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

 

[chrisgreen]

I think if you need a microwave, electric kettle,hair dryer, hair straighteners, and a TV on for hours and enough power to run a small semi, I think you would be better off in a hotel !

and thats what i do,Airbnb, gets me away from moaning motorhomers

 

[autorouter]

Suitable generators have been well covered already, and one alternative, the Efoy fuel cell, has also been mentioned. But no-one has mentioned another option, which is charging the batteries from an electric vehicle charging point. I have 7kWh of lithium (= about 580Ah at 12V). The charger charges at 140A equivalent, so it can go from 50% to 100% in about 2 hours. In fact the same time it would take with a genny.

You need a special cable to plug into a 'Type 2' EV charging post, with a round blue 240V plug on the other, and a little bit of electronics in the cable to talk to the EV post and tell it what to do. I had to make my own cable, but I know from a previous thread they are now available for sale.

 

[andykim]

Gone are the days of the only thing to do, playing cards to the hiss of the gas light and trying to fit a new mantle in the dark if someone knocks the shade.

 

[TinaLes]

Gone are the days of the only thing to do, playing cards to the hiss of the gas light and trying to fit a new mantle in the dark if someone knocks the shade.

Is that one reason why we had the baby boom all those years back?
LES

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[Suzukikettle]

I have a Champion generator only had to use it a few times but it is very quite

 

[Mzracer]

Usually I know what you thinking b2b but you need a smart altinator.
My mh is a 2011 boxer not sure if my altinator would run a b2b

I think it will be OK, we have a B2B and it seems to work fine on a 2007 X250 Ducato.

 

[nabsim]

I use a Hyundai HY1000Si, had it 3 years now I think and just use it to top up my batteries. It’s very slightly louder than my mates Honda but not much and mine is better on petrol.

Don’t take too much about folk saying they are noisy and anti-social, depends on make and model. I have not yet been parked near a van where their running engine was quieter than my generator

 

[Libellula]

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.

Just researching the EcoFlows and Bluettis for use in camper and at home which is remote in France with frequent power cuts. I’m looking for threads now. we have noisy builder’s generators (!) which are ok as I said we have no neighbours, but want a portable clean option.

 

[funflair]

Just researching the EcoFlows and Bluettis for use in camper and at home which is remote in France with frequent power cuts. I’m looking for threads now. we have noisy builder’s generators (!) which are ok as I said we have no neighbours, but want a portable clean option.

If you use the search box top right there are a few threads discussing such devices but here is one anyway.

Rethink on Lithium upgrade, I bought an Ecoflow Delta 2

I posted a few threads on here asking Lithium advice. My dilemma is my 2022 Kontiki came with 2 Yuasa 100a/h leads, I have 2 x 100w solar and use a 2000w inverter for a 800w hairdrier. The set-up is OK, but in winter I reckon 3 days off grid and I'm struggling. So my first plan was more solar...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[Johnny Be Good]

I always have my little Honda genny on board...

...I have only needed it once in the last year to put some juice into my cab battery, in the middle of the night, after my fan belt had failed and my battery had flattened. I put in just enough so I could get "home".

I drive around often and I have a couple of solar panels but I still carry my trusty old Honda.

I don't go from site to site on holidays... I'm in my van full time, out and about, here and there, and I like to have the peace of mind I get from knowing I always have a couple of hours mains leccy with me if needed.

We don't all use our vans in the same way.

JJ

Yes I totally agree, we are not full time but we use the RV all year.

What is interesting here in Norway now is that some of the new service area's have free charging points for lorries and RV's. (Mainly for lorry's with fridges but anyone can hook up if you have right connectors.)

 

[Newfie]

Anker 757 on special price at costco £265 off

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[ianto999]

Real newbie question, sorry!
If I run a generator with 10a output (say Honda eu10i) and connect to a victron 30a charger.
1) it will charge battery at 30a (from low level)?
2) what ‘load’ is this for the Honda ‘low’ or ‘high’? Trying to get an idea of what sound levels would be like.

 

[Mzracer]

Real newbie question, sorry!
If I run a generator with 10a output (say Honda eu10i) and connect to a victron 30a charger.
1) it will charge battery at 30a (from low level)?
2) what ‘load’ is this for the Honda ‘low’ or ‘high’? Trying to get an idea of what sound levels would be like.

The first thing is that an EU10 is not able to supply 10A at 240 V the 10 refers to 1 Kw (actually 900 W) rather it can supply 3.9A at 240V, it has a 12V output but can only then supply 8A at said 12V.

Specifications

Click here to find detailed specifications and technical information on our range of the portable Honda Inverter series generators.

www.honda.co.uk

Do you mean this charger?

