Portable generators - advice

[CSBrisie]

Anyone got advice on the above?

I'm based in Brisbane now and it dawned on during the weekend as I emptied thousands of litres of pool water out to avoid the house flooding that i would be stuffed without power....which ofcourse many people lost over the weekend. I had been thinking of getting a portable generator for camping, so my question is what do I need for (a) basic camping power - ie I guess most popular size/type etc etc of genertaor and (b) able to comfortably run a pool pump in an emergency to backwash the pool

cheers

Chris

[SLOWBOAT]

It depends on the pump requirements but most people I have seen mainly have a 2.2Kw unit. We use the same at the bike races for our tire warmers.
One thing though make sure it is a real quiet one as people don't like them when they run for hours on end.

[tonic]

If it is going to be camping use mainly go with to 2 to 2.2 kva. If you want to run computers etc, make sure you get one that functions in pure sin wave. You can get cheap ones that do not, it is risky to use these for computers.

Once you start to research brands you will see what you need. If you want to run more than a pool pump, say fridge etc in a blackout. You are looking at 7.5 to 8 kva. This size will run a goodly part of a house, just turn everything off if you want to run the ketle, you'll see:D

[Saitch]

2000W would be fine for pool pump & camping. I just bought a 6000W as we lost power for 4 days & it easily ran 2 Fridges, freezer, wine cellar, the tank pumps for kitchen, toilet etc, hot showers, cordless landline phone although Telstra were down here for a few days & the 25amp Projecta charger to top up a battery + washing machine. 7.5-8 kva would power a small town

[richard4u2]

i think the people on here are talking about inverters not generators they are two different things

[tonic]

i think the people on here are talking about inverters not generators they are two different things


No, generators, some of the cheaper brands put out non regulated power which can serge and some electronics dont like that.

[sheerluck]

..........7.5-8 kva would power a small town

We've just shared a 6kva genny with our neighbour whilst we were off. Powered 4 fridges/freezers, a few lights, various laptop/iPad/phone chargers and the water pump. Had to unplug everything else when the kettle was used though.:D

[Homestar]

For a house, I would recommend a 4 or 5KVA. That will run everything, including the pool. If you take a generator camping, please don't camp near me. I can't for the life of me work out why people go into our beautiful peaceful outdoors and want to run a generator? With a good battery setup you can get a whole weekend out of a fridge and if you are moving about every few days, you will always have power, and LED lighting is cheap and easy. There are so many options for cooking, so why a genset?

You need 0KVA for basic camping needs. Buy a torch and a gas stove and save your dollars. If you don't like carrying gas, then get a dual fuel stove - the are fantastic.

By all means get one for the house, but PLEASE leave it there....

[Saitch]

We've just shared a 6kva genny with our neighbour whilst we were off. Powered 4 fridges/freezers, a few lights, various laptop/iPad/phone chargers and the water pump. Had to unplug everything else when the kettle was used though.:D
Yep! We used the billy & little butane bottle single burner.

[strangy]

For a house, I would recommend a 4 or 5KVA. That will run everything, including the pool. If you take a generator camping, please don't camp near me. I can't for the life of me work out why people go into our beautiful peaceful outdoors and want to run a generator? With a good battery setup you can get a whole weekend out of a fridge and if you are moving about every few days, you will always have power, and LED lighting is cheap and easy. There are so many options for cooking, so why a genset?

You need 0KVA for basic camping needs. Buy a torch and a gas stove and save your dollars. If you don't like carrying gas, then get a dual fuel stove - the are fantastic.

By all means get one for the house, but PLEASE leave it there....

As above and I make no apologies for this... go to a Motel if you think you need a Gen to go camping.:eek:

[AnD3rew]

As above and I make no apologies for this... go to a Motel if you think you need a Gen to go camping.:eek:

X3

I can run my fridge for at least 3 days with my dual battery setup along with judicious use of some LED lights, gas light, torches and gas stove etc.

Nothing worse than a campsite with some power hog using a genny. If it is for camping then buy a dual battery system instead and if you campion one place for more than 2-3 days buy a solar panel to top it up.

[mick88]

Pumps that cycle like pressure pumps need approx three time their KW to kick them in. We occasionally have power failures here and as we have a pressure pump for our water supply we start a 3.5 KVA genny. We also have a 2.2 KVA which we thought was ample considering our pump is 0.7 KVA, however that was not the case....the poor thing worked it's butt off.

Cheers, Mick.

