Help me generate power ... mechanically!

QFour said:
Think I would use one of these.
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Someone on here claimed to have "invented" one of those. I have seen them at MH shows but I don't recall that silly money.

It's only an alternator glued to a petrol strimmer. If it took more than a day for Minxy to knock one up I'd be surprised.
 
Minxy Girl said:
.... bring it on Lenny:boxing: ... I haven't had a good scrap in ages so could do with the practice. How long will you last though? I like a good long workout when battering someone silly, can't be doing with wimps who can only take one good kick and that's it, not worth the effort! :sneaky:
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"Sort you out " doesn't always mean hitting some one !!! :eek::whistle:
@Minxy Girl
 
hilldweller said:
Someone on here claimed to have "invented" one of those. I have seen them at MH shows but I don't recall that silly money.

It's only an alternator glued to a petrol strimmer. If it took more than a day for Minxy to knock one up I'd be surprised.
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Don't give me ideas! :D2 I've got enough to do without messing about with engines ... now hubby on the other hand! :D

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I have a 3 way fridge. Gas - 240 - and 12 volt. It warns in the manual that 12volt will rapidly run down the battery unless the vehicle is running so it's only to be used whilst the vehicle is running. Even if the vehicle is running I don't use the 12 volt option as I forgot to switch it over just after stopping once and flattened all 3 batteries. Just enough in the engine starter battery to crank the engine over. Lesson learned!
I have the Honda 20i generator. Yes you can hear them but you can have an intelligent conversation standing next to them but find it's only the bigots who jump up and down even on a site which allows them. Also when inside the motorhome I struggle to hear it even when it is chained to my motorhome. If used with consideration there is no problem and even if I have not used it for a few months it still starts first time every time. I have had mine for 7 years and never had a problem.
Yes they are expensive but worth it. Also they are easy to maintain. Annual service 1/2 an hour and even a do-do can do it.
If your fridge is only 12 volt then you have my commiserations as this is a heavy drain on the batteries but I have never heard of this type.
 
bfb said:
I have a 3 way fridge. Gas - 240 - and 12 volt. It warns in the manual that 12volt will rapidly run down the battery unless the vehicle is running so it's only to be used whilst the vehicle is running. Even if the vehicle is running I don't use the 12 volt option as I forgot to switch it over just after stopping once and flattened all 3 batteries. Just enough in the engine starter battery to crank the engine over. Lesson learned!
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Its not that common to be able to run a 3-way fridge off 12v when the engine isn't running as most won't allow it - we found out the hard way when we were new to MHing and went out for a couple of hours and had forgotten to switch the fridge to gas, melted ice-cream is a pig to clean up!
I have the Honda 20i generator. ... Yes they are expensive but worth it. Also they are easy to maintain. Annual service 1/2 an hour and even a do-do can do it.
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Great ... now can you tell me where I can get a tame do-do to do it for me?:D2
If your fridge is only 12 volt then you have my commiserations as this is a heavy drain on the batteries but I have never heard of this type.
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They've been fitting these for a number of years, the most common ones put in MHs were Waeco but Thetford has got in on the act and that's what we've got in ours.
 
Why get a do-do.(ritorical) Most woman can put oil and diesel in a car. When checking oil level in generator take out dipstick, tip generator on its side to drain oil. put measured amount of oil in dipstick hole check level and replace Dipstick.
Unclip filter cover replace filter put back. Spark plug undo replace with new one screw back up replace cap, job done.
You don't have to be a mechanic to do it just able to read instruction book. But you could always send to HONDA agent for service but don't know how much they charge for this simple service.
 
