Let's talk generators.

[bc toys]

I have 2 honda 200's don't carry them very often battery last all weekend only run lights and charge cell phone

[noseoil]

I will bring along a generator (Honda 2K) when we camp, if I ever get the tear finished. It will sit in the back of the truck in the camper (the mother ship) most of he time. The sole purpose will be to run the air conditioner if it's too hot to sleep in the tear with just the fan. I'm not planning on a microwave or toaster oven, but coffee will be made if the stinkpot is running and already making a racket. I agree with Mikey here, nothing worse than loud neighbors when out camping.

[2500HHP]

I too agree with Mr Mikey. However, this trailer will spend 99% of it's life at offroad parks once mobilized. At these parks you have people riding around all hours of the night, music playing, and a good (usually loud) time around a fire. We try to seclude ourselves from the crowds for the most part anyway. A majority of these parks only have 5-10 30a hook ups and half the time there are guys with far deeper pockets than I that will reserve a hook up year round! In turn, I'm one of the guys who gets stuck on gen power. So to me, I don't really see the harm if I make a 50ft extension cord, have something enclosed and quieter than an open frame commercial gen, and park it in the bed my truck.

It would be completely different if I were A) Going to state park or similar where I had several neighbors in the vicinity, and B) Had shore power readily available every trip. But it gets a bit warm here in South Texas and believe it or not, it gets pretty chilly too!

[Vedette]

Okay....this is where I wish I was more computer literate so I could add the link that was posted in my "Solar Panel Extension Cord" thread.
It is worth the read for all of you that are considering "Generators"???
Sort of reminded me as to how people view smokers? But the smokers are just oblivious to the world around them.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[2500HHP]

Vedette,

Good read. Thanks.

Would be useful to keep batteries topped up and other non essentials readily available. I don't see it being a viable option to replace shore power/gen power for me however since I'll have an AC/heat unit, stereo etc etc. Something very handy to have however.

Here is a link to Vedette's thread: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=61744&hilit=solar+panel+extension+cord

Also, very cool set up you've got!

[Vedette]

Vedette,

Good read. Thanks.

Would be useful to keep batteries topped up and other non essentials readily available. I don't see it being a viable option to replace shore power/gen power for me however since I'll have an AC/heat unit, stereo etc etc. Something very handy to have however.

Here is a link to Vedette's thread: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=61744&hilit=solar+panel+extension+cord

Also, very cool set up you've got!

Thanks for helping with the link.
Yes, there is nothing better than shore line power for us....but this past summer we found ourselves at a couple of Gatherings without power. So we did the Solar vs Generator survey and research, and ended up with Solar for a number of reasons that were outlined in that link.
Thanks Again!
Brian & Sandi

[drhill]

I am a generator hater. But, if you need AC, there is no way but shore power or a generator to make that happen. This summer there was a guy with a big 5th wheel about 150 feet from me. I expected he would be firing up his noisy generator but didn't notice it until I walked past his site, maybe 40 feet from the back of his truck. I then had to go look and talk to him. He had a Honda EU300is running (in the back of the truck). Amazingly quiet. I looked up the specs and it is rates 49 dBA at 1/4 load and 58 dBA at full load. Compare that to the Honad EU2000i that is 53 dBA at 1/4 load and 59 dBA at full load. Now consider that the decibel level is a logarithmic scale, 59 dBA is 10 times as loud as 49 dBA. Much much better to have a lightly loaded EU3000 than a heavily loaded EU2000. Even at 1/4 load on each, the EU2000 is more than twice as load as the EU3000. The EU3000 is alot more money, but both you and the neighbours will like it allot more and when you want you can put on the coffee, microwave and still leave the AC running.

Sorry, us Canadians just don't get the AC thing.

Cheers

[2500HHP]

drhill,

I get what you're saying about the Canadians and AC! I was born in Calgary and have property on Prince Edward Island. However, many moons ago (when I had no choice) the family got relocated to Texas, and Now I live about an hour outside of San Antonio. That being said, I need AC haha. I'll never get used to the heat!

Generators have come a long way. They're not the open frame, 130db piles they used to be. Sure they still have a little hum to them but you can talk over them relatively easily. What you mentioned about having in the bed of a truck is what I plan for mine. 2 reasons, noise containment and lock it up there so it can't grow legs.

Thanks for your input!

[Shadow Catcher]

We have a Kipor industrial generator (not especially quiet) and have yet to use it, we also have a 145 flexible solar panel, that we have yet to use, and the 185W solar panel which has done it all.

[Rolly]

I have a Yamaha 3000seb. It will run all day if the load is not to heavy. It will run my 140 amp wire feed welder. We can stand next to it and talk in a normal voice. Bad news is it is heavy.

Gary

[noseoil]

Costco has a 2000 watt "Yamaha" generator on sale for $599, at least it's here at the local stores in Tucson now. I looked it up & it's a clone of the real Yamaha, but it uses their technology, has a clean sine wave profile & is basically a sustained 1600 watts of clean power that is very quiet. I grabbed one as it's a few hundred cheaper than I've been able to fine online. It's not a Honda, but the reviews are pretty good.

I'll post about it once I start using it, but it should do fine for the 5K BTU ac unit I'm using in the build. That's the primary use for running a generator in camp, but only if it's too hot inside to sleep.

[Jiminsav]

get you one of these.
and it has a fuel shut off knob..

[lrrowe]

If they were not so heavy (for me at least) and not so darn pricey, I would get one. I like the specs on them.

[Jiminsav]

they have wheel kits for them, and harbor freight sells a hydraulic lift cart that will get it tail gate high.

[lrrowe]

Ok, that could take care of the lifting. Now I need to solve my money limits. But aren't dreams great?