Hi All. Just come back from a lovely trip around western Qld. Met some lovely people some of which we will catch up with when we go down south later. I had one argument however with a bloke who thought it was ok to run his generator all night. Wouldn't have minded even that but the blasted thing sounded like a chaff cutter. Loud. Surely there must be quieter versions around and surely they don't have to be run all night either. Have heard gennies before didn't worry us but this noise was unbelievable. Hate to think I'm just a grump. What do others think
PS . Didn't run for too long after I told him to turn it off supported by other couples camped nearby
Dave
Aus-Kiwi said
06:56 PM Oct 27, 2016
Yep .. Why the people who run noisy gensets think its ok to run at night ?
Makes people nervous just to start one.. lol.. Especially older models with no maintenance.. All the
covers vibrating and rattling..
KFT said
06:59 PM Oct 27, 2016
Hi Dave
Unfortunately there are lots of people out there who have no idea of the help they can get from membership of a forum like this one so, they just do what they think they need to do and have no idea of the conventions we adopt in order to be responsible and considerate campers.
We know there are quiet gennies available but lots do not.
Those people may have had a medical issue that required power all night but not being aware of the same things we are they likely thought it was ok to do what they were doing.
In that situation rather than confront someone I would prefer to relocate to a quieter place.
hope that helps mate
Frank
The Belmont Bear said
09:17 PM Oct 27, 2016
hi dave48 - people who are inconsiderate enough to run their noisy genies all night or start mowing their lawns at 6am in the morning or hold parties with loud music till the wee hours are a fact of life. Rather than risk a confrontation sometimes it is better to just buy a set of ear plugs or as KFT suggested if possible relocate to a quieter location. Look on the positive side all those lovely people you met and may even catch up with down the track should far outweigh your experience of meeting that one anti social.
Bruce and Bev said
10:39 PM Oct 27, 2016
Frank is spot on - we have been lucky that those who run their gennies all night try to park in the remotest part of the free camping area and then put the unit between the open and their van to reduce the noise carrying.
No doubt there are some who use it to run air con or TV (no batteries), but many older people need constant power for the whole night for medical reasons.
Sounds like you struck one that needed to at least up grade to a quiet genie
Aus-Kiwi said
11:17 PM Oct 27, 2016
Then you get the types who hear a genie as they walk or drive past . Then run 200m plus to say there genie is noisy !! Lol .
kiwijims said
04:16 AM Oct 28, 2016
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Then you get the types who hear a genie as they walk or drive past . Then run 200m plus to say there genie is noisy !! Lol .
We struck a Bloke like that on our trip around the Block a few years back.
We were camped in a free camp site near a small Nth Qld town, it was around 2.00pm and I had just fired up our generator and had started the washing machine which were both on the outside of the Caravan,
I watched this Bloke come in and set up his full awning on a big flash caravan, a good 3-400 mts away from us,
after about half an hour this Bloke came over to me and stated ..... I just can't stand these bloody Generators !!
Thinking quick I replied, "Hell mate" this genny of mine to quiet ( 56db ) compared to that one over there, or those other two up that way, pointing in three different directions, and by the way on the other side of me there was a truck with a 4 cyl Commercial Diesel genny on the back, which he used to run his Micro wave, wait till you hear that one fire up !!!
Well the next thing I saw, was this Bloke tearing down his Awning, throwing his table, chairs and BBQ into the back of his wagon, and off he went out the gate and gone.
I forgot to tell him that by 8.00 pm, there wasn't a sound anywhere in this camp of around 20 odd Campers, a lovely quiet camp. LOL
K.J.
dave48 said
07:06 AM Oct 28, 2016
Yes. Thanks all. We've been lots of places where people have a gennie. Never had a problem. Most people are considerate. I guess it just takes one
Dave
Ron-D said
08:18 AM Oct 28, 2016
That's the great thing about Rvs if your camped alongside a drop kick you can just pack up and move on ,when the same grub lives next door at home that's a problem,a real big one, haveing said that it's rarely required As most people have common sense..
erad said
09:40 AM Oct 28, 2016
I'll put my hard hat on now before I start....
