How often do you use your portable generator?
I am trying to decide if I really need a portable generator or not. I am purchasing a used camper, 2008 Northern Lite 9-6QSE. It does not have air conditioning, but I am looking in to having a small a...
Forum Discussion
For me, buying a generator is sort of like 4x4. You don't need 4x4 until you need 4x4. Same with the generator, specifically in my example generator and air conditioner. The nice thing about a portable generator, you can add it at any time.
About 7 years ago we took a 16 day trip, it was unseasonably hot for the area, above 90F at night and around 100F during the day for pretty much the entire trip. About a week in my wife and I were both fighting constant heat exhaustion, migraines, and lack of sleep. The trip was cut short two days (from 18 to 16) because my wife couldn't take it anymore and drove 1000miles straight to get home, driving with the AC on in the truck was the only relief we got from the heat.
Fast forward to June 2014. We are on a 27day trip armed with a generator and AC. It was 100F in Utah, no big deal, fire up the generator and run the AC. It was 109F in the shade in NV, no problem, run the AC (shore power).
We use the generator very seldom. When we do, it is usually to run the air conditioner in extreme heat/humidity. For us, investing a little more money (less then 10% of our RV investment) towards a good generator and air conditioner to ensure we are comfortable was important and for us worth it.
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Interestingly, we used to lose power to our house a couple times a year, once I invested in a good generator about 5 years ago, we haven't had a single power outage.
About 7 years ago we took a 16 day trip, it was unseasonably hot for the area, above 90F at night and around 100F during the day for pretty much the entire trip. About a week in my wife and I were both fighting constant heat exhaustion, migraines, and lack of sleep. The trip was cut short two days (from 18 to 16) because my wife couldn't take it anymore and drove 1000miles straight to get home, driving with the AC on in the truck was the only relief we got from the heat.
Fast forward to June 2014. We are on a 27day trip armed with a generator and AC. It was 100F in Utah, no big deal, fire up the generator and run the AC. It was 109F in the shade in NV, no problem, run the AC (shore power).
We use the generator very seldom. When we do, it is usually to run the air conditioner in extreme heat/humidity. For us, investing a little more money (less then 10% of our RV investment) towards a good generator and air conditioner to ensure we are comfortable was important and for us worth it.
--
Interestingly, we used to lose power to our house a couple times a year, once I invested in a good generator about 5 years ago, we haven't had a single power outage.
