Generator vs. 2nd Deep Cycle Battery

I would get a 2000 watt inverter type generator, they are quiet. Check Honda, Yamaha, Champion brands. You can run it most anywhere during day time to use your microwave, coffee pot, and to charge your batteries. And of course you could watch TV etc during that time too.

I would get a small power inverter (a few hundred watts) to run my TV when the generator was not running. A second battery will extend your off generator time but you may not need it if you charge your battery every day and don't watch tv etc for a long time at night.

Everyone does it different but to enable micro and coffee pot I would want a generator.

The generator goes without saying. Without a method to recharge batteries, one is hosed. Then comes the second battery.

After that comes the solar charging system. Usually this won't completely replace a generator, but will allow you a few more days of dry camping.

IN my decision time I found out real quick I was not going to allowed to run a generator anytime I wanted to. IT seems that almost everywhere we go here on the East side of the USA including the Natl Forest all seem to have some sort o generator run time restriction in place.

Most PUBLIC camp grounds like to follow the 8AM-10AM and then again from 4:30PM to 7:30 PM.. This also happen at alot of Natl Forest places. A few Natl Forest places will have the 8AM to 8PM generator use time allowed... Out West the dispersed camp grounds seem to be relaxed on the use of generators and you can do whatever you want to do. We don't have many dispersed camping locations here on the east side.

So to be able to have the 120VAC and 12VDC items we wanted to have ON when camping off the power grids it was quite obvious we would have to run them from INVERTERs or direct connected to the batteries. This would require a bigger battery setup and smart mode charging technology to be able to re-charge those batteries in a quick three hour generator run time each day.

I have a 255AHs capacity battery bank setup which allows us to run all those things we want to have ON and then be able to re-charge the batteries the next morning when allowed to run our generator...

Been doing this now for a good five years or so and this has been very successful for us... Since we have our bigger battery system all setup it becomes second nature now when camping off the power grids. We actually use just about everything we use at a regular camp ground with hookups with the exception of the Air Conditioner and high wattage microwave appliances.

Just my view on being successful camping off the power grid

Roy Ken

tv and small items can be powered with a small 150w to 400w inverter using battery power.

Yes a second battery will be needed with or without a generator. I recommend about 200w solar to keep the battery charged and skip the generator.

Microwave, coffee pot etc are high draw items needing a large inverter and even more batteries or a generator. If you must have air conditioneing you are going to need a generator.

The 12 volt Side of Life

Lemme cut to the 1st question...
How do you plan on recharging it (them) ?