Generators, are like Marmite, People Either love or hate them. Used with discretion and consideration they should (in theory) not cause an issue. I have one, had it from the mid 90`s, one of the older 600W Honda`s, utterly reliable, it even ran a big hammer drill when building! and never failed to start first or second pull however long it had been stood!. It is essential if we are off grid as the medical gear needs more current than an inverter/battery/solar kit could supply. And it also charges a mobility scooter. Lately I have been toying with purchase of a newer one of at least 2Kw. largely because we where spending more time off grid and the modern ones are inverter controlled type and better for running sensitive electrics. The latest Honda`s are in excess of a grand (retail), so it`s a big outlay if your usage is not all that great. There are "copies" out there with various degrees of reported reliability, ie: a colleagues Kippor is very prone to sulking if it has not been used for a while. but it was almost half the price of the Honda?.
 
Minxy Girl said:
Meanwhile back to my thread ... :D

I've just been doing a bit of reading up on batteries ... rightly or wrongly I always thought a fully charged battery was 12.6 or more and a fully discharged battery was 12.0, however, I've discovered that the % level of charge differs depending on the type of battery!

Using the chart below at 100% a lead acid battery should show 12.70 but a gel would only be approx 87% at that reading; towards the other end of the scale, a lead acid at 50% should read 12.2 but a gel would read 12.35, and all types of battery are apparently 25% at 12.00!

So, bearing in mind I have gels, 'in theory' going down to 12.00 shouldn't damage my batteries (although I appreciate it can affect the number of cycles long-term). Is this right or am I missing something????? o_O

View attachment 276969
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Nope, you’ve pretty much got it bang on!

Gels make a big difference.

Ian

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As an ex-boat owner, I am used to having a wind driven generator to keep the batteries topped up and am surprised there isn’t a demountable model for motor homes - too small a market I guess?
 
This might sound daft, but have you cleaned the panels. It is surprising just how much difference it makes to output, the roof space (generally) is the most neglected part of the MH.
 
Minxy Girl said:
Meanwhile back to my thread ... :D

I've just been doing a bit of reading up on batteries ... rightly or wrongly I always thought a fully charged battery was 12.6 or more and a fully discharged battery was 12.0, however, I've discovered that the % level of charge differs depending on the type of battery!

Using the chart below at 100% a lead acid battery should show 12.70 but a gel would only be approx 87% at that reading; towards the other end of the scale, a lead acid at 50% should read 12.2 but a gel would read 12.35, and all types of battery are apparently 25% at 12.00!

So, bearing in mind I have gels, 'in theory' going down to 12.00 shouldn't damage my batteries (although I appreciate it can affect the number of cycles long-term). Is this right or am I missing something????? o_O

View attachment 276969
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Do remember these voltages are disconnected and rested readings when you are either charging or on load they will be lower or higher as appropriate. Also deep discharge levels tend to be a factor of internal structure not electrolyte type so for example a Trojan deep cycle battery may be taken down to twenty percent but a car battery may not take well to being taken below fifty percent. Always check with the manufacturers about deep discharge levels or you may be wasting your money by drastically shortening the life of your battery.
 
Hi All,
I just thought I would change the post as I don't know how to do it. I have a Hymer BM640 Starline 1997. Everything is fine but for the mucky looking seats. The fabric of the cushions is in very good condition but dull and dirty. I've tried several specialist spray cleaners made for the job but no difference. Does anybody know of specialist's who could get the seat cushions back like new. I'm worried about using strong cleaners in case they ruin the foam base or the fabric. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Minxy Girl said:
Meanwhile back to my thread ... :D

I've just been doing a bit of reading up on batteries ... rightly or wrongly I always thought a fully charged battery was 12.6 or more and a fully discharged battery was 12.0, however, I've discovered that the % level of charge differs depending on the type of battery!

Using the chart below at 100% a lead acid battery should show 12.70 but a gel would only be approx 87% at that reading; towards the other end of the scale, a lead acid at 50% should read 12.2 but a gel would read 12.35, and all types of battery are apparently 25% at 12.00!

