There are mixed reviews about the use of generators. What is the general concessus of grey nomads. We bought one as a back up to run air conditioning if free camping when hot or cold
Hi Memphs
Welcome to the forum
I see that this is your first post, and that you have not been back, to participate
Reading all the posts has confirmed to me, that we are all different, and I would not have it any other way
I actually sit on the fence, on this one
I have a Honda EU2i genset, which came with my second hand motorhome
I hardly use it, and would prefer not to carry it with me
The wife says that we will carry it, just in case we need it
If I was to purchase a new rig today, (in hindsight), and had the option of a fitting a genset, or a very good battery/solar system I would opt for lithium battery/solar, because my 460 watt solar, plus 240 AH AGM battery system, covers my present needs
Aus-Kiwi said
09:18 PM Nov 1, 2020
Yes it does . For the same reason I leave my spare tyre at home !
DMaxer said
09:05 AM Nov 2, 2020
Living in a free country does not give one the freedom to disregard the enjoyment of others for your own selfishness Aussie, or is that what it means in your little world.
When people go out bush I could not care if they have fifty generators all going day and night. What I detest is the person who arrives at a tranquil setting and just takes over with their preference, oblivious to the comfort and enjoyment of others. Whether it be a generator, jet ski, yapping on phones with the speakers on, loud music, any of it irritates me. It is not just the noise but the total arrogance of these social misfits that try to ride roughshot over the enjoyment of others.
I understand Mike's position. Good on him. He is out there on his own, he is not invading other peoples' space and enjoyment. I imagine most of the posters on this forum who have generators are much the same as Mike in their use. This post was never directed at them.
I don't really understand the "it's just for back up" philosophy. I recently spent two weeks near the coast with no mains power and virtually no sunshine. It was cloudy and wet almost every day until the final day. I had the fridge and HWS on gas and only used the battery for the water pump for showers each day and filling the kettle. I used a 150 watt inverter for the laptop and a bit of NRL on the 12 volt television. When I drove to the shops I took the inverter and charged up the laptop and phone in my car. I used the lights for reading of a night and never looked like running out of power. All I have is a 125 panel and one battery. What is there to back up?
People can run their generators all day if they like. All I ever want is for the inconsiderate few to realise that their comfort is not at the expense of those around them. If air conditioning, hair dryers and television is top of their priorities, then perhaps it would make more economic sense for them to either stay home or book into a hotel where they can do all these things and if they feel the need for a camping or outdoor experience, they could flick through a National Geographic magazine during the ad breaks of Home and Away.
Anyway, that is my rant over. Look forward to catching up with you one day Mike. You can guide me on the road to enlightenment in ridding my mind of "patholical hatred of generators".
Aus-Kiwi said
09:27 AM Nov 2, 2020
What you started your vehicle ?? Yes some understanding . I only start ours and its built in, insulated . I wouldnt say it produced more pollution than any other motor . Have 50 amp charger so 10 -20 min runs twice a day is generally enough . Was out North West recently. A few put the geni 20m away from their van . Actually closer to other vans . This sort of thing is what gives generators a bad name . Its the attitude more than generator these days . No way should they be run overnight unless you have health
Issues .
Peter_n_Margaret said
09:27 AM Nov 2, 2020
DMaxer wrote:
That is just the point Rob. In my view there is no consideration for anyone the minute you turn your generator on. It's a bit like saying "I am only hitting my wife lightly" or " I am only stealing things that are not too expensive for the owner to replace". The use shows people don't care less about their fellow campers. The two hours or so they are running the bloody thing might just be the two hours that a fellow camper would have liked to relax and listen to nature, the sound of a river or the sound of the sea. Instead, some moron has their Honda thumping away so they don't get too hot or miss any episodes of The Bachelor.
Rob, it is camping. Living in the great outdoors with all the elements makes camping and caravanning one of the most fabulous pastimes in the World. I am not a solar fanatic. I have one panel on my van and one battery and that runs everything for me. The fridge and HWS work on gas and I have about 200 litres of water. If I want the air conditioner I go to a park or showground. The generator lovers must sit and home and think "I can't wait to go out bush. I can lock myself in the van, turn on the air conditioner and the Tv whilst the generator thumps away outside. That's the life".
Good post.
I find it sad that some are of the view that if they arrive somewhere first that they can do as they wish without consideration for others who may arrive (or the wildlife).