12V solar panels charging kits for caravans, motorhomes, boats, yachts, marine

12V solar panel solar charging kits for motorhome caravan boat campervan yacht marine off-grid

www.photonicuniverse.com

 

[Lenny HB]

Real newbie question, sorry!
If I run a generator with 10a output (say Honda eu10i) and connect to a victron 30a charger.
1) it will charge battery at 30a (from low level)?
2) what ‘load’ is this for the Honda ‘low’ or ‘high’? Trying to get an idea of what sound levels would be like.

The Victron charger will take about 1.65 amps at mains voltage so it will be fine.
A Lithium battery will take the full 30 Amps at low level until charged. Lead batteries will take upto 30 Amps to start with then the charge rate will drop off aft er an hour or so.

As for noise there is no such thing as a quiet generator just don't run it within ½ mile of any other Campers.

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[ianto999]

I was thinking something like this. Can’t quite work out how much power/amps the generator will provide, and how much of that the charger can convert to additional battery capacity.
Ian

Victron Battery Charger 12/30 - Indoor (IP22) Blue Smart - 1 Output 23

The Blue Smart IP22 Charger 12/30(1) 230V UK is the new professional battery charger with built-in bluetooth. The Blue Smart IP22 Charger can be used on devices in your workshop and on motor vehicles, such as (classic) cars; motorbikes; boats and camper-vans.

callidus.shop

The first thing is that an EU10 is not able to supply 10A at 240 V the 10 refers to 1 Kw (actually 900 W) rather it can supply 3.9A at 240V, it has a 12V output but can only then supply 8A at said 12V.

Specifications

Click here to find detailed specifications and technical information on our range of the portable Honda Inverter series generators.

www.honda.co.uk

Do you mean this charger?

12V solar panels charging kits for caravans, motorhomes, boats, yachts, marine

12V solar panel solar charging kits for motorhome caravan boat campervan yacht marine off-grid

www.photonicuniverse.com

 

[Lenny HB]

I was thinking something like this. Can’t quite work out how much power/amps the generator will provide, and how much of that the charger can convert to additional battery capacity.
Ian

Victron Battery Charger 12/30 - Indoor (IP22) Blue Smart - 1 Output 23

The Blue Smart IP22 Charger 12/30(1) 230V UK is the new professional battery charger with built-in bluetooth. The Blue Smart IP22 Charger can be used on devices in your workshop and on motor vehicles, such as (classic) cars; motorbikes; boats and camper-vans.

callidus.shop

See my post above

 

[nabsim]

As Lenny says. It will run it no problem, I used a Hyundai HY1000Si for years powering a single Victron 30a IP22 charger like you are looking at.

When I say I ran it years I only actually ran it for a couple of hours every other day in U.K. winter as needed to top battery’s up lol

 

[two]

What may have confused is the fact that the 30A output is on the 12V side.
Power is A times V (= W) and a modest amount in this case (300W).
Ignoring inefficiencies, 1A at mains voltage can produces around 20A at12V, so a 1kW mains generator will be fine (as already stated).
The Honda is one of the best. For my money, I'd have one that runs on LPG to avoid the need to mess with petrol.

 

[autorouter]

As Lenny HB says. Running at its full charging rate, the charger will be sending out 30A at about 14.5V. Since watts = volts x amps, that's about 30 x 14.5 = 435 watts. Allowing 10% for conversion losses, that means the charger will require no more than 480 watts. So you can see that if the generator can supply 900 watts max, it will not be anywhere near its limit when supplying 480 watts.

If you are buying a charger for this purpose, it's a good idea to get the most powerful charger that is compatible with the batteries. This will minimise the charging time, and therefore the generator run time. This Victron 30A charger is very good, better than the usual 20A charger usually fitted in a MH.

There is a limit to how fast a battery can be charged. About 20A for each leisure battery, which is why a MH with a single leisure battery has a 20A charger. If you have two or more leisure batteries then a 30A charger will be fine. And if it's a lithium battery it has a much higher charge rate limit.

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[gus-lopez]

l. I have not yet been parked near a van where their running engine was quieter than my generator

which isn't appreciated either.

 

[oldiesontour]

Just come across this thread I'm just re jigging my electrics , currently 220ah lead acid 400w solar 50a b2b with mppt.Now adding 50amp mains charger to run from ehu or plug small cheapo suitcase generator in to van hook up point in emergency, don't anticipate gen often if at all so can't justify honda cost and a few dB won't appease those who hate noise( or Genny's)Also going to add 200w foldable solar so can position accordingly.
I know.the lithium lovers will say spend a fortune on new batteries and have more capacity..all this does in prolonged reduced
solar production...is delay the need for alternative charging(and lengthen the time it takes.
I have a property in South Spain in the foothills of the mountains in winter generators are buzzing everywhere I have a4.5 KVA diesel hooked via a forklift charger to the lead acid bank..no sensible amount of batteries lithium or otherwise will do the same unless you have acres of PV panels(not an option in a national park!(or a van roof)