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Inverter generator

Started by shark24, June 04, 2016, 12:24:16 AM

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shark24

does anyone use an inverter generator if so any suggestions? I have the 21bhs and want to power the ac, tv and other items when forced to stay at walmart while traveling. 
would appreciate suggestions on what you use and would like it to have an electric starter. Know where I can purchase one at a discounted price?

thanks

billmoore

I use this one (caught it on sale for $699 too):

http://www.costco.com/Champion-2800wt-Running--3000wt-Peak-Digital-Inverter-Gas-Generator%2c-Carb-%2526-EPA-Certified%2c-Low-Decibels.product.100139466.html

Works great, reasonably quiet, and can run either the microwave or the AC, but not both at the same time. It can run AC, TV, lights and water pump all at the same time, no problem. But if you want to run the microwave, you have to turn off the AC first...

david

Honda popularized the portable interter/generator with their EU2000. They and Yamaha are considered the two premier manufacturer's and make them in 1, 2 and 3 KW versions. Now there are much cheaper Chinese made models that seem to work well. A buddy uses one on his boat almost daily.

A 2,000 watt model can run the 9,000 BTU A/C on the smaller CL's but may have problems starting a 12,000 BTU unit. The 3,000 watt model will have no problem. You can install soft start kits on the A/C that will help with starting. Also note that the 2,000 watt model which has a nominal 17 amp output is only rated for continuous use at 1,600 watts or 13 amps. Proportionally the same for the others.

But don't run one in a Walmart parking lot. That is against protocols. Also many public campgrounds limit their use to a few hours in the morning and evening but do not allow them to run all night.

David
David M

16TBS towed with a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder

admin

I have been a fan of my Generac 2000w inverter generator. It's a fraction of a Honda and is rated at 2000 running with a peak 2200w surge. It's nice and quiet and has been as dependable as can be for me.

shark24

Quote from: @david" source="/post/21906/thread" timestamp="1465047270Honda popularized the portable interter/generator with their EU2000. They and Yamaha are considered the two premier manufacturer's and make them in 1, 2 and 3 KW versions. Now there are much cheaper Chinese made models that seem to work well. A buddy uses one on his boat almost daily.

A 2,000 watt model can run the 9,000 BTU A/C on the smaller CL's but may have problems starting a 12,000 BTU unit. The 3,000 watt model will have no problem. You can install soft start kits on the A/C that will help with starting. Also note that the 2,000 watt model which has a nominal 17 amp output is only rated for continuous use at 1,600 watts or 13 amps. Proportionally the same for the others.

But don't run one in a Walmart parking lot. That is against protocols. Also many public campgrounds limit their use to a few hours in the morning and evening but do not allow them to run all night.

David


shark24

Quote from: @david" source="/post/21906/thread" timestamp="1465047270Honda popularized the portable interter/generator with their EU2000. They and Yamaha are considered the two premier manufacturer's and make them in 1, 2 and 3 KW versions. Now there are much cheaper Chinese made models that seem to work well. A buddy uses one on his boat almost daily.

A 2,000 watt model can run the 9,000 BTU A/C on the smaller CL's but may have problems starting a 12,000 BTU unit. The 3,000 watt model will have no problem. You can install soft start kits on the A/C that will help with starting. Also note that the 2,000 watt model which has a nominal 17 amp output is only rated for continuous use at 1,600 watts or 13 amps. Proportionally the same for the others.

But don't run one in a Walmart parking lot. That is against protocols. Also many public campgrounds limit their use to a few hours in the morning and evening but do not allow them to run all night.