No matter how quiet a generator is, it is always louder than the background noise levels, especially at night. OK - if you are beside the New England Highway or whatever, the nosie level will be higher, and also variable, but to have ANY generator running next door to me could be a problem. OK - up to say 9:00 pm, or for a short time whilst cooking dinner, but continuously, I would be tempted to unplug it and switch it off.
People go to out-of-the-way places to enjoy the quiet, the isolation and the serenity (that's what Daryl said in "The Castle"). What is quiet to you (especially inside your juggernaut motorhome) probably won't be quiet to someone parked near you - even 56 dB. I have done noise measurements at night around a Hydro Power Station and recorded levels as low as 32 dBA. Even grass being lightly blown around by breeze makes more noise than that. If only we could all park beside a running stream or beside the surf. You could probably then run 85 dBA gennies and not hear them. I might add that I have excessively loud tinnitus, and any repetitive noise annoys me badly. But I am not the only one with that....
It all boils down to consideration for others, and sadly when people say that their gennie is quiet enough... It may be for them but not for others. I'll run and hide now.
-- Edited by erad on Friday 28th of October 2016 09:42:22 AM
TheHeaths said
10:27 AM Oct 28, 2016
Unfortunately, this will always be an emotive subject.
I personally prefer not to hear generators while we are in a rest area or bush camp. I enjoy the sounds of the bush.
That said, and as I always note, you get what you pay for with free camps. That is an area that generally has few if any rules about what anyone can do. I know all about common sense and care for others, which is unfortunately often in short supply, but unless specifically ruled out by local by law, the use when they want of a generator is allowed. That is part of the cost if you like of using facilities with no written and enforceable rules.
I know the argument is put there that if people need power they should stay in caravan parks, but it could equally be said that if people want rules setting out what others can and cannot do at the camp site, they too should stop in caravan parks to ensure that their expectations/rules are enforceable. All we can do is try and reduce the effect on ourselves when we encounter this by camping as far away from the annoying behaviour (any behaviour not just generators) as possible!
Papou said
12:08 PM Oct 28, 2016
TheHeaths wrote:
Unfortunately, this will always be an emotive subject.
I personally prefer not to hear generators while we are in a rest area or bush camp. I enjoy the sounds of the bush.
That said, and as I always note, you get what you pay for with free camps. That is an area that generally has few if any rules about what anyone can do. I know all about common sense and care for others, which is unfortunately often in short supply, but unless specifically ruled out by local by law, the use when they want of a generator is allowed. That is part of the cost if you like of using facilities with no written and enforceable rules.
I know the argument is put there that if people need power they should stay in caravan parks, but it could equally be said that if people want rules setting out what others can and cannot do at the camp site, they too should stop in caravan parks to ensure that their expectations/rules are enforceable. All we can do is try and reduce the effect on ourselves when we encounter this by camping as far away from the annoying behaviour (any behaviour not just generators) as possible!
Totally agree , price you may have to pay for freecamping and just maybe the genny was needed to keep frdge cold??... Kind advice over a beer always does wanders too..
Bagmaker said
06:10 PM Oct 28, 2016
If I can hear your generator, you are polluting the area.
Doesnt matter what YOU think, its offensive and YOU should not be doing it.
How offensive is the question. Not long back it was fine to smoke in pubs.
smokers and non smokers all came home stinking.
in retrospect it was the wrong thing to have other people covered in another persons smoke, also dangerous, health wise.
Nowdays with decent batteries and solar power there is little need for generators except in strange days of weather. Then there is little choice.
Other days, consider your pollution.
TheHeaths said
06:31 PM Oct 28, 2016
Your opinion is reasonable Bagmaker, and I agree, and I would prefer not to hear generators.
