Solar or Generator??

[Ramblin_Recks]

We are going to have some short boon-docking trips (3-4 days). I do not know my actual energy needs right now, but the DW and I are conservative when it comes to water and power. I really just want to get the biggest return on my $1400.00 budget for this project.

So initially I plan to get 2 T-145s, Trimetric monitor, and then I get bogged down solar or generator…

If it is a generator, I’m leaning towards a Honda EU2000i, or a Yamaha EF2400SHC and a new converter/charger (like maybe PowerMax PM4B Boondocker).

I’m thinking the generator is more versatile and could be used for other tasks than charging the batteries. I know I need to carry gasoline, but that’s ok.

If its solar, I’m thinking this system is “set-it and forget-it”, once it is installed making it easy to keep the batteries charged… but only to charge batteries. I think I would need to buy 4 T-145s (or 105) for solar. Then I start

thinking about my pin weight, I have not got mine weighed yet , but 4 batteries would be about 250-300 lbs., and we added the W/D Stack in the front closet. My BFT can handle it, but I like to keep the “weight police” at bay ;).

Solar or Generator??

Thanks for your thoughts.

[pnichols]

NinerBikes,

Thanks much for that iPad dB meter link!

I may give it a try ... although if we have it so convenient on the iPad I would run the risk of going over to the Dark Side and becoming an RVGNC (RV Generator Noise Cop). 😉

[pnichols]

JiminDenver wrote:
... Since I've never been in a CG with that kind of distance between sites, I'll continue on as I have with the solar.

....or you could continue on, but with maximum weather flexibility, by adding this as a backup to your solar :B :

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-EX650-PORTABLE-Generator-/141207340231?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item...

I can easily get 30 amps out of mine for around five hours for $1.80 (CA prices) worth of gas. It would take a solar (panel) system way too big for my roof and way to expensive, payback-wise, to match this.

[JiminDenver]

The app I use is android based so I doubt it'll work on your i-pad.

It was interesting walking around while the Champ was running and seeing just how far away I needed to be for the db's to drop to 50, then 40 and finally in the 30's. Now I know it would have to be a pretty spread out CG to make it's use acceptable. Since I've never been in a CG with that kind of distance between sites, I'll continue on as I have with the solar.

BTW It took until I was far enough away for the noise level to drop to 40 db and below before I could hear a near by bird sing.

[NinerBikes]

Meter for noise in DB

pnichols wrote:

JiminDenver wrote:
... with the phone app running ....

Hmmmm .... this is ultra off-topic .... but:

Do you have any idea if this app would work my DW's iPad, too?

If so, I would never have guessed that Apple/other OEMs would include sound pressure measuring and readout circuitry in their phones/pads. If they did, then I'll bet it's based merely on the microphone electronics in it and as such, the capability is probably pretty inaccurate as compared to a dedicated sound pressure meter like home theater guys use for measuring their speaker systems. By "inaccurate" I mean around +/- a couple of dBs, or worse.

P.S. Where can I get the app to check it out?

Did you try Google?

dB meter for Ipad.

[pnichols]

JiminDenver wrote:
... with the phone app running ....

Hmmmm .... this is ultra off-topic .... but:

Do you have any idea if this app would work on my DW's iPad, too?

If so, I would never have guessed that Apple/other OEMs would include sound pressure measuring and readout circuitry in their phones/pads. If they did, then I'll bet it's based merely on the microphone electronics in it and as such, the capability is probably pretty inaccurate as compared to a dedicated sound pressure meter like home theater guys use for measuring their speaker systems. By "inaccurate" I mean around +/- a couple of dBs, or worse.

P.S. Where can I get the app to check it out?

[JiminDenver]

pnichols wrote:

JiminDenver wrote:
I was surprised to hear your MH on board generator was so close in db to the Champ.

I'm not sure whether or not you were talking about my built-in 4KW Onan generator.

