Generators for camping

Tagster · 06-11-2002, 02:30 PM

I am going to buy a generator this week for my camper. I figure that I will need minimum about 1250-1500 watts. Most of the camping that I do is at state parks or campgrounds and I am concerned about the noise level offending my neighbors.

Does anyone have any suggestions on a quality, quiet, efficient generator? I could always install one in my camper and run it off propane, but I would like to avoid shelling out the $1500+ that it would cost. :depressed:

Also, if I bought a cheaper, louder one and built an insulated box with venting to cover it, would that quiet it down or would it just cause it to overheat?

Thanks!!

Tag

Gus Orviston · 06-11-2002, 02:35 PM

why do you want so much juice? AC /uWave?

I run a 600W Honda with variable throttle, It will run most anything except AC/uWave, which are not required. It is really quiet @30db, and very hard to hear so not disruptive. I can't stand most of the units people turn on and just leave them running while they sit inside :depressed:

In most improved sights you will have AC Power available to you and it is rare you will not be able to use your luxuries.

fishbane · 06-11-2002, 02:41 PM

Is it camping if you have a Generator? :grin:
Do you have a tv and sat. dish too :tongue:

Just havin some fun

TideRunner · 06-11-2002, 02:49 PM

I have not seen anything quieter than the new Honda IU700, 1000, 2000watt generators. Spendy yes, but, oooh so nice.

Tagster · 06-11-2002, 02:52 PM

Absolutely that is camping and I have a full top on my boat, a BBQ installed on the rails and a tv/vcr combo in the front!

I spent too many years sleeping in a shelter half on Georgia swamp to not want the luxuries now!! :grin:

Actually, it is more for the wife (yeah right). We are going to stay at a campground by Diamond lake for four days that apparently doesn't have hookups. It is nice to have the ability to run either a microwave or the tv/dvd combo.

I appreciate the tip on the Honda...I didn't know that they were that quiet..

Tag

DRUNK COWBOY · 06-11-2002, 03:31 PM

Tagster,

My dad has property at Lake Billy Chinook. He built a plywood box that has an entire side missing. (the side that is missing is angled towards the neighbors

) The temp is very hot over there during the summer months and he has never had a problem with over heating.
I know it is a honda, but do not know the Watts :whazzup:
Cessco sells generators and are very helpfull. Call for Jerry Balk and say Ian Fladoos sent you. Make sure you get him down on his quoted price :grin:

Gus Orviston · 06-11-2002, 03:37 PM

The Hondas are dynamic throttle, only revs to the match the load, you generally don't need much when you are just muddling around. They make it in a 2000 now I think, and if you want you can run them in parallel. I run TV/VCR/DVD on the IU1000 (600W) no problem. Toaster ...well I found one that is only 550W, Coffee pot....600W. No I don't run the coffee at the same time I am toasting my bread :smile:

I do wait about 10 minutes in the morning after I start the generator before running the toaster/coffee pot. The batteries draw quite a bit right off the bat and will trip the ckt breaker. Again not a real big deal for the reduction in noise pollution and for those that are still sleeping

Doubletake · 06-11-2002, 04:37 PM

Tagster, check out some of the rental outfits in your area. Before you buy rent one and see if it fits your needs. I rented a Honda generator before I bought, Honda's were the quietest when I was looking a few years ago. Ran an 1100, very quiet and did the job. If they make a 2000 that is that quiet you have it made. It is a cheap way to find out what works for you before you buy. If you rent, make sure they don't give you and old one, if it isn't relatively new you don't get a good comparison. Take care all.

Doubletake

cannonball · 06-11-2002, 05:13 PM

I have an 1800 watt coleman. I know its not a honda but its quiet and I can buy 3 for the price of one honda unit. It is heavier and a bit larger than a honda. They are available at costco. :grin:

Carver_OR · 06-11-2002, 05:15 PM

The Honda's are the quite king. Check out a few pawn shops, they let you start the generators and run equipment to check them out. They usally have a variety at less than half the cost of new. I seen alot of Honda's at $200.00 to $500.00 in the size your looking for. I bought a Honda 300 watt to charge my RV battery for $110.00 and it works and runs great!

Got gas?
Pat

Fishplay · 06-11-2002, 09:35 PM

One of my fishin buddys died of lung cancer two weeks ago. He had a Kawassaki 1500w in very good condition. It looks indentical to my 1000w model and probally not much louder. I think you would be happy with it and if his wife still has it she's firm at 350.00. Let me know.