Cheers,
Peter
Jaahn said
11:12 AM Nov 2, 2020
hufnpuf wrote:
I doubt I'll ever need a generator, I'll probably always be staying places with services (although on my recent trip I had issues accessing them), but I like to learn things. I've seen for sale Honda generators described as "silent". People in this thread have referred to their Honda generators as "quiet". What sort of noise levels are we talking about here? Is it brands/types other than these Honda "silent" ones that are annoying? Are the Honda silent ones the answer to using a generator without annoying other people?
Hi hufnpuf
The power of advertising BS. SILENT !! There has been a good answer about this given already by Mike. But I would like to give another slant on quiet.
What you hear and how loud that sounds is very subjective and dependent on the background noise. In the busy city you hardly hear a generator compared to the background noise. Out in the suburbs they sound louder because the background is less noisy. BUT when you are out in the bush the background noise level is very low, on my meter below the lowest reading it can register, so any noise sounds loud. That is the crux of the problem with generators, motor bikes, phone calls, music, TVs etc. But often people in general do not adjust to that and turn things down. To compound the problem is the fact many on here may be older and their hearing is reduced, Eh what was that ?
I had a bush block before and on a still night could hear a quiet generator from 4 Ks away. If the wind was gently blowing we could clearly hear the neighbours arguing from a couple of Kms. Think about that and your noise when out in the bush away from civilisation.
Jaahn
hufnpuf said
12:50 PM Nov 2, 2020
DMaxer wrote:
I used the lights for reading of a night
Don't you have any consideration for others? Camping means enjoying nature, not having lights blazing away...... If you want lights and a fridge, why don't you just stay home?
You sound extremely intolerant of others. Yes, other people might annoy us with their preferences, but wanting things our own way all the time is actually inconsiderate of alternative wants/needs. Consideration doesn't only run one way.
Thanks for the info Jaahn and Mike, I thought it unlikely that a motor could ever be "silent".
DMaxer said
03:31 PM Nov 2, 2020
Yes Hufnpuf. I can be intolerant of some people at times. I especially don't suffer fools very well so I doubt we would get along too well.
Aussie1 said
04:09 PM Nov 2, 2020
Fantastic the way some of the "anti generator" campers only fall back position is "if you don't fit in with our wants and requirements", stay home!
Come on, that's not the nice way to put forward your argument. A lost argument at that! Take a chill pill and put more time into relaxing. And remember, we have been told our life with generators is about to end (banned) soon. There, that should make you anti generator folk very happy. Have a nice day all.
yobarr said
04:31 PM Nov 2, 2020
Aussie1 wrote:
Fantastic the way some of the "anti generator" campers only fall back position is "if you don't fit in with our wants and requirements", stay home! Come on, that's not the nice way to put forward your argument. A lost argument at that! Take a chill pill and put more time into relaxing. And remember, we have been told our life with generators is about to end (banned) soon. There, that should make you anti generator folk very happy. Have a nice day all.
"Take a chill pill and put more time into relaxing" you say.Indeed! Talk about a contradiction in terms...how does one "relax" when surrounded by the inconsiderates with their generators? I hope that this question doesn't confuse? Cheers
Aussie1 said
04:52 PM Nov 2, 2020
yobarr wrote:
Aussie1 wrote:
Fantastic the way some of the "anti generator" campers only fall back position is "if you don't fit in with our wants and requirements", stay home! Come on, that's not the nice way to put forward your argument. A lost argument at that! Take a chill pill and put more time into relaxing. And remember, we have been told our life with generators is about to end (banned) soon. There, that should make you anti generator folk very happy. Have a nice day all.
"Take a chill pill and put more time into relaxing" you say.Indeed! Talk about a contradiction in terms...how does one "relax" when surrounded by the inconsiderates with their generators? I hope that this question doesn't confuse? Cheers
No contradiction Cobber, for goodness sake focus on the positives in life a bit more, eg."we have been told our life with generators is about to end (banned) soon". Hey Peter, will you try and explain that to yobarr please.
