Generator

redx2 · Member

Generator

2trout · Senior Member

We carry a generator and use it occasionally. We use it when free camping for the air conditioner and the toaster. We also use it every now and then to top up the battery if we are free camping for a few days. If we were using powered sites regularly, I would not bother carrying it. I might add that it is a 2.2 Honda that is capable of running an aircon. We have a Jayco Silverline with solar and do not use it as much as when we had our previous van without solar.

Possum3 · Guru

Honda 2.2i, we use it rarely - mainly for using washing machine (when water available), air-conditioner (about 5 times a year), and once in many years to top up battery after days of inclement weather. So it is a bit belt and braces when solar fitted.

Hetho · Senior Member

I use ours daily when travelling.

Pull up for morning tea, start the Genni for coffee machine and micro wave for muffins. Again for lunch, toasted sammo, soup, etc.

Saves heaps on roadhouse food.!!!!!.

Bush walker · Veteran Member

Along with the others I also bought the Honda 2.2kw if you are looking to buy the same, I suggest that you try the Generator place It was the cheapest place that I could find

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Generators are very good anti social devises and guarantee that the local wild life in free camps will keep well away.
We have travelled all over Australia for up to 8 months each year for 15 years free camping and don't carry or need a generator.
We cook with gas and use diesel for central heating and hot water but everything else is electric, like bread maker, electric jug, electric blankets, fridge and separate deep freezer plus all the usual small stuff.
If you spend on solar what you would have spent on a generator and its running, you won't need a generator.
Cheers,
Peter

Radar · Guru

redx2 wrote:
Hi all, Can you tell me if many travelers use a generator? We do have solar but hubby is concerned it we get a week of bad weather we'll have no power!
Many thanks in advance

We had a generator but after 2 odd years of travelling left it on the shelf in the shed, now lives with my sister who resides in an area prone to blackouts.

In our caravan I uninstalled the expensive electric battery charger and it lives in the shed, if my batteries are bit low via Andersen plug recharge my batteries from the car. It's the best now and then charger. Check that out with a Auto Electrician.

Our caravan is a budget set up to live without 240 volt power and only at select times go on power sites each year, mainly for the air conditioner. 2x170watt solar, 2x100 amp batteries. Nothing fancy.

We have a 1000watt inverter and have set that up for use on a nice day to do our washing utilizing our 240 volt washing machine. Mostly we just use the spin cycle as our hands are a bit weak to wring clothes out like we use to.

The extra weight of the generator may not work in your favour and carrying petrol to support it, to lifting of it and where to store comes another problem.

We have worked it out if we every need a generator and it will not matter the extra cost, one will be brought. So far 5 years have past and we have manager our travels without a second thought of needing a generator.

Mike Harding · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:

>Generators are very good anti social devises and guarantee that the local wild life in free camps will keep well away.

As they should, otherwise foolish people feed them. Animals do not naturally wish to commune with humans but decide not to because Fred is running his gen.

>If you spend on solar what you would have spent on a generator and its running, you won't need a generator.

Try that camped in a forest in Victoria in the winter and you'll decide otherwise.

Bicyclecamper · Guru

I bought a genny, just a 1kw invertor version, just to charge the batteries, and hopefully to run a small fan heater (that I have never been able to find), and have not brought it out with us once in the 4 years that we have had it. We use portable panels to charge the battery, or the car, or 240 ac. So probably have wasted our money, in relation the van. It is used a lot at home for those long blackouts in summer and the odd storm anytime that puts out our power for a while. If I could find a true 500 watt fan heater, I would bring it out in winter, but that is proving impossible for ones that are quality and made for Australian compliance.

-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Saturday 22nd of February 2020 04:47:47 PM

-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Saturday 22nd of February 2020 04:51:23 PM

Mike Harding · Guru

Just last year I bought a 1200W/600W fan heater from Bunnings which, I have no doubt, met all the Australian standards and used it extensively in my caravan on the 600W setting. It's probably a seasonal product as I cannot find it now (Feb) on the Bunnings website but I am sure if you look you'll find a similar one out there.

JayDee · Guru

Generators ( Gennies) has been our saving grace during our early caravan trips. Since we have installed solar panels and we carry a portable 60 watt Solar unit. However we still use the gennie only when bush camping.

If we have Neighbours I approach them and tell them that we will soon be starting the gennie to do the washing and other chores. 7 out of ten time these people say no worries mate, we also have a gennie.

When we arrive at camp site we pick a spot well away from other campers. Of course this does not stop other campers from then camping close to us. our gennie is virtually brand new and would be lucky to have done 20 hours to date, so it makes very little noise.

Anyway Gennies are part of the lifestyle of many many Camper. I am of course referring to bush Camping.

Jay&Dee

jeepnudger · Senior Member

All the comments make it clearr that a gen is a rarely used piece of equip. I have carried one for a couple of yrs and would have used 3 times. They are heavy, noisy, and require maintenance to put away out of season.

Tony Bev · Guru

A generator, Honda 2 KVA, came with the motorhome

I would like to leave it home, but her in charge, said that we keep it with us, in case we need it

I have not used it for a few years now

The other month I went to start it, and found that the main jet had blocked up, (old petrol/lack of use)

A brother who is a more experienced traveller than me, said that they have to be run at least every three months

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

A few times we have had dead batteries ! Thank goodness our inbuilt diesel generator and 50 amp charger saved us ! Its near impossible to start a diesel with dead batteries when free camping . Its like a spare tyre . Sure gets you out of trouble !! I have 400watt solar . But a few bad days ? Things get desperate. So we start the geni up for 10 minutes or so . Often enough to boil the jug also . Being inbuilt it is insulated, well muffled . Another option is to start the main motor ? Way more noisy, unfriendly!

