Portable generators

[Marine359]

Yes FollowingSea,
Keeping it simple is desirable, and f***ing magic explains many things that I do not understand. Love Detroit iron, but try putting one of those motors in a F1 car. Weight can be the enemy. At my age, less weight is better.


Thanks for serving.

[followingsea]

Originally Posted by Marine359

Yes FollowingSea,
......At my age, less weight is better.


Thanks for serving.

Are we still talking about generators?

My Onan is a violation of the KISS principle which is why why I was in the market for portable generator. It has a logic card, an electronic voltage regulator and speed conbtrol each costing more than a portable geneator.

I was not in the market for an inverter/generator but the price was less than a Onan voltage regulator. And I can lift it it without help.

[RTegarini]

Originally Posted by Backcountry1

I own two Champions, a 2500 watt and a 4650 watt. The 4650 is noticeable louder than the 2500. And it also is louder than a Honda. BUT, I have never had neighbors give me the stink eye for running my 4650 on over half power. So much so that I’ve gone to my camping neighbors (in State Park, COE, and NF campgrounds) and have personally asked them while running the generator if they were annoyed, bothered, or believed it was too loud. Never had a complaint yet.

I’ll be the devil’s advocate here. I’ve been in campgrounds that others are running a Champion-series and the noise difference from a Honda is huge. I’ve never had someone next to me or four sites down ask me if their generator is too loud. I think it’s a fair assumption that that these people don’t really care, or they would have spent the money for a Honda or Yamaha in the first place. Additionally, if someone ever DID ask me if their generator is too loud, what am I supposed to say, especially if they are in the next site? If I complain, what, they’re going to drag out their Honda and run that instead? No. People who buy lower-priced noisy generators will justify it however they want; the fact that some supposedly ask others if it’s too noisy already answers their own question. The cost of a generator is an example of people spending ten’s or hundred’s of thousands of dollars for their RV and then going cheap on a generator, campground noise be darned. -RT

[LETMGROW]

Not everyone has the means to step out and buy an expensive generator just to please others around them. A family with a below median income may have children they want to enjoy camping with. After buying a camper or other RV and a tow vehicle if it's a tow behind, outfitting the camper to use etc. along with insurance and registration their bank account might be depleted and or their credit card might be maxed out.
Give them a little credit for trying to be good parents. If you see a family having fun together what is the issue of a few lore decibles of generator noise.
The guy who pulls in with a multi hundred thousand dollar motor coach would be a different matter. He, you would expect to buy and use a better quality and quieter generator. Then there are the first timers who don't understand the difference.
I have never complained about anyone running a generator unless the exhaust is blowing in my direction and bothering me. Live and let live. If there are time restraints they should be followed whether you have a quiet generator or otherwise unless you have a specific medical reason for it. Every situation has to be taken for it's face value.

[Marine359]

When we get old, we can find lots of things to complain about. It’s called old grouch syndrome. People have been using generators for as long as I’ve been camping; over 50 years. As long as someone’s not running an open frame generator, the sound of generators running during allowed run times has become ubiquitous. For those who feel everybody should run out and buy a Honda because they have one, and have built some kind of decibel superiority complex, I say, get a life. You can always move to a campground that only allows Hondas. Not meant to offend, just trying to put this thread into reasonable perspective.

[ernest917]

Thanks Marine!!!

Couldn’t have said it better myself....

Buying a generator for your camper is an obvious “extra” and one that can stretch a family’s already stretched budget....

Not everyone can afford a “Honda” so does that mean they shouldn’t take their family camping so you won’t be offended by their “non-Honda” generator???

Sorry but if you honestly feel that way, you’ve totally lost your perspective on what the concept of family camping is truly about....

If is bothers you - LEAVE!!!!!

[followingsea]

Originally Posted by RTegarini

.....No. People who buy lower-priced noisy generators will justify ....... -RT

I took an oath to defend the US constitution about 50 year ago and I am wondering why you would think any citizen needs to justify something that does not harm others and is clearly within accptable noise levels?

