This is my view on Generators.

Aussie1 · Guru

RE: This is my view on Generators.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

We have motorhome where we have room
( built in) its helped us out on the odd occasion when weve had cloudy days for up to two days . I hardly run the genie . But its nice to have for emergencies. Yes solar is the way to go with my guess about 70 % more battery storage than you require . The odd time I have been caught with low batteries it was either starting the motorhome engine which is hell lot more noisy than 2 cylinder insulated diesel . Another . Have found fitting a 40+ amp charger to boost battery if low helps . A lower amp takes a long time to charge 400AH batteries. Its the old 2 stroke genies that gives them a bad !! Plus some unscrupulous campers just using them anytime !! Not just genies . Sound systems etc also . Some can be a little precious also .. . A fellow camper complained to me that hammering the ties down for awning was too noisy at 2PM ., Sheesh . Of course was VERY quiet after that !! Pfft right !!

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

"Freedom of choice" does not extend to a lack of consideration of others.
There are ZERO pollution controls on generators, unlike modern vehicles. They are highly polluting - air as well as noise.

We had a generator pre OKA 17 years ago because our solar was insufficient. When we built the OKA we installed enough solar that a generator was not required any more. It was expensive then. It is not expensive any more. We would never go back to a generator (and don't need to). But the unexpected bonus is that we see more critters now and enjoy the bush a lot more. Those with generators have no idea what they are missing in the bush.

My request to those setting up their new rigs is to go the best way straight away. Go solar. You will never regret it.
Cheers,
Peter

Aussie1 · Guru

Don't agree, to me freedom of choice is just what it says. Plus We travel in the bush for the scenery not critters. Anyhow we will just have to agree to disagree cobber. Take care and stay healthy. But alwaus remember if I am there first you just have move away a bit. Just like I will do if you light a fire or anything else I may find unacceptable.

Corndoggy · Senior Member

Back after the Black Saturday fires in Victoria some with houses left were connecting generators to power them. A few line workers copped a belt. Made it very dangerous cause it wasn't done right.

Jaahn · Guru

Aussie1 wrote:
Don't agree, to me freedom of choice is just what it says. Plus We travel in the bush for the scenery not critters. Anyhow we will just have to agree to disagree cobber. Take care and stay healthy. But alwaus remember if I am there first you just have move away a bit. Just like I will do if you light a fire or anything else I may find unacceptable.

Hi Aussie1 smile

Possibly hijacking the thread but confuse

While I am happy to have our "freedom of choice" restricted by the Governments in the current pandemic, and accept that I am at risk as much or more than a lot, I am concerned that a lot of regulations will be properly lifted after some reasonable time. Governments have a habit of seeing restrictions as good and are loath to let them go.

So hold them to account in the near future when the time comes to get back on the road and enjoy ourselves. Yea even if that is starting your gennie (so long as not near me but I will join you as smoke free). Have a Happy Easter people biggrin I am working on my Skype setup for a family conference call.

Jaahn

-- Edited by Jaahn on Saturday 11th of April 2020 03:32:35 PM

-- Edited by Jaahn on Saturday 11th of April 2020 03:33:36 PM

Phillipn · Guru

Aussie1 wrote:
Phillipn wrote:
dieseltojo wrote:
Must be a good sparky then.....My son is one and I asked him to do that for me. I have an 8 kw stand buy unit. He said that it was not the right unit even though it was an inverter supply.
And it is not a simple transformation.
You have to proved protection back to the power supply to prevent back flow to the mains. also it messes with metering.etc etc. You also need the power company to know what you have done.
I just stick to 15 amp leads to the appliances.

But I know nothing....
We have a connection attached to the power box to connect a generator, installed by a sparky.[ all legal]. Their is a switch [ three way, power from grid, off and generator] which stops power going back to the grid. connected only to power points and lights, not to stoves,oven or hot water system.
We take a generator with us, it it good to have power back up when needed. We carry spare tyres. Extra space and weight but very handy when you need them.
I bet the ante generator mob carry spare tyres!

Hi Phillipn,
I have a neighbour who has the same system as you described. All legal as well. That's how I found out how it would be dangerous to connect to the house system. The installer (fully qualified) was the Guru I referred to above. Always nice to have continuous power at home eh.

When the generator is connected we only run what is requires, fridge a couple of lights at night plus the TV. We do not over load the gennie.

Aussie1 · Guru

Jaahn,

Didn't take it that were hijacking the thread. The more that comment the better. As I always say, it's all about freedom. Freedom of speech as well as freedom in free camping. My only concern is when some ATTEMPT to "force" their opinions on others. I can tell you and I could happily free camp near each other without a campfire. And I promise I will put the generator on the opposite side of my caravan :) :)

All the best to you for Easter as well and enjoy the family conference.

Ray

msg · Guru

Ì am also required to be smoke free. So, if and when we are allowed back on the road, I will be packing the N95 masks I was given during the bushfires as a defence against those who insist on lighting fires in 30c heat. I also hate generators and have made sure I have enough solar power to power my MH indefinitely and agree with Peter about the wildlife.