[mick88]

For a house, I would recommend a 4 or 5KVA. That will run everything, including the pool. If you take a generator camping, please don't camp near me. I can't for the life of me work out why people go into our beautiful peaceful outdoors and want to run a generator? With a good battery setup you can get a whole weekend out of a fridge and if you are moving about every few days, you will always have power, and LED lighting is cheap and easy. There are so many options for cooking, so why a genset?

You need 0KVA for basic camping needs. Buy a torch and a gas stove and save your dollars. If you don't like carrying gas, then get a dual fuel stove - the are fantastic.

By all means get one for the house, but PLEASE leave it there....


I also agree!
If you are going bush you are there for the solitude, peace n quiet and to get away from the rat race.
Spend three weeks before you go eating top class tucker, then take powdered milk, bake beans and a bottle of port if you must have alcohol.
You are there to hear the noises of the bush, smell the smells of the outback and basically chill out. You won't starve, and you won't die of scurvy or malnutrition. If you must have a shower a fire blackened Stainless Steel or Alumium milking bucket boils in no time sitting alongside an open fire......ten litres of cold water in a canvas shower bag and then ten litres of hot water and you have ample time for two to shower comfortably.
Modern four wheel drives have made people soft, they travel over rough roads in a superbly well sprung vehicle, air conditioned comfort and consequently expect the same sort of conditions when they arrive at their camp site.
We have been travelling for a long time, started in a Series 1 and we have noticed that as the years passed and 4WD's became more comfortable more and more people ventured into the outback. Many years ago we were the only campers (swags) in an area of the Kimberly's and another vehicle set up camp twenty feet from us. I think they were city slickers who were scared of the dark. Actually it was about the same time when the mad German "Schwab" was shooting people up there. (Circa 1986)
What is worng with experiencing some of the "days gone bye" style of life!
Just my "two bobs" worth!

Cheers, Mick.

[roverrescue]

If you had specific needs for a portable generator for both bush work and power down backup.

A single Honda 2eu has just run in our Cookers power downs; 2 domestic fridge/freezers, a 200L chest freezer and a 180L upright freezer... Just need some judicious juggling to make sure all compressors dont hit her at once. She drinks a bit at full load but better than a freezers full of cray and fish going to waste!

And when camping if you happened to have the need, a 2eu will run 6+ engels (et al) on eco throttle without blinking.

Steve

[spudboy]

I agree with RoverRescue - Honda EU20i is a nice piece of kit:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Cost is around $1800.

Good long term unit.

[sashadidi]

After the earthquakes here in Christchurch New Zealand, everyone rushed out to buy generators, most brought the Chinese rubbish that bunnings sell and within 3 days they had a whole courtyard full of returns, our friends one lasted two hours and blew up. buy a decent one like Honda or Yamaha and for computers get a inverter generator.

[newhue]

I agree with RoverRescue - Honda EU20i is a nice piece of kit:

http://www.generatorplace.com.au/images/siteimages/generators_eu20i.jpg

Cost is around $1800.

Good long term unit.

At Xmas we had one of these for a trial as we sat for several days. Unless we all figured wrong, at idle it only powered 1 Engle fridge. It didn't charge the Aux battery, only maintained things as they were.

On full, we figured 7amps was all it was pushing, so for a full day of drone the battery had minimal charge.
Where an idled vehicle motor for 20 minutes a day kept the Aux toped up ready for another hot summers day of abuse.

National parks cant tell you to go if you start the car. And if you do around particularly if it midday you upset no one. Where as if you start a geny you'r everyone enemy.
Perhaps these Honda units may be the quiets on the market, and perhaps they are at the show stall. But take them somewhere quiet and you may as well take the lawn mower.

[Reads90]

I bought a Bunnings gennie a few years ago. They were throwing out GMC and a mate that worked there said they were selling 4 stoke 950w gennie for $100.

So I got one for camping and other stuff. Well it has sat in the garage for 4 years never been used in anger. Until last weekend when we lost power on Sunday morning and did not get it back until Wednesday morning.
Not the most powerful in the world but ran the main fridge and kept the phones , iPads and kids games charged. So payed for its self many times over this weekend

[Bearman]

If you had specific needs for a portable generator for both bush work and power down backup.

A single Honda 2eu has just run in our Cookers power downs; 2 domestic fridge/freezers, a 200L chest freezer and a 180L upright freezer... Just need some judicious juggling to make sure all compressors dont hit her at once. She drinks a bit at full load but better than a freezers full of cray and fish going to waste!

And when camping if you happened to have the need, a 2eu will run 6+ engels (et al) on eco throttle without blinking.

Steve

Have to agree with you on the Honda Steve. I have taken gennies and bush freezers on extended bush/fishing trips for over 40 years now and even though the gennies are not used constantly I have used one to run freezers and lights. Initially this was before the emergence of small refrigerators like Engels etc that can be run off dual battery/solar setups. Where we camped there were no other campers or Nat Parks so only annoyance was to ourselves. I built a bush freezer to replace the generator/house freezer setup which only required running for about 4-6 hours/day whereas the gennie required about double that. Like you I now have a Honda EU2 for standby (power outages and bush trips) and did a lot of checking around before I decided on it. We used it at home the other night when we had power out for about 7 hours and they are unbelievably quiet. In my opinion they are not the cheapest but probably the best available. With anything like this you get what you pay for.:D

[Blknight.aus]

Its been my experience that the only time I've needed to run the genny people are ok with it because Im using it to power tools for repair works or I've ben stuck out with a bunch of solar campers who havent been able to get enough sun during the week to keep everything up and running.

realisitically tho I fully support the idea of "if you're concept of camping means you need enough gear to justify main power you should probably stick to powered sites"

[Bigbjorn]

I bought one of the GMC 600w. Chinese two stroke generators in 2004 for $99. It performed flawlessly until recently when a bearing in the alternator side failed. I had a vibratory hour meter on it for a bout 4 years which recorded 700 hours use. I then had another application for the meter and removed it. Too small to start the domestic fridge/freezer but we have used it during blackouts to run lights and TV on the 240 volt outlet.

I gave it to a mate to use for spare parts for his and bought a 900 w. four stroke which has so far only been used on 12 volts for camping.

As to those precious campers who object to generators that can't be heard two car lengths away, I say "suck it up". This is now the way of the world. If you want to live like a 19th. century drover then it is your right to do so but don't try to tell me how to run my camp. I like a bit of comfort.

[weeds]

I bought one of the GMC 600w. Chinese two stroke generators in 2004 for $99. It performed flawlessly until recently when a bearing in the alternator side failed. I had a vibratory hour meter on it for a bout 4 years which recorded 700 hours use. I then had another application for the meter and removed it. Too small to start the domestic fridge/freezer but we have used it during blackouts to run lights and TV on the 240 volt outlet.

I gave it to a mate to use for spare parts for his and bought a 900 w. four stroke which has so far only been used on 12 volts for camping.

As to those precious campers who object to generators that can't be heard two car lengths away, I say "suck it up". This is now the way of the world. If you want to live like a 19th. century drover then it is your right to do so but don't try to tell me how to run my camp. I like a bit of comfort.

i doubt you know the words 'being considerate'..........

[Bigbjorn]

i doubt you know the words 'being considerate'..........

Funny that. I thought "inconsiderate" applied to those who object to generators they can't hear. As I said most small generators can't be heard more than two car lengths away.

I object to those who carry on about generators and then sit up all night drinking, talking loudly and playing overloud music.

[weeds]

firstly i reckon your two stroke generator would be heard more than two cars lengths away at night.....and secondly it appear you dont have generator at the moment to so guess there is not chance of you being inconsiderate

[Bigbjorn]

I always turn it off about 9.00 pm and I now have a 900 w. four stroke which, it turned out, is louder than the much maligned "cheap Chinese" two stroke.

The sounds I find objectionable in camp grounds are loud music and squealing uncontrolled children. A mild murmur from a small generator is nothing in comparison.

When buying one, take weight into account. Make sure the least strong person who is likely to have to lift/carry the machine is able to do so. My wife was unable to lift any of the small diesel generators we found available so we still have to carry unleaded for the generator. A one gallon can holds a week's fuel for the Coleman stove but not enough for the generator. At least with the four stroke we don't have to carry dedicated premixed two stroke fuel.

[TeamFA]

As I said most small generators can't be heard more than two car lengths away.

Just my experience, but no generator I've ever heard is that quiet. There must be some flash units out these days.

[newhue]

Brian, without getting into a slinging match

A quite generator is successful at the beach where there is plenty of back ground noise. Or fill the boots if they are allowed, but why knowingly break the rules made for all to enjoy in a NP.
Any generator in a bush setting can be heard for at least 50m, and perhaps 100+ at night. And yes thats the Honda as well.
I agree people's music are like generators. Non of us go camping to listen to anthers noise. But if you had your jenny on till 9pm, and it was only you and me in the camp ground, you'd be hearing some of my favourite tracks loud and clear from my car.
And nosy children, we'll you were a child once. Seen not heard went out a while a go.

[AnD3rew]

Brian, without getting into a slinging match

A quite generator is successful at the beach where there is plenty of back ground noise. Or fill the boots if they are allowed, but why knowingly break the rules made for all to enjoy in a NP.
Any generator in a bush setting can be heard for at least 50m, and perhaps 100+ at night. And yes thats the Honda as well.
I agree people's music are like generators. Non of us go camping to listen to anthers noise. But if you had your jenny on till 9pm, and it was only you and me in the camp ground, you'd be hearing some of my favourite tracks loud and clear from my car.
And nosy children, we'll you were a child once. Seen not heard went out a while a go.

Yep beach is fine, won't hear it more than a few meters away, but in a quiet bush campsite if anyone in the campsite has a genny you can hear it everywhere. But I also agree about the music, I don't mind someone playing a guitar quietly till a reasonable hour but I can't stand people who have to bring the boom box with them. I like a bit of quiet chat around the campfire and to hear the crackle of the fire and the noises of the bush.

[V8Ian]

PM Fluids re generator purchases, he does a good deal on a good genny.

[sam_d]

Just out of interest, are there any decent LPG generators on the market?

I would have thought these would be have been a big seller as LPG is quite versatile (for cooking and lighting etc) so why not use it to power a generator?

[Blknight.aus]

I've seen conversins done with a simple pressure regulator in the intake driven from a vac sense line off of the manifold to the carby

[Homestar]

Funny that. I thought "inconsiderate" applied to those who object to generators they can't hear. As I said most small generators can't be heard more than two car lengths away.

Show me that generator and I'll agree, but even a Honda on a 25 metre lead stuck down an embankment can be heard easily at night.



The sounds I find objectionable in camp grounds are loud music and squealing uncontrolled children. A mild murmur from a small generator is nothing in comparison.


Amen to that mate, I'll take the generator any day without complaining when that is going on.

Children generally go to bed comparitivly early, but why someone feels a need to crank loud music until the small hours is beyond me. Firing up the chainsaw at 7am would be gratifying payback...:twisted:


Oh, and maybe I've been guilty of the loud, late drunken bit, but on an AULRO outing, I've found that's the norm, not the exception.

While out last Winter with a pile of fellow AULRO'ians, I crawled into bed on the second night fairly early, only to be woken at midnight to a rousing, if out of tune rendition of 'Happy Birthday' - just for me!:D. Pretty stoked mind you - thanks guys.
Cheers - Gav.

[strangy]

As to those precious campers who object to generators that can't be heard two car lengths away, I say "suck it up". This is now the way of the world. If you want to live like a 19th. century drover then it is your right to do so but don't try to tell me how to run my camp. I like a bit of comfort.

No, I live in the 21st century with efficient Solar and Deep cycle batteries, not the past with fossil fuel burning annoyances as an excuse for being inconsiderate to others and destroying the reason for camping.
You maybe losing your hearing as time goes by.
If I can here my engel cycle on and off I will sure as anything here your generator.

I do agree regarding drunken behavior, but generator users are no better. Ambient noise will determine what is heard and one persons quiet is not the same as another's.
If you are in full campground with dozens of others a good gen may not be heard over the ambient background noise.
Camp anywhere near someone n these parts and you will be unpopular real quick.

May as well smoke a Cigar in maternity ward.....because that's what the smoker thinks too " it's my right suck it up"

[roverrescue]

"Unless we all figured wrong, at idle it only powered 1 Engle fridge. It didn't charge the Aux battery, only maintained things as they were."
Jason,
If you did indeed have a 2eu then you figured wrong.
On eco a 2eu will easily run 6 engels and a battery charger without lifting its low governed speed. Dont use the unregulated 12V to charge a battery, just plug in a 15A three stage charger...

Suck it up all you quiet freaks, come camping some place there are no other campers for 50km - at a minimum ;) Or build a sound proofed gennie box!

S

[Pedro_The_Swift]

The big difference (apart from noise) is the ability of the Honda's to regulate their revs to cover the load,, If a new Honda is idling,, there is no load,,

[Pen48]

I'm a sparky & have had quite a lot to do with generators over my working life. If you want a genset to power up your household appliances during power outages the minimum is about 2.2kva, which will run a fridge & freezer & other stuff like tv etc. That's what I run at my place in Northern Flinders for short outages, but for extended periods (a few Days) then I hook up my 6.5kva. If you want a genset for camping then get a small, lightweight, very quiet around 1kva is ample. I have been camping outback SA, NT & WA for years and cannot be bothered taking a genset as well as extra fuel. I have a dual battery set up & now solar panels, which I have found to be more than enough.

cheers,
Pen

[bee utey]

My take on generators to run a house:

Buy a battery big enough to run the house overnight.

Buy an inverter big enough to start the biggest appliance.

Buy solar panels to keep the battery up during sunny times.

Have a genny as a backup to charge the batteries (via a decent charger) on cloudy days. It doesn't need to start any appliances so can be as little as 1000 watts.

Oversized gennies are noisy IMHO.

[newhue]

"Unless we all figured wrong, at idle it only powered 1 Engle fridge. It didn't charge the Aux battery, only maintained things as they were."
Jason,
If you did indeed have a 2eu then you figured wrong.
On eco a 2eu will easily run 6 engels and a battery charger without lifting its low governed speed. Dont use the unregulated 12V to charge a battery, just plug in a 15A three stage charger...

Suck it up all you quiet freaks, come camping some place there are no other campers for 50km - at a minimum ;) Or build a sound proofed gennie box!

S

so, am I right in thinking. After one pays $1800 for a honda genny because they meant to be the quite ones, they then have to buy a $200+ battery charger to charge the aux battery?
Plus leads, fuel, fuel cans, and end up with another 30KG of weight. Can't see the value in it really, but it's almost like a must have these days.

I bet the sales brochure doesn't say all that.

[Disco44]

"Unless we all figured wrong, at idle it only powered 1 Engle fridge. It didn't charge the Aux battery, only maintained things as they were."
Jason,
If you did indeed have a 2eu then you figured wrong.
On eco a 2eu will easily run 6 engels and a battery charger without lifting its low governed speed. Dont use the unregulated 12V to charge a battery, just plug in a 15A three stage charger...

Suck it up all you quiet freaks, come camping some place there are no other campers for 50km - at a minimum ;) Or build a sound proofed gennie box!

S

Stuff the rest of the world I'm all right that's all that matters to my rather larger then normal ego.
J.

[roverrescue]

Stuff the rest of the world I'm all right that's all that matters to my rather larger then normal ego.

My last comment was tongue in cheek, I will always choose not to camp on top of other people even when I dont have a generator... Its a big country.

We run gennies when set camping for weeks on end with lots of fridges and fans. This is November/ December when its a little bit hot and the tourists all runaway!

On weekend camps through the year battery power does us fine.

And Newhue, I have a battery charger for many other purposes like charging batteries for the boats... and with regards to fuel, when your taking three 44s for boat fuel your not too worried about the 8L a day the gennie burns?

As I said when answering the initial question about gennies for a specific need when camping/ powerdown backup.

- the Honda2eu is great because one gennie in a sound/water proof box can run our entire camp of 12+ people.
-And then when Ergon drops the power which happens regularly up here that same gennie will run our essential house needs just fine.

Tuning out

S

[drivesafe]

I have a 6.8kva Honda gen and it’s about ten years old now, but I bought it after a few lengthy blackouts in our area.

I live just up in the hinterland above the Gold Coast and our power went down late Sunday night just as were off to bed so I didn’t do anything about the power till Monday morning.

I have a house full of visiting relos and the Honda was able to run two fridge/freezers, a 40 amp battery charger, 1 LCD TV, 1 Plasma TV, two Austar boxes, two HDD recorders and charge and run 3 laptops, numerous phone chargers ( not that they were of any use ) on the first day,

That night, around 8pm I shut the gen down and ran all the entertainment, lights and computers off a 1,000w inverter powered by an assortment of batteries totalling around 550Ah.

Next morning the gen was put back to work and it took the battery charger nearly 8 hours to get the batteries back up over 95% at which time the charger got a rest and the off peak hot water tank got 3 hours of charge, while running everything else.

The Honda is quite loud and I had it down in the workshop but you could still hear it around the local area.

I supply both Honda EU 20i and the Subaru R1700i gens and while they are not as load as the 6.8kva, they are anything but quiet, as we all learnt when the neighbour across the road let his inverter gen run till midnight.

You could hear it quite clearly once we turned the TVs off.

AS posted earlier in the thread, if you want to keep all your creature comforts powered during a long blackout, these little gens, while great for camping, are just not up to it for powering house electrics.

[newhue]

roverrescue, I wan't having a go at you, apologies if you thought so. Just I wonder if people really think about it before they go buy one.

Chances are they have spent good money on a battery system, and with some easy daily in summer, and bi or tri daily maintenance in winter with a quick charge from the vehicle motor, what they have does just fine for "normal" camping.

I recall driving at night in the back blocks of NTH NSW. And in the middle of paddock there was a caravan with a huge sheet draped along it's side. There were about a dozen people all sitting there watching a movie. It was pretty cool in some ways, and tragic in others. But what is "normal" these days.

[g2landyman]

Buy a good quailty unit I like Honda and Yamaha theyre very Quiet.
For Campimg they are great just be mindful of other's in the area:p some get cranky