Thread: Portable generators - advice

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

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.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

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...


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!. Pretty stoked mind you - thanks guys.
Cheers - Gav.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

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"

"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

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,,

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

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.

Originally Posted by 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

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.

Originally Posted by 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

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