Thread: generators

Typical .... bunnings cheapie gen's = expensive repair bills

Lights & Power tools are NOT frequency sensitive loads. That's about all they are good for at a pinch.

I for one would NEVER plug my ARB (or any other brand) fridge .... or ANY peice of electrical equipment into a Bunnings cheapie generator .... you are a brave man !

Do yourself (& fridge) a BIG favour and get a Honda EU10i.

Bunnings generator at 850 w are on the small size to run an engel. Lights need less power. Also a hone e10 is not much bigger. You need at least a 2kva to camp, allowing for fridge startups etc. To run a computer or sensitive items such as tvs should only be run on pure sine wave. Hondas are expensive but serve the purpose.
dogrock65

Originally Posted by dogrock65

Bunnings generator at 850 w are on the small size to run an engel. Lights need less power. Also a hone e10 is not much bigger. You need at least a 2kva to camp, allowing for fridge startups etc. To run a computer or sensitive items such as tvs should only be run on pure sine wave. Hondas are expensive but serve the purpose.
dogrock65

An 850 watt genie would run two engles not that I would run one off a cheap genie. The only thing I would run off a cheapie is lights and the odd power tool. If you want to safely run your engle using a cheapie, buy a cheap battery charger. Run the fridge off a battery which is being charge at the same time. A 4 amp charger would do the trick for a 40 l Engle.

Better still get an 80 watt solar panel and you won't annoy the crap out of your camping neighbours.

Dave.

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

An 850 watt genie would run two engles not that I would run one off a cheap genie. The only thing I would run off a cheapie is lights and the odd power tool. If you want to safely run your engle using a cheapie, buy a cheap battery charger. Run the fridge off a battery which is being charge at the same time. A 4 amp charger would do the trick for a 40 l Engle.

Better still get an 80 watt solar panel and you won't annoy the crap out of your camping neighbours.

Dave.

x2

cheers,
Terry

Originally Posted by dogrock65

Bunnings generator at 850 w are on the small size to run an engel. Lights need less power. Also a hone e10 is not much bigger. You need at least a 2kva to camp, allowing for fridge startups etc. To run a computer or sensitive items such as tvs should only be run on pure sine wave. Hondas are expensive but serve the purpose.
dogrock65

WOW, that must be one almighty Engel!!

But seriously .8kw is more than enough to run an Engel, probably just really crappy waveform and voltage regulation that killed your Engel.

I do always enjoy when people keep buying cheap crap as they always seem to fail at the worst times and the cost of continually replacing them could of easily bought a good quality unit that will keep going for the next 30 years.

When I bought my Engel I was told NO CHEAP GENSETS.They actually spike at heaps more than 240V.They showed me an icecream container full of circuit boards with the blown transistor.They are not covered by Engels warranty.
Andrew

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

If you want to safely run your engle using a cheapie, buy a cheap battery charger. Run the fridge off a battery which is being charge at the same time. A 4 amp charger would do the trick for a 40 l Engle.

But he already tried that and fired his battery charger !!

How about we just stick to the "NO Cheapie Generators" line and leave it at that !

Buy cheap ... buy twice.

I bought the Honda 20ie.
Used it the other nite on the beach,2 fluro lights ant the 80lt Engel combi on freeze setting.Couldnt hear it above the ocean,it was a still nite too.
First time its been used for camping,have used it a couple of times during power outages,electrician is fitting a changeover switch next time he is in town.
Andrew