I have been camping and boating all my life. I love fresh air and the sound of the wind in the trees on sails. However, that requires making a lot of noise to get there. I lived in the woods and heated with wood. Had to run a chain saw.

Do you see my point?

Never owned a geneator for RVing until after retiring. Got one for $88 for charging batteries when boondocking. Since a short distance attenuates the noise level, I have learned not to stand next to it.

I can think of 3 cases where I was sitting in my MH ehjoying the sound of the ocean when another RV parked next to me and immediately started running a generor. It was a casino parking lot so I had no expectation about noise.

What I did was go for a walk on the beach rather than dwell on the irration.

Do you see my point?

Until recently I did not know noise was even an in issue. On the Honda web site for a portable generator, noise is listed as the first criteria. Then how 'powerful' it is!

Big lie!! Down at the bottom is a list of specs. Not that powerful.

It is my opionion that people who pay less for the same tool are smart consumers.

To be a smart consumer is the geneator rated for the continous power you need and does the engine have the HP to delever the power.

[followingsea]

Originally Posted by ernest917

Thanks Marine!!!

......
Not everyone can afford a “Honda” ....

I agree with what you said.

However, what you can afford has nothing to do with the quality or price of a product.

How often do salesman ask what you can afford and refuse to tell you the price?

I buy Honda and Toyota cars because they produce a better car at lower price following the principles of Deming.

However, all portable generators are junk. That is ok because that is all that is needed. They are not the same quality as you might find at a hospital for emergency backup.

I have a friend with a new bigger sailboat. We both enjoy sailing on each other's boat. He will not be sailing this weekend, he is working overtime.

He has two Honda's that togher can start an A/C. How do they work I ask? Well he has never used them.

When it comes to affordablity, today I talked to a newly retired and one who has been retired about as long as I have. Can we afford to RV and our medicine too.

So it not just what you can afford today but what might be needed in the future. If I have extra it goes to a 529 fund for the grand kids.

[MarvinG]

Several years ago, my family and I and my dad were camping in a NFS camp with no hookups. It was a chilly weekend and both our campers were prepared with propane heaters so we stayed toasty warm (and quiet).

At the other end of the campground were some tent campers. Lots of little kids running around. When night fell and it got really cold for that time of year, they fired up their open frame generator and it ran all night. That thing could be heard all over the campground. It was worrisome.

However, we slept just fine inside our RV’s, the noise didn’t penetrate. Early the next morning they were gone. I am sure the temperature dropped lower than they anticipated and they were likely just trying to survive the night.

So I sit on both sides of that fence. Like all of us, I like a quiet campground. I also have been on the poor side of life, not dirt poor, but poor by American standards for all but the last few years. I’ve often scrabbled together the best I can to make it happen for my family. So there is that. Fortunately, these inverter generators are as inexpensive as most any open frame generator. Not necessarily kw for kw as cheap but one can get a Predator or similar for not that much more than one pays for open frame. I suspect most anyone camping with an open frame, is doing so either because they already have one and just can’t afford to get another, or is ignorant, perhaps blissfully so, of these quieter generators.

[sibe]

My pet peeve is the open frame or loud unit..especially when the rig is RV/MH or tower and TT are like 100K ..
I have NO issue with a nice inverter purring genny in the distance or next to me..

Inverter unit....Point the exhaust away from anyone and life goes on..

Last night I was playing around with RV.. it was 94 out at 6pm, hot.. I needed to get into RV for a bit.. I fired Onan 4000 onboard, it stalled, dang choke rod binding.. OK, fired up AC.. walked down to the house, about 120 feet away,,
having beverage on my deck.. OK that is quiet.. as we are in the middle of nowhere,

walked up with my DB meter I use for race events.. got to the front of RV, 38-42db, right side rear 48 db, left side rear (genny side) 57-60.. I am 6 feet from RV..

