Generator Help - need to buy in next week...

[3mtnlabbie]

So - we aren't too savvy with understanding how to measure what kind of generator power we need to get when we buy one within the next week. We know it will be an investment.

Here are the details:

We have a 2013 Palomino Banshee B3: http://www.windishrv.com/inventory/362584/Used-2013-Palomino-Banshee-B-3.aspx (that's our baby - and NO we did NOT pay that much!)

Why we want a generator:
1. We can kill a battery running our furnace in one night if it is in the 40s.
2. It takes hours to hand crank the lift system without a batter (not kidding)
3. We are bringing an extra battery with us with is a total PITA - and would prefer to travel with one.
4. When running off a battery - we can't use the A/C, or run anything that relies off of plugging into the regular outlets inside the camper (ie: heated beds, charging camera batteries, etc.

What items we would like our generator to allow us to do:
1. NOT have to bring a second battery
2. Run the furnace all night if necessary if below 50 degrees
3. Allow us to charge: laptop, camera batteries, cell phones, iPad, etc.
4. Allow us to USE: heated beds, my HAIR DRYER, my flatiron, our A/C if necessary (it is a Coleman Mach - I don't know beyond that), etc.

Things we want:
1. Not to be noisy
2. Hopefully easy to move around
3. Fuel efficient
4. Reliable

Special thing to consider (we live at 5,400' in elevation. We camp usually above 8,000'...

Thank you for all your insight in advance!

[FishHaggis]

Was talking to a few camping folks around here and all say two good RV batteries for sure, but some say generator, some say solar panel. Two guys I talked to bought a Canadian Tire solar panel kit on sale and just leave it laying up against the trailer. During the bulk of camping season we get about 22+ hours of sunlight per day. Now I am thinking two batteries next spring and look for a sale on a solar panel until then. If that is not enough, I will then buy a 1000W Yammaha generator next summer. Whatever you decide on, please ensure its quiet. One guy at the camp site this weekend had an old airplane engine for a genny, I swear!

[wa8yxm]

Since your primary concern is battery charging I will tell you of my Rig.
Pair of six volt GC-2 batteries (220 amp hours, now 230 since I put new ones in)
Converter is a Progressive Dynamics 9180 with wizard.

Generator On board is 5.5KW Onan but I have also used an outboard generator (more fuel efficient for battery charging) specifically a Genrac 1000

This is NOT an inverter generator it is a fully enclosed traditional generator and it is a TRUE 1,000 watt (not peak power but continous) in fact it will go a bit over 1000 watts.

It was able to run the converter at full output (I have the ability to divorce the converter's 120 volt line from the RV (Read that it's a plug in model)).

A Honda EU-1000i or a Yahama 1000i Can NOT run this converter at full output

A 1200i might

So it is the converter that determines the size of the generator. now make and type.

Generally the Inverter generators are less noisy (That 1KW Genrac for example, is as noisy as a 2KW Yahama inverter unit) I would suggest going inverter.. Story follows.

Honda is "The name" Yahama is "The Name #2" and perhaps slightly better Champion is an import (China) as is Smart Tools, much cheaper But... Well,

That's the list of ones I'd consider.

The story:
RV Rally, Yahama display, Considerable "yammer" crowd noise from people all around talking.

Yahama EF-1200i (running) I could not hear over croud (no load on genny)
EF-2400i I could hear, but neither my companion nor the sales man could
Of course when he loaded them down.. They spoke right out and we had to raise our voices slightly but at half load the 2400 did not require we raise voices.

Kind of impressive in my book.

At that time the "Off brand" was Kipor.. Now that one I could hear clearly and it was much more annoying (Sounded like a 2 stroke)

You want a 4 stroke engine.

[JiminDenver]

3mtnlabbie wrote:

JiminDenver wrote:
As mentioned running generators at night in campgrounds is a no no so lets talk about your current situation. How is your battery being charged before you go? You really need to make sure you are starting off on the right foot with a well charged battery. I take our batteries out of the trailer and use stand alone chargers at home. As soon as we get home I recharge the batteries, then again once a month when not in use and I charge them for 3 days before we leave again.

How old is your battery and what size is it?

What are your other loads? One thing to consider is cutting back the use without sacrificing like with inexpensive LED replacements for the incandescent bulbs. There also insulated covers for the bunk ends that will help keep your furnace from running so much.

Great questions - we are in Denver also (well a burb)...
We have two BRAND NEW batteries that we charge OUT of the camper on their own chargers. The trickle charge that "happens" while we drive basically does ZERO. So we have been charging them for 3 days each in the garage on their own chargers... They fit in the box in front of our propane tanks, so I don't know the size...? We really don't run all the "nice" things at all. I'll flick on a light if I can't find something in the dark, we may have the radio on for an hour a day. We DO use the water pump and how water heater the entire time we are set up... And the frig but we have that on propane... So it is really just the furnace at night that we have set to 55 and that cycles off when we reach that temp... Oh and wanting to use our "modern" devices I guess...

First, get some inexpensive LEDs, you can use your lights and not care. I have a few extras if you live in a burb close enough and have the right base.

Is one of the modern appliances the air conditioner? The make and model will determine what generator you will need to run it at altitude. Nix the air and a 2000w might do it if you have a smaller microwave. A Champion 2000w inverter is real quiet and much less expensive.

Need the air and you are in the same boat I am in. Your basic 2800w inverter model might do it for you at 8000 ft, maybe not. You can rent them and see before you buy. You could also get a smaller window or portable air conditioner that could be run off a smaller generator.

[FishHaggis]

Great advice. I am looking for a generator as well as all I do is dry camp now. I am thinking two batteries and a Yamaha 2000 and just give up on AC.