Unfortunately, that is what it is, an opinion. It is not an enforceable rule. So unfortunately YOU will have to put up with it, until the rules change, just like the smoking rules have.
Bagmaker said
06:39 PM Oct 28, 2016
yes, its a part of travelling life .
Just putting it out there, 99% of us are very considerate but most of us are deaf.
Note carefully how quiet it is when the fridge shuts off in your kitchen.
-But you didn't notice it until the fridge actually stopped, the background noise blended in to your thinking.
For those with Tinnitus this background noise is mind-bending.
Can someone also enlighten me as to what medical condition requires THAT much power ALL night?????
A CPAP machine (for example) easily runs off battery power.....
KFT said
07:10 PM Oct 28, 2016
Bagmaker wrote:
Can someone also enlighten me as to what medical condition requires THAT much power ALL night????? A CPAP machine (for example) easily runs off battery power.....
An oxygen concentrator is a power hungry device and very likely needs to run all night
(the opinion I have previously read about if you need that much go stay in a CP is neither warranted or appreciated by anyone)
also a Kidney dialysis unit will use a bit of power and most users need at least 10-15 hours on the unit.
as has been previously pointed out though, many vanners are not members of fora like this one and so have not had the benefit of others' experience to guide them.
Frank
macka17 said
07:38 PM Oct 28, 2016
To the whingers
Genny's ARE a fact of life.
whether for medical reasons or just cooking dinner. Fridges or Aircond.
I've been vanning over 50 yrs. "I" have a genny. and "I" use my genny...
Normal times are between 7 am and around 8 pm.
everywhere apart from no genny areas.
Unless you running Air cond (me) a 1\2-3\4 kva will charge battery's and run medical
those briefcase units, run on economy are near silent.
Mine. is a 3.5 as I bought it for home.
Noisy.. reasonably.
But I run it with an extended exh/spark arrestor. Inside a collapsable ply box,
insulated with Styrene and egg box corrugations.
and between 7am-8pm.
AND ALWAYS WILL DO.
Everybody is allowed to camp out, In whatever With whatever, legal.
in all circumstances. at their level.
Some use different methods to others.
And ALL are entitled to use/NOT use such items.
We normally go out of main area.
and if there first. off to one side WITH genny visible for all to see.
But I will use my right to use it. whenever I like. within reason.
If genny's running in a camp area when YOU arive.
YOU have the choice of moving on.
or staying and accepting.
IT's NOT AGAINST THE LAW>...
blaze said
07:58 PM Oct 28, 2016
Its not the genie that annoy me but the noise of long lasting happy hours, unlike gennies, the longer they go the noisier they get. I have solar and use gennies too. Also often ask people if they want to plug in. I free camp and use caravan parks and enjoy the bush. If you really want to enjoy the sounds of nature, go for a walk because until you are a couple of ks away from others you wont hear the sounds of the bush
cheers
blaze
Phil C said
06:00 PM Oct 29, 2016
Gday all.. my turn to chime in..
I am a great believer in technology, I also love to sleep comfortable in the hot weather, and keep the batteries in good nick!
In saying that I also believe getting along with other nomads is a very important part of this lifestyle as well.
Our solution:
1. When its predicted to be hot, we pull into a caravan park and use their 240V to run the aircon (which I think is as noisy as some generators).
2. When we have decent weather and the battery need a top up, I ask our fellow campers if I can run the genny for a few hours.
Its very simply a matter of consideration and communication, if a camper told me where to stick the genny I would move on.. (edit) after a few movements of a serious Mozart Opera on the external speakers) there are a lot of good camp sites in this great big country..
Cheers
-- Edited by Phil C on Saturday 29th of October 2016 06:20:12 PM
-- Edited by Phil C on Sunday 30th of October 2016 10:23:19 AM
Peter_n_Margaret said
06:01 PM Oct 29, 2016
IT's NOT AGAINST THE LAW>... to play loud heavy metal music between 7am and 8pm in a bush setting either, but it is socially unacceptable and being first there does not change that.