I fired up my 3500 knock off, needs to off eco, placed it on left rear side exhasut to rear.. AC plugged in etc,, pulling 14amps I had TV on now,,
Front of RV 36-38, Right side rear 46-48, Left side rear (59-62) all at 4-6 feeet..then Rear at around 15 feet, 58-60.

SO i picked up a Westinhouse I4500. it had 10hrs.. family moving..$500
Fired it up. let it run a bit had gas in it..
plugged in AC .. still on eco, revved a bit.. 13.1 A had it where 3500 was..
I figured I would get the 4500 as it has same weight as the 3500. 3500 is 4 years old , 2740hrs, works well I paid 385 on ebay.. I am sure I can get 300..LOL
I hoped the 4500i would be able to handle the load and run in eco, lower RPM..
SO
in front 35-36, Right rear 42-44, Left rear 52-54 , directly to rear 15 ft 50-52

SO the 4500 seems a bit better.. no fan noise like the onan.. ( onboard 4000 has more fan noise than exhaust noise)
4500 is not at high RPM so less noise, has remote start, that helps. at nite if I shut it off late.

You all my ask why tote a 3550 or 4500 with the 4000 onboard.... #1 reason fuel use. Onan is a piggy. #2 is now confirmed a tad quieter.. Inside is quieter with AC off and 4000 running.. Onboard is a bit noisey inside especially in bedroom..

My long rant.. I am a budget

[RTegarini]

Originally Posted by followingsea

I took an oath to defend the US constitution about 50 year ago and I am wondering why you would think any citizen needs to justify something that does not harm others and is clearly within accptable noise levels?

I have been camping and boating all my life. I love fresh air and the sound of the wind in the trees on sails. However, that requires making a lot of noise to get there. I lived in the woods and heated with wood. Had to run a chain saw.

Do you see my point?

Never owned a geneator for RVing until after retiring. Got one for $88 for charging batteries when boondocking. Since a short distance attenuates the noise level, I have learned not to stand next to it.

I can think of 3 cases where I was sitting in my MH ehjoying the sound of the ocean when another RV parked next to me and immediately started running a generor. It was a casino parking lot so I had no expectation about noise.

What I did was go for a walk on the beach rather than dwell on the irration.

Do you see my point?

Until recently I did not know noise was even an in issue. On the Honda web site for a portable generator, noise is listed as the first criteria. Then how 'powerful' it is!

Big lie!! Down at the bottom is a list of specs. Not that powerful.

It is my opionion that people who pay less for the same tool are smart consumers.

To be a smart consumer is the geneator rated for the continous power you need and does the engine have the HP to delever the power.

I won’t go into a long drawn-out response with your talking points on things I never even mentioned and I certainly don’t feel the need to defend my views on loud generators or answer repeated questions of ‘see my point’. The point of a forum is all people can post their views equally and not everyone will agree 100%. See my point? -RT

[followingsea]

[QUOTE=sibe;6267503...
I have NO issue with a nice inverter purring genny in the distance or next to me..

......[/QUOTE]

My 6500 watt propane Onan purrs too, even fully loaded.

While I do not have a meter to measure noise, my experience has been like yours.

Since 95% of the time I have to run a generator, I am boondocking where no one elese is around to hear it.

I have 4 GC2 batteries so I only have to run about an hour a day. There is always an hour a day when I am doing chores.

When my open frame generator became a backup to the inverter generator, I would run a tank of gas through it once a year. I am charging batteris, running a frig, and watching tv so the load was about 1000 watt on a 800 rated watt generator.

I had to mute the TV to listen for the fuel to run out. Also I did not have to walk far from the camp site before I could not hear it.

I have an inverter generator also. I am skeptical that they are better.

[Gammel]

Can I run my genny in good conscience?

[Backcountry1]

Originally Posted by Gammel

Can I run my genny in good conscience?

Only if it’s a Honda closed case inverter generator.

Anything other than that is no bueno.