Generators and/or Solar Power

[OutandAbout]

Mitch, I also have a Honda 2000 generator,( actually 2) and love it. Like Cedar I also use it around the house when needed. My Honda will run everything in the camper, but not at the same time. I will agree with the no odor from the generator. I have had mine inside the camper and could not smell gas at all. With only 1 battery, I think it would be more cost effective to have the generator. If you are only recharging the battery and don't need it to run the AC or microwave then perhaps a Honda 1000 would work for you? The generator could also be mounted on the tongue of the trailer (in a box) without causing a weight issue. The Hondas weigh about 47-48 lbs. That would give you the option of running the generator from the tongue and not have to load and unload it. Just a thought. Hope this helps. Linda

[sharon]

Not necessarily Mitch. Not all trailers or rv's come with an inverter. An inverter is pretty simple. It takes DC power from the battery and makes AC power. AC power is what you have in your stick house. DC is what you have in your car. AC is Alternating Current, think of it as hills and valleys. DC is Direct Current, think of it as a straight line. An inverter puts the hills and valleys in the straight line. If you do indeed have an inverter, you have to push a button to turn it on and it should be labeled. You can also buy small portable ones to use while camping. Hope this all made sense.

[mitch5252]

Not necessarily Mitch. Not all trailers or rv's come with an inverter. An inverter is pretty simple. It takes DC power from the battery and makes AC power. AC power is what you have in your stick house. DC is what you have in your car. AC is Alternating Current, think of it as hills and valleys. DC is Direct Current, think of it as a straight line. An inverter puts the hills and valleys in the straight line. If you do indeed have an inverter, you have to push a button to turn it on and it should be labeled. You can also buy small portable ones to use while camping. Hope this all made sense.

I get it - the inverter is what I plug into my lighter socket in the van and use it to run my laptop (DC to AC).

So, what do you call the thing that converts the opposite way - from AC to DC? I think that's the thing I have in my trailer that's part of the power center????

[OutandAbout]

Mitch, I think that part is the converter, which comes with most RV's. Linda

[sharon]

Yeah, that's what you have, but for the life of me can't remember what it's called....sorry, but lately I have a terrible case of CRS!! And yes, what you plug into the liter socket to run your laptop is an inverter. You can also use it on your tv if its AC or your crockpot as long as the wattage isn't more than the appliance you want to use. The inverter is rated in watts, as are all of your kitchen appliances. Watts is just another form of energy, which is all that power is...energy. Clear as mud, right?

[sharon]

Right Linda, converter. Converts AC to DC. Arrgggg, I HATE getting old and losing my memory!!!

[mitch5252]

I think Cedar's convinced me that I NEED a Honda eu1000iA generator! And it's possible, now that she's given me a good place to carry the gas can!
I have dual propane tanks, but I could dump one and that way, hardly 'gain' any weight.

I'm trying to find out how much wattage my little Polar Cub draws...MAYBE it can run off a Honda 1000????
I think I'm being optimistic.

Off to try and find the manual!

[BirdbyBird]

I know several dog showing friends that carry small Honda generators in the back of their vans when they drive to out door show sites. A couple have the small shelf hanging off the back of their vehicles but several just pack it all in with the dog crates, grooming tables, ice boxes, chairs and all the other good "stuff" people drag around to show sites.... Haven't heard them complain about smell.... but then you do have shampooed show dog smell going on..... Did I mention I liked being able to drive my MH to a show site! I even found it was possible to groom inside in the ac on a couple of those impossible hot summer days..... I don't tolerate heat well.......

[sharon]

Well, I have both, but if I had my druthers, I'druther have the generator. The solar is nice when you want your coffee at 5 AM like I usually do and to watch tv late at nite or early AM w'o disturbing any one, and of course there's the few and far betweens where a genny isn't allowed or only allowed during certain hours. They each have their pros and cons, but for all around convenience the genny is probably your best bet. Like I said, you can't run your microwave or toaster oven on the solar, or at least not for very long, maybe to heat a cup of coffee. Or maybe you can win the lottery and get both!!

[Cedar518]

the MAIN problem will be getting sweetie to part with 800 bucks!!!

I'm kinda stoked!

[/quote]

That gen is so solid I don't think even a collision could damage it and cause a problem. And,..... $800.... more like $975. Worth every penny. I've never regretted it.

[Cedar518]

I have dual propane tanks, but I could dump one and that way, hardly 'gain' any weight.

I put mine right next to my battery which rides on tongue in black box right behind the propane tanks between them and trailer wall. Gas can rides in a second strapped on black box in the same frame where a second bat could go. (no cover .. for ventilation)

[mitch5252]

I called Wise Sales and the eu1000iA is $690, eu2000iA is $890, no tax/no shipping on either.

I have weight issues. No, I'm not talking personally, although I do, but I'm referring to my tow vehicle...I think I'd prefer to dump a propane tank, especially if it's us 3 girls going again.

How do you keep your generators from walking off when you're camping?

[Cedar518]

How do you keep your generators from walking off when you're camping?

Lock and cable them to your trailer tongue. That's a great deal on the 2000, I paid more at a local dealer! Way to go!

[OutandAbout]

Mitch, I have a Polar Cub AC unit and the 1000 will not run it. You will need at least the 2000 to run the AC. My AC is the 7000 series, the smallest they make. Having the truck camper, I really don't need a large one. Most truck campers get the large one, so this was one good thing the dealer did for me. Check before you buy . Is there a Honda dealer near you where you could possibly bring the trailer and test the generators? Maybe the dealer where you purchased the trailer would do this for you? Better finding out before hand than having to return it and reorder a larger generator or another generator. I didn't do this (was told my Ac was 11,000 btu) and ended up buying 2 Honda 2000's to run in parallel, when I actually only needed the one. I could have purchased the 3000, but would not be able to lift it. I also have the weight problem (and storage problem) so a 3000 was not an option. I have a heavy duty cable to lock the generator up. Another way to go would be to have the generator bolted to the tongue, a trailer supply place could probably help out there. Certainly would be able to grow feet that way. Just some things to think about. I'm trying to come up with a way to carry the generator on the outside of the camper and be able to run it from there as well. Linda