Those who insist that it is their right to annoy others if they wish, by any means, say more about themselves than they say about rights.
Cheers,
Peter
macka17 said
06:36 PM Oct 29, 2016
And the first person Broken down on side of rd.
Needing Any electrical tools and having no AC to get them out of strife.
are going to abuse you for starting up the genny too.
Ain't they.
Genny's ARE a part of life in Aust . have been for well over 50 yrs.
Specially with campers.
They ain't going to stop now.
Just cause a few of these "newby" campers don't like them.
You want your AIr cond. And/or medical items.
You run your genny.
Simple fact of life
If a person alongside of me when I start up,
I do normally ask if they want to plug in.
costs me nothing extra with a 3.5kva.
Actually runs several camps comfortably.
TheHeaths said
08:16 PM Oct 29, 2016
Just as an aside, whose rights prevail.
Those who feel they have the right to run their generator (which they do), or those who feel they have the right to a silent campsite (which they do). Just asking.
I am afraid that in the world of camping, members of caravanning forums are probably in the minority, outnumbered heavily by the general non forumite camper, so while WE may all be considerate, we are far more likely to encounter those who are unaware of the "socially unacceptable" way to camp, whether with generators, or music, or late happy hours, or dogs running around, or kids being kids or........!
I guess there may not be a truly right answer to the issue!
Incidentally, this isn't directed at people who have either opinion, just suggesting that we all need to understand others.
I know that we have not done anywhere near the amount of free camping many on here have done, but Il can honestly say that in 20 or so nights over our past couple of trips, we had generators run twice, and they were always shut down by 6.30pm.
Peter_n_Margaret said
08:50 PM Oct 29, 2016
macka17 wrote:
And the first person Broken down on side of rd. Needing Any electrical tools and having no AC to get them out of strife. are going to abuse you for starting up the genny too. Ain't they.
Genny's ARE a part of life in Aust . have been for well over 50 yrs. Specially with campers.
I carry an electric drill, rattle gun, angle grinder, sabre saw and a mig welder, but no generator. I can run any of them at any time.
And NO, generators have not been part of Australian camping life for 50 years at all, only since some decided they needed air conditioning when "camping", and that is a relatively short time.
I have never met anyone who needed medical equipment that could not be run via batteries and solar at a substantially lower cost than buying and operating a generator.
Cheers,
Peter
sandsmere said
07:12 AM Oct 30, 2016
We have a generator which doesn't get a lot of use and when it does it is only in daylight hours.
I once got abused at about 11am on a rainy day for having it running in an area where there was plenty of room.
That person is unlikely to ever abuse anyone over a generator again.
Jaahn said
08:12 AM Oct 30, 2016
Hi
Just to recount my recent experience free camping in SA. We pulled into a spot that had several vans and cars late in the afternoon. We choose to go quite a long way away,~200+m from them and set up. Bliss looking over the salt lake. Went for a walk etc. As the sun set a generator started. From our possy we heard some 'discussion' then the genny stopped. We were happy with that. I guess others there were too
I have been camping around the place for 50+ years and have not noticed generators much in the past. Never had one for camping and do not use one now either. What I have noticed is in the bush or away from 'civilation' on a still night you might hear people talking up to a couple of kms away or with a light breeze from the ocean you might hear the surf from 5kms away. So if there is a genny running anywhere closeish it will sound loud. People have no idea of this relative noise IMHO. I have checked background noise that is too low for my meter to measure < 30db. 56 db is VERY LOUD compared to that.
