Generators

[kayakterp]

Can anyone guide me into a purchase of a new/used generator
Finally thinking of trying to boon-dock - I don't need the top of the line just need to know what I can get by with at a low budget. Hoping to stay under $500 (if possible?)
Only have 1 AC (13,500) and microwave that I'm guess I got are the big draws on my 30amp TT
I don't have any experience with generators so I'm not sure of the ratings, classifications, etc of what is needed?
Are the ones with 'inverter' mean they are the quiet ones? Is that the only advantage to them? I know I don't want the loudest ones out there but don't think my budget will allow all the amemnaties.
Been doing some looking on Craigslist but don't know what the numbers reflect for power, etc?
I think I just need something that will keep my battery charged and run A/C. My fridge and heat can run on LP gas if needed but it would be nice to know what generators can handle fridge, small electric heaters, microwave, during Spring & Fall when A/C is off? Hoping to do short 2-day weekends
Thanks in advance for any help

[Scott91370]

I just bought this one -Champion 3500Watt. It runs at 64dB which is about 5dB louder than the inverter style but 5dB quieter than the construction site style.
Honda and Yamaha are very popular (and reliable) but cost is quite expensive.
A lot of people run a 2000 watt with the a/c unit but there is some sort of 'starter' that is needed for it. From what I gather it is like a capacitor so there is enough juice to kick start the a/c unit where the 3000+ doesn't need this.
I haven't used mine yet (just got to my house last night) so I can't give you any info on it except that it has a 3 year warranty and if you buy it from Amazon they list an extended warranty (like Square Trade) for an additional 3 or 4 years for a VERY reasonable cost.

[kayakterp]

Thank you Scott, I think I saw a couple of those on CL as well.
I was wondering what "starter" referred to and what it's purpose is?
I will check into Amazon & HF - I saw one on CL that had wheels but I guess I could add cart with wheels for only $30

[ALJO]

The above mentioned 3500 Watt generator doesn't give clean electricity to electronics.
It is better to get the Champion Generator/Inverter 3000/2800 watt, which will run the A/C also with ease.

[Force]

I'm on year 3 with my Champion 3100W invertor. Starts easily, runs flawlessly, very quiet, and is strong enough to run the AC:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BBDCE1S...a-272823971906

[John from Central Florida]

Originally Posted by Force

I'm on year 3 with my Champion 3100W invertor. Starts easily, runs flawlessly, very quiet, and is strong enough to run the AC

This what we have also. I bought it at Costco last March for just under $500. Works very well.

[Riverman]

I have the Champion 3100-watt inverter also, with remote start.

I love it...

[kayakterp]

Thank you FORCE. Don't think I have $800 right now
Does anyone have experience with FIRMAN?
Firman 4000-Watt ECO 4000RE Gas Remote Start???
Only $325 with cart & wheels
Any advice on what I need to avoid?
Thanks again

[kayakterp]

Thank you Florida John, I'll check out COSTCO!!

[bdreinv]

If it is not an inverter type generator! Mega noisy. Thanks

[Scott91370]

Originally Posted by ALJO

The above mentioned 3500 Watt generator doesn't give clean electricity to electronics.

Please define clean? What THD would that fall into?
Inquiring minds want (need) to know....

[troutslayer]

Originally Posted by Scott91370

Please define clean? What THD would that fall into?
Inquiring minds want (need) to know....

Less than 6

[Bassdogs]

Cheap means noisey and they are known as contractor type. You will be the most hated camper in a 5 mile radius.

[Bassdogs]

Originally Posted by Scott91370

Please define clean? What THD would that fall into?
Inquiring minds want (need) to know....

Suspect what he means by dirty is modified sinwave vs pure sinwave.

[troutslayer]

Originally Posted by Bassdogs

Suspect what he means by dirty is modified sinwave vs pure sinwave.

Agreed but the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) should be equal to or less than 6.

[RoyBraddy]

We camp off-road alot here and run into Generator run time restrictions just about every public place we go to. You can't really count using the generator anytime you want to at public places...

Most often you can run the Generator for a couple of hours in the mornings and three or four hours in the late afternoon. ALot of Natl Parks will allow 8AM to 8PM... Seems like I never find a spot I can run one at a public place after 8PM or before 6AM.

With all of this in mind made me beef up my batteries and try to run everthing we want to have on running off the batteries.

We run just about everything off the batteries now except the Air Conditioner and high wattage Microwave... Got it all planned out what we can do especially between the 6PM and 11PM time frame and run down our battery bank to it 50% charge state by 6AM the next morning. Then when allowed to run my generator I will connect my POPUP trailer shore power to the generator and charge up my battery bank which usually takes around three hours of generator run time. Then we are good to go again for the next day/night run off the batteries. My main use for the generator is to get my batteries charged back up each day. I will plug in my coffee pot and make coffee for the day when running my generator. My grind and brew coffee maker only needs to run aorund 5-minutes to make coffee then it pours up into a thermos karafe that keeps it hot all day. Everything else on my OFF-ROAD POPUP trailer runs off the batteries. We watch HDTV every night...

Roy's image


Not much dispersed camping around us here in Virginia...

This is what we run into and perhaps you will find a different generator run time situation where you are going to be camping.

My 2KW Honda generator is secured to the tail gate corner of my covered truck bed and when I need to use I just pull it out onto the truck bed tail gate... Works out great for us... Everything is out of sight unless we are running the generator on the tail gate...


Roy's image

Guys out West get the public grounds dispersed camping benefits where I guess you can run a generator any time of the day/night you want to. Doesn't work for us here on the East side of the US...

Roy Ken

[Scott91370]

Originally Posted by troutslayer

Agreed but the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) should be equal to or less than 6.

That what I was thinking. I guess I'm not clear on which generator he was talking about not being clean. The one I linked is less than 3. I don't even see that Honda says what theirs is, though I am sure it is 3 or less.

[K9Nardu]

Check out a company called SuperGen Products in Newark, New York. A Champion generator licensed retailer and repair facility. You can buy brand new from them, however, they also have a good supply of refurbished Champion generators in stock at vastly reduced prices. Supply changes weekly so call them to see what's in stock. Most of the refurbished models are simply returns due to shipping damage with little to no hours on them that are repaired to like new condition and sold with a warranty. I highly recommend the Champion generator/inverter 3100/3400, model #100233. I purchased a refurbished model 100233 from them, it arrived in like new condition and I am extremely satisfied, plus saved a bundle over brand new. Very quiet as well. They have a web site, but I would call them directly to see latest stock on refurbs. Excellent customer service as well.

[kayakterp]

Thanks to everyone for replying, gives me alot to think about.
Want to do a horse-show with the DW in April and will probably have to camp-out in the parking lot so it will give me some time to save and research all your great inputs!
Please don't hesitate to keep the info coming as I'll be coming back to this thread over the next month!

[Force]

Originally Posted by Riverman

I have the Champion 3100-watt inverter also, with remote start.

I love it...

I so wish I had known they had the remote start one at the time I bought mine, more than worth the extra $100 in my view!