Need generator recomendation

[marcv]

Hi,

Not sure if this is the correct forum for this question...

I'm planning to go to a 5 days on a camping site without electricity and I worry that my batteries can run out (that happened last year with my previous trailer with 2 12V batteries).


My trailer is a Jayco 26BH. I have 2 6V batteries on it and a 13,500-BTU A/C.

I'm looking for a small and somehow quiet generator that could charge my batteries.

Can a 800W handle that? Any recomendations for one other than Honda or Yamaha? I know those two are the best, I'm trying to find something less expense and with simmilar results. If I cant I will probably try to find a Honda or Yamaha.
Is Hyundai and Subaru simmilar in quality compared with Honda generators?
What about Honeywell, Generaq and Kipor ? (they are less expensive, but, are they good and quiet?)



Another option is to have a generator not only to charge the batteries but to use the A/C while charging the batteries when needed.
How many Watts I will need to do that for the A/C that I have? Does that need to be ~2000W?

Thank you,
Marcv

[GaryKD]

Hi marcv,
The larger the generator the louder the noise, by a bunch. I bring it up because the OP mentions a concern about noise. To determine the size needed, find how many WATTs the A/C and anything else you'll be running adds up to. Then you'll know the minimum size generator you'll need. If noise is a real concern, Consider the original plan. A small generator for charging the batteries.

With a large generator you'll also have considerable weight and fuel to plan for.

[WeBeGone2]

What ever you do, do not by a cheap $400. one from Home Depot or Lowes. I am close to a guy in a trailer and he has a coleman that he runs all day. You can not sit outside due to this guy. Down the way a guy has a 2000 Honda and you can barely hear it. Mine is a 7.5 Onan which is very quiet. I run it in the AM for an hour and in the evening for an hour. Please do not run whichever one you get aaaaALL day. Thankfully this guy is pulling out and going back to NY tomorrow.

[The General]

Hi Jay,

I have had a Honda EU2000I for 3 years and it's flawless.
Honda Super Quiet Generators

My buddy has a Kipor and loves it.
Kipor Generators

If you are to run an a/c you will need over 2000 watts and up gene.
2000 peak watts only gets you 1850 max watts before you damage the generator. To just charge your batteries you can hookup your tow vehicle charging system to the rv batteries through the tow electrical wiring.
Someone will, hopefully, chime in on how to achieve this.

Steve

[Tincup]

Marcv,

To answer your question, no, an 800W generator will not run a 13.5 BTU Air Conditioner.

I have heard stories, take it for what it's worth, that in some locations, read lower elevations, a Honda 2KW will run the A/C. I am currently at the Slabs, roughly 100' above sea level and a friend can't run his 13.5 BTU on one Honda 2KW he has two in parallel.

In my opinion, I would go for a 3000W unit, it will run your 13.5 BTU with some power left over. Honda, Kipor, Yamaha are all good quiet units with a good reputation and customer service.

[Uncle Dave]

If you aren't looking at honda or yamaha...IMHO skip Honeywell, Generaq
Kipors are Ok.


take a look at Robin Subaru.


You wont run a 13.5K BTU Ac off a 2K genny without a hard start capacitor at minimum maybe then even no.


Uncle Dave

[alvinc]

For battery charging the 800-1000 watt generator is perfect. Be sure to use an 120 VAC based charger. The 10 amps DC that the generator can provide will not charge the batteries fast enough. Also check your converter, if it is an older converter, it may only charge at 10 amps, which is not good enough. Many of the newer converters will charge at up the rated capacity of the converter. A higher rated charger will reduce the amount of time you need to run the generator.

Now for the bad news. As soon as you added the a air conditioner as a load, you massively changed the conditions. A 13.5K Btu AC is going to draw 10.5 amps while running, or about 1260 watts. This is certainly more than the small generators are capable of providing. In fact a 2000 watt generator, especially an electronic one like the Honda or Yamaha, will not be enough.

Why? The AC contains a motor and the starting current requirement of motors can be quite a bit more than their running current. Sometimes as much as two times. The electronic generators have hard limits and rather than letting the voltage sag as more power is drawn they will instantly shut down. I have witnessed a 2000 watt analog generator start an AC unit, then tried a 2000 watt Honda, and the Honda tripped every time.