David



Against protocol?  Would this not be the same as the commercial trucks running all night or the larger rv owners running all night? Plus, we never just pull in we always shop and usually spend what a night at a campground would cost. It's just quick when you need to rest for a few hours. New to this and just lesrning but no AC in summer is ok but south of that is miserable. I can say that I would never do what I saw a family do a few weeks ago at a local walmart that I shop...they had their awning out, mats and lights strung on awning and chairs out. I didn't know if I should laugh or not. I can say I have never in 43 years seen anything like that! lol Without knowing protocol, I figured something wasn't right about that! lol

david

I probably should have used "etiquette" instead of protocol in the foregoing post. Attached is a link to one organization's overnight etiquette, not Walmart's: http://www.walmartlocator.com/overnight-parking-etiquette/. While it doesn't say generators are ok or not, common sense says that when someone offers you a free spot overnight in a commercial establishment, keep as low a profile as possible.

We have stayed overnight a half dozen or so times at a Walmart. All were good experiences except one time when the shopping center's security guard stopped by and told us to be careful about annoying the nearby Applebees. He said Walmart sanctioned overnight parking in their part of the lot which we were on, but Applebees had complained in the past.

I now try not to go to Applebees, particularly the one in Kingman, Az.

David
David M

16TBS towed with a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder

spot1

We use a Yamaha EF2400iSHC 2400 Watt Inverter Generator occasionally when away from shore power. It's a nice, quiet unit, but heavy at around 70 pounds. Keep it the back covered with a shell in our pickup and slide it out on the tailgate during use. It would start and run the 13.5K Coleman Polar Mach on the CampLite even though Yamaha advertises that it will not run many AC units.

http://www.yamahagenerators.com/Yamaha-EF2400iSHC-p/ef2400ishc.htm?gclid=CMqX-7rXjs0CFdgJgQodulAMvQ

thudd3r

have owned both a yamaha 1000 and now a honda 2000...both were simply just quiet and worked.  no complaints about either. both are also very easy on fuel.  

my experience is if you want to run small loads a 1000 is good...a microwave and you need a 2000...an ac you will need a 3000

catmanriff

The newer version of the Yamaha 2000 seems to handle bigger loads and startup surges better. I was just looking myself at the 2k inverter units. I like a few things about the Yamaha better but the Honda is ubiqutous and I like the parallel idea. I've rented the EU2000 and 3000 many times for work. They're available at a few rental places. Not the Yamaha.  The Yamaha has a fuel shutoff which is nice for storing , keeping the gas out of the carb..


http://www.yamahagenerators.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=EF2000iSv2

admin

I am part of a bow fishing team and since it is a sport that we do mostly at night we end up using a lot of power. We end up powering about 22 LED flood lights, 3 battery bank chargers, and a 112lb thrust trolling motor. We ended up getting 3 of the Harbor Freight generators here: http://www.harborfreight.com/2500-peak2200-running-watts-47-hp-125cc-portable-inverter-generator-61169.html
When on sale these are a great price for a 2200 running watt generator. To be honest we didn't expect much from them but they have far exceeded our expectations. They are quiet, real quiet when in eco mode, and they have been very dependable. We have been running these for about a year now in both coastal and freshwater conditions. These things have been thrown around the boat, soaked by rain and salt water spray, and they just keep running. They cant be paralleled but honestly that's only a concern if you need the high amperage and if that's the case why not just get a bigger genset to begin with. There is no point to dragging around multiple smaller units if you know you will need the larger anyways.
I am still a huge fan of my Generac, but if I had to do it over again I'd seriously consider one these Predator units now that I've seen what they hold up to.

-Sean

shark24

Thanks Sean! I will seriously check this out. Hope they have a 3000 model so we can run everything except the AC and microwave at the same time. Good luck with the bow fishing. Salt water? Any sharks?

admin

Unfortunately sharks are not legal in my area. At the coast we typically go for various species of stingray/skate. We also go for flounder/fluke a lot where we use a combination gigs and bowfishing.

Its a blast for sure!

shark24

I guess you probably see sharks while hunting at night on the coast. Very cool hobby!

admin

Honestly that one of the best parts about fishing at the coast. Even if we seeing our target species we are still seeing a ton of life. Everything from sharks, to eels and snakes, all sorts of fish and crustaceans, and even dolphins from time to time. I'd love to see a whale but we dont go far enough out for that, so if that ever happens then something went seriously wrong for us or the whale :)