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Sunday 30th of October 2016 08:23:44 AM
Aussie1 said
11:00 AM Oct 30, 2016
Macka17 you are quite right, some people just don't get it. FREEDOM OF CHOICE. No one person has the authority to try and tell others free camping what is or is not acceptable. Yep, agree generator's may not have been part of "camping life" for 50+ years but, they have been part of OUR camping life for near 20 years. Love my generator and all the other mod cons on board. As I said freedom of choice. I also (and have said on previous occasions) park well away from others and place the generator out front in full view. Amazing how it still is invisible to some who arrive after and park nearby then complain. I simply say "talk to the hand coz the ears aren't listening". Stay safe all and enjoy the lifestyle.
Ron-D said
11:12 AM Oct 30, 2016
Sometimes people have to park nearby because there's no where else Available .
Aussie1 said
11:27 AM Oct 30, 2016
Good point Ron-D, and sometimes you just have to take the good with the bad (or however you may perceive it). I don't particularly like loud music, dogs barking no all's, etc etc etc, but I tolerate them if need be.
Cloak said
05:20 PM Oct 30, 2016
More the better I say. I get free cake by being nice to people.
Hi All. Just come back from a lovely trip around western Qld. Met some lovely people some of which we will catch up with when we go down south later. I had one argument however with a bloke who thought it was ok to run his generator all night. Wouldn't have minded even that but the blasted thing sounded like a chaff cutter. Loud. Surely there must be quieter versions around and surely they don't have to be run all night either. Have heard gennies before didn't worry us but this noise was unbelievable. Hate to think I'm just a grump. What do others think
PS . Didn't run for too long after I told him to turn it off supported by other couples camped nearby
Dave
Makes people nervous just to start one.. lol.. Especially older models with no maintenance.. All the
covers vibrating and rattling..
Unfortunately there are lots of people out there who have no idea of the help they can get from membership of a forum like this one so, they just do what they think they need to do and have no idea of the conventions we adopt in order to be responsible and considerate campers.
We know there are quiet gennies available but lots do not.
Those people may have had a medical issue that required power all night but not being aware of the same things we are they likely thought it was ok to do what they were doing.
In that situation rather than confront someone I would prefer to relocate to a quieter place.
hope that helps mate
Frank
No doubt there are some who use it to run air con or TV (no batteries), but many older people need constant power for the whole night for medical reasons.
Sounds like you struck one that needed to at least up grade to a quiet genie
We struck a Bloke like that on our trip around the Block a few years back.
We were camped in a free camp site near a small Nth Qld town, it was around 2.00pm and I had just fired up our generator and had started the washing machine which were both on the outside of the Caravan,
I watched this Bloke come in and set up his full awning on a big flash caravan, a good 3-400 mts away from us,
after about half an hour this Bloke came over to me and stated ..... I just can't stand these bloody Generators !!
Thinking quick I replied, "Hell mate" this genny of mine to quiet ( 56db ) compared to that one over there, or those other two up that way, pointing in three different directions, and by the way on the other side of me there was a truck with a 4 cyl Commercial Diesel genny on the back, which he used to run his Micro wave, wait till you hear that one fire up !!!
Well the next thing I saw, was this Bloke tearing down his Awning, throwing his table, chairs and BBQ into the back of his wagon, and off he went out the gate and gone.
I forgot to tell him that by 8.00 pm, there wasn't a sound anywhere in this camp of around 20 odd Campers, a lovely quiet camp. LOL
K.J.
Dave
That's the great thing about Rvs if your camped alongside a drop kick you can just pack up and move on ,when the same grub lives next door at home that's a problem,a real big one, haveing said that it's rarely required As most people have common sense..
I'll put my hard hat on now before I start....
No matter how quiet a generator is, it is always louder than the background noise levels, especially at night. OK - if you are beside the New England Highway or whatever, the nosie level will be higher, and also variable, but to have ANY generator running next door to me could be a problem. OK - up to say 9:00 pm, or for a short time whilst cooking dinner, but continuously, I would be tempted to unplug it and switch it off.