If you were FWIW, my Onan is rated by Onan at 66dB at 21 feet for the generator itself (of course Onan has no control over how OEM's are going to install it). As installed by Winnebago up inside an exterior storage cabinet, open only at the bottom with the generator way up inside - no part of the generator is hanging out of the bottom as it does in some RVs - our Onan is way quieter than 66dB at 21 feet. I'll have to measure it with my dB sound pressure meter one of these days to prove it. It's exterior noise 40-50 feet away is very reasonable - especially when the motorhome is parked on gravel/grass/dirt soft surfaces. I could quiet it further by retrofitting it with commercial grade vibration dampening mounts and by lining it's Winnebago bay all around inside with fire-proof sound deadening material.

Running our motorhome's Onan for the microwave, hair dryers, and air conditoning is way quieter than running a free-standing 68 dB generator at the campsite.

I'm glad to hear that. When you said yours was rated at 66 db at 7 yards all I could think was ouch. Then again I could hear the ones running across the campground and never though to walk by with the phone app running.

[EsoxLucius]

Unyalli wrote:
SPM Sound Proofing

$55 per square foot? Ouch!

[RJsfishin]

A no brainer, Generator !

[Unyalli]

SPM Sound Proofing

[pnichols]

JiminDenver wrote:
I was surprised to hear your MH on board generator was so close in db to the Champ.

I'm not sure whether or not you were talking about my built-in 4KW Onan generator.

If you were FWIW, my Onan is rated by Onan at 66dB at 21 feet for the generator itself (of course Onan has no control over how OEM's are going to install it). As installed by Winnebago up inside an exterior storage cabinet, open only at the bottom with the generator way up inside - no part of the generator is hanging out of the bottom as it does in some RVs - our Onan is way quieter than 66dB at 21 feet. I'll have to measure it with my dB sound pressure meter one of these days to prove it. It's exterior noise 40-50 feet away is very reasonable - especially when the motorhome is parked on gravel/grass/dirt soft surfaces. I could quiet it further by retrofitting it with commercial grade vibration dampening mounts and by lining it's Winnebago bay all around inside with fire-proof sound deadening material.

Running our motorhome's Onan for the microwave, hair dryers, and air conditoning is way quieter than running a free-standing 68 dB generator at the campsite.

[Almot]

mena661 wrote:
I don't see how an almost shaded CG is rare.

Nobody said they are rare. It's just BFL blowing smoke, for reasons unknown. Probably got bored with long winter... What has been said, was that with 4*6V you can still camp on those shady sites for 4-5 days without much energy conservation or any means of charging, or 7-8 days with conservation. The latter would still include use of lights, pumps, furnace and electronics.

[JiminDenver]

pnichols wrote:

JiminDenver wrote:
That was before I listened to the Champ run for 2 hrs a day for a season AND before I found my cheap panels. It's not bad INSIDE the rig but pity the fool that has to put up with it outside.

What was the dB sound spec for that Champ?

I'd like to compare it's spec to the noise level spec of our little Honda EX650 charging generator.

A Champion 3500/4000 is rated for 68db at 21 feet and that's what I get on my cell phone app for all that's worth. The EX650 purrs in comparison but at those altitudes it's closer to a ex400w.

I wanted a small inverter for charging and nearly picked up a Champion 2000 at Sams for $300. Not getting it allowed me to finish the solar and I'll tell you this. Champion is Yellow, Honda is red, silence is golden.

I was surprised to hear your MH on board generator was so close in db to the Champ.

[mena661]

BFL13 wrote:
Neither did my mum! So it was an immediate up-grade to a TT for Dad, or else. 🙂

LOL! I can identify with that.

[BFL13]

"Being young is wasted on the young"--- or maybe not!

We went tent-camping up-Island when I was a kid. I didn't like the bears snuffling around outside the tent at night. Neither did my mum! So it was an immediate up-grade to a TT for Dad, or else. 🙂

No TV/DVD back then. Played Crib with match-sticks in the Crib board instead.

[mena661]

BFL13 wrote:
For the Purist: Here's a guy camping at Rathtrevor the last couple of days-- No car, no generator, no solar, no nothin'

That was the DW and I up till 2010 when we got the 5er. I had been tent camping since very young, at least 30 years.

DW and I started with this.


Then moved up to this.