Generator

[Hewshal_53]

I have considered buying a generator for my 19 Foot Premier Bullet. I will be going to the national parks, so it needs to be quiet. Anyone have suggestions I have a 30 Amp supply.

[wrenchbender]

To add to the foray,I use 2 Honda 2Ks because of redundancy and weight.Hardly ever need both units going together but when I do they are there.Too old to lift a 3K.

[Ron3rd]

Honda EU2000 owner here; great genny as others note, but if I was buying today I'd go champion. Great value for the $$ and they offer many more choices in terms of wattage and features. My daughter just bought the Champion 3400 with remote start for $999 with free shipping and no sales tax. Great little genny.

[D_E_Bishop]

Welcome to the Forums Hewshal#53. Unknowingly you have hit a raw nerve with a lot of folks on the Forums. One guy asked what your power needs are, this is a great question. If you're going to be running your Air Conditioning(AC), a @KW inverter of almost ant brand will do that, if you will need any more power than that a 3 to 3.5KW will be your best bet. I personally try to only run either my rail mounted ONAN or my 2KW Champion during mid day when few folks are sleeping. The Champion is in effect close to the same db rating as the "Cadillac" of inverter generator, the i2000 Honda. Well I bought my Champion from Super Gen in Azusa but there is one in Newark, NY.

They have a 31KW model with remotes battery start for under $950. There is also a 3400W with remote for under $1000.

Depends on what you want and what your needs are. They are good quality, reliable and QUIET, generators. They are assuming some of the market share from the Cadillac models, just like Ford did.

[D_E_Bishop]

Funny, not one of you could wait to comment on something other than his question and not one of you said, "WELCOME". It was his first post. Is this such a hot topic that you can't even say HI?

[2oldman]

Op still gone.

[rbpru]

A very quick description of generators; shows the standard generator runs at a constant speed to provide the 60 cycle 120 volt we are familiar with. As the load increases the generator motor output must also increase to keep the speed constant.

The inverter generator provides the 60 cycle 120 volts electronically regardless of motor speed. Therefore the motor can run slower than the standard generator under lighter loads. This reduces noise and improves efficiencies.

There are more detailed descriptions and the advantage of each on the internet.

[SoundGuy]

drsteve wrote:
Home Depot has these for $999...

TomG2 wrote:
Is that an "Open Frame" model that everyone hates?

"EG2800i operates between 61 to 69 dB (A)"

So, at 2800 watts it is about the same loudness as the much hated open frame Champion 3500/4000 which can be purchased for 1/3 the price.

drsteve wrote:
It's an inverter, according to Honda. At partial load throttle openings it's still going to be significantly quieter than the open frame units, which run full throttle all the time, but louder than the gold standard 2000i.

Regardless, even at it's lowest speed it's still significantly louder than an EU2000i running full tilt so with those noise ratings this new Honda inverter genset is still WAY too noisy for use in a conventional campground. 😞

[drsteve]

TomG2 wrote:

drsteve wrote:
Home Depot has these for $999...

Is that an "Open Frame" model that everyone hates?

"EG2800i operates between 61 to 69 dB (A)"

So, at 2800 watts it is about the same loudness as the much hated open frame Champion 3500/4000 which can be purchased for 1/3 the price.

Nice unit.

It's an inverter, according to Honda. At partial load throttle openings it's still going to be significantly quieter than the open frame units, which run full throttle all the time, but louder than the gold standard 2000i. Maybe Honda has decided to compete on price with the low cost Chinese generators.

[GrandpaKip]

TomG2 wrote:

GrandpaKip wrote:
Sorry, I am not familiar with all the Champions. It was yellow, I could read Champ and I could see a 3, and it was noisy. It was on the back of a fiver and some bikes were by it. Really don't care what brand it was, just happened to notice.

I understand. Sort of like saying, " All Ford's are no good because my Uncle had one that backed over Aunt Mary". Come to think of it, it was yellow too. In fact, it might have been a Chevy. Mary never knew the difference.

Thanks, now I understand what I thought I said better than what I said.

[rwynkoop]

Check out 3000 watt inverter Kipors.

I have had one since 2009. It runs my AC, but I had to add a hard start kit to the AC. A start kit is, just a extra oversized capacitor.

They also sell a 4,000 watt model.

Yes, my 3,000 is heavy. I can lift it, but normally need help getting it in and out of the truck.

[rbpru]

I can buy a generator for less than $100.00 that will charge my battery in just a few hours. It will charge it when it rains, it will charge when it is cloudy and it will charger it in the shade.

The generator will be noisy, smelly, require me to carry extra gas and give me one more piece of junk to haul around and maintain.

When I want to truly camp it involves a canoe and a tent and a remote location. Unfortunately those trips are rare. Usually I am RVing with the public with whatever conveniences the CG provides.

Out West, boon docking on public land was common. Here in the Midwest less so.

All of this of course is just my opinion but in answer to the OPs question, my choice would be an inverter type generator of about 3 KW.

It will be about as quiet and efficient as any.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

My costs for generators averages $2.56 per day. My costs for solar are $0.57 per day. Sounds to me as if solar is extremely cheap.

rbpru wrote:
Solar is quiet but requires some degree of sunshine and adapting to intermittent power consumption. It is not cheap.

The problem with generators is they all make noise. Some more than others.

However so do radios, drunks and guitar players.

If you are going to stay at a public CG you will have to put up with the public.

The Public has many different definitions of camping. Not all agree with what I like to do.

[rbpru]

Solar is quiet but requires some degree of sunshine and adapting to intermittent power consumption. It is not cheap.

The problem with generators is they all make noise. Some more than others.

However so do radios, drunks and guitar players.

If you are going to stay at a public CG you will have to put up with the public.

The Public has many different definitions of camping. Not all agree with what I like to do.

[pianotuna]

Time2roll,

Better yet, why can't he get solar?