Notice the noise spec on those quiet little portable Honda 1000i and 2000i inverter generators: 53dB at 1/4th power and 59dB at full power ... but who runs them at only 1/4th power much? 59dB is NOT that quiet.
Here's expensive quiet - the Honda 3000iS at 1/4th power: 49dB ... but who can afford it or lift it?
Here's cheap quiet - the Honda EX650 at full or any other power: 54dB ... and it's noise spectrum is a muffled low frequency humming that doesn't irritate anyone who's not irrationally paranoid (sorry about the double negative) with regards to RV generator sounds - 2nd column in from the far right
http://www.tappedin.com/hop/html/litegen.htmNow for those of you who think any size generator is never justified during all hours of the night for drycamping use - try touring the Southeastern U.S. in August and wind up spending all night in a Walmart parking lot WITHOUT the genny and AC running. That's a good way to commit suicide from the terrible RV accident you're in the next day from no sleep the night before. Or alternatively, try having lunch along a Gulf of Mexico beach stop-over in Texas in August WITHOUT a genny powering your air conditioning.
RV generators have their place unless you want to cross your fingers and hope for the best on what Mother Nature may, or may not, send your way when on lengthy RV tours. We have two generators and an engine alternator with us on all RV trips.
