Comparing *Small* Inverter Generators
I'm tired of always lugging around my (heavy to put in the storage or the new trailer and a bit loud) existing generator, when most of the time I have 3 or 4 times the power I need. I'm looking at ...
Forum Discussion
horton333,
You're right on track with wanting to fit a small generator into your camping equipment inventory!
Remember that a small generator isn't supposed to provide "real time power" for appliances .... only "offset in time power" for appliances, as follows: Use the small low power generator over longer time periods to mainly charge you RV batteries. Meet high power needs using the stored energy from your RV batteries via either inverters, or 12 volts direct, to power things as much as possible in your RV. We use this approach with only a 650 watt four-stroke Honda generator that only sips gas and is ultra quiet.
Of course a continuous high power need in an RV is usually ONLY for air conditioning ... this, at today's RV camping state of the art, must usually be met with a high power generator - that is loud(er) when it's running at high RPM feeding an A/C compressor, gulps the gas, and is heavy to lift and transport. We meet the air conditioing need with a built-in high power RV generator - but may be somewhat unusual campers in that we don't run from the heat when camping, so our A/C gets used heavily as we need it when drycamping or dryparking. For exampe, we're right now on a long RV excursion across the U.S. and must leave the dog in the generator powered air conditioned RV in hot parking places while we see the sights. This works out great, but of course cannot be done with only a small generator along ... however we still always carry the little Honda along just in case, for maximum RV'ing flexibility.
You're right on track with wanting to fit a small generator into your camping equipment inventory!
Remember that a small generator isn't supposed to provide "real time power" for appliances .... only "offset in time power" for appliances, as follows: Use the small low power generator over longer time periods to mainly charge you RV batteries. Meet high power needs using the stored energy from your RV batteries via either inverters, or 12 volts direct, to power things as much as possible in your RV. We use this approach with only a 650 watt four-stroke Honda generator that only sips gas and is ultra quiet.
Of course a continuous high power need in an RV is usually ONLY for air conditioning ... this, at today's RV camping state of the art, must usually be met with a high power generator - that is loud(er) when it's running at high RPM feeding an A/C compressor, gulps the gas, and is heavy to lift and transport. We meet the air conditioing need with a built-in high power RV generator - but may be somewhat unusual campers in that we don't run from the heat when camping, so our A/C gets used heavily as we need it when drycamping or dryparking. For exampe, we're right now on a long RV excursion across the U.S. and must leave the dog in the generator powered air conditioned RV in hot parking places while we see the sights. This works out great, but of course cannot be done with only a small generator along ... however we still always carry the little Honda along just in case, for maximum RV'ing flexibility.
