Generators

[shovelhead]

Sleeping in the camper last night with the drone of my generator in the background, I wonder who regularly uses a generator (boondocking)?
I have a Hyundai 2000si.  It's pretty quite and cheaper then most on the market.  http://www.amazon.com/Hyundai-HY2000si-2200-Watt-Portable-Generator/dp/B004919NEK

[tinkeringtechie]

Sleeping in the camper last night with the drone of my generator in the background

Why would you need to run the generator while you're sleeping?

[hogtyd]

I have the ubiquitous Honda EU2000i.  But even when boondocking I've rarely needed to use it.  Great unit though.  

[shovelhead]

[quote source="/post/6958/thread" timestamp="1424300018" author="@tinkeringtechie"][quote source="/post/6955/thread" timestamp="1424295627" author="@shovelhead"]Sleeping in the camper last night with the drone of my generator in the background
[/quote]Why would you need to run the generator while you're sleeping?[/quote]The furnace.   At least I thought you needed 120 v???

[daplumbr]

Our furnace runs on 12V, as I'm pretty sure they all would in Camplites. We have a Honda EU1000i that we have used as backup power at our cabin (pre-solar days). I brought it home to consider using with the Camplite, but now that we've thought it through, I doubt we ever will. Our big batteries in the trailer will last a long time boondocking and our electrical needs will be minimal. After the warranty runs out, we'll be going solar anyway. I do really like the Honda though, Unreal quiet and very easy to use. 

[nmken]

In the 16TBS the heater itself is propane based but it does use 12v for the thermostat and fan - no 120v needed for it

[shovelhead]

OK so the only reason to have 120v (shore power) is the TV, microwave, anything else?

[david]

[p]An inverter, a 1000 watt unit will work fine, will power your microwave for a few minutes to warm something up and also power your tv. You will probably need to upgrade your batteries to at least two 12V units or a pair of 6V golf carts. The inverter will also need separate DC wiring from the batteries to power it, probably 4 gauge or better size.[/p][p]
[/p][p]It is a little expensive, but worth it not to have to run a generator at night.[/p][p]
[/p][p]David[/p]

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote timestamp="1424306172" source="/post/6964/thread" author="@shovelhead"]OK so the only reason to have 120v (shore power) is the TV, microwave, anything else?[/quote]The only 120V appliances in the camplite should be the options:  air conditioner, microwave, tv.

Everything else should be 12V or dual (like the fridge).

So unless you're sleeping while it's really hot and you want to run the AC, then you should be fine leaving it off.

[shovelhead]

Good to know TT. Thanks.

[leslie]

I caused the circuit breakers to blow, while hooked up to 30 amp shore power, when I used an electric frypan while running the AC. Fortunately, all I had to do was go to the fuse box and reset the circuit breakers. And turn off the AC until dinner was done.

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Allow me to add a little noise to this thread. First, the furnace does run completely on 12V and propane. No shore power required. This is also true of lights, water heater on gas, water pump, radio, fridge, and small USB devices like cell phones.

Second, the television can be either 120V or 12V depending on what model you buy. I specifically bought a 12V model requiring less than 4A from a 12V source. If the TV is 120V there are small inverters available, in the order of 150W, that should run small TVs from the 12V system. It will stress the batteries, but can be used sparingly.

Third, the A/C must run on shore power or a generator. Even most "2000W" generators can have trouble starting and/or running the A/C in hot weather.

Fourth, the microwave is of the nominal 1 cu ft, 1000 watt class. The 1000 watts is output or cooking power. The actual required input is 1500W. This would require at least a 2000W inverter. Assuming 85% efficiency and 12V input you're looking at 147 Amps. Even with two 6V golfer batteries you'll only get 20-25 minutes from full to 50% discharge. Probably not a good idea.

So the bottom line is no A/C or micro on the battery; limited TV if you can recharge each day.


[/font]

[mitch]

And just to promote something I'm fond of promoting, you can create a solar charging system that will keep your batteries in good shape and provide you plenty of power.  There are a number of threads here on how to do that.  You are not required for any reason to assume that you must be on shore power or have a generator.  There are options...

[pinstriper]

[quote source="/post/6966/thread" timestamp="1424306770" author="@tinkeringtechie"][quote source="/post/6964/thread" timestamp="1424306172" author="@shovelhead"]OK so the only reason to have 120v (shore power) is the TV, microwave, anything else?[/quote]The only 120V appliances in the camplite should be the options:  air conditioner, microwave, tv.

Everything else should be 12V or dual (like the fridge).

So unless you're sleeping while it's really hot and you want to run the AC, then you should be fine leaving it off.[/quote]Outlets. They don't work off the 12v system.

[tinkeringtechie]

The only 120V appliances in the camplite should be the options:  air conditioner, microwave, tv.

Everything else should be 12V or dual (like the fridge).

So unless you're sleeping while it's really hot and you want to run the AC, then you should be fine leaving it off.

Outlets. They don't work off the 12v system.

Unless it's a 12v outlet...