So without the air conditioner you can get by with a Honda 1000 at approx $800, but with the AC you would need the 3000 watt Honda at approx $2,300. In addition the smaller generator weighs 29lb, the larger weighs 78lb.

One last comment. Do you have, or want to use, the Microwave oven in your trailer? If so, the 1000 watt generator is probably not enough, unless you shut off everything else in the trailer.

Bottom line, forget the AC and buy the 2000 watt Honda. It is $1,000 and weighs 46lb.

[Uncle Dave]

AlvinC - nice write up one detail though the honda Eu3000 would only weigh 78 lb. if it were on pluto.


That puppy is 134 lb dry and comes with no wheels.


Uncle Dave

[marcv]

Jeez.... I just lost a big reply that I was writing...
Well, I will be short now. Too lazy to write that again :(

Thank you for all the comments...

I'm inclined to buy the 1000W Kipor, because of the price that is $499.99. The Honda and Yamaha are ~$800.

Any take on the Kipor?

"The General", you said your friend have a Kipor, do you have any comment on his Kipor? Anything that you don't like on it?

Thank all of you again...

[The General]

MARCV,

My buddy wishes he purchased a 2000, for the extra power he needs now. Before you buy, think of your future requirements.
He loves his Kipor and you can purchase a 2000 for $799. Amazon.com: Kipor IG1000 1000 Watt Inverter Generator: Patio, Lawn & Garden


Steve

[Batman_777]

Well, you have a thousand opinions. I have a gas 5600 watt generator that drinks gas like a thirsty whale and it is VERY noisey. I have an 8000 watt Onan diesel that only uses 1/2 gallon/hour and is really not that noisey. Of course you'd need a diesel tank to feed it. Even then, 1/2 gallon x 24 hrs is 12 gallons/day.

You'll run down the batteries zip quick. Might want to check into a solar panel charger.

I don't see a lot about how fast they go through fuel and weight.

[PNWGirl]

I have this one: Champion 3500 Watt Generator, Generators & Accessories, Trailers & RV, Auto & ATV : Cabelas.com

It's on sale with free shipping right now. My only regret is not getting the one with the wheels (also on sale right now).

You can run it for 12 hours on one tank of gas and it will run your A/C. Noise level is 68 dB

Attached is the sound chart for all Honda models.

Sheila

[Paul R. Haller]

The most important quality of a generator is simply... is it Quiet and does it last? It all comes down to money. The cheap generators are loud and in 6 months you'll be working on it constantly. In a year and a half you'll be buying a better generator.
Do yourself a favor and look at a Honda or an Onan. I don't know how large your converter is. If it's say 45 amps at 12 volts you can figure that it will draw about 6-8 amps at 110. The ac will draw about 13 amps and your fridge will draw about 4 amps. That's at the limit for a Honda 3000 with an electronic breaker. It's all in what order you start stuff up. If you start up the ac first ,it starts with almost a 25 amp surge then quickly settles down to about 13 amps. More if it's really hot out. Then the converter and finally the fridge. It may even leave you with enough left over to run the TV if you are lucky. Always buy a larger good quality generator then you think you'll need. Why? If you undersize your generator unless you started with a an electronic inverter style like the honda your only choice is to buy another larger generatoror or if you started with a honda 2000 you could buy another and piggyback them. Either way it's a big hassle.
Do yourself a favor and buy the quietist and most reliable generator you can get. In my mind thats a honda or an onan.
When I bought my current coach I wanted the best gen set I could find. I was sick of all the problems I had with chap gen sets. I settled on a diesel Onan 7 kw generator. It's so quiet that I can stand right next to it outside the compartment and carry on a normal conversationand all I have ever done is change the oil, the plug and filter. In 5 years of yearly operation it's needed nothing but normal matainance.
-Paul R. Haller-

[1ciderdog]

Not only for your peace and quiet but that of other campers please do get one that has the motor/generator enclosed. In photos the Chinese Kipor appears to be a copy of the Honda so it may be quiet. You might try to find out the DB level of the Kipor and compare to the Honda. I have a Honda 2000 and an older Honda 4500. The 2000 is pretty quiet but the bigger one (without a sound enclosure) is LOUD. When I buy another one I'll consider the Honda 3500 with a remote start. A little more expensive but I think worth it in the long run. The convenience of the electric remote start is pretty nice - my wife can't pull a starting cord but can push that start button.