Which generator?

Clunegapyears

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Greece may be cheaper. Which generator should we be looking at?
We only need it to add a bit of charge to the leisure batteries. As we do not run hairdryers et cetera. Or TV! So we don’t want a really expensive one. But we do want one that will do the job. I know Honda are supposed to be quiet but usually we are not near anybody and we would be considerate when using it!!

Also knowing nothing about them … How do we fix the generator to the leisure batteries to charge them?
 
Chainsaw Charlie said:
I would go Honda but no they aren't quiet but good quality kit , the other important thing is to look at your onboard charger as most motorhomes come with more of a power supply unit than a dedicated battery charger.
We ran the generator but that was to power a 50 amp smart batery charger which was far more efficient and higher charge amps and voltage than the onboard charger.
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Thanks. Why is it always more complicated than you think? At the adria dealer in Athens so will ask them... if in doubt we will wait till back in the UK to get the right onboard charger.

What size generator should we be looking at? Can get some comparable quotes from here.
 
Might be worth investing in some better batteries?

My 2xTrojan T125's run my electrics, (including compressor fridge) for several days, I can then simply take the van for a drive to top them up as well as the solar topping up.
 
Over the years I think it would be fair to say Honda EU10 I or 20 pretty much will cover needs, At one point one or two liked Kippor generators ( Honda copies)
mixed reviews as I recall especially noise

Channa
 
Kipor ?

Can also get one which only uses LPG so no need to have a 3rd fuel.
If I had space to transport one that would be my choice.

Simply connect to MoHo using your EHU lead (suitably uncoiled) maybe leave fridge on gas
 
In truth i would go for s/panels and bigger batterys rather than a gen,if only for charging and you want one then the little two stroke 650/850 w gens are fine,not to noisey either,cost about £75,and very light to lift and small to store.
 

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Chainsaw Charlie said:
We had one of those it cost me £50 and it always started , kept it for 10 years and gave it away but was still working as we only used it on the odd occasions mainly in winter. Once we were without a base (Mums) we bought the Honda as reliable power becomes more important when you are off grid most of the time.
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Yep the 850 wolf was sold in b&q for around £80 ish ,i was buying them trade at £50 and selling at boat jumbles adding a tenner to price,kept two for myself,never any trouble with the one i use,think mine is labled as cosmo tuning out 650w with a 12v 5ah charge port as extra,though as you say just plug in a 40/50 ah charger for best/fast result.
Chargers are on fleebay for under £90.
 
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Thanks for all the replies.

We already have a large solar panel. AGM gel batteries less than 2 years old. Just had them tested 12.7 volts.

We are full timing and don’t want to have to move every day. Short journeys only partially charge the batteries.

So a small Honda seems to be the way to go. We would not need to use it every day, certainly until the batteries start to fail.

Question ... if we connect the generator using the EHU cable, why do we need to switch off the onboard charger? Doesn’t the generator just work like being on EHU? Sorry a complete tech numpty.
 
Clunegapyears said:
Thanks for all the replies.

We already have a large solar panel. AGM gel batteries less than 2 years old. Just had them tested 12.7 volts.

We are full timing and don’t want to have to move every day. Short journeys only partially charge the batteries.

So a small Honda seems to be the way to go. We would not need to use it every day, certainly until the batteries start to fail.

Question ... if we connect the generator using the EHU cable, why do we need to switch off the onboard charger? Doesn’t the generator just work like being on EHU? Sorry a complete tech numpty.
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No leave it on,what folk are telling you is that the units in vans are part charger and part power supply,in all most are not very good where as a dedicated high power smart charger is much better.
You charger will take a long time to recharge the battery bank so the gen will be on for almost all day,where as a 40ah charger will pull up batts in a shorter time.
 
Reluctant to recommend a gennie as I hate them but we do carry one for winter use only in N Scotland. I am surprised nobody has mentioned Champion. I cart a 2kw Champion 7200 around with me in winter. I reckon that not only is it considerably cheaper than Honda but significantly quieter as well, although it is slightly larger. It has never let me down in more than 3 years - most use has been at home as we quite often have power cuts when the weather is really bad.
Tony
 
For a small neat genny for a motorhome it’s got to be Honda iu10 or iu20 the rest are crap don’t care I know through experience had all the cheap ones they are now in bin. Buy a Honda it’ll last for ever and still be worth half what you paid for it in 10 years if looked after.
 
Generator

Hi
We too have solar panels and 2 batteries. Normally these suffice well enough but beyond mid October and before April they struggle if we don’t keep moving. Bought a Honda 10i for use in winter, now that our son lives up there it’s going to become a regular winter destination. Still despite it being b....y freezing and heat on all the time we rarely needed to use it, only when stopping more than one day and then only for a couple of hours. Our main power issue is the ruddy tank heaters. If your tanks are inboard, lights all led, and low power tele then not such a problem. We found it quiet enough with the gene close by the van, although not so quiet it wouldn’t upset the genephobes! I agree with others though, if we were using it a lot then we’d invest in a bigger charger.
 
hairydog said:
The snags with 2-stroke generators are the heavy fuel consumption and the smell of the exhaust fumes. Apart from that...
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Not much at so small a CC ,mine holds 4 ltr and runs for 4 hrs plus not much smell if down wind.:lol-053:
 
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