Community Forums

Trebin · 11-25-2019, 04:38 PM

I have a Forest River Cardinal 3030RS. Just curious as to what the requirements would be for a generator. I have a Honda eb5000. Would it work with my 5er?

aether_one · 11-25-2019, 04:51 PM

That generator will work if you are boondocking with no one close by - it is an industrial 3600 RPM generator, nothing like the Honda inverter generators.

camper8251 · 11-25-2019, 05:15 PM

It would depend on your power needs............

MtCamper · 11-25-2019, 05:25 PM

That should easily supply your needs. Do you have an electric management system on your camper? If you do, you may need to bond your neutral to make your EMS happy.

twinboat · 11-25-2019, 06:11 PM

If you use the 30 amp 120 volt 3 blade outlet, you'll only get 3600 watts or 30 amps out of it.

If you use the 120/240, 30 amp 4 blade outlet in the 240 volt mode, you'll get the full 4800 watts or 37 amps. That's only if you have a 50 amp shore cord.

Mr_D · 11-25-2019, 06:18 PM

30 amps is 3,600 watts
50 amp is 12,000 watts
What are your power needs?

**Spdracr39** · 11-25-2019, 07:00 PM

Keep in mind the 100 foot extension cord you will need so you can watch tv or sleep with it running. We don't buy $2000 plus inverter generators because we like spending money it is because they are quiet and much more friendly to our electronics.

twinboat · 11-26-2019, 01:14 AM

This generator isn't that loud. Not as quiet as a inverter model, if they make one at that wattage, but not as bad as most.

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LAKnox · 11-26-2019, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

This generator isn't that loud. Not as quiet as a inverter model, if they make one at that wattage, but not as bad as most.Attachment 267934

Don't forget that dB measurement is logarithmic, not a straight line increase. Can't remember exactly how it works, but jumping from 55 to 65 is, basically, twice as loud. FWIW, Honda does make a 7kw inverter...for about $5k.

Lyle

winniman · 11-26-2019, 11:25 AM

Makes me wonder why so many fifth wheels don't have generators built into them. I know toy haulers do, and some fifth wheels, but in general they do not. Having to drag around a portable and fuel cans would be a pain compared to just hitting a switch. You think even have the prep done so one could be easily added if wanted. I guess too many never camp off grid too much. I would do as suggested, get two 2000 watt inverter generators. They are stackable, and can run tied together. As a contractor, I have wrestled too many 5000 watt, and bigger generators into a truck. Not very easy to do by oneself. The two smaller ones make this task a bit easier.

LAKnox · 11-26-2019, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winniman

Makes me wonder why so many fifth wheels don't have generators built into them. I know toy haulers do, and some fifth wheels, but in general they do not. Having to drag around a portable and fuel cans would be a pain compared to just hitting a switch. You think even have the prep done so one could be easily added if wanted. I guess too many never camp off grid too much. I would do as suggested, get two 2000 watt inverter generators. They are stackable, and can run tied together. As a contractor, I have wrestled too many 5000 watt, and bigger generators into a truck. Not very easy to do by oneself. The two smaller ones make this task a bit easier.

Short answer...money. Not worth it for the mfrs or dealers to have too many of these since the vast majority of customers simply don't need or want on-board gennies. On smaller rigs, customers want the storage that a genny would take up more than they want a built-in genny. If it's a big deal, they either put on in the back of the truck or on a cargo rack.

Lyle

xc-mark · 11-26-2019, 03:51 PM

the honda 3000W inverter is the bare min you need to start ONE roof AC unit . I have a 2800W Yamaha inverter and it barely will start a 13000 BTU roof AC the honda will start a 15000 BTU. sound wise the honda is notably quieter and maybe less fuel with similar loads. There is a new AC unit soft start on the market that would make the Yamaha start up the AC a little better .

Trebin · 11-27-2019, 05:46 AM

Thanks for all the replies. Good info for a newbie. Looking forward to getting out there once the weather gets a little better. I’m more of an off the grid kinda guy so I’m sure I’ll make some mistakes but ok with me. I’ve never been the typical kind of guy anyway.

LETMGROW · 11-27-2019, 06:45 AM

Welcome to the forum.
The first thing you should do would be to go through your 5vr. and record the wattage of each and every appliance you will be using. AC (s), microwave, electric heater, if you use on on a chilly night, the power inverter, refrigerator, TV, and if the water heater will run on electric as well as propane you need to include that. Personally when I am camping off grid I run my fridge and water heater on propane only. If you have portable appliances like a slow cooker or 'Insta- Pot' you need to add them into your overall current useage. Anything you may run which runs off 120V. You just need to be aware of how many watts you have available from your generator and how many watts you are demanding with your needs.
If there is no wattage rating on an appliance label find the amperage draw and multiply it by 120 volts to find the wattage draw.
I try to stay on the conservative side and run roughly 10% under the max my generator puts out. Constantly overloading a generator will shorten it's life drastically as well as anything you are using with the generator.
Lynn