Monster1
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Re: Generator advice
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.910Views0likes0CommentsRe: Generator advice
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?908Views0likes0CommentsRe: Generator advice
BFL13 wrote: You guys are entitled to choose whatever "camping lifestyle" you like. There are many reasons to be out there in an RV instead of at home. The RV lets you modify it from as new, so that you can live the "camping style" that suits you. Just remember that not everyone chooses the same "camping style", and everyone's "style" is equally valid. You don't get extra points for depriving yourself of the available comforts, but it might make you feel virtuous in your own right. :) In our case, not being on a "downed pilot's survival course", we like having as many comforts as possible. :) I'm sorry my post offends you.543Views0likes0CommentsRe: Generator advice
ppine wrote: Just a thought. The whole point of camping to me is get away from modern life. Buying a large generator to run a microwave seems odd to me. You can easily make pizza in a Dutch oven on a fire. It is not instant, but it is quiet and you will always have enough fuel. No hookups, no generator, no problem. Teach your kids. I fully agree with this. I grew up in the RV business and the boy scouts so I grew up both RV'ing and camping. I'm 45 years old now and this is my first RV. My family and I have been tent camping up till this point. It wasn't a light decision to buy our trailer. I knew there was a chance that we'd never be "camping" again. We've seen so many people pull up to a camp site, back there RV into the site and scramble out of the rig, look around and climb back into the unit never seeing them again unless it's to get into an outside compartment only to go back inside. To me, that isn't camping or even livin. I told the family if we were going to buy a trailer, it's for sleeping and getting out of inclement weather only (two years ago we were in a down pour for three days in our tent and I loved it!) Even though we now have the trailer, we still cook outside on the fire, sit around outside even though there is a nice comfortable couch inside, and we eat outside as well. The microwave is just for quick snacks and lunch when we don't have time to build a cook fire between adventures.541Views0likes0CommentsRe: Generator advice
HadEnough wrote: Sounds so expensive, heavy and like a chore. A solar array, battery bank and inverter is a much more suitable setup for this situation. Microwaves don't need generators at all. They pull a lot of current but only for 10-15 minutes here and there, so Amp HOURS used is actually small. Solar keeps the batteries topped off at all times too, unlike generator only setups. It's silent, always on and working and handles a situation like this with ease and no need for fuel. These is no better case for solar than this one. I agree and would love solar. I have solar on my house btw. But, the places I plan to go are not usually sunny. My two favorite places are the mountains and the coast so I'm dealing with shady forest and coastal overcast and fog respectively.542Views0likes0CommentsRe: Generator advice
Thank you all for your insight. I'm thinking a 2000w should be sufficient for my needs. If it proves to not be enough, I can just buy another and link them when needed. Honestly, I was looking at getting the 2000w ipower. Nothing against champion products. I think the one I borrowed was needing a tune up or something. It just didn't seem to have the output my friends 2200w power(house I think). The champion was less than 50lbs and the other 25 pounds more. I just figured it was just a beefier unit. I could be wrong though.318Views0likes0CommentsGenerator advice
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.7.2KViews0likes67CommentsRe: Treating wood for rot fungus
Thanks for the tips guys. I found the culprit. The sealant on the edge of the skylight had crumbed. I was able to pull it off by hand which exposed a nice hole in the skylight I could fit a pencil through. I ordered a new skylight off amazon to complete the repair.530Views0likes0Comments
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