Aussie1 · Guru

msg wrote:
Ì am also required to be smoke free. So, if and when we are allowed back on the road, I will be packing the N95 masks I was given during the bushfires as a defence against those who insist on lighting fires in 30c heat. I also hate generators and have made sure I have enough solar power to power my MH indefinitely and agree with Peter about the wildlife.

Good for you msg, all opinions are important. Good to see you are putting in an opinion but not trying to force others to agree with you. Wish a few other posters took your attitude. Stay safe mate.

Aussie1 · Guru

Interesting point about wildlife. Camped once with Genny running and had a (wriggly stick) aka, snake, go by. I was always of the belief that those critters didn't like noise or vibration. Clearly I was wrong. As an aside, perhaps it didn't object to the use of generators. Only joking, I admit they do scare me a bit. Anyhow he didn't stay long. Better not say what his fate was.

blaze · Guru

Where we camp at chrismas time, we generally have 2 genies running, My genie has up 4 vans connect and runs for a \bout 4hrs a day, The other one has a large communal deep freeze and runs about 6hrs a day. we have about 20 to 40 dogs from little yappers to danes and up to 50 adults and kids.
We run a large communal stove with a cook-top of 1000mm plus warmers on each end about 300mm.
So its a pretty big affair.
On any given night we see wallabies and roo. Some times we also see a wombat or 5, odd times we see a tassie devil. These are seen by shining the torch about from the camp chair.
So our genies or dogs dont seem to worry these animals to much.
Camped in the same area in excess of 20 years
cheers
blaze

JayDee · Guru

Aussie1 wrote:
Hi Joe, Good to hear from you. Actually I don't connect to the house. I simply run a lead from the garage to the family room to a power board. Then connect all required appliances to the power board. The "guru's" tell me a bit dangerous to run it through the house wiring. So it's completely separate. Hope that makes sense. Stay safe and healthy mate.

Good thinking Aussie 1 ( Aussie, Aussie, Aussie)

Welive in Queensland, and thus far have not experienced any power black out.

Oh!!!yes ... except when we lose power due to those severe thunder storms we get up here in the summer months. But power is restored with in hours.

Jay&Dee

-- Edited by JayDee on Saturday 11th of April 2020 09:32:50 PM

Shrek · Veteran Member

On the subject of generators, our van has a 12v compressor fridge and my wife and I both require CPAP machines at night. hence we require a reliable power source to live off the grid as we normally do. I carry a generator as an emergency power source only if required. Having said that I have upgraded the van with a 200AH Lithium and increased the solar panels from 400w to 600w of solar. I also replaced the solar regulator (PWM) with a MPPT regulator. This is an extremely reliable system as long as the weather is sunny or even overcast and does not need the Generator to supplement charging of the battery .

However about 4-5 years ago, we were at Theresa Creek Dam near Clermont and we had a week of heavy and continuous rain {300mm over 7 days) cutting the road to Clermont for nearly 6 days and the vans that did not carry a generator for emergencies were found wanting. Amazing the number of caravan and motor homers who approached us wanting to borrow the generator and a battery charger then. As James Bond said:- "Nver say never Again"

The move to solar reliability did not come cheaply though (close to $5500.)

outlaw40 · Guru

Peter n Margaret
Re your comment on the pollution factor of a generator and the statement that you have an alternator to cover low power events . I have to wonder about the pollution from say a fuel efficient Honda inverter generator compared to the pollution output of the diesel power plant ( i presume a Perkins ) in the Oka .

yobarr · Guru

outlaw40 wrote:
Peter n Margaret
Re your comment on the pollution factor of a generator and the statement that you have an alternator to cover low power events . I have to wonder about the pollution from say a fuel efficient Honda inverter generator compared to the pollution output of the diesel power plant ( i presume a Perkins ) in the Oka .

The difference is,of course,that because Peter n Margaret have a good Solar system,they would rarely need to use their vehicle engine to top up their batteries,whereas those with generators,diesel or otherwise,need to run them for long periods.This is fine if they are camped alone,but absolutely inconsiderate if others are around,hoping to enjoy the peace and tranquility of bush camping.Cheers.

P.S I have a brand new Yamaha 2800i generator if anybody is interested.Never started!

outlaw40 · Guru

May be so but i bet peter puts a lot more pollution into the air getting to that secluded camp site then I do . I then use my generator only when i need it .I know whose environmental footprint would be smaller . inconsiderate of some .

outlaw40 · Guru

My point is that is hypocritical of some to be preaching the evils of generators re the environment as they disappear over the hill in a cloud of diesel smoke .

yobarr · Guru

outlaw40 wrote:
My point is that is hypocritical of some to be preaching the evils of generators re the environment as they disappear over the hill in a cloud of diesel smoke .

