Solar or generator for older camper?

pcoplin wrote:
I'm borrowing a friend's Honda 650 generator this weekend to get a feel for it. Will get down to the low 30s.

If you're borrowing the Honda 650 that you might be - the long since discontinued but IMHO outstanding little 650 watt Honda EX650 - then you might be pleasantly surprized. It's specs are shown in the 2nd column from the right:

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

Note that it's not an inverter generator so it runs at 3600 RPM all the time, and also note that it's noise level is only 54dB while running at it's constant speed. The modern Honda EU2000i's noise level is only one dB lower - 53dB, but is only this quiet when putting out 1/4th (400 watts) of it's total power (1600watts).

We carry a Honda EX650 in our 24 foot Class C motorhome as a lower noise and lower power alternative to our built-in generator.

That little Honda EX650 be used for such things as:

- Run the air conditioner's fan system for air circulation.
- Run our 1500 heater on a low setting.
- Run our two 150 watt personal electric heaters.
- Run our vacumm cleaner.
- Run our hair dryer on it's low setting.
- Run our portable fan for air cooling and keeping the bugs away when sitting outside.
- Run all of our electroncs at the same time.
- Run an electric blanket for about five hours on it's 0.51 gallon tank.
- Run a heating pad for sore muscles.
- Run some hand tools.
- Run a crock pot for about five hours.
- Charge our two Group 29 12 volt RV batteries.

You can find these Honda EX650 generators on eBay for around $150-$200. They hum along with a quiet low frequency sound that is not irritating at all outside ... and that can't be heard from inside the RV.

For the best flexibility in choosing when and where to camp in any weather a generator is a must, IMHO. Of course the best RV setup is to have both solar and a generator, probably starting with generator capability first and then adding solar later.