Generator etiquette

Big_steve wrote:
how late is it okay to run your generator into the evening? And are generators in MHs more quiet that setting one up outside a TT?

Generally quiet time is 11-7, so one should try to avoid running a generator past 11. Sometimes it is too hot to avoid.
Yes, generally MH built in gennys are substantially quieter than portables. Especially those large Champion inexpensive potable ones. Those will keep the whole park up at night. Saw one guy place folding tables around, up against his to create a sound barrier, made a huge difference.

parkgt wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

Bump up the battery bank and add an inverter. Put some money into solar. At 600 watts there remains no reason to run the genny unless using the roof air conditioner.

For many that is not an option. My Sprinter only has room for 180w panel and two group 31s.

One could add two 100 watt panels on the ground in a fold-out kit to that 180 watt panel permanently mounted on the roof and have a pretty decent set up. Being able to place and aim those ground units goes a long way toward making them maximally productive. While 380 watts might leave you not-quite-fully-charged, they could certainly make it possible to delay the generator for 3 or 4 days.

The little 1800 watt inverter generator I used for many years bit the big one last fall. Looking into what to do about that, I found solar made a lot of sense. Since I've only a single battery, 200 watts in the form of a pair of 100 watt panels I could carry in the TV and put out on the ground, were adequate for fully recharging my battery. The up-front cost was pretty much a wash with the cost of a replacement generator, and a huge savings when you factor in gas, oil, spark plugs, etc. for the next 25 years. I will eventually mount them permanently on the roof, probably adding a couple more, when I upgrade to the lithium iron phosphate battery I now covet.

Do the math. My TT's converter delivers only 35 amps to charge the battery. That's only 500 watts charging power. The rest of the generator's 1600 watts was excess (and unused, since it's not enough to run the AC) capacity. To get the 1,000 watt hours of battery power I go through in a day takes shore power (or the generator) 2+ hours to replace. Over an 8 hour useful charging day, you only need 125 watts of effective solar power for the same result. The OP's case is probably different, but the gist would be similar.

Solar has gone beyond cost-competitive with a generator. The only remaining frontier here lies in running that AC.

Two group 31 give a usable capacity of 1300 watts. An hour of generator time at breakfast time, plus the 180 watts should easily return the bank to fully charged.

During that hour, turn on the electric setting for the water heater, and give the propane fridge a nice hour of 120 volt power. It would be the time to give laptops and other rechargeable devices some juice, too.

My bank is a bit larger so I find I can go 3 to 4 days with no generator use.

If it's hot and muggy some will probably run their generator all night.
Personally, I wouldn't run it past 9:00 PM. But that's me.

RV mounted generators are fairly quiet. But, at night they all make noise.
Some portable generators can be quiet. It depends on the type.
If it's an inverter generator it will be quieter than an open frame contractor style generator.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

Bump up the battery bank and add an inverter. Put some money into solar. At 600 watts there remains no reason to run the genny unless using the roof air conditioner.

For many that is not an option. My Sprinter only has room for 180w panel and two group 31s.

Hi,

I prefer to not run a generator passed 10 pm. Actually I prefer to not run it at all. Bump up the battery bank and add an inverter. Put some money into solar. At 600 watts there remains no reason to run the genny unless using the roof air conditioner.