People go to out-of-the-way places to enjoy the quiet, the isolation and the serenity (that's what Daryl said in "The Castle"). What is quiet to you (especially inside your juggernaut motorhome) probably won't be quiet to someone parked near you - even 56 dB. I have done noise measurements at night around a Hydro Power Station and recorded levels as low as 32 dBA. Even grass being lightly blown around by breeze makes more noise than that. If only we could all park beside a running stream or beside the surf. You could probably then run 85 dBA gennies and not hear them. I might add that I have excessively loud tinnitus, and any repetitive noise annoys me badly. But I am not the only one with that....
It all boils down to consideration for others, and sadly when people say that their gennie is quiet enough... It may be for them but not for others. I'll run and hide now.
-- Edited by erad on Friday 28th of October 2016 09:42:22 AM
I personally prefer not to hear generators while we are in a rest area or bush camp. I enjoy the sounds of the bush.
That said, and as I always note, you get what you pay for with free camps. That is an area that generally has few if any rules about what anyone can do. I know all about common sense and care for others, which is unfortunately often in short supply, but unless specifically ruled out by local by law, the use when they want of a generator is allowed. That is part of the cost if you like of using facilities with no written and enforceable rules.
I know the argument is put there that if people need power they should stay in caravan parks, but it could equally be said that if people want rules setting out what others can and cannot do at the camp site, they too should stop in caravan parks to ensure that their expectations/rules are enforceable. All we can do is try and reduce the effect on ourselves when we encounter this by camping as far away from the annoying behaviour (any behaviour not just generators) as possible!
Totally agree , price you may have to pay for freecamping and just maybe the genny was needed to keep frdge cold??... Kind advice over a beer always does wanders too..
Doesnt matter what YOU think, its offensive and YOU should not be doing it.
How offensive is the question. Not long back it was fine to smoke in pubs.
smokers and non smokers all came home stinking.
in retrospect it was the wrong thing to have other people covered in another persons smoke, also dangerous, health wise.
Nowdays with decent batteries and solar power there is little need for generators except in strange days of weather. Then there is little choice.
Other days, consider your pollution.
Unfortunately, that is what it is, an opinion. It is not an enforceable rule. So unfortunately YOU will have to put up with it, until the rules change, just like the smoking rules have.
Just putting it out there, 99% of us are very considerate but most of us are deaf.
Note carefully how quiet it is when the fridge shuts off in your kitchen.
-But you didn't notice it until the fridge actually stopped, the background noise blended in to your thinking.
For those with Tinnitus this background noise is mind-bending.
Can someone also enlighten me as to what medical condition requires THAT much power ALL night?????
A CPAP machine (for example) easily runs off battery power.....
An oxygen concentrator is a power hungry device and very likely needs to run all night
(the opinion I have previously read about if you need that much go stay in a CP is neither warranted or appreciated by anyone)
also a Kidney dialysis unit will use a bit of power and most users need at least 10-15 hours on the unit.
as has been previously pointed out though, many vanners are not members of fora like this one and so have not had the benefit of others' experience to guide them.
Frank
Genny's ARE a fact of life.
whether for medical reasons or just cooking dinner. Fridges or Aircond.
I've been vanning over 50 yrs. "I" have a genny. and "I" use my genny...
Normal times are between 7 am and around 8 pm.
everywhere apart from no genny areas.
Unless you running Air cond (me) a 1\2-3\4 kva will charge battery's and run medical
those briefcase units, run on economy are near silent.
Mine. is a 3.5 as I bought it for home.
Noisy.. reasonably.
But I run it with an extended exh/spark arrestor. Inside a collapsable ply box,
insulated with Styrene and egg box corrugations.
and between 7am-8pm.
AND ALWAYS WILL DO.
Everybody is allowed to camp out, In whatever With whatever, legal.
in all circumstances. at their level.
Some use different methods to others.
And ALL are entitled to use/NOT use such items.
We normally go out of main area.
and if there first. off to one side WITH genny visible for all to see.
But I will use my right to use it. whenever I like. within reason.
If genny's running in a camp area when YOU arive.
