Generator question

Las Vegas Proud wrote:
I unplug the trailer before turning off the generator(s). Not sure if that’s necessary or not.

It's a good idea.. especially if there's a load like charger or hot water that's not readily apparent.

Teeny loads like TV etc are not a big deal.

I unplug the trailer before turning off the generator(s). Not sure if that’s necessary or not.

I ran my generator overnight last weekend in a Casino parking lot. Between the outdoor amphitheater rock concert, the train, the freeway and the 24/7 disposal yard next door, my generator was the least of anyone's noise concerns lol. In fact the white noise of our A/C was the only thing that let us sleep well.

I had a similar question to you a while ago as I sometimes shut down our generator under load. My conclusion is that it's not a great thing to do, but once in a while is no big deal.

Thanks for the replies, I will just try not to let them run out of gas. I might get the extended run tank kit for the long nights out at the dunes and I want to let them run all night.

As much as the appliances that depend on the stable power from the generator, the generator itself should have a cool-down period before shutting it down. If it stops under a load, all that heat builds up inside with nowhere to go and can cause damage. Try to avoid letting that happen and if it does, refuel it right away and start it up again to get those internal cooling fans doing their job again.

2oldman wrote:
Nobody runs a generator overnight for electronics. Your camping neighbors will not be pleased. Get an inverter.

Of course I don’t run them overnight in a campground but out at the dunes everyone runs their generators overnight for AC.

Nobody runs a generator overnight for electronics. Your camping neighbors will not be pleased. Get an inverter.

Technically, it's not great for them but really it's a minor enough issue. I wouldn't worry about it. Honestly as many times as the campground power fails or runs low voltage, you are probably less likely to do damage letting the generator run out of fuel.

I might differentiate between the newer inverter generators vs older analog generators.
- The inverter generators will usually force it to hold voltage until it can't and then cut out (ie: the cut out is abrupt more like flipping a switch to cut power).
- Analog may surge as the engine is dying with both voltage and hertz varying for 10-30 seconds as the engine is running out of fuel. The result is the electrical devices must adapt (or be damaged) during this time...some devices won't care other will.

If you don't have a heavy load on the converter, you'll probably be OK, but it can definitely throw things off over time. Far better if you set an alarm to get up and refuel, and do an orderly shutdown.

We had Honda twins that were paired together to provide the 30 amps needed for our AC and other items, but as long as the AC or microwave wasn't running, I could run on generator B while refueling A, restart A and then refuel B.

It’s hard on the generator and electronics if your generator dies under load.