Generator advice

[Monster1]

I'm looking at buying a generator. 95% of what I need it for is charging house battery while dry camping. The other 5% is to run the microwave for hot pockets and pizza for the kids. I borrowed a 2000w champion that falls right on its face and dies when trying to run the microwave. My friends 2200w power(something) will run the microwave but its wound out doing it. I should have bought the 3200w firman from costco when it dropped to $469 with manufactures discount before Christmas. That generator went up in price to 639. Still a good deal but I'm trying to explore other options. My other thought was to buy two 2000w ipower generators. One fir charging or both when needing more power. Would I be better suited with a large generator or two smaller in parallel when needed? IMO a large generator to just charge up a 12v battery might be overkill and inefficient. And yes, I know Honda is the best, but for only being used s few times a year, spending that kind of money is a waste.

[time2roll]

Monster1 wrote:
Seems like I need to buy a more energy efficient model that draws less power?

Consider a Panasonic inverter microwave. This unit actually reduces power to the megatron vs most microwaves just cycle the megatron at full power. I think the mid level power was measured as low as 600 watts IIRC. Of course if using 30 amp utility power you can run at full.

[oomkin]

Should be plenty of ideas on this, like gasoline outperforms propane.
https://www.mygrandrv.com/forum/showthread.php/10431-Good-generator-recommendations
https://generatoron.org/best-rv-generator/

For a generator that could be for both camper and house, I think you'd have to have at least 2 generators that could be joined together to add their power together to run essentials in the house during power outages(lights, frig, freezer, TV, Computers, small window A/C) and be light enough to carry.
Weight becomes the problem when trying to get more powerful generator.

Several years ago, about the time of Hurricane Ike, I went with a larger wheeled 6000 running watts generator for home during hurricane/extended power outages.
I think 6000 watts is about the smallest amount of power I'd want for home, but the generators are the big heavy wheeled ones.
I went with 2 smaller 75lb 2000 running watts Yamaha EF2400is that I can just lift myself to load in pickup or camper.

I later added tri fuel propane/natural gas/gasoline kits to these b/c when I really wanted them to run they didn't(carbs needed pulled & cleaned, or jets replaced), even though I'd used fuel stabilizer.
I'm not disciplined enough to do monthly generator run tests. I think if I ran them weekly on gasoline with fuel stabilizer I'd be just fine.
My EF2400is looks pretty much like this, just has 90 degree and quick connect on propane/natural gas regulator.



Gasoline out performs Propane or natural gas for producing power. https://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_17/660331_Any_personal_experience_with_trifuel_generator_conversions_.html

Some generators are for sale dual fuel, most of the smaller 2000-3000 watts have had the dual fuel conversion added.
If buying generators today I'd look at Honda(supposed to have best starting surge capacity for A/Cs), Champion Power, Yamaha.

Champion Power Equipment 100165 7500 Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator with Electric Start
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/champion-power-equipment-6750-8400-watt-lpg-9375-7500-watt...
http://www.homedepot.com/b/Outdoors-Outdoor-Power-Equipment-Generators-Portable-Generators/Dual-Fuel...

Champion DUAL-FUEL 2800wt Running / 3100wt Peak Digital Inverter Generator, Electric Start, RV Ready, Parallel Capable, CARB & EPA Certified, Low Decibels
https://www.costco.com/Champion-DUAL-FUEL-2800wt-Running--3100wt-Peak-Digital-Inverter-Generator%2c-...

https://www.motorsnorkel.com/generators.html

Oomkin

[Monster1]

BFL13 wrote:
My Briggs & Stratton portable gen has a red overload light that is supposed to come on and also the circuit breaker pops when it is overloaded.

Before that happens, when it is fully loaded and a bit, the red light flashes, but the gen keeps running the load. More load and the red light flashes faster. Reduce load and it flashes slower. Reduce load more and it goes out- just have the green light.

I have to run my gen with the red light flashing to run my 75 amp converter at 75 amps. Once amps taper to about 66 amps, the red light stops flashing and it is just the green lamp.