Hi Memphs
Welcome to the forum
I see that this is your first post, and that you have not been back, to participate
Reading all the posts has confirmed to me, that we are all different, and I would not have it any other way
I actually sit on the fence, on this one
I have a Honda EU2i genset, which came with my second hand motorhome
I hardly use it, and would prefer not to carry it with me
The wife says that we will carry it, just in case we need it
If I was to purchase a new rig today, (in hindsight), and had the option of a fitting a genset, or a very good battery/solar system
I would opt for lithium battery/solar, because my 460 watt solar, plus 240 AH AGM battery system, covers my present needs
Living in a free country does not give one the freedom to disregard the enjoyment of others for your own selfishness Aussie, or is that what it means in your little world.
When people go out bush I could not care if they have fifty generators all going day and night. What I detest is the person who arrives at a tranquil setting and just takes over with their preference, oblivious to the comfort and enjoyment of others. Whether it be a generator, jet ski, yapping on phones with the speakers on, loud music, any of it irritates me. It is not just the noise but the total arrogance of these social misfits that try to ride roughshot over the enjoyment of others.
I understand Mike's position. Good on him. He is out there on his own, he is not invading other peoples' space and enjoyment. I imagine most of the posters on this forum who have generators are much the same as Mike in their use. This post was never directed at them.
I don't really understand the "it's just for back up" philosophy. I recently spent two weeks near the coast with no mains power and virtually no sunshine. It was cloudy and wet almost every day until the final day. I had the fridge and HWS on gas and only used the battery for the water pump for showers each day and filling the kettle. I used a 150 watt inverter for the laptop and a bit of NRL on the 12 volt television. When I drove to the shops I took the inverter and charged up the laptop and phone in my car. I used the lights for reading of a night and never looked like running out of power. All I have is a 125 panel and one battery. What is there to back up?
People can run their generators all day if they like. All I ever want is for the inconsiderate few to realise that their comfort is not at the expense of those around them. If air conditioning, hair dryers and television is top of their priorities, then perhaps it would make more economic sense for them to either stay home or book into a hotel where they can do all these things and if they feel the need for a camping or outdoor experience, they could flick through a National Geographic magazine during the ad breaks of Home and Away.
Anyway, that is my rant over. Look forward to catching up with you one day Mike. You can guide me on the road to enlightenment in ridding my mind of "patholical hatred of generators".
Issues .
Good post.
I find it sad that some are of the view that if they arrive somewhere first that they can do as they wish without consideration for others who may arrive (or the wildlife).
Cheers,
Peter
Hi hufnpuf
The power of advertising BS. SILENT !! There has been a good answer about this given already by Mike. But I would like to give another slant on quiet.
What you hear and how loud that sounds is very subjective and dependent on the background noise. In the busy city you hardly hear a generator compared to the background noise. Out in the suburbs they sound louder because the background is less noisy. BUT when you are out in the bush the background noise level is very low, on my meter below the lowest reading it can register, so any noise sounds loud. That is the crux of the problem with generators, motor bikes, phone calls, music, TVs etc. But often people in general do not adjust to that and turn things down. To compound the problem is the fact many on here may be older and their hearing is reduced, Eh what was that ?
I had a bush block before and on a still night could hear a quiet generator from 4 Ks away. If the wind was gently blowing we could clearly hear the neighbours arguing from a couple of Kms. Think about that and your noise when out in the bush away from civilisation.
Jaahn
Don't you have any consideration for others? Camping means enjoying nature, not having lights blazing away...... If you want lights and a fridge, why don't you just stay home?
You sound extremely intolerant of others. Yes, other people might annoy us with their preferences, but wanting things our own way all the time is actually inconsiderate of alternative wants/needs. Consideration doesn't only run one way.
Thanks for the info Jaahn and Mike, I thought it unlikely that a motor could ever be "silent".
Yes Hufnpuf. I can be intolerant of some people at times. I especially don't suffer fools very well so I doubt we would get along too well.
Come on, that's not the nice way to put forward your argument. A lost argument at that! Take a chill pill and put more time into relaxing. And remember, we have been told our life with generators is about to end (banned) soon. There, that should make you anti generator folk very happy. Have a nice day all.
"Take a chill pill and put more time into relaxing" you say.Indeed! Talk about a contradiction in terms...how does one "relax" when surrounded by the inconsiderates with their generators? I hope that this question doesn't confuse? Cheers
No contradiction Cobber, for goodness sake focus on the positives in life a bit more, eg."we have been told our life with generators is about to end (banned) soon". Hey Peter, will you try and explain that to yobarr please.