Solar or generator for older camper?

I like solar a lot. It works, it is quiet. I bought a generator first but do not use it much. Many people have both. For a TC, you do not need that much power.

pcoplin wrote:
Thanks pnichols, I appreciate the info.

Do you have any info on the EX700? There was one on Craigslist other day for a good price and I missed it.

Also consider a Ryobi 700 watt propane generator if you are OK with small.
None are silent like solar.

But on campgrounds you always have lot of noises.

I would rather here a Honda inverter generator purring along versus an early erra diesel truck..Those are annoying..

Solar would be next to worthless for me and camping in the dense forest of Idaho.

"I can't hear it run" is like "tows like there's nothing behind me."

It's a FIGURE OF SPEECH, not literal! Means, it's very quiet. Significantly quieter than a conventional open frame generator, so much so that it would impress someone to the point that they'd make that FIGURATIVE comparison. No reasonable person would hear someone say that and expect the generator to be absolutely silent.

Come on. You are capable of thinking in more than literal terms.

In quiet surroundings you can hear neighbour snoring 100' away, so the only really quiet power source are batteries.
But on campgrounds you always have lot of noises. Once I camp with hookups, but 5 sites away a motorhome had furnace who at night sound like starting jet fighter.
Still on other campground I had close neighbour running inverter generator and then 5 sites away other guy was running 2000 W contractors-grade generator.
I could hear the generator 5 sites away, but not recognize inverter generator noise 25' away.
Fuel consumption? I used to have older RV Generac, who at 4000W rating was using 1 gallon of gas per hr load or not.
My Honda inverter with 1 gallon of gas will power AC for like 6 hr, or with no load run (?) probably for couple of days.

Sorry, I know that this topic is very old, but maybe my answer will help someone in the future since I spent a lot of time to find the right information.
Most lower priced non-inverter generators produce 60 cycle AC current directly
by turning at a very specific speed. This means the engine on a
non-inverter genny must run at full speed all the time- even if there is nothing connected to it. This makes more noise and burns more fuel.

Some higher priced inverter generators produce DC current which is
electronically inverted to 60 cycle AC power.
This means the engine does not have to run at a specific speed.
For this reason, when the generator is under light load the engine can run
at a lower speed. This is often quieter and more fuel efficient.

NOTE: Honda calls this eco mode or something. I'm not sure that all
inverter genny have the low speed under light load option so you might
want to check before you purchase one.
Also, this more expensive inverter genny typically have better mufflers.
They are pretty quiet but I disagree with folks who say they can't hear
them run!! I CAN HEAR A HONDA from across the road no problem!
They ARE quieter than most others tho....

Finally, some campgrounds don't allow generators during certain hours.
Even the quiet ones are not allowed in some areas.

Hope this helps a bit!

Great, thanks for the link! I'll be on the lookout for an EM or EX650. My buddy won't sell me his. :)

Paul,

Here's all the specification info I currently have on early Honda generators. I guess more research would be required to determine what a Honda EX700 is. However, note from this specification table, that none of the models shown can match the EX650's noise spec:

http://www.tappedin.com/hop/html/litegen.htm

I also own an EX1000 given to me in like-new condition but do not carry it in our RV (instead of the EX650) because of the EX1000's higher noise level and heavier weight. The EX650 is all we need for battery charging. Sometimes I do use the engine alternator for up to an hour for initial battery charging before starting up the EX650 to complete the charging, as the idling V10 is even quieter than the Honda and it's alternator supplies more initial charging current into the batteries than does the Honda when feeding the stock 13.8 volt fixed voltage RV converter. I haven't added solar yet, but may later. I wanted to begin our serious RV'ing with a small ultra-quiet generator instead of solar because a generator permits more flexibility in our camping, as we can then charge batteries anywhere anytime.

I've noticed that a lot of the info on older Honda generator models seems to be posted on sites with UK based addresses, so you might want to kindof keep that in mind when doing searches. Maybe the older Hondas are still popular in Britain?

P.S. You don't need to buy several generators - just one used EX650 from eBay or Craigslist for $150 - $250. ;)

You can buy several generators spending more money than the Honda 2000 or 1000 cost, and still have a loud generator. Throwing good money after bad will not get a quiet generator. Nothing wrong with collecting generators if that is your hobby.

Thanks pnichols, I appreciate the info.

Do you have any info on the EX700? There was one on Craigslist other day for a good price and I missed it.