Forum Discussion

allen8106's avatar
allen8106
Explorer
Sep 25, 2014

Will Any Generator Do?

I have a Generac Wheelhouse 5500 generator I bought back in 2005 because of an ice storm that knocked power out to my mothers house. She used it for a week until the electric company restored power. I want to do some boon dock camping and wondered if the experts here could tell me if this generator will run my 2010 Jayco 5ver satisfactorily. Now I know the first thing someone might say whoa that's going to be too noisy. Now I understand this this is a beast and is down right noisy. That aside what I am really interested in knowing is will this generator function properly with my 5ver? I assume, and I could be wrong, that this generator is a good as any other for running my 5ver, other than the noise of course.
  • ricatic's avatar
    ricatic
    Explorer
    Sep 25, 2014
    ...work...yes for the most part...but the noise will bring the wrath of any neighbors...

    Regards
  • JW_of_Opechee_S's avatar
    JW_of_Opechee_S
    Explorer
    Sep 25, 2014
    As long as you have a 30 amp pigtail to plug into it: it will power just about everything you will need, except a second AC unit. If no one is around then the noise will only be a problem for you.
  • Swamp_Man's avatar
    Swamp_Man
    Explorer
    Sep 25, 2014
    Depending on the electronics that you have in the trailer, this might be problematic in that the power from the generator does not have a good regulation. The 60 hrz can vary a lot and that will give the electronics fits (television, satellite, stereo, and so on). It can damage some really sensitive electronics like computers, etc. Most the RV type generators have a really good regulator in them that keeps the sine wave very close to 60 hrz. As said above, neighbors might not like the noise.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Sep 25, 2014
    Does it have 120v 30 amp outlet or just split phase (120/240)?
    Is your RV 30 amp or 50 amp?

    Yes try to park 1,000 yards from anyone else. If just charging batteries it may help to upgrade your converter and add some battery capacity.

    When you are out there enjoying the noise you may start to think SOLAR...
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Sep 25, 2014
    Swamp Man wrote:
    Depending on the electronics that you have in the trailer, this might be problematic in that the power from the generator does not have a good regulation..
    True.

    It's also very heavy, and as said, very loud.
  • waltbennett's avatar
    waltbennett
    Explorer
    Sep 25, 2014
    First off, I don't think it's a pure sine wave generator. Only a few things don't operate on anything but that, but this can be problematic. The BIGGER issue is anyone near you will get seriously upset if this thing make more than 58db noise at ten feet. Even if you're all by yourself, the drone will be very annoying. New gensets are usually at least close.
  • 2112's avatar
    2112
    Explorer II
    Sep 25, 2014
    It will work just fine. Your wheelhouse is no different than any other 3600 rpm machine out there. You can peak over 6kw so it will run both ACs as long as you don't have a lot of other heavy loads running. Why don't you plug it up and try it for a few hours? Then you will know for sure.

    Mess up his electronics? Really? Did his mom's stuff mess up while using it that week or so? I bet not.

    Give the guy a break. If you don't want to hear it while he's boondocking than either address it to him at that time or move on. But don't feed him a bunch of******because you don't like his genny.
  • ChooChooMan74's avatar
    ChooChooMan74
    Explorer
    Sep 25, 2014
    2112 wrote:
    It will work just fine. Your wheelhouse is no different than any other 3600 rpm machine out there. You can peak over 6kw so it will run both ACs as long as you don't have a lot of other heavy loads running. Why don't you plug it up and try it for a few hours? Then you will know for sure.

    Mess up his electronics? Really? Did his mom's stuff mess up while using it that week or so? I bet not.

    Give the guy a break. If you don't want to hear it while he's boondocking than either address it to him at that time or move on. But don't feed him a bunch of******because you don't like his genny.
    Well said!!!

    I will just add, as long as you're not using it next to anyone who wants peace and quiet, no problems using it.
  • tvman44's avatar
    tvman44
    Explorer
    Sep 25, 2014
    A thread like this always brings out the "old wives tales" & the red / blue snobs.

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