So, bearing in mind I have gels, 'in theory' going down to 12.00 shouldn't damage my batteries (although I appreciate it can affect the number of cycles long-term). Is this right or am I missing something????? o_O

View attachment 276969
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You are right assuming you are letting the batteries settle and taking measurements off load however it is only a guide.

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maxi77 said:
Do remember these voltages are disconnected and rested readings when you are either charging or on load they will be lower or higher as appropriate.
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Yes, I know about leaving it to 'rest' before taking readings and also ideally doing it when the solar isn't putting anything in, ie at night or early morning before the sun's got up.

Also deep discharge levels tend to be a factor of internal structure not electrolyte type so for example a Trojan deep cycle battery may be taken down to twenty percent but a car battery may not take well to being taken below fifty percent. Always check with the manufacturers about deep discharge levels or you may be wasting your money by drastically shortening the life of your battery.
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Agree, lead acid minimum level 50%, AGM 30%, Gel 20%, however as I already said although you can take these batteries down to these minimum levels it can reduce the number of cycles (recharging) you can do.
 
Minxy Girl said:
Yes, I know about leaving it to 'rest' before taking readings and also ideally doing it when the solar isn't putting anything in, ie at night or early morning before the sun's got up.


Agree, lead acid minimum level 50%, AGM 30%, Gel 20%, however as I already said although you can take these batteries down to these minimum levels it can reduce the number of cycles (recharging) you can do.
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Sorry I think you have misunderstood me, the electrolyte technology in itself does not allow specific deep discharge levels, it also depends on the way the cells are constructed, for example wet acid cells range from fifty percent to twenty percent depending on what they are made for. Restricting the depth of discharge will increase life.

You need to check with the battery manufacturer what they recommend as normal depth of discharge for your battery model.
 
Basildog said:
But some manufacturers seem to be tearing up the old rule book !
https://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/victron-energy-bat412110081.html
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How accurate their claims nay be certainly even lead/acid technology has been advanced in recent years and may well do so for some time yet. There is however still some snake oil out there. Trick is to pick the real advances and avoid the snake oil. Even so batteries do last longer now than they used to, you can often at a cost get more power out of less space and our charging systems are much more effective
 
So true. I've been chasing claimed improvements in battery technology since the 1980's but have been disappointed so many times that I'm now losing interest.

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I was following this thread until a few days ago.
Just been browsing the Screw-fix site and came across Impax IM800I 700W INVERTER GENERATOR.
Anyone had any experience of these?
Surely this would be enough output to supliment the solar without breaking the bank or being too heavy?

Brian
 
Eddystone said:
I was following this thread until a few days ago.
Just been browsing the Screw-fix site and came across Impax IM800I 700W INVERTER GENERATOR.
Anyone had any experience of these?
Surely this would be enough output to supliment the solar without breaking the bank or being too heavy?

Brian
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There are lots of this one about, all re-badged depending on who is selling them, Wolf have a virtually identical one as do others. I was thinking about one of these too but some of the reviews are a bit hit and miss.
 
As someone else mentioned, as it's a duel fuel you may have to start it on petrol. Altough it has a little more output it is several kilos heavier.
 
Anyone any experience of a Kipor IG1000P? A chap locally has one for sale.

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Cheshirecat57 said:
I believe they are 595 new
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You can get them for just under £400 new, this one is cheaper as it's a lightly used one, we don't want to pay a massive amount as I doubt we'll use it a lot, more importantly we don't want to buy a lemon.
 
Minxy Girl said:
You can get them for just under £400 new, this one is cheaper as it's a lightly used one, we don't want to pay a massive amount as I doubt we'll use it a lot, more importantly we don't want to buy a lemon.
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We have one all I can say is it’s ok but still noisy just as the Honda eu2.0i we had before was at anything above tickover.
Paid £200 for our Kipor in nearly new condition.
Took the Honda back to Costco as didn’t like the noise (y)
 
I bought a waterproof cover for my Hyundai 2000sei a couple of years ago and have never used it and only used the Hyundai once.

John.

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