Aussie1 · Guru

Would not leave home without the Honda generator. We have solar as well. To me it's a bit like "ice cream" with a good topping ie. covers all contingencies.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
A few times we have had dead batteries ! Thank goodness our inbuilt diesel generator and 50 amp charger saved us ! Its near impossible to start a diesel with dead batteries when free camping .

We had a crank battery fail on a trip. We started the 4L diesel from the house batteries (simply by switching the solenoid between them) for 3 months until we got home.

Both the alternator and the solar can charge both the house batteries and the crank battery at any time.

Cheers,

Peter

msg · Guru

Bush walker wrote:
Along with the others I also bought the Honda 2.2kw if you are looking to buy the same, I suggest that you try the Generator place It was the cheapest place that I could find

Doesn't the generator get a tad heavy while you are walking around in the bush?

JayDee · Guru

We have a honda 2.2 kva. It travels with us in a Gennie Box on the rear extended bumper bar together with a large toolbox for tools and accessories.

We enjoy free camps a lot. So Dee uses it for washing. Drying her hair. M.wave and A/con.

We like to camp away from the crowds, due to the gennie. But we let people who come and park around us, that we will be starting the gennie.

Never had a bitch re the noise of the gennie. ( Honda... Very quiet)

If you are bush camping and you do not like this type of environment, which includes the noise of a Gennie or any other issues that upset you, then try enjoying your stay in a Caravan Park.

I know my preference.

Jay&Dee

Aussie1 · Guru

JayDee wrote:
We have a honda 2.2 kva. It travels with us in a Gennie Box on the rear extended bumper bar together with a large toolbox for tools and accessories.

We enjoy free camps a lot. So Dee uses it for washing. Drying her hair. M.wave and A/con.

We like to camp away from the crowds, due to the gennie. But we let people who come and park around us, that we will be starting the gennie.

Never had a bitch re the noise of the gennie. ( Honda... Very quiet)

If you are bush camping and you do not like this type of environment, which includes the noise of a Gennie or any other issues that upset you, then try enjoying your stay in a Caravan Park.

I know my preference.
Jay&Dee

Agree 100% with you Jay & Dee, I have assisted more folks with the generator than complaints I have received about it. And yes, Honda's are very quiet.

Bit of a shame that they are going to be banned in the near future by the authorities according to one of our "cobber's" on this forum .

Wouldn't bet on it though. Enjoy.

Teo · Senior Member

msg.
Good one. I think your comment went over their heads!

HunnyBunny · Senior Member

When free camping, which I do most of the time, I wouldn't leave home without my generator!

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Hi HB, hope all is well with you and Mr HB?

I only use my genie when no 240v also BUT only use it around 2.00am cos everyone is asleep and won't hear it. I'm very thoughtful like that.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

DolanAroundAus · Member

I have a Kings pretty cheap and does the job

Eaglemax · Guru

Honda at a local dealer 1kva $1490, companion 1000w $500. Bought the Companion. Quiet, reliable. 15kg
Runs my 30amp victron smart charger

www.bcf.com.au/p/companion-1000w-inverter-generator/568716.html

Aussie1 · Guru

Eaglemax wrote:
Honda at a local dealer 1kva $1490, companion 1000w $500. Bought the Companion. Quiet, reliable. 15kg
Runs my 30amp victron smart charger

www.bcf.com.au/p/companion-1000w-inverter-generator/568716.html

Great to see generators are still not banned in OZ smile

Mike Harding · Guru

Eaglemax wrote:
Honda at a local dealer 1kva $1490

That is a major rip-off!

About three years ago I paid $1550 for an EU20i 2kW unit - mind you, I'd never again buy a Honda generator.

Possum3 · Guru

From memory I paid almost $1,200 for EU20i in June 2019 at Generator Place, I bitched about that for months, current pricing at www.generatorplace.com.au/

BillySA · Newbie

Bought a GenTrax Inverter Generator 2.5kw Max.

The first thing I do when I receive Inverter or Generator is test its output Voltage and frequency with no load and all OK. Then tested it by plugging it into an old electric motor an inductive load (measured .95 PF previously connected to mains) to test Power Factor and kWatts. My concern was the P.F. was only .67 and so effective kWatts of 2/3 of what it should. The kVA was calculated out OK right from Amps x Volts and sin-wave shape was OK on Oscilloscope. This may only be this Inverter Generator.

My concerns are unnecessary overheating, inefficiency and faults occurring in my appliances connected to it in you van. Also the Air-conditioner doesn't feel as cold as normal. Can't find any organisation interested in how widespread the problem is. Businesses just want to just sell, sell, sell and give you the run around to go away. Authorities answer with you bought it online.

Not all, but it always 3 hard pulls to start, can't drain petrol out, case bonded so hard to work on, 34Kg wet and no wheels and best site of it was going back on truck.

-- Edited by BillySA on Wednesday 26th of May 2021 06:06:03 PM

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yes pays to have high amperage smart battery charger also so the odd small times you run it the batteries charge . So its not running longer than needed . Mainly when sun is not great to keep solar charging batteries. Have had dead battery out bush !! Thank goodness after a short burst with 50 amp charger !! All good !!