke it produces, being 2 stroke.
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We had the predecessor the Gasparini which Telair bought the rights to when Gasparini went bust.

They are designed for light use about 100 hours a year. The whole exhaust has to be replaced each service. The Gasparini had problems with its cooling fan fins disintegrating, Admittedly it was at roughly 300 hour intervals. We did 800 hours in 18 months full timing, having replaced 3 cooling fans. Snr Gasparini couldn't believe we just a list of fault codes and hadn't been given the user manual, which stated the recommend use limit.

On showing the dealer the manual on our return he still refused to accept there was a usage limit.

We has originally intended to fit Solar but were talked out of it by them and the guy who fitted our LPG tank, saying solar was no good for the UK, that was in 2008. Snr Gasparini said it was designed to supplement, not replace solar charging.

Smoke was not visible using the recommended fully synthetic oil. However we did notice the smell, not at first but increasingly after the first service.

We had a remote oil filler fitted in the boot, as it was a problem trying to fill the tank lying under the van. We had a remote hours meter fitted also at 300 hours.

At 800hrs the bearing were totally shot (Late 2009) possibly because of the fans disintegrating and causing imbalance. Our dealer replaced the main bearing but couldn't do anything about the crank bearing as they were a sealed unit with the con rod and crankshaft. We went to Italy and when Snr. Gasparini heard our jenny, he called in one of his former employees in and they stripped our unit on the bench and condemned it. We had just paid £700+ for repairs to. Between them built a new one from parts left in the factory (early 2010), which cost a further 800 Euro. The company was in liquidation at that point.

We fitted 2 x 130w Solar later that spring and found after that we rarely needed the jenny after that. We sold the van late last year with just under 300 hours on the new jenny.
 
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Thankyou very much

John Thompson said:
We had the predecessor the Gasparini which Telair bought the rights to when Gasparini went bust.

They are designed for light use about 100 hours a year. The whole exhaust has to be replaced each service. The Gasparini had problems with its cooling fan fins disintegrating, Admittedly it was at roughly 300 hour intervals. We did 800 hours in 18 months full timing, having replaced 3 cooling fans. Snr Gasparini couldn't believe we just a list of fault codes and hadn't been given the user manual, which stated the recommend use limit.

On showing the dealer the manual on our return he still refused to accept there was a usage limit.

We has originally intended to fit Solar but were talked out of it by them and the guy who fitted our LPG tank, saying solar was no good for the UK, that was in 2008. Snr Gasparini said it was designed to supplement, not replace solar charging.

Smoke was not visible using the recommended fully synthetic oil. However we did notice the smell, not at first but increasingly after the first service.

We had a remote oil filler fitted in the boot, as it was a problem trying to fill the tank lying under the van. We had a remote hours meter fitted also at 300 hours.

At 800hrs the bearing were totally shot (Late 2009) possibly because of the fans disintegrating and causing imbalance. Our dealer replaced the main bearing but couldn't do anything about the crank bearing as they were a sealed unit with the con rod and crankshaft. We went to Italy and when Snr. Gasparini heard our jenny, he called in one of his former employees in and they condemned our unit that we had just paid £700+ for repairs to and between them built a new one from parts left in the factory (early 2010), which cost a further 800 Euro. The company was in liquidation at that point.

We fitted 2 x 130w Solar later that spring and found after that we rarely needed the jenny after that. We sold the van late last year with just under 300 hours on the new jenny.
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I am coming round to the idea of a fuel cell (EFOY) If It can be suitably fitted.
Your post convinces me NOT to go for an LPG underslung unit
 
I had a telair fitted to a hymer s820 some time back, trouble fre and worked as it should, started up, ran for about 20. Minutes and switched itself off, charged batteries to about 50% from memory, fitted in Birmingham in half a day,never had an issue, apart from the price of course.
 
There are quite a few "Bush generators" lurking around nowadays - standard Bosch alternator of 50 or 80Amps and a Honda 4 stroke motor. Not very quiet, but the charging rate would probably only need 1/3 of the time running that a 20Amp unit would.

The convenience of having LPG as the fuel is a great idea - if you have LPG tank, shame they don't do diesel engines.

The cost of that unit is the killer - how many hours of running the engine would it take to cover the cost - even if you fit a stationary engine running kit (bigger fans that can be turned on manually).

I've come around to solar now being the best way to keep things topped up, 2 x 100Ah batteries plus a 120W solar panel seems to be able to cope with a 12V compressor fridge, led lights, water heater and diesel cooktop. I've had the van parked for 7 days with the fridge running and the batteries still show 13.2V first thing in the morning. Doubling the battery storage would likely mean a couple of weeks without sun and still have viable 12V power.

Its not just producing power, its what consumes it.
 
