What generator size works best?
My set up is ALL electric with 13,500 A/C. I am looking at a generator to run the TT while on the beach this summer. I was thinking 5,000 watts. Any input would be appreciated.
Forum Discussion
My generator needs is only 2KW and I could probably get away with just a 1KW Generator to run my trailer features when off the power grid.
When I was first confronted with camping off the power grid I too wanted to go the Generator way to power up the whole trailer.
This was not an option here on the East side of the US where most public campgrounds all have generator run time restrictions in place. Hardly any public places allowed the use of the generator after 8PM as well.
Only the few dispersed camping locations which are very rare here on the East side of the US allowed the use of the Generator whenever you wanted to use it.
With this in mind I ended up beefing up the trailer to run efficiently from the Battery banks with the thought in mind to accommodate my largest 12VDC power needs between the hours of 6PM and 11PM and then re-charge the batteries the next morning at 8AM when allowed running my 2KW generator to power up my smart mode converter/charger setup.
Following the rules of never depleting the designed battery bank below the 50% charge state this method gives me a 90% charged battery bank each day to run my 12VDC needs for the next day/night run off the batteries. My batteries will produce a good 99% of their rated power performance with a 90% charge state.
With this method I can do the 50% to 90% charge routine at least 12-14 days days before doing any damage to the battery banks...
Since this allows me to re-charge the batteries in a quick three hour generator run time period I can fall into the generator run time restriction times without too much difficulty just about everywhere we camp here on the East side of the US.
I have been doing this routine here on the East side of the US since 2009 and still running three of my original four batteries purchased in 2008. I lost one battery right due to using a non smart mode converter/charger unit and boiled out the battery fluids which killed one one my four batteries in late 2008.
It is all routine now and we get to do just about everything we normally would do at a Shore Power location except of course with no air conditioning or with the using of the high wattage microwave unit. Also camping in cold part of the season sometimes gets a bit exciting when wanting to use the propane furnace all night long running the high wattage 12VDC furnace blower.
I am doing all of this with just a 255AH capacity Battery Bank and of course can do more by adding a larger capacity battery bank..
My camping off the power grid experiences here on the East side of the US...
Roy Ken
When I was first confronted with camping off the power grid I too wanted to go the Generator way to power up the whole trailer.
This was not an option here on the East side of the US where most public campgrounds all have generator run time restrictions in place. Hardly any public places allowed the use of the generator after 8PM as well.
Only the few dispersed camping locations which are very rare here on the East side of the US allowed the use of the Generator whenever you wanted to use it.
With this in mind I ended up beefing up the trailer to run efficiently from the Battery banks with the thought in mind to accommodate my largest 12VDC power needs between the hours of 6PM and 11PM and then re-charge the batteries the next morning at 8AM when allowed running my 2KW generator to power up my smart mode converter/charger setup.
Following the rules of never depleting the designed battery bank below the 50% charge state this method gives me a 90% charged battery bank each day to run my 12VDC needs for the next day/night run off the batteries. My batteries will produce a good 99% of their rated power performance with a 90% charge state.
With this method I can do the 50% to 90% charge routine at least 12-14 days days before doing any damage to the battery banks...
Since this allows me to re-charge the batteries in a quick three hour generator run time period I can fall into the generator run time restriction times without too much difficulty just about everywhere we camp here on the East side of the US.
I have been doing this routine here on the East side of the US since 2009 and still running three of my original four batteries purchased in 2008. I lost one battery right due to using a non smart mode converter/charger unit and boiled out the battery fluids which killed one one my four batteries in late 2008.
It is all routine now and we get to do just about everything we normally would do at a Shore Power location except of course with no air conditioning or with the using of the high wattage microwave unit. Also camping in cold part of the season sometimes gets a bit exciting when wanting to use the propane furnace all night long running the high wattage 12VDC furnace blower.
I am doing all of this with just a 255AH capacity Battery Bank and of course can do more by adding a larger capacity battery bank..
My camping off the power grid experiences here on the East side of the US...
Roy Ken
