LPG Generator or Solar Panels

[blupearl]

Does anyone have experience using the Champion 3500/4200 LPG generator? I am considering a purchase. Are they quiet? Are they efficient? Does anyone know of a good deal on 3000 watt solar power? We just purchased a FunFinder Xtra 20' toy hauler and the sleeping arrangement seems awkward with the queen bed lowering from the ceiling and stopping pretty high up - about 1' over the sofa's (in flat position). Has anyone had trouble with the queen bed lowering equipment? It's on a chain track system. Thanks for any input - I just signed up here and this looks like a great website.

[LindaH]

Quote:

Originally posted by blupearl: Does anyone have experience using the Champion 3500/4200 LPG generator? ... Are they quiet? Are they efficient?

I don't have any personal knowledge of the Champion line of generators, but compare its dBA rating against one of the Honda or Yamaha inverter generators. For example, This Yamaha 4500iSE has a dBA rating of 51 to 57. (Keep in mind that dBA is a logarithmic scale...most people perceive a 10 dBA increase as a doubling of loudness, so a generator with a 67 dBA rating would be perceived as twice as loud as one with a 57 dBA rating).

Quote:

Does anyone know of a good deal on 3000 watt solar power?

3000 watts of solar panels??? Do you even have enough room on the roof of your RV for that many solar panels, not to mention the battery bank it would take to support that amount of solar panels?

Solar panels are used to charge batteries, not run things directly, and you'll need an inverter to change DC power to AC power. You won't be able to run A/C from a solar system because it's too much of a power hog.

We have 4 100-watt solar panels, 4 AGM batteries, and a 2000-watt inverter/charger. With this system, as long as we have sun, we can run everything just as though we were hooked up to electricity at an RV park (with the exception of the aforementioned A/C, of course). We do run the refrigerator and the water heater on propane when running off the inverter, because those two items are also power hogs when running off electricity.

Depending on how much dry camping you're going to be doing, if you only have enough funds for one or the other, get a generator (please, though, a quiet one...your campground neighbors will thank you). A generator can be used almost any place under any weather conditions. Solar panels only work properly when the sun is shining or not being shaded by trees or other obstructions.

[Vette Racer]

blupearl

Welcome to the toyhauler forum and iRV2 and good luck with your new toyhauler.

[450Donn]

Quote:

Originally posted by LindaH: <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by blupearl: Does anyone have experience using the Champion 3500/4200 LPG generator? ... Are they quiet? Are they efficient?

I don't have any personal knowledge of the Champion line of generators, but compare its dBA rating against one of the Honda or Yamaha inverter generators. For example, This Yamaha 4500iSE has a dBA rating of 51 to 57. (Keep in mind that dBA is a logarithmic scale...most people perceive a 10 dBA increase as a doubling of loudness, so a generator with a 67 dBA rating would be perceived as twice as loud as one with a 57 dBA rating).

Quote:

Does anyone know of a good deal on 3000 watt solar power?

3000 watts of solar panels??? Do you even have enough room on the roof of your RV for that many solar panels, not to mention the battery bank it would take to support that amount of solar panels?

Solar panels are used to charge batteries, not run things directly, and you'll need an inverter to change DC power to AC power. You won't be able to run A/C from a solar system because it's too much of a power hog.

We have 4 100-watt solar panels, 4 AGM batteries, and a 2000-watt inverter/charger. With this system, as long as we have sun, we can run everything just as though we were hooked up to electricity at an RV park (with the exception of the aforementioned A/C, of course). We do run the refrigerator and the water heater on propane when running off the inverter, because those two items are also power hogs when running off electricity.

Depending on how much dry camping you're going to be doing, if you only have enough funds for one or the other, get a generator (please, though, a quiet one...your campground neighbors will thank you). A generator can be used almost any place under any weather conditions. Solar panels only work properly when the sun is shining or not being shaded by trees or other obstructions. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good suggestions, but I might add to forget the propane generator. They do not last very long running off of propane and it can be hard to remove, load up, and find a place to refill propane tanks. Instead get a gasoline one. At least gas is available in almost anyplace you go.

[LindaH]

Quote:

Originally posted by 450Donn: forget the propane generator.

I agree...propane generators are not as fuel efficient as gasoline generators. Of course, if you're going to have a built-in generator in a fifth wheel or trailer, you probably don't have much of a choice.

Both the Honda's and the Yamaha's I referred to above are gasoline generators.

[Ray,IN]

Hello blupearl; welcome to irv2.com forum!
Before you commit to buying a loud genset that will certanly gain you lots of scorn in any CG, consider the Boliy pro3600si RV genset. It's specs are very close to a Honda or Yamaha RV genset.
I have one ordered.