Yes

Roger said:
There are quite a few "Bush generators" lurking around nowadays - standard Bosch alternator of 50 or 80Amps and a Honda 4 stroke motor. Not very quiet, but the charging rate would probably only need 1/3 of the time running that a 20Amp unit would.

The convenience of having LPG as the fuel is a great idea - if you have LPG tank, shame they don't do diesel engines.

The cost of that unit is the killer - how many hours of running the engine would it take to cover the cost - even if you fit a stationary engine running kit (bigger fans that can be turned on manually).

I've come around to solar now being the best way to keep things topped up, 2 x 100Ah batteries plus a 120W solar panel seems to be able to cope with a 12V compressor fridge, led lights, water heater and diesel cooktop. I've had the van parked for 7 days with the fridge running and the batteries still show 13.2V first thing in the morning. Doubling the battery storage would likely mean a couple of weeks without sun and still have viable 12V power.

Its not just producing power, its what consumes it.
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We only use the vehicle in the summer !
120Watt Solar
"Banner" 85amp-hour battery

Never below 12.6 and up above 13 by 9am most days.
We use very little power (no TV)
I charge all my Toys up in daylight

If I go for anything it will be EFOY.
It will depend on where it is fitted mainly

And yes 1x a week on EHU is more than enough !
 
hairydog said:
When I looked at Efoy, the fuel cost wasn't expensive: it was astronomical. Much more than £2 per kWh.

That Telair unit says it uses 370g per hour and it gives 240 watts. Assuming a refillable LPG supply, that's even more, at around 1.5 kg of LPG per kWh - about £3 per kWh. Plus expensive oil.
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But an 85 amp-hour battery would only use 40 amp-hr to top up (from 50% ish)
so say 50amp-hr at at 20 amps = 2.5 hrs
But unit running at 20 amps x 15V =750 KWH so £1.50
Probably cheaper than £5 for EHU in UK and maybe 3Euros in a French aire for Leccy only Plus campfees
a saving of say £10 a night x 150 nights =£1500 payback is 2 years ! (well lets say 3 years as I appreciate my figures are a bit Optimistic !)

But more significantly the ability to parkup anywhere (suitable)
 
hairydog said:
Recharging an 85Ah battery from 50% to 100% will take about 70Ah of power, but assume you only take it to 95% that's more like 60Ah.

I very much doubt it gives 15v. If it does, it is defective. The literature says "it starts when the battery is running low (11.9V) and stops when it is full (14.5 V)." That makes good design sense, but won't get the battery anywhere near 100%.

It won't give 20A at 12v: it will give "up to" 20A, presumably at at 11.5v, less at higher voltages. Its rated consumption is 270g/hour but note that the 25A one uses 290g/hour: most of the fuel is not being converted to electricity. Like almost all two-strokes, it is hopelessly inefficient.

The best possible efficency scenario is that it runs flat out giving 12v 20A for 270g per hour. Real world performance will be half as good at best. But assuming it is running at its best, 750KWh is 62,500 Ah at 12v. So that's 3,125 hours of running. So I assume you mean 750Wh: that's 3 hours 8 minutes running, during which it will use £1 worth of bulk LPG or £2 worth of bottled.

Like many, many other people, I have neither Efoy nor Telair and never use campsites or hookup, but can still park up anywhere, so the saving calculation really isn't valid.

I typically stay about 120 nights a year, so my savings calculation would be £0 x 240 over two years: a massive total saving of £0.

By the way, my recollection of Efoy running costs were a bit off.

Nowadays, it seems that they cost £5 per KWH to run, not £2 (which I thought it was when I last looked into them). What I didn't realise is that Efoy power output falls as they age. After 4000 hours it is half what it was when new. I don't know if they use half as much fuel then. If so, it wouldn't matter too much. Does anyone have experience of long-term use of an Efoy?
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So our figures do not match fairly unproductive to continue.
IF and it is a very big IF I decide to buy something it will be an EFOY.
We have done 4 x 6 month Summers (2014 15 16 17) with our 120 Watt Solar Panel and a single 85 Amp-hour battery and minimal campsites
Thus I realise that we Do not need anything but...
Yes your assessment of 2 strokes is valid !
 
jagmanx said:
I am coming round to the idea of a fuel cell (EFOY) If It can be suitably fitted.
Your post convinces me NOT to go for an LPG underslung unit
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Don't get me wrong. Used as intended they are a good generator option. We hammered ours to destruction not knowing its limitations
 
hairydog said:
When I looked at Efoy, the fuel cost wasn't expensive: it was astronomical. Much more than £2 per kWh.