Salmonator · 06-11-2002, 09:49 PM

I found this on a performance diesel page I check out every now and then. I don't know if it's current or if they are even good deals but I thought I'd post it anyway... Joe

Honda Generator Deal!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well guys i worked out this deal on Honda generators. You will find that these prices are the best in the country! E-mail these to your friends that might be interested!

eu 1000i-$619.00-free shipping

eu 2000i-$840.00-free shipping

eu-3000i-$1540.00 + shipping

eb-3000ckag-$999.00-free shipping

You must mention WWCD2 to get this pricing!

contact

on Jr. (only) 1.800.696.1745 8-6 e.s.t.

poshie · 06-11-2002, 09:56 PM

I saw a campground in the Kenai area and they put all the campers with generators in
one area. It's not necessarily the sound but
sort of a vibration feeling that is annoying.
Just so everybody can

Dan Christopher · 06-11-2002, 11:34 PM

get a big 5000 watt and a 200 foot long extention cord .then lock the generator to a tree well ouside of camp.works well while elk hunting. :grin: camp site? :depressed: my elk hunting buddy got tunred around 2 years ago and homed in on the faint generator noise and tracked it to camp.he was 3 miles away.5000 watt quiet in the trees ????(not).......... works the wifes micro a/c ,t/v vcr,curling iron and coffe pot all at the same time you bet :grin: i am now looking for a 3000 watt for the new camper

[ 06-12-2002, 12:35 AM: Message edited by: MADWIZERD ]

Troller · 06-12-2002, 05:34 AM

I used to take one up camping with my camper but dont even bother dragging it along anymore. If it dont run off 12v or propane I dont need it anyway. I found that the last place I wanted to be was inside the camper. I was either fishing or hunting or drinking a adult beverage by the campfire. I purchased a butane curling iron for the ex and solved that problem also. the rule of thump I was told for figuring out how big generator is needed was 100 watts for every amp draw needed. Say 1500 watt generator should run about 15 amps of current draw.

[ 06-12-2002, 06:36 AM: Message edited by: troller ]

Gus Orviston · 06-12-2002, 08:30 AM

The EU salmonator posted are the quiet ones. The EU1000 is rated for a sustained 600W, and 1.2K for the EU2000, and the EU300 is probably rated for a sustained 1.8K but you should check that out.

If you want to see one in action you surely can come by my place and I can share some of the useage tips/tricks that might help you decision making process out.

kodiakfisher · 06-12-2002, 01:05 PM

The formula for figuring how many amps per given Wattage rating is simple. Take your voltage mostly 110 and divide that into the wwats.

The formula for power (wwats) = p=IxE
I=amps, E=voltage P=Watts
so in this case 1500 watts would equal 13.64 amps.

I have one of those little colemam generators and they are great. I have had mine now for four years. I hardly ever run it but I also very rarely camp in a campground. I have a dual battery set-up and a catalytic heater. The forced air heaters are the killers in these campers. I can go 12-13 days on a full battery charge. Another little trick is to take one of the bulbs out of the dual lites that most of these campers have. I always have the generator just in case. It's works good for charging truck batteries also just in case. :smile: Those of you that think it scares deer etc away, I purchased property in Washington and patterned deer early on and the generator when I do run hasn't altered the travel one bit. Heck even the four wheeler doesn't even make them run you can drive within 10-20yds of them. Pretty tasty..I mean tame.

Gus Orviston · 06-12-2002, 01:19 PM

yeah sure, I know a bit of ohms law. The EU1000 doesn't mean it is a 1K, it is rated at 600W continuous and up to 1K peak, and from what I recall Honda scales this across their product line up.

To calculate the current output is right.

[ 06-12-2002, 02:21 PM: Message edited by: Gus Orviston ]

jr · 06-12-2002, 05:39 PM

EU EU EU and thats all there is to say you won't kill the people around you and you probaly won't hear it in a tent and you can even run a computer of them so you can still talk to us

[ 06-12-2002, 06:41 PM: Message edited by: jr ]

MetalHead · 06-12-2002, 09:19 PM

6250 surge watts. 11hp briggs runs micro, TV / VCR, PS2, Vacuum cleaner, coffee pot, toaster, A/C and charges the battery's all at same time. Put a muffler off a small Toyota on it and a plywood box open on side chain it to a tree about 100' out of camp and no problem. And it keeps the bunny huggers from camping to close if it is annoying to them. :grin: :grin: :grin: