Generators (1 Viewer)

[Fireflies]

I’ve had a Honda EU20i genny for the past 6 years full timing and it’s never missed a beat. If I’m somewhere with lekky available on site I’ll use that of course but my wife’s monster hair dryer, straighteners and proper hoover demand the use of a decent generator run for no more than 30mins every 3 days and after 10.00am always...(This ensures a clean dust free van and a wife that resembles the one I took out her natural habitat 6 yrs ago complete with long stunning hair, not a hacked off easily maintained MH cut)
After 5 days ‘off piste’ under grey skies in November in Denmark a Taiwanese invertor would not cope with depleted batteries for long (I have solars BTW)
Be sensible with generator use and buy a good brand and you have a trump card in your pocket.
My mate’s invertor packed up in Spain recently and he was completely stuffed for mains electric without having to cram in on overcrowded CPs all sharing a measly 6amps..
Go buy a Honda then sell it with little depreciation later if gennies turn out to be not for you!

 

[Terry and Jan]

Agh!,,,,, Generators!

 

[Northernraider]

My ex partner managed to keep her perfect 28 inch long blonde hair perfect having never been allowed electric hookup

Gas straighteners

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[Fireflies]

If I suggested gas straighteners to my wife I’d soon be the ‘Ex Husband’

 

[PeteH]

The "Wrongs" and "rights" of Genny use, can and have been over debated, Somewhat like Gassing, "A" frames, Grey Dumping, Wild-camping Et-Al. They have their place time and uses, Some things are "do able" from Solar/Inverter, some not. I had 3 American R-V`s all with 4.5 or bigger Gennys and we used them, All we did was NOT run them continuously JUST to watch T-V. It`s like Wild camping currently It`s not anti social IF Done with discretion and consideration. IT IS antisocial when 50 vans park in a car park for 3 or more weeks, cast their Poo and other detritus about them and move on leaving it for the locals to clean up!. Used with discretion a generator is a useful tool. There is NO Wrong or Right.

 

[Northernraider]

There's nothing discrete about a generator lol.

And nothing that can't be managrd without one.

But as you say it's each to there own but personally I wouldn't annoy the life out the neighbours with one ....but I also wouldn't do half the stuff I see folk doing in motorhomes whether it's wilding using an aire or on a campsite.

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[tonyidle]

Hi tonyidle don't quote me on this but I'm pretty sure that most modern suitcase gennys are pure sine wave inverteres there may be some modern suitcase gennys out there which are of the modified type but I don't know of any. Perhaps others on here know of some.
The difference as I understand it is that pure sine wave gennys are less likely to cause problems to sensitive electronics as aposed to modified gennys.
I'm not a genny expert just go on what i've read like most people who do not have knowlage as a profesional person in this field.
Best Wishes Tony

You're as knowledgeable about what sort of inverters are used in the generators as I am. And because I don't know anything about their output I was making the point that it's worth checking if you are concerned about sine wave as opposed to modified sine wave.

 

[ianandkath]

JUST to watch T-V.

i was once parked on canterbury p&r. saturday afternoon,cup final on tv, fired up genny to watch the match, BANG, BANG, on the door,"are you going to be long"he asks.
me,"depends if it goes to extra time".

 

[Feltwell]

Trip last year to a lovely site near Ludlow, go to the far end of the field which is empty apart from one tent, which is a good 100 feet away from us. Matey comes back to tent in his van, which is full of the biggest dogs you've ever seen - about 6 of them - wanders across, says "hope you don't mind, we pitched up down here out of the way just in case the dogs make a noise". "No problem" says I, "I'm sure they'll be OK".

And they were - not a peep. And as I stood there in this beautiful, pitch black, totally silent part of Shropshire gazing up & admiring the stars, matey starts up his genny to power bloody fairy lights strung up all around his tent

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[movan]

1 Are they heavy?

2. Do they charge your leisure batteries?

please.

 

[Basildog]

There's nothing discrete about a generator lol.

And nothing that can't be managrd without one.

But as you say it's each to there own but personally I wouldn't annoy the life out the neighbours with one ....but I also wouldn't do half the stuff I see folk doing in motorhomes whether it's wilding using an aire or on a campsite.

Try running blown air heating in the winter for days or weeks on end with just solar ?

 

[Feltwell]

1 Are they heavy?

2. Do they charge your leisure batteries?

please.

1) Yes
2) Yes (if wired in correctly)
3) No you don't need one
4) Yes they are the work of Beelzebub himself, on a day when he was feeling particularly grumpy.

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[Basildog]

All this talk of generator hate from people who participate in a totally environmentally unfriendly pastime

 

[Glandwr]

1 Are they heavy?

2. Do they charge your leisure batteries?

please.

Yes think of them as a portable EHU. To be used with discretion.

 

[Northernraider]

Try running blown air heating in the winter for days or weeks on end with just solar ?

Plug in to electric or buy a van with better heating.
I lived in my full time from September to January in the UK. .no generator and not connected to electric either.

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[Northernraider]

Yes think of them as a portable EHU. To be used with discretion.

Or tied to the ankles of the users and dropped in a deep puddle


Just kiddin ....if used at least 3 miles from anyone else for no longer than 10 minute spells they aren't bad.

 

[Clarky]

Like many things in life the use of generators comes down to having consideration for your neighbours.
It really is simple. If you have others parked close and they are likely to be disturbed don't use it.
If they are out or a good distance away and can't hear it, then fine.
It ain't difficult is it?
Common sense rules, OK.

Richard.

 

[PeteH]

i was once parked on canterbury p&r. saturday afternoon,cup final on tv, fired up genny to watch the match, BANG, BANG, on the door,"are you going to be long"he asks.
me,"depends if it goes to extra time".

When I had the R-V. I got round that one, by putting 2 Extra Batteries in a Locker, Uprating the Alternator, and adding a 2KW inverter, that would run the (Mains) T-V for more hours than I want to watch any T-V.. Oh, And 3 Big Solars.

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[PeteH]

1 Are they heavy?

2. Do they charge your leisure batteries?

please.

Yes and No. It depends, a Modern 1KW weighs about the same as a full gas bottle. Charging depends on your charging system, Older systems Not very likely (only a "maintainer" system) Newer ones, have more sophisticated controls and will charge from the Generator.

 

[Northernraider]

1 Are they heavy?

2. Do they charge your leisure batteries?

please.

Heavy enough to knock a man clean out if it falls on his head.
Yes it will charge a leisure battery but in about 12 hours by which time most of the campers and residents around you will also have been charged for murder

 

[PeteH]

And nothing that can't be managrd without one.

Unfortunately there are Items which will take down a Battery bank and inverter system in short order. and to some people they are essential for LIFE, we have a friend who relies on a Breather/Oxygen device which is VERY power hungry..

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[Northernraider]

Unfortunately there are Items which will take down a Battery bank and inverter system in short order. and to some people they are essential for LIFE, we have a friend who relies on a Breather/Oxygen device which is VERY power hungry..

I think in that instance i'd be hooked up to electric or I'd find another way of going on holiday. Because it can't be very pleasant having to rely on that in a campervan.

 

[SuperMike]

I think in that instance i'd be hooked up to electric or I'd find another way of going on holiday. Because it can't be very pleasant having to rely on that in a campervan.

That’s part of the problem. In our case, without the motorhome, there would be no holiday, for all sorts of reasons.

 

[PeteH]

I think in that instance i'd be hooked up to electric or I'd find another way of going on holiday. Because it can't be very pleasant having to rely on that in a campervan.

The point being that the kit he needs would be a NO NO in any other holiday situation, too bulky/heavy to travel. He loves his Rallies and Steam/Vehicle Fairs and shows, Racing etc;. Having the kit in his `van means he is NOT staring at 4 walls waiting for GOD. Just means a few people may have to listen to his reasonably quite (Honda 2kw) for a few hours whilst the batteries are charged up. IMV NOT a lot to ask of society?.

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[tonyidle]

Heavy enough to knock a man clean out if it falls on his head.
Yes it will charge a leisure battery but in about 12 hours by which time most of the campers and residents around you will also have been charged for murder

Using the mains output of the genny will take a lot more than 12 hours. The quick way to get some charge in is to use the 12v output of the genny direct to the leisure battery.

 

[Basildog]

Using the mains output of the genny will take a lot more than 12 hours. The quick way to get some charge in is to use the 12v output of the genny direct to the leisure battery.

I use a 50 amp smart charger powered by the generator and batteries are nicely charged in a couple of hours, obviously depending how discharged they are to start with .
8 amps from the 12 volt side of a Honda is going to take hours and most onboard charging units are pretty useless.

 

[tonyidle]

I use a 50 amp smart charger powered by the generator and batteries are nicely charged in a couple of hours, obviously depending how discharged they are to start with .
8 amps from the 12 volt side of a Honda is going to take hours and most onboard charging units are pretty useless.

Agreed your method is the best you can get from a genny. But the constant 8A from the 12v genny output is better than the rapidly reducing charge from the van charger if that's all that's available.

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[Geo]

I dont run my gen to upset anyone, I run it cos I need it, feel free to complain I will turn it off immediately
Then
Start my Engine and gas you as well

 

[maxi77]

Using the mains output of the genny will take a lot more than 12 hours. The quick way to get some charge in is to use the 12v output of the genny direct to the leisure battery.

Sorry but bollocks most generators only give 8 amps at 12 volts and most mains chargers in vans between 15 and 20 amps and modern ones are better regulated to put the first 80% in at near maximum amps. So the mains will win. Of course you can use both. There are specialist 12 volt generators giving around 50 amps but the ones i hsve seen seem noisier than the suitcase ones.

Personally I find the noise of a modern suitcase generator much less disturbing than either a couple of screaming kids, or a few pissed motorhomers shouting the afternoon away.

 

[JJ]

Id happily murder generator users in their sleep.

Just saying ....because even wild camping where you think your miles from anyone I guarantee your still annoying the bejeesus out if someone with it.

I watched a pillock fire one up a few weeks back so his wife coukd microwave her porridge.

Hope I don't meet up with you on the road...


JJ

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