What generator size works best?

With the solar, batteries and inverter I am converting our bunk house to run off electric as much as we can. We cook, make coffee, heat water, use a A/C and I am working on the fridge. We even use a small 200 watt heater in the bathroom to take the chill off early instead of running the furnace.

So except for heat I don't see why you couldn't do the same by replacing the solar with a generator. Run the generator for the big loads and charging, batteries and a inverter the rest of the time. I worked out having A/C on solar in a limited fashion, that was said to be impossible. Someone else will have to work out having electric heat.

50a changes a bit. Now you get to look out for 120v vs split phase 120/240v service. Larger generators tend to be 120/240 volt output. So with 120/240 you really need 3000w per side or 6000 watts. If you go smaller (4000w?) make sure is has full wattage at 120 volts so you can use an adapter to feed both sides.

eocamper wrote:
So ALL electric with no gas. Because of this I have a 50 amp connection. The reason I feel of need a generator around 5k watts.

Actually, 50a power is 10,000 watts.

You can see the downside to all electric when you're not hooked up. You've not yet mentioned about batteries and inverter, so I'm still in the dark on that. Dry camping is real nice having an inverter...the job for the generator is mainly battery charging.

Any 5kw generator I'm aware of is noisy as all get out, so, as suggested earlier, I'd go with a 3kw Honda. If you're made of money get two and parallel them.

I don't know what's connected on the 2nd leg of your 50a service. That's usually another air. An electric stove and oven are really going to consume power.

I have a 2015 Grey Wolf 26bhe. The bhe stands for bunk house electric.
I opted for this type of trailer for a couple of reasons.
1. It sat on the lot for several months, which was a great negotiating tool when i purchased. Evidently people don't want all electric.
2. Being all electric I do not have propane to mess with or wonder if I will run out. We rarely used the propane on our last 2 tt. DW makes breakfast on an electric griddle. For lunch/dinner I'll make something on the BBQ pit or we use the griddle. We also have a hot plate if needed and only used it to make my brother instant coffee once. I drink the real stuff.
It has an electric heat strip that takes the chill out and we use an electric heater if needed.
And the WH is both electric/gas with ONLY the electric connected.

So ALL electric with no gas. Because of this I have a 50 amp connection. The reason I feel of need a generator around 5k watts.

I am completely satisfied with my purchase with the exception of the bathroom. It is a little small. That has nothing to do with being all electric.

Larryect wrote:
I originally missed the "ALL electric" comment. Sorry about that.

I've asked about that.. but so far no answer. I don't know what an 'all electric' trailer is.

I have a 21 ft travel trailer w/13500 btu AC. I use a Honda 3000 to run the AC and pretty much everything else except the microwave. If i want to use the micro I flip the AC off for the few minutes it takes to heat food. Nice thing about the 3000 is that it will run the AC all night on single tank of gas in Arizona temps. Downside is it's heavy at 130 lbs. You could do the same thing with 2 paralleled 2000's, but it won't run all night unless you also get a fuel tank extender setup.

Okay, still need more info though.....

Larryect wrote:
I originally missed the "ALL electric" comment. Sorry about that.

Maybe you can explain that a bit more. What size rig? A class B all electric is probably a bit different than a class A diesel pusher all electric.

Electric only on fridge and heat?

Larry I think you also missed that he wants to power a Travel Trailer not a motor home.

C.B.

I originally missed the "ALL electric" comment. Sorry about that.

Maybe you can explain that a bit more. What size rig? A class B all electric is probably a bit different than a class A diesel pusher all electric.

Electric only on fridge and heat?

If you will be running the air 24/7 I would be looking at Honda with available extended run fuel tank.