Generator or 12 volt batteries?

pablostravels · Newbie

Generator or 12 volt batteries?

Ma · Guru

We seldom use our gennie as we find the solar panels fit the bill.

There are some camps that are gennie free and others no restrictions.

If you use common sense and a bit of consideration there usually isn't a problem.

Mostly it is silently agreed that gennies off before 9 and preferrably earlier and it doesn't take much to just pop over to who ever is camped nearby and say "Hi people, would it worry you too much if I was to use the gennie for an hour or so" and you will find that most people will say that's fine.

Of course you will get the odd one that won't agree, but that's life and their choice.

Happywanderer · The Master

I find a lot I have met hardly use the gennie even though they have one. They all seem to go for the solar panels as Ma has said.

What do you intend using for your fridge, do you have gas for that when free camping??

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

we have a gennie and solar, mostly use the solar, when we do need to use the gennie we get to a freebie early (1400) and make sure the gennie is on display so that people who do not like gennie's can park away from us.

We use a Honda 20i so it is very quite and is usually turned off by 1900

yeoeleven · Guru

Since I bought the Engel 55ltr upright fridge I have not had to use the generator although it i s good to have it available in inclement weather. I have a smart battery charger which will pump 16 amps into the batteries from the generator if needed.

I bought a 120 watt folding solar panel set but now have mounted it above the Hi Ace cabin.

The batteries are both sealed deep cycle, connected parallel and have had no power worries lately.

John

pablostravels · Newbie

Thanks guys for the input on my question,ive found some wiring diagrams on the internet and solar kits on e bay.Now for the fun part the install

Thanks again Paul

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the site pablostravels, I notice you are a newbie, don't know about gens, just wanted to welcome you.

dawa · Guru

If u want to run a generator ....park away from others

dawa

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

dawa wrote:
If u want to run a generator ....park away from others
dawa

how do I park away from others when we are the fisrt to arrive at a freebie?

see my post below we stop at 1400 and make sure our gennie is there for people to see, if there are others already there we do park away from them if using our gennie.

dawa · Guru

yes.....that's the way to do it mate

dawa

Ma · Guru

I think most of us on here do consider others when we want to use our gennies but you always get the odd one (not a GN of course) who don't give a rat's about their fellow campers and that's not just with gennies either.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

dawa wrote:
yes.....that's the way to do it mate
dawa

the problem is there are others that do not do the right thing, but I suppose it takes all kinds, really annoys me when a van pulls in about 2000 after travelling 1000's of k's, park right next door and start's up the gennie, also another problem is the van that pulls in late and then start's to light a fire without considering the open windows of the van next door.

I'll get off my soapbox now biggrin

blaze · Guru

I also have a genie and also sola, my real pet hate isnt gennies as even a fairly noisey one I can sleep through as its a constant noise but I hate noisy people, a loud group of people talking will travel greater distances and disturb more people than most gennies Ive heard
cheers
blaze

Dellalan · Veteran Member

Hi Pablo, welcome to the group. I would suggest that the way to go is a good solar set up. Then you, and everyone else around can enjoy the serenity. It is handy to have a genny at times and there would be occasions when you could use it and not have to worry about others, but because solar is now more affordable, I think most are going that way. I have solar and a generator and have only used the gen a few times. Happy travels Alan

Elle on Wheels · Guru

Hi Paul and welcome to the forum. A 12v system is very cheap to install and also a solar panel to top it up. You would easily recoup the investment very quickly after a few free camps and it wold give you so much flexibility. I have decided not to get a generator because I think my solar panels will be sufficient to get me through all the free camping I need.

milo · Guru

if you dont have a geni, what happens to your solar when you get a weeks worth of rain like we have down here?? or up in qld etc...

Ma · Guru

Then I guess you get very little charge Milo and have to resort to 240 somewhere alongthe way.

jonathan · Guru

Ma's right Milo ..

but these days even with an overcast sky, its quite amazing how much solar panels will still charge. I suppose then, its a matter of managing what stored power you have .. and maybe think about increasing your storage (battery) area ..

Jon

beiffe · Guru

Most have the batteries charged from their vehicle alternator so often if the batteries are low then either move on to another spot and charge while moving or some just run the motor for a while. While this will not fully charge it will add to the solar you are getting.

Your batteries should last fo three days with no charge so to get NO charge for three days is fairly slim and with adequate panels you can normally fully charge your batteries in one or at most two days whilst maintaining you equipment.

Often a cloudy sky will actually produce more power due to reflection.

Regards
Brian

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

we had our van built 11 years ago with two solar panel's, and the guy said that one was for sunlight the other one for overcast days, now I am no electriction so I just took his word for that, but now 11 years later and they are still going strong, so he must have known something about solar. (he was a solar specialist) that was all he did at the time.

Jack Mac · Senior Member

I have solar generation for my camper trailer at the moment which is fine for my present needs. If, when I go full time, in whatever type of rig I will be going for a wind generator as well. I don't want a fuel generator. I've been in enough sites where people just have to start their generator as soon as they arrive. Also once you've paid for it, no fuel costs, and in most cases a good quality marine type will be less than a popular fuel type. Having spent a bit of time on boats I'm sure it will supply all my needs. Usually if no sun there's wind (and not just on boats). It's not hard to rig them up to be out of the way or to make them portable. They are extremely efficient and if they get too noisy you can shut them down easily.

In short, for me, Anderson plug with DC - DC charger, Solar and Wind generation.

If all that fails, baked beans, transistor and hurricane lamp.

Cheers,

Jack

Happywanderer · The Master

Me too Jack, Have a battery operated lamp, headlamp, little radio, ipod, plus portable canister cooker. A kettle with whistle for on the gas.
If I didn't need a fridge could manage quite well and for that matter carry a few cans and packets just in case.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

here's a couple of wind generators, storage while travelling maybe a problem

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/400W-WATTS-MAX-12-24V-BLADE-OPTION-WIND-TURBINE-GENERATOR-KIT-ELECTRICITY-s2-/110791690991?pt=AU_Hardware&hash=item19cbb30aef

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Wind-Turbine-Rutland-12V-24V-Marine-Grade-Wind-Generator-Charger-/160660777357?pt=AU_Hardware&hash=item256820e98d

03_troopy · Guru

milo wrote:
if you dont have a geni, what happens to your solar when you get a weeks worth of rain like we have down here?? or up in qld etc...

You have cold porridge for brekky...