Generator advice please

Fifer

Full Member

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292
I am wondering if I should buy a portable, lightweight ideally, and quiet generator.
Any advice appreciated so I know which one, if I do decide to buy.

Thanks. Thea
 
Hi Thea.

My thoughts would be perhaps look at a power station instead.
Reason I say is as being a ex camp site warden, even the so called silent ones are noisey and as such we had, and I know many other sites, a ban on them. And i guess depends on where and when our use for it.

Mind you I go back about 4 years now so technology etc may , or will have Improved.

Just my thoughts.
 
Can't give you any specific advice, but just a note to say that some places - and most notably, many festivals such as quite a few VW Festivals I used to go to - have a ban on certain types of Generators on safety grounds, so if going to events is a thing for you, might be worth checking to see?

The types banned when there is a ban in place are typically the Petrol ones as there is a fear that some users will refill the tank of the generator when hot, and could spill petrol and it could ignite.
 
I can highly recommend the Hyundai HY1000Si if a continuous 900W is enough for you. I put a trouble free 450 hours on mine before upgrading to a continuous 2200W generator. Still not sure I shouldn't have kept the original one as it was always a first pull starter and a good bit lighter than the 2200W that replaced it.

Its quiet for a generator and I got slightly better fuel consumption than my mates Honda
 
Thanks everyone for advice. I'll need to keep all this in mind if I decide to get one.

Of course, it is all just a thought at the moment.

Thanks again Thea
 
Fifer said:
Thanks everyone for advice. I'll need to keep all this in mind if I decide to get one.

Of course, it is all just a thought at the moment.

Thanks again Thea
Click to expand...
Real question is: Why do you think you may need one? What are you looking to achieve?
 
We manage quite well with 2 x 120 solar panels and 2 x 110amp leisure batteries. We did a full 10 days in June without having to top the batteries up at all although we don't watch much TV when we are away but we kept 2 tablets and 2 phones topped up.
 
TissyD said:
We manage quite well with 2 x 120 solar panels and 2 x 110amp leisure batteries. We did a full 10 days in June without having to top the batteries up at all although we don't watch much TV when we are away but we kept 2 tablets and 2 phones topped up.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply.
I don't have solar panels. Like you, it will be mostly for lights, phone & tablet top up. DVD's would be a bonus.
I think I'm maybe over thinking what I'll need. Lol.
It will be my first time away wild camping without my husband, and away for so long at Druridge Bay.
 
Fifer said:
Thanks for your reply.
I don't have solar panels. Like you, it will be mostly for lights, phone & tablet top up. DVD's would be a bonus.
I think I'm maybe over thinking what I'll need. Lol.
It will be my first time away wild camping without my husband, and away for so long at Druridge Bay.
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It might be worth considering a portable solar panel kit? In a secure environment like a campsite or a meet like Druridge, you could set out the portable panel next to your van and leave them all day and I would expect overnight as well. This would give you some very useful battery charging and I would think put more back into the battery than you will use in the day.

A kit like this one from Alpha Batteries - https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/1...lorer-solar-panel-kit-with-charge-controller/ - is excellent value at just £100 now and includes all you need, including a bag to put the panel kit away in.
As a Full Member of the forum, you can also get some discount off the kit (maybe 7.5%?)
 
wildebus said:
It might be worth considering a portable solar panel kit? In a secure environment like a campsite or a meet like Druridge, you could set out the portable panel next to your van and leave them all day and I would expect overnight as well. This would give you some very useful battery charging and I would think put more back into the battery than you will use in the day.

A kit like this one from Alpha Batteries - https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/1...lorer-solar-panel-kit-with-charge-controller/ - is excellent value at just £100 now and includes all you need, including a bag to put the panel kit away in.
As a Full Member of the forum, you can also get some discount off the kit (maybe 7.5%?)
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You've reminded me, I have a portable solar panel! Dah! That was always Donald's domain.

I'll just pick folks brains when I get there for setting it up. 😆

Thanks for reminding me. So no need for a generator!

Sorry folks, I'm still learning all this stuff on my own.

Sorry to be so thick about it all!
 
This looks cool and quiet. Cheaper than a generator. No need to buy expensive fuel and generator maintenance.
www.sunshinesolar.co.uk

435W Sunshine Solar Boat & Motorhome Kit

This 435W Sunshine Solar Power Caravan & Motorhome Kit offers outstanding performance and great value for money. With this 435 Watt solar power kit you could expect to generate around 145 amps per day during the summer months supplementing the 12V leisure battery power in caravans, motorhomes...
www.sunshinesolar.co.uk
 
Glynno said:
This looks cool and quiet. Cheaper than a generator. No need to buy expensive fuel and generator maintenance.
www.sunshinesolar.co.uk

435W Sunshine Solar Boat & Motorhome Kit

This 435W Sunshine Solar Power Caravan & Motorhome Kit offers outstanding performance and great value for money. With this 435 Watt solar power kit you could expect to generate around 145 amps per day during the summer months supplementing the 12V leisure battery power in caravans, motorhomes...
www.sunshinesolar.co.uk
Click to expand...
A couple of things ....
1) Come Winter, that will be as useful as a colander hat
2) The physical size of that solar panel, it would only suit a small percentage of motorhomes and campervans.
 
I use my generator because I am usually away most of the winter months in the UK. I do have 300W solar on the roof and a 30A B2B for when engine is running, (I don't believe in running the engine if I am not moving except in emergency, genny is more efficient). Last Winter I was up in Scotland but moving around a bit more often than I normally do and didn't need to run the genny at all. I rarely use camp sites so if I need emu it would be the genny.

If you aren't doing extended off grid park ups in poor weather (Winter in UK) you may find you can manage ok Have a chat with David at Druridge meet and he can probably give you an idea how long you can sit still for.
 
Fifer said:
You've reminded me, I have a portable solar panel! Dah! That was always Donald's domain.

I'll just pick folks brains when I get there for setting it up. 😆

Thanks for reminding me. So no need for a generator!

Sorry folks, I'm still learning all this stuff on my own.

Sorry to be so thick about it all!
Click to expand...
We have all had to learn at sometime. There will certainly be plenty of people at Druridge Bay who will help you out.
 
nabsim said:
I use my generator because I am usually away most of the winter months in the UK. I do have 300W solar on the roof and a 30A B2B for when engine is running, (I don't believe in running the engine if I am not moving except in emergency, genny is more efficient). Last Winter I was up in Scotland but moving around a bit more often than I normally do and didn't need to run the genny at all. I rarely use camp sites so if I need emu it would be the genny.

If you aren't doing extended off grid park ups in poor weather (Winter in UK) you may find you can manage ok Have a chat with David at Druridge meet and he can probably give you an idea how long you can sit still for.
Click to expand...
Thank you.
 
TissyD said:
We have all had to learn at sometime. There will certainly be plenty of people at Druridge Bay who will help you out.
Click to expand...
I know about folk being available and willing to give support, it us a great community. Been there done that at other meets. 😆
 
I have a Honda 1kw generator for sale, barely used tbh.

But I’d also say that the reason I’m selling it is I have an EcoFlow now and it’s great, It’s a Delta Max 2 with 2 additional batteries. But a generator is cheaper.
 
I have an unused suitcase generator carried it for 2yrs..now at home we've been off grid with vary little moving for 2months in the UK and aren't due home for 3more weeks we are heavy power users...mains fridge freezer,air fryer,hair drier, microwave,TV,Alexa,lights etc although we have 640ah lithium never been below 85%,so around 100ah per day so the solar640w is more than enough..hence generator and 200w folding never used and no longer carried....we over did it..learn from our mistakes and save money 😬
 
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