[pianotuna]

Hi Mr. Wizard,

Part of the reason you get good service is the constant use. For myself, since I started full timing I've used less than 100 hours of genny time.

I had a Kipor which served me well for nine years. Then I decided to replace it. Finally I ended up with a Yamaha 3000 sIEB, because, with infrequent use, lesser generators don't do well at all.

I'm still "on the fence" about going "whole hog" on upgrading my solar. I am only using one tank of fuel per week with the generator. I am urban docking with access to shore power.

In your shoes, I'd definitely be redoing my solar with higher output panels. I have enough roof real estate to have 1450 watts which would pretty much eliminate generator use.

[MrWizard]

I just checked, and I have 502 hours, on my champion 3000i with remote electric start,
I do believe the Honda 3000is is quieter, but at $1100 the CPE 3000 inverter is the best buy on the market
People rave about Honda and they are good, but I haven't met an RV'r who racks up more generator hours than me
I put over 2000 hrs on my previous champion generator, that was still going strong when I gave it to a friend, our Onan has almost 4000 hours on it, I put over 3000 on our first champion generator

[mlts22]

Nothing wrong with a Honda 3000i. You can buy a remote start kit for it, so you can fire it up from inside the coach.

[bob_b1]

I just bought a Honda EU3000i to power our motorhome.

Pros:

• It will power the A/C and most of the electric loads
• 49db = Very Quiet
• Electric start
• 3.4 gallon gas tank will power for up to 21 hours
• 3 year warranty
• 135 pounds = they won't grow legs as quickly as the EU1000i or the EU2000i

Cons:

• $2100...Quality is painful only once...Cheap is painful all the time
• 135 pounds = which is heavy compared to the EU1000i (29 lbs) or the EU2000i (47 lbs)

In my case, the Pros outweighed the Cons. It is such a nice unit.

I also have a Honda EU1000is just for charging and Fall camping.

Before I catch any flack about my promotion of Honda inverter generators, I would first like to say that the Yamaha inverter generators are as equally as good.

I would secondly like to say that I've owned them all (at least 15 generators) and speak from experience.

Please resist the cheap allure of open-frame construction site generators. They suck down a lot of gas (not that you'll run it long enough to empty the tank) because you'll know that you made a purchasing mistake during the first five seconds of operation. These units are loud enough to wake the dead. Mr Ranger will be knocking at your trailer door if the lynch mob doesn't show up first.

Not all Honda generators 'Walk On Water'. Honda does make open-frame generators too. You don't want these. Honda also makes an inverter generator call the the EU3000 HANDI: they are half the weight and twice the noise...You don't want this one either. Note the difference: The EU3000is is quiet. The EU3000 HANDI is LOUD! Honda should be ashamed for tricking people into buying the HANDI by naming it so close to their best units.

There are plenty of Chinese knockoffs of the Honda Inverter generators. They come with attractive prices and promise to be almost as quiet. They are not in the same league. One user reported that the instructions require pushing a rubber bulb 19 times prior to starting. Leaking oil, leaking fuel lines, ect...If this is all you can afford, buy a used Honda or Yamaha.

[opnspaces]

3mtnlabbie wrote:

Our camper has a 4'x8' deck that you can put a full sized ATV on. We use it for storage as we are using an SUV to tow and need that deck space for bicycles, firewood, lawn chairs, etc.

1. Where the heck would we mount our second battery? We are just switching them when one is dead.

Nice looking trailer, I like the big deck on the front. As far as mounting a second battery, I see that the one battery is sunken down into the a-frame so there's not much room for anything there. I can think of a few options depending on how fancy you want to get.

First, it looks like there is a flat area just behind the existing battery. Is it possible to mount a second battery there, or is that part of the lift system?

A second battery could be mounted on the deck right up against the trailer battery to reduce tongue weight. For what you will be using this battery for you could easily get by with 10 gauge wire between the batteries.

Or the simplest solution of all;
Set the battery on the deck, or on the ground under the tongue of the trailer. Then run a set of standard automotive jump start cables between the two batteries (positive to positive, and negative to negative) and you have just added a second battery. When it's time to pack up just unhook the jumper cables and store the second battery like you have already been doing.

[Ron3rd]

The game-changer is if you need to run the A/C, then you're talking a different class of generator, 3,000 watts or bigger. If you can live without the A/C, then a nice 2,000 watt inverter genny will be fine.

[JiminDenver]

JiminDenver wrote:


Being here is Colorado it was easier to set up solar, extra battery and a inverter for charging and running smaller things like the MW, hair dryer, vacuum and coffee maker. Last trip we just left the generator home.

[JiminDenver]

Believe me I wish a 2800w inverter generator would run the A/C up here, I'd have a Champion 3100i instead of the 3500/4000 right now.

[JiminDenver]

duplicate

[bikendan]

3mtnlabbie wrote:
1. Where the heck would we mount our second battery? We are just switching them when one is dead.
nearly all trailer have enough room on the A-frame for two Group 24 batteries. some minor fabrication may need to be done though.

2. Would a Honda or Yamaha 2K generator be able to power my hairdryer or flatiron?
yes, but not at the same time.

3. Chances are SLIM we would even ever need our A/C but most places we have gone thus far do not have electricity so IF we did ever want it... It would be nice to be able to use a feature we do have. Right?
if you want to run the a/c, you'll need a bigger generator, especially at altitude.
either 2 paralled 2000w inverter generators or a 3000w+ inverter generator. if i were to buy one, i go with the new Champion 3100w inverter generator. i think the remote start version just came out.