Thread: Petrol Generator or Solar Battery Charger?

We have both, as we wilderness camp for longer periods. Solar is giant except for a couple of days of cloud. We find we use the genny less and less.

We had a similar decision to make several years ago. In the end, we went solar.
Our reasons:

• Solar can be used anywhere (generators are not permitted in many NPs)
• Generators are heavy
• Generators require maintenance and can give problems if not maintained
• Solar panel don't require fuel, make noise or smelly fumes.
• Once setup (I made a rig to mount the panels) solar requires little intervention
• etc

Yes, cloudy/wet weather can be a problem but we have enough battery capacity to run our fridge for 4 days. It is not often that we choose to camp when there is 4 days of rain forecast!
If the trailer batteries get low, we throw the fridge (80L Waeco) in the car and run off the car battery to give the trailer system a chance to charge.

I was keen for a system that didn't create work when camping. We wanted to make just one purchase, so decided that a solar panel setup suited our needs best.

We aren't doing the Flanagan's trip but you are welcome to have a look at our setup.

myself i have a generator but for you just over easter , can you have a generator where you will be camping ? hire one and then you can make an informed decision as to weather that is the way you want to go and what size generator you really need. are you looking at a generator or a inverter two different things

if your going near the beach you can now purchase a 50w wind turbine thats easy enough to mount to a fishing rod holder in the car.

I know thats not one of the options so...

Of the 2 options I would reccomend the solar, it'll pay itself of a lot faster than a genny will, especially the first time you wind up needing the genny only to find that the carbies gunked, the fuel filters gummed, waters got in and corroded the plug, or it just wont output.

solars easy to diagnose and fault bypass in a pinch, 240vac gennies not so.

I use both at times. I carry one 75watt solar panel and that generally keeps up with my Waeco fridge, phone charger, fluoro light and the occaisional TV session. There have been times when the solar cannot keep up, such as when you camp in shady treed areas and the access to sunlight is limited (read here; Flannagans) and then a generator can come in handy.
Don't fall for the salesman's pitch that you need a 2 or 3 kva generator to go camping with, a cheap little 800 or so will do the job admirably as far as bring batteries back up to scratch. (The big jobs are really only needed once you start to get real old and need air conditioning all day long in your caravan, and are running a full sized compressor fridge and freezer as well!)
Also remember, you have a pretty good battery charger fitted to your car, its called an alternator and usually a running car is more acceptable than a generator to your neighbours.
Generally in camp grounds generators are at the least frowned on, but in the freebies dotted around the country they are great.
They both have down sides and they both complement each other.
Its your choice.
Don't forget to take others' situations into consideration before starting up any generator.
Regards
Glen

I have been camping with one 75W panel, and when a cloudy day ate my fridge battery it was time for a drive. Nowadays I have two 80W panels and enough cable to collect the sun. Ample for a 4 day Easter camp without moving the car.

I like the idea of the outback equipment chargers that are a Honda bruscutter motor and a 80 amp Bosch alternator. very portable and coupled to an inverter will run most appliances. I haven't needed one yet but it would make more sense to me than a monster 2kVA genny.

Thanks for all the advice.
Looking at something like this:
220 Watt FOLDING SOLAR PANEL MONOCRYSTALLINE COMPLETE (eBay item 110669716715 end time 03-Apr-11 23:50:00 AEST) : Electronics

or
this:
120W FOLDING SOLAR PANEL KIT Camping Caravan Generator (eBay item 270727890669 end time 04-Apr-11 19:00:22 AEST) : Electronics

On face value, they look the goods.
Bearing in mind that the biggest user will be the fridge and tent lighting, most other appliances, like the radio torches and the like are either wind up or charge from the car. I'll have two (additional) 180 cca (from memory) car batteries so for 3 or 4 days, should be fine.

Ralph

dont forget , if you do happen to run up the genny have the decency to offer up a share of the power to those around you.

Normally when I fire up the 2.4KVA (which is an old clunker) to run my compressor or power tools for a spannering session I find I get a lot less complatesn when I let everyone around hang their battery charges off of the second 240v outlet from a power board.