Since we've dumped the Cyclone, this year we're going to do our races with just a good, common sense race trailer. But to keep things nice, I did order it with AC and multiple outlets throughout. I think its even 50A versus 30A but not 100% sure. We plan to take at least a microwave, television, and keep a heater with us on those cold nights if we decided to sleep in the trailer. Considering what we'll have in there, is an inverter generator really that necessary? No computers at all but I'm sure we'll probably plug the phone chargers or tablet charger into a wall outlet from time to time. If I really need an inverter generator, I'll do it. But its crazy how much more power I can get for the money if I don't have to have the inverter models.Thanks :)

Hi,Generators are run by gas. Inverters are run by 12 vdc transformed into 120 VAC with transistors. A inverter equipped generator is able to change it's rotating speed to make it quiet under partial load conditions. My guess is you are thinking inverter to run the cell chargers and perhaps a small TV set or Wii or other small loads? You can buy a 500 watt inverter at Costco for about $35. Plug this into a cigarette lighter receptacle in the trailer and you can plug in all the chargers you need. Just don't connect the inverter to the 30 or 50 amp RV plug. You will run down the battery quickly running a TV set, and very quickly running a TV. But a 19" LCD TV will only draw about 80 watts, and a Wii is only about 20 watts. Each battery that is 100 amp hours (size 27) is going to hold about 800 usable watts. Each standard light fixture is about 1.1 amps, LED is about 1/4 that wattage. To run a electric heater, then a generator is required. It will dray about 800 to 1,500 watts per hour, and even the truck alternator can not keep up with that kind of load. Microwave, toaster, electric coffee maker are all about 1,100 to 1,500 watt loads. So a 4,000 watt generator can power these, and perhaps a air compressor too? Pick a small compressor - say 1 HP or so, to not overload the generator when it starts. You might need to unplug the air compressor and only start it at say 20 PSI if the compressor bogs down the generator on re-starts. You can pick a pair of Honda 2,000 watt inverter generators, they can be plugged in together to power the 30 amp RV cord, recharge the batteries quickly via the RV converter, and run the rooftop A/C. Each 2,000 watt Honda is only 47 pounds, easy to move around. A 4 KW unit is typically 120 to 180 pounds.Mayberrys.comFred.

after losing electricity for 48 hours recently I once again checked the costs of yamahas. 2400 inverter was $1479, 2600 generator 949. they said that a computer should not be run on it but that a refrigerator, etc. would be OK. found a powerland 5500/6500 propane one for $799.bumpy

Inverters use about 50% less gas also.

tinner12002 wrote:Inverters use about 50% less gas also.the yamaha brochure shows all of the non invertors statistics were hours at rated load whereas the invertors were at 1/4 load which I am told is rarely found with any real draws on them. but the EF2600 is rated at 7.8 hrs 2.9 gal (2.69 hrs/gal) at rated load, and the EF2400 SHC is 8.6 hr at 1/4 load 1.6 gal (5.38 hrs/gal) but the EF3000S is 19 hr at 1/4 load with a 3.4 gal tank (5.6 hrs/gal).my math is subject to scrutiny as it is way too early to strive for accuracy. :)bumpy

Just in these responses and the reviews I've done in the past couple of hours, I've decided to go ahead and get the Honda inverter models. Now I can't decide on the 3000W model or just go ahead and plop down a ton of money on the 6500W model and have something better to run the house when the power goes down.

Inverter Power Generators | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

Bumpyroad
Explorer
Feb 10, 2014
after losing electricity for 48 hours recently I once again checked the costs of yamahas. 2400 inverter was $1479, 2600 generator 949. they said that a computer should not be run on it but that a refrigerator, etc. would be OK. found a powerland 5500/6500 propane one for $799.
bumpy
Golden_HVAC
Explorer
Feb 10, 2014
Hi,

Generators are run by gas. Inverters are run by 12 vdc transformed into 120 VAC with transistors. A inverter equipped generator is able to change it's rotating speed to make it quiet under partial load conditions.

My guess is you are thinking inverter to run the cell chargers and perhaps a small TV set or Wii or other small loads? You can buy a 500 watt inverter at Costco for about $35. Plug this into a cigarette lighter receptacle in the trailer and you can plug in all the chargers you need. Just don't connect the inverter to the 30 or 50 amp RV plug. You will run down the battery quickly running a TV set, and very quickly running a TV. But a 19" LCD TV will only draw about 80 watts, and a Wii is only about 20 watts. Each battery that is 100 amp hours (size 27) is going to hold about 800 usable watts.

Each standard light fixture is about 1.1 amps, LED is about 1/4 that wattage.

To run a electric heater, then a generator is required. It will dray about 800 to 1,500 watts per hour, and even the truck alternator can not keep up with that kind of load.

Microwave, toaster, electric coffee maker are all about 1,100 to 1,500 watt loads. So a 4,000 watt generator can power these, and perhaps a air compressor too? Pick a small compressor - say 1 HP or so, to not overload the generator when it starts. You might need to unplug the air compressor and only start it at say 20 PSI if the compressor bogs down the generator on re-starts.

You can pick a pair of Honda 2,000 watt inverter generators, they can be plugged in together to power the 30 amp RV cord, recharge the batteries quickly via the RV converter, and run the rooftop A/C. Each 2,000 watt Honda is only 47 pounds, easy to move around. A 4 KW unit is typically 120 to 180 pounds.

Mayberrys.com

Fred.

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Inverter Power Generators

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