Portable generator any good

[garry63]

hi funsters
What generators do you use and recommend and are the any good
got solar and big battery but looking for something to supplement in winter months when our gold friend in the sky isn't playing out much

 

[Lenny HB]

Generators are only any good if you are camping in a field on your own. Too noisy and intrusive if you are near anyone else. Even the quietest ones the Honda's the sound travels and is intrusive.

 

[garry63]

I've seen so called silent ones advertised

 

[funflair]

I've seen so called silent ones advertised

Don't believe everything you read in adverts just ask your neighbours depending how much power you want and what you are prepared to spend you could look at Efoy, how long will you be stood in the winter ? and do you use sites at all ?

 

[Lenny HB]

I've seen so called silent ones advertised

And pigs might fly, there is no such thing, as I said the Honda is the quietest but it makes a noise.

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[Itsmcb]

It's quite normal on ski Aires to have generators running for an hour or two late afternoon, almost everyone will be doing the same. If you get a Honda you can bey a gas conversion kit then you don't need to carry petrol.

 

[funflair]

And pigs might fly, there is no such thing, as I said the Honda is the quietest but it makes a noise.

And smelly.

 

[Richard n Ann]

If you can tilt your solar panels south they make a lot more power

 

[Lenny HB]

And smelly.

Generator or pigs?
I expect both.

 

[U.Toadifact]

As stated above, generators are a definite "don't" on sites. We used to use a generator when at certain events where noise was irrelevent but we have now moved on to an Ecoflow Delta 2 max. This provides us with ample power for three or four nights with our solar keeping us afloat during the day and it can be charged either with solar or when on EHU. No noise, no smell, no fuel to carry and can be safely kept inside the van.

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[Ray-Vic]

I must admit, I have a Honda EU20i (not for motorhoming) and it is a fantastic little generator, and advertised as 'super silent'. It is very quiet, but I certainly wouldn't want it running next to me all night at a site.

I think the 'silent' bit means it is under 65 DbA @ 7m, which means you can certainly still hear them when all else around is silent.

 

[Podney]

I’ve no idea which are the best/ quietest generators. However,what I do know is that even the ”quiet” ones aren’t quiet and that I once stayed on a CL where a very selfish person used one that disturbed the peace of the other folk. He was asked to turn it off and left soon afterwards.

 

[scotjimland]

petrol generators are old technology ... haven't used one in years

besides, you can't run them all day, expensive on fuel ..not to mention the intrusion on others peace and quiet..

if you really need 240v power in winter, just book into a CL / Site with EHU ..

 

[tonyidle]

As stated above, generators are a definite "don't" on sites. We used to use a generator when at certain events where noise was irrelevent but we have now moved on to an Ecoflow Delta 2 max. This provides us with ample power for three or four nights with our solar keeping us afloat during the day and it can be charged either with solar or when on EHU. No noise, no smell, no fuel to carry and can be safely kept inside the van.

Bit like a leisure battery then?

 

[U.Toadifact]

Bit like a leisure battery then?

Yep. But here in Toadifact Towers, winter brings power cuts a plenty so can be taken into the house to provide power too.

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[garry63]

It's quite normal on ski Aires to have generators running for an hour or two late afternoon, almost everyone will be doing the same. If you get a Honda you can bey a gas conversion kit then you don't need to carry petrol.

That sounds fair I wouldn't run at night but afternoon to boost battery would be fine

 

[meanders]

You will have faces pulled in the UK whenever you run it on a site unless you are entirely on your own, and don't be surprised if you get asked, or even told to turn it off. Some people like to sleep in the morning, others want and after lunch nap. The night owls are often asleep in the late afternoon.

I have heard reports that folks have taken matters into their own hand and shut off other peoples generators. I have also herd one very large rugby player type camper threaten another that he would 'wreck the bl$$dy thing', if he did shut it off. That was at a Warners show when you can use them at certain times of day for a maximum time. It was a 'Super Quiet' Honda. Yes they are a lot quieter than the builders generators some try to use, but unless there is a lot of other noise or music, others will complain.

Get yourself more solar/battery power if you must use leccy for heating, kettles, toaster, irons, hair dryers etc and don't have hook-up. We go many days in the winter without worrying about power but we use gas for heating, cooking, hot water etc.

 

[Ray-Vic]

That sounds fair I wouldn't run at night but afternoon to boost battery would be fine

The Honda ones are amongst the quietest, and they do actually run quieter on LPG, which I believe is down to how LPG combusts when compared to petrol (mine is converted). You can still run on petrol but have to make sure it is completely empty and out of petrol to run on LPG.

If running it for a short period during the day I would have thought it would be fine as they are very quiet on LPG. You could even make a temporary cover to reduce the noise level further (with outlet for exhaust of course).

To give you an idea of noise, if I run my generator in my garage during the day, and then walk in to the garden next to the garage I probably wouldn't hear it. If I did the same of a night time, with the inevitable reduced levels of ambient noise (location dependent of course), I probably would just hear it.

