Continuous generator usage. How long?
Our kids have purchased some property southwest of us. The power is not in yet. If the deal goes through they will live in their TT. How long continuously can the genny be ran. Yes there will be monit...
Forum Discussion
I would say really need to reconsider the whole mindset...
The only reason for a gen is to run Air Conditioner. You said SW, I think... nights will be cool? Away in the day?
For just a few days you can do whatever, but for extended time (weeks or more) you need SOLAR.
You can run a trailer of DC power, thats battery. You can keep the batteries charged on solar. Usually 200 watts is enough for 2 batteries and light use. If you want TV and laptops and all the lights on then maybe 300 watts and more than 2 batteries. You will need to calculate your amp hour needs and divide by two as you never want to run batteries dead, half-dead is not as bad.
For a stationary trailer you can put the solar on the ground and aim them/ angle them towards the morning sun, or evening sun depending when you will use the most electricity, or move them as needed.
For AC you need a generator (or a cost=prohibitively large bank of batteries). Get the smallest that will run the generator. usually 3500 models will do it.
If no AC then go solar.
If solar, get deep cycle golf cart batteries, or other similar deep cycle. Don't bother with the "marine" batteries that are half car half deep cycle. You want a real deep-cycle. Deep cycle batts will last longer and be able to be discharged many times more than a marine, meaning they won't die.
You will need a charge controller to go between the solar panel and the batteries. Get an MPPT controller (not pwm). They will be expensive compared to the cheap china ones, but really $80-$150 or so is not bad for what you are doing.
Get Mono crystaline panels. Not the flexible ones. The poly are maybe a little cheaper but the mono is better.
I can't imagine trying to run a giant inefficient generator all the time just to have power for the water pump or one light bulb or to charge a phone. What you will save on gas and oil (and price of gen) will pay for a solar system, and your hands wont smell like gas all the time.
The only reason for a gen is to run Air Conditioner. You said SW, I think... nights will be cool? Away in the day?
For just a few days you can do whatever, but for extended time (weeks or more) you need SOLAR.
You can run a trailer of DC power, thats battery. You can keep the batteries charged on solar. Usually 200 watts is enough for 2 batteries and light use. If you want TV and laptops and all the lights on then maybe 300 watts and more than 2 batteries. You will need to calculate your amp hour needs and divide by two as you never want to run batteries dead, half-dead is not as bad.
For a stationary trailer you can put the solar on the ground and aim them/ angle them towards the morning sun, or evening sun depending when you will use the most electricity, or move them as needed.
For AC you need a generator (or a cost=prohibitively large bank of batteries). Get the smallest that will run the generator. usually 3500 models will do it.
If no AC then go solar.
If solar, get deep cycle golf cart batteries, or other similar deep cycle. Don't bother with the "marine" batteries that are half car half deep cycle. You want a real deep-cycle. Deep cycle batts will last longer and be able to be discharged many times more than a marine, meaning they won't die.
You will need a charge controller to go between the solar panel and the batteries. Get an MPPT controller (not pwm). They will be expensive compared to the cheap china ones, but really $80-$150 or so is not bad for what you are doing.
Get Mono crystaline panels. Not the flexible ones. The poly are maybe a little cheaper but the mono is better.
I can't imagine trying to run a giant inefficient generator all the time just to have power for the water pump or one light bulb or to charge a phone. What you will save on gas and oil (and price of gen) will pay for a solar system, and your hands wont smell like gas all the time.