YOU have the choice of moving on.
or staying and accepting.
IT's NOT AGAINST THE LAW>...
cheers
blaze
Gday all.. my turn to chime in..
there are a lot of good camp sites in this great big country..
I am a great believer in technology, I also love to sleep comfortable in the hot weather, and keep the batteries in good nick!
In saying that I also believe getting along with other nomads is a very important part of this lifestyle as well.
Our solution:
1. When its predicted to be hot, we pull into a caravan park and use their 240V to run the aircon (which I think is as noisy as some generators).
2. When we have decent weather and the battery need a top up, I ask our fellow campers if I can run the genny for a few hours.
Its very simply a matter of consideration and communication, if a camper told me where to stick the genny I would move on.. (edit) after a few movements of a serious Mozart Opera on the external speakers)
Cheers
-- Edited by Phil C on Saturday 29th of October 2016 06:20:12 PM
-- Edited by Phil C on Sunday 30th of October 2016 10:23:19 AM
Those who insist that it is their right to annoy others if they wish, by any means, say more about themselves than they say about rights.
Cheers,
Peter
Needing Any electrical tools and having no AC to get them out of strife.
are going to abuse you for starting up the genny too.
Ain't they.
Genny's ARE a part of life in Aust . have been for well over 50 yrs.
Specially with campers.
They ain't going to stop now.
Just cause a few of these "newby" campers don't like them.
You want your AIr cond. And/or medical items.
You run your genny.
Simple fact of life
If a person alongside of me when I start up,
I do normally ask if they want to plug in.
costs me nothing extra with a 3.5kva.
Actually runs several camps comfortably.
Those who feel they have the right to run their generator (which they do), or those who feel they have the right to a silent campsite (which they do). Just asking.
I am afraid that in the world of camping, members of caravanning forums are probably in the minority, outnumbered heavily by the general non forumite camper, so while WE may all be considerate, we are far more likely to encounter those who are unaware of the "socially unacceptable" way to camp, whether with generators, or music, or late happy hours, or dogs running around, or kids being kids or........!
I guess there may not be a truly right answer to the issue!
Incidentally, this isn't directed at people who have either opinion, just suggesting that we all need to understand others.
I know that we have not done anywhere near the amount of free camping many on here have done, but Il can honestly say that in 20 or so nights over our past couple of trips, we had generators run twice, and they were always shut down by 6.30pm.
I carry an electric drill, rattle gun, angle grinder, sabre saw and a mig welder, but no generator. I can run any of them at any time.
And NO, generators have not been part of Australian camping life for 50 years at all, only since some decided they needed air conditioning when "camping", and that is a relatively short time.
I have never met anyone who needed medical equipment that could not be run via batteries and solar at a substantially lower cost than buying and operating a generator.
Cheers,
Peter
We have a generator which doesn't get a lot of use and when it does it is only in daylight hours.
I once got abused at about 11am on a rainy day for having it running in an area where there was plenty of room.
That person is unlikely to ever abuse anyone over a generator again.
Hi
Just to recount my recent experience free camping in SA. We pulled into a spot that had several vans and cars late in the afternoon. We choose to go quite a long way away,~200+m from them and set up. Bliss looking over the salt lake. Went for a walk etc. As the sun set a generator started. From our possy we heard some 'discussion' then the genny stopped. We were happy with that. I guess others there were too
I have been camping around the place for 50+ years and have not noticed generators much in the past.
Never had one for camping and do not use one now either. What I have noticed is in the bush or away from 'civilation' on a still night you might hear people talking up to a couple of kms away or with a light breeze from the ocean you might hear the surf from 5kms away. So if there is a genny running anywhere closeish it will sound loud. People have no idea of this relative noise IMHO. I have checked background noise that is too low for my meter to measure < 30db. 56 db is VERY LOUD compared to that.
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Sunday 30th of October 2016 08:23:44 AM
Sometimes people have to park nearby because there's no where else Available .