I think to help you decide, normal human speech is approximately 60 DbA at 1m, with a loud should being 90 DbA. The quietest generators are between 55 and 65 DbA at 7m, so they're probably pushing their luck with advertising them as silent.

 

[garry63]

The Honda ones are amongst the quietest, and they do actually run quieter on LPG, which I believe is down to how LPG combusts when compared to petrol (mine is converted). You can still run on petrol but have to make sure it is completely empty and out of petrol to run on LPG.

If running it for a short period during the day I would have thought it would be fine as they are very quiet on LPG. You could even make a temporary cover to reduce the noise level further (with outlet for exhaust of course).

To give you an idea of noise, if I run my generator in my garage during the day, and then walk in to the garden next to the garage I probably wouldn't hear it. If I did the same of a night time, with the inevitable reduced levels of ambient noise (location dependent of course0, I probably would just hear it.

I think to help you decide, normal human speech is approximately 60 DbA at 1m, with a loud should being 90 DbA. The quietest generators are between 55 and 65 DbA at 7m, so they're probably pushing their luck with advertising them as silent.

Very fair post
I would only run couple of hours during day when of grid not on a site noise should not be an issue at that time of day

 

[seasideBill]

You will have faces pulled in the UK whenever you run it on a site unless you are entirely on your own, and don't be surprised if you get asked, or even told to turn it off. Some people like to sleep in the morning, others want and after lunch nap. The night owls are often asleep in the late afternoon.

I have heard reports that folks have taken matters into their own hand and shut off other peoples generators. I have also herd one very large rugby player type camper threaten another that he would 'wreck the bl$$dy thing', if he did shut it off. That was at a Warners show when you can use them at certain times of day for a maximum time. It was a 'Super Quiet' Honda. Yes they are a lot quieter than the builders generators some try to use, but unless there is a lot of other noise or music, others will complain.

Get yourself more solar/battery power if you must use leccy for heating, kettles, toaster, irons, hair dryers etc and don't have hook-up. We go many days in the winter without worrying about power but we use gas for heating, cooking, hot water etc.

I was awoken by somebody at Malvern Show this year about 2am shouting “turn the f***ing generator off” (not mine, wouldn’t want one) but it was the anguished shouting that woke me up, not the generator!

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[ctc]

A van next to us, at Rutland Water, ran his for an hour or two every day. It was built in and we wouldn't have known it was running if he hadn't asked us if we minded. Far worse are people who leave early starting their engine half an hour before they go or rev like mad for some unknown reason.

 

[andysam]

hi funsters
What generators do you use and recommend and are the any good
got solar and big battery but looking for something to supplement in winter months when our gold friend in the sky isn't playing out much

Hi Garry,

Tell us your exact use and we can help a bit more. We are representative of all means of MH'ing. Do you full time, if not what is your max stay in one place, do you use sites, do you wildcamp, do you mix both, how much solar have you got, how many Ah of batteries have you got, what type of batteries. The more you detail the more tailored the answers.

 

[Dolmen]

When I recently looked into them the Honda 221 2200w came out on top from a noise perspective ie quietest. You have said it’s not for use on sites nor at night so seems like you have thought it through, hope Someone who actually has one can offer some advice

 

[stevewagner]

Have you got a dc to dc charger fitted? A decent one will put power back in your leisure batteries rapidly.

 

[garry63]

I was awoken by somebody at Malvern Show this year about 2am shouting “turn the f***ing generator off” (not mine, wouldn’t want one) but it was the anguished shouting that woke me up, not the generator!

Fair play not fair to have it on then I would have said something aswell. During day should be fine

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[garry63]

Have you got a dc to dc charger fitted? A decent one will put power back in your leisure batteries rapidly.

Not when not on ehu

 

[Bessy765]

We have a Honda Eu1i it can run off our lpg tank.only used when wild camping on our own or inform anyone near by. Very rarely need it it has had more use helping a van that needed to run a cap machine and had power problems, topped their battery up with the genny for a couple of hours mid afternoon and then used our inverter and 200 amps of lithium overnight.. luckily the breakdown van came the next day and replaced their alternator. There is a time and a place for Genny’s but all other avenues should be used first.

 

[garry63]

When I recently looked into them the Honda 221 2200w came out on top from a noise perspective ie quietest. You have said it’s not for use on sites nor at night so seems like you have thought it through, hope Someone who actually has one can offer some advice

Hi I have if on site use ehu I want something for when wild camping. Summer months not a problem battery never below 90% now its darker sooner looking for back up incase prob only use a couple of time through wintet

 

[tinkertaylor]

People can sleep though being robbed in their van at night but are woken by a 65db generator running

 

[Jo662]

I have had a Honda 2.0 generator for years. Even though it is reasonably quiet one I still wouldn’t use it on a campsite or rally field.