So---I suspect your gen is similar. If it does not pop its 120v circuit breaker, just leave it on to do the job. If you really do overload it, the CB will pop and that red light will come on like it means it.

Lol. That's exactly what happened with my other friends 2000w champion cube. The circuit breaker would pop after three seconds and you would have to shut the generator down to reset it.

[BFL13]

My Briggs & Stratton portable gen has a red overload light that is supposed to come on and also the circuit breaker pops when it is overloaded.

Before that happens, when it is fully loaded and a bit, the red light flashes, but the gen keeps running the load. More load and the red light flashes faster. Reduce load and it flashes slower. Reduce load more and it goes out- just have the green light.

I have to run my gen with the red light flashing to run my 75 amp converter at 75 amps. Once amps taper to about 66 amps, the red light stops flashing and it is just the green lamp.

So---I suspect your gen is similar. If it does not pop its 120v circuit breaker, just leave it on to do the job. If you really do overload it, the CB will pop and that red light will come on like it means it.

[Monster1]

After reviewing the instructions and performing the recommended break in procedures, I fired up the generator, connected it to shore power and experimented with the microwave. The microwave ran and heated a full cup of water fine. It didnt shut off/cut out or run the generator at such speeds like it was going to blow up. However, the red overpower light glows softly (not fully illuminated). I bypassed everything in the trailer by unplugging the generator from shore power and ran a drop cord straight to the microwave. Same thing. Adjusting the power setting on the microwave does nothing. The generator is running with the eco mode off. The microwave is a Dometic unit. The power consumption rating is 1500w/14A. This is the same rating as the big one in my house. Seems like I need to buy a more energy efficient model that draws less power?

[Boon_Docker]

That is a great deal, I paid $700 for mine up here in Canada.

[pnichols]

Monster1 wrote:
Well anyway....... I just ended up buying a 2000w champion inverter generator from home depot. I couldn't pass up the deal. They were on sale for $299. Thanks again for all the replies.

Congrats on your great deal. Enjoy your new off-grid independence!

[Monster1]

Well anyway....... I just ended up buying a 2000w champion inverter generator from home depot. I couldn't pass up the deal. They were on sale for $299. Thanks again for all the replies.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

If you fully time not only is it supposed to be "just like home", it IS home.

ppine wrote:
For many people, it would appear that having an RV is supposed to be "just like home." I will never see the point of living that way on the road.

[pnichols]

There is one more twist to the RV'ing story: Some of us just plain like the challenge of getting way out there in nature - but doing it with a refrigerator, a freezer, a shower, an oven, a furnace, and an air conditioner - all as close by as possible at the end of the day.

I can only imagine what it would be like having our RV parked right at one of the spectacular places where we used to backpack to - the remote shores of Sandpiper Lake.

Boy ... I wish I could afford an Earthroamer ... or a heavy lift helicopter!

Nirvana. :C

[ppine]

For many people, it would appear that having an RV is supposed to be "just like home." I will never see the point of living that way on the road.

[ppine]

NormC56 wrote:
I enjoy "real" camping as much as anyone, heck, I used to "backpack" camp more than any other kind. I once sat out a summer monsoon in the Mohave Desert for 18 hours. I'm glad I didn't camp with my dog that trip. Storms are much more doable in my TC. All camping experiences are to be savored but you can reach a saturation point.

"Saturation point?" Not likely. I still backpack and run rivers and tent camp because you cannot take an RV to the best places.

[NormC56]

I enjoy "real" camping as much as anyone, heck, I used to "backpack" camp more than any other kind. I once sat out a summer monsoon in the Mohave Desert for 18 hours. I'm glad I didn't camp with my dog that trip. Storms are much more doable in my TC. All camping experiences are to be savored but you can reach a saturation point.

[deltabravo]

theoldwizard1 wrote:
For me, the decision of 1 vs 2 generators comes down to easy of moving them around. 2 small ones are definitely easier to handle !

AMEN TO THAT.

That's why I have two. 90% of the time I only need one. The only time I will take both camping is when it's hot and I know I will want to run the A/C.