That Telair unit says it uses 370g per hour and it gives 240 watts. Assuming a refillable LPG supply, that's even more, at around 1.5 kg of LPG per kWh - about £3 per kWh. Plus expensive oil.
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Are you paying £1 per litre for LPG then. Around here 3ltr LPG is £1.68
 
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Efoy running costs My view for Our usage

As it is difficult/impossible too estimate LPG cost per KWH for an underslung LPG unit
I focus on EFOY

so an 85A_H battery down to half after a few days with usage and limited sunshine
(Would it ever get that low ?)
so time it takes is not relevant Unit of Leccy is watt (Pun intended) counts
50 amp-hours x 15V =750Watt-hrs or 0.75KWH x.9 litre fuel = say .65litre at £6.50 per litre so about £4

Not cheap but reliable and in practice the unit (Auto or Manual) would probably kick in before you got as low as 50% and stop earlier than 100% so I think about £2 and wait for the sun..BUT battery has not gone flat and thus compromised

The only problem is the initial outlay
EFOY maybe £2600 plus £64 for Fuel..
LPG unit maybe £3500 and then there is the Oil and LPG running which "Hairydog" has suggested is more

Not convinced it is worth the outlay
I would only get the smallest one which only produces 40Watts ( 3 amps ?) so in once sense almost a trickle charge but that would be OK
Overnight say 8hrs at 3 amps =24 amp-hrs BUT again battery not going flat if you use heating a lot 8pm to midnight 7am to 9am

I envisage 10 litres of Fuel being ample for our 6 months in the summer !
 
I know what you’re trying to do I kinda done the same for about a year before I broke out and bought the efoy. Think the realy hard bit is the initial outlay for the equipment and first batch of fuel. Think after that it’s down to how you use it for me it’s just the piece of mind knowing that under any conditions I’ve got it there working away silently in the background.
If you youse a little bit more fuel here and there then it’s obviously doing it’s job. I’m on hook up at house and when moving around batteries are getting charged off engine. It’ll only really need to be used when sitting stationary for two or more days. Must say that I’m impressed by the low noise level and the ease of the installation. But everybody’s needs are different
 
Thanks

Looser cruiser said:
I know what you’re trying to do I kinda done the same for about a year before I broke out and bought the efoy. Think the realy hard bit is the initial outlay for the equipment and first batch of fuel. Think after that it’s down to how you use it for me it’s just the piece of mind knowing that under any conditions I’ve got it there working away silently in the background.
If you youse a little bit more fuel here and there then it’s obviously doing it’s job. I’m on hook up at house and when moving around batteries are getting charged off engine. It’ll only really need to be used when sitting stationary for two or more days. Must say that I’m impressed by the low noise level and the ease of the installation. But everybody’s needs are different
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I am now of the opinion the EFOY fuel Cell this is indeed the best solution
For us the questions are

1 Do we need it as we only use vehicle in the summer and in 4 year we only have had 1 problem
(This was with the Original LB which became drained the first winter in storage... No advice from the dealership where I bought and stored the vehicle ! )

Our new LB has never been below 12.6V

2 Is there a suitable location for it to to be fitted

3 Referring to point 1 is it worth the outlay ?

I am not worried about fuel costs

I am not a "Genny Fan" but it may be that this will serve as my emergency solution
Draper Tools 28853 700 W Petrol Generator: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

OK low quality and power and 2 stroke but I might only use it once a month !
I appreciate Honda or Kipor are better and I can get a Kipor 1KW unit which runs directly off LPG as follow
https://www.sailandtrail.co.uk/generators/portable-leisure-generators/lpg-generators/1kva-and-under

I look forward to further posts regarding the EFOY performance fuel cost

I believe a 2 x 5litre pack will last us over the summer

Still pondering !!!
 
If you’re gonna go down genny route you can’t get better than a Honda eu 20i I know there more expensive but you can get one from Costco £1050 with a five year warranty that you can return any time over the five year for refund or replacement. I had one for three year took it back got cash in hand think there’s a member got one for sale on here send him a pm hotrats canny remember what he wanted for it but worth a try.
 
YES useful info

Looser cruiser said:
If you’re gonna go down genny route you can’t get better than a Honda eu 20i I know there more expensive but you can get one from Costco £1050 with a five year warranty that you can return any time over the five year for refund or replacement. I had one for three year took it back got cash in hand think there’s a member got one for sale on here send him a pm hotrats canny remember what he wanted for it but worth a try.
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I know Honda are best
But my thoughts are
A) no change
B) a cheap Genny which I will hardly use (Kipor 700Watt or Draper)
C) Kipor LPG Genny
D) Efoy

Not really interested in spending over £1000 for a petrol Genny or Quite a bit for an LPG Gennt
Better to go EFOY !

So A B (Draper) or D

I do not have easy storage for a Genny
Not interested in a back box or the like
Prefer not to have to carry petrol and Gennys need maintenance
 
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