Portable Generator

[blntln]

I notice a lot of talk about portable generators. Why are they necessary and when would you use them.

[CJ7365]

A lot of people who buy RVs that don't come with a generator will purchase a portable one, so they can get batteries charged, and use 110 appliances (A/C)


When dry camping


I once owned a 78 22' Class C that I mounted a Portable Gen set to so I could dry more conveniently

[vsheetz]

Even with a large generator in the RV, a smaller portable can be used as a alternative for lower fuel consumption/cost and as backup to the large generator.

[davendeb]

To run the a/c all night camping in the woods. Quick nap in Walmart lot while making a long run. To charge batteries so the furnace can cycle during a cold night with no electrical hook ups.
And for us in the south, Louisiana, to power the rv in the driveway when hurricane has killed power. Also keeps the home freezer food frozen.

[Stickdog]

Power has failed at campgrounds more than once and we sometimes camp at campgrounds without power, DW likes her curling iron.

[Gary RVRoamer]

I think its obvious that a portable genset is useful when you don't have shore power available. The possible reasons for that are many, but hard to know if any of them would apply to you.

#1 is probably camping at a non-power site for longer than the batteries will last (recharging batteries). Applies to Walmarts and rest areas as well as campgrounds or friend's driveways.
#2 is the same as #1 but with an additional need for a 120v (only) appliance, e.g. air conditioner.

I think the lower fuel consumption notion is mostly myth. Fuel usage is almost entirely tied to power demand (watts used), not generator capacity. A 2000W genset producing 2000W consumes pretty much the same amount of fuel as an 8000W genset producing just 2000W. However, at very low power output, say 100W, the 2000W genset does have a modest advantage in fuel consumption.

[pasdad1]

Originally Posted by blntln

I notice a lot of talk about portable generators. Why are they necessary and when would you use them.

If you have a electric start, permanent mount generator, you don't need a portable 😃