Best Inverter Generator under $500 for a TC

[jaycocreek]

I already have a Honda 2000is but I am wanting the best genset under $500 to take the load off the Honda and for a loaner to family and friends...

So what's the best bang for the buck?

Champion/Westinghouse/Wen etc..Cheaper(less expensive) is better but noise and especially reliability is at the top of the list..

Any actual experiences in a sub-$500 generator?

[2oldman]

jaycocreek wrote:
But the explorer series are Lithium(1,000 vs 500 Cycles),then a guy could say he has lithium batteries..LOL

And in a glitzy container. It's a lot of hype for the unwary.

[2oldman]

GeoBoy wrote:
I don’t know why there is al this fuss about buying a cheap generator when the government is going to send you $1,200.00. Go out and buy a Honda.:B

Good one!

[GeoBoy]

I don’t know why there is al this fuss about buying a cheap generator when the government is going to send you $1,200.00. Go out and buy a Honda.:B

[jaycocreek]

2oldman wrote:
It's Jackery.

240wh = 20ah @ 12v. I guess they rate them in wh because that's a bigger number. Lol. No, I wouldn't buy that either.

But the explorer series are Lithium(1,000 vs 500 Cycles),then a guy could say he has lithium batteries..LOL

A lot of people swear by them for boondocking, but it's mostly the overland crowd saying that, and why there are so many youtube video's running ARB/CFX and Engel portable refer/freezer units with them...

[2oldman]

It's Jackery.

240wh = 20ah @ 12v. I guess they rate them in wh because that's a bigger number. Lol. No, I wouldn't buy that either.

[jaycocreek]

srschang

That's an impressive setup you have but that is way out of my price range..My truck camper was designed with only one battery compartment that holds only one battery..For extra batteries I pretty much have to put them in the wheel wells..One wheel well will hold two but the other won't because of the TC pluggin and where they put it.

I am looking to buy a portable compressor fridge/freezer not a double door replacement for the factory unit..Amp draw on the Engle unit max's at 2.7 amps(.7-2.7amp draw) according to there literature.

A lot of folks are running them off of Jackary and Goal Zero battery banks rated in watt hours not amp hours...A 240 watt hour Jackary will run an Engel for 24 hours..A 500 watt hour Jackary will run a Dometic CFX for 60 hours before getting to the 15% minimum Jackary advices not to go below..I don't really want to buy a power station...

The one test I saw yesterday,a guy bought a 55 amp hour RV battery and ran the CFX series for 48 hours with 12.4 volts left after starting with 12.7 volts..Not a bad draw for a fridge/freezer 24/7..

So with my older group 27 battery,I should be able to do atleast that but then I need a way to recharge and it appears a small inverter generator is the cheapest way at less than $400 and 51db..

[srschang]

jaycocreek wrote:

zcookiemonstar wrote:
I think if I had a one Honda 2000 generator and wanted a second generator I would spend the extra money to get a second Honda to be able to parallel them if needed.

I thought about that but I already have a Honda 3K (EU3000is) so I have no need to parallel two generators together..

My only need is to charge a battery that will run an Engel compressor refer every couple days hence why I posted about a cheap inverter generator to do that..Portable Solar is an option but the sun being out and camping in the dense mountains might impact that.

Most Rver's with compressor refrigerators have huge battery banks and solar but that is not possible with my truck camper solo without a trailer in tow..

Don't necessarily need a huge battery bank. We have 2 100ah lithium batteries with 4 100w solar panels and a 2000w inverter. We spent 2 months driving to Alaska and back last fall, only stayed in campgrounds a few nights when we wanted to run the AC. Our typical daily power consumption was about 50 ah (as I remember), which included:

Compressor fridge
Wife drying her hair (inverter)
3-4 cups of coffee Keurig (inverter)
Watching a couple hours TV
Lights in the evening
Water pump for 1 or two showers

The solar would fully recharge the batteries each day by noon if it was sunny, or by 6pm if it was cloudy.

And I didn't have the camper hooked to the power from the truck to help charge the batteries. Unhooked that wire when I put in the converter for the lithium batteries, wasn't sure it was a good idea to send 14.7v to the truck when the converter was on.

[jaycocreek]

zcookiemonstar wrote:
I think if I had a one Honda 2000 generator and wanted a second generator I would spend the extra money to get a second Honda to be able to parallel them if needed.

I thought about that but I already have a Honda 3K (EU3000is) so I have no need to parallel two generators together..

My only need is to charge a battery that will run an Engel compressor refer every couple days hence why I posted about a cheap inverter generator to do that..Portable Solar is an option but the sun being out and camping in the dense mountains might impact that.

Most Rver's with compressor refrigerators have huge battery banks and solar but that is not possible with my truck camper solo without a trailer in tow..

[Kayteg1]

That is good point.
To my understanding, all inverter generators can be parallel, but manufacturers post only info about paralleling their brand.
So can Honda2000 can be parallel with Sportsman 1000?

[zcookiemonstar]

I think if I had a one Honda 2000 generator and wanted a second generator I would spend the extra money to get a second Honda to be able to parallel them if needed.

[Grit_dog]

jaycocreek wrote:

2oldman wrote:

jaycocreek wrote:
I am wanting the best genset under $500 to take the load off the Honda..

Not sure what that means....take the load off?

Like drive the car around town and save the big block 460 for work and play.Another generator to use in place of the Honda for menial stuff and especially,for a loaner.

Still trying to make sense of this ridiculous thread. So you want a “loaner” generator. Ok whatever floats your boat, but don’t understand the take the load off. Are you wearing out the Honda? How many hours on it? It’ll run 1000hours if it runs a minute if the oil is changed, even in frequently.
Your analogy is like using a 6kw to make coffee.
Using your Honda below it’s “potential” pun intended, is like using a slightly larger Hyundai than a smaller Hyundai.

Why are you fixated on buying a new throwaway model vs a used Honda? Doesn’t fit your general approach to things.

[jaycocreek]

2oldman wrote:

jaycocreek wrote:
Seriously looking at portable solar also..Renogy 100 watt suitcase with controller $249..But short leads to where the battery is...

Considering the CPAP and the refer, I'd be looking at 300 to keep your generator use to a minimum.

You don't run a generator at night for the CPAP do you?

The cpap runs for several days on the stand alone battery without the heater on...I don't even check voltage for 3 days...I run a generator mostly to charge the batteries and when we do,we usually watch movies etc while running.

I am okay with the way things are now buttttttttt I am adding a compressor fridge sooner than later..Engel most likely...From watching videos on them like the Dometic cfx,they atleast get 2 days or 48 hours on a 500 watt hour power station like the Jackary or Goal Zero..

I am looking to just cover the compressor refer and it's draw...

[2oldman]

jaycocreek wrote:
Seriously looking at portable solar also..Renogy 100 watt suitcase with controller $249..But short leads to where the battery is...

Considering the CPAP and the refer, I'd be looking at 300 to keep your generator use to a minimum.

You don't run a generator at night for the CPAP do you?

[jimh406]

How much the AC draws would make a huge difference in run time. I’d guess a huge difference betwen 70-75 on a hot day in sun vs a RV in the shade.