I would be interested to know of a motor vehicle that does not contribute to pollution? Many do not realise that a diesel engine has lower emissions than does a petrol engine,because diesel engines use less fuel to get the same performance as a petrol engine.Cheers

Aussie1 · Guru

yobarr wrote:

outlaw40 wrote:
My point is that is hypocritical of some to be preaching the evils of generators re the environment as they disappear over the hill in a cloud of diesel smoke .
I would be interested to know of a motor vehicle that does not contribute to pollution? Many do not realise that a diesel engine has lower emissions than does a petrol engine,because diesel engines use less fuel to get the same performance as a petrol engine.Cheers

May be offset though, given that there would be a lot more diesel vehicles towing rigs than petrol. I would have thought. Would like to know the ratio.

yobarr · Guru

Aussie1 wrote:
yobarr wrote:

outlaw40 wrote:
My point is that is hypocritical of some to be preaching the evils of generators re the environment as they disappear over the hill in a cloud of diesel smoke .
I would be interested to know of a motor vehicle that does not contribute to pollution? Many do not realise that a diesel engine has lower emissions than does a petrol engine,because diesel engines use less fuel to get the same performance as a petrol engine.Cheers
May be offset though, given that there would be a lot more diesel vehicles towing rigs than petrol. I would have thought. Would like to know the ratio.

Hi Ray...the relative numbers of diesel vehicles and petrol vehicles is of little consequence.A person towing with a petrol powered car,and using a generator at camp,is going to cause far more pollution (and annoyance to others) than a person driving a diesel powered vehicle,and using solar power at camp.Diesel powered vehicles,with their owners using generators at camp,would be in between these two extremes.Cheers

P.s I will later attempt to help you with your interest in the ratio of diesel v petrol powered tow cars.

Aussie1 · Guru

Not sure that I agree with you on pollution diesel v petrol but like you I don't try and force my opinions on others. As for your comment about generators being an annoyance to others. Perhaps to be fair and balanced it would be better to say " to some others". Anyhow look forward to hearing more from you about the ratio of diesel v petrol vehicles towing caravans. Take care.
Ray

blaze · Guru

my major annoyance in any camp I have been in, that includes free camps, national parks and caravan parks, and that annoyance is loud people. If they are talking they end up talking louder and the shouting to their must be stone deaf mate sitting next to them and I am 100m away, even worse if stuck in a caravan park. Then you get a lull and you think thank heavens for that, but then they fire up the noise box of choice
Give me a quietly running gennie any day or night in preference
cheers
blaze

HandyWalter · Senior Member

Again not wanting to hijack the thread but if diesel is more efficient and less polluting why is Europe moving away from diesel to petrol powered cars? With modern car motors, their efficiency and power has improved as well as the pollution that comes out the back. To such an extent that diesels now need ad blue and are still struggling to meet the new euro standards and probably wont meet the next ones due out soon. It is just like when emission requirements came out in the 70's. petrol cars were "chocked" with add on emission junk. Then Fuel Injection took over. Trouble is diesel cars (yes i drive one), are now being forced to meet a criteria they are stuggling to achieve. Cost to do so far outways the benefit so a lot of manufactures ahave stopped making diesel powered vehicles.

Oh and by the way I have a gennie and I use it on hot days and hot nights to run my air con. Whats the point of having a van with all the mod cons and then not using them to their full potential? Some like it hot some like it cold. I just like it cooler...

JackoFJR · Senior Member

I have often camped in the generator area of a camp , it usually has less people and is quieter than the no gen area .

Gundog · Guru

When it come to generators a hotelier in QLD had a solution for esculating power prices, he setup 2 sled type gen sets. He runs the big one during the day to run the whole hotel, the smaller one is only used when the kitchen is open for cooking, when the night rate comes into effect he shuts down the gender. Because his power consumption had gone down the power company offered him off peak rate all weekend so the gensets dont run on the weekends. Being diesel he gets bulk delivery of diesel with no roadtax as its for stationary engines.

Cupie · Guru

Gundog wrote:
When it come to generators a hotelier in QLD had a solution for esculating power prices, he setup 2 sled type gen sets. He runs the big one during the day to run the whole hotel, the smaller one is only used when the kitchen is open for cooking, when the night rate comes into effect he shuts down the gender. Because his power consumption had gone down the power company offered him off peak rate all weekend so the gensets dont run on the weekends. Being diesel he gets bulk delivery of diesel with no roadtax as its for stationary engines.

Reminds me of the first time we went across the Barkley on our first long trip (round the block).

We wanted to stay at the roadhouse & reckoned that we were lucky to get a good spot away from all the others & looking out over a vacant paddock, except for a tin shed about 50m away.

All was fine until about dusk when a bloody great gen set in that tin shed started up & ran all night powering all sorts of things I suppose including all the security lights.

Have been far more careful ever since.

DeBe · Guru

GEN.4.JPG GEN.3.JPG GEN.2.JPG GEN.1.JPG Diesel generators have come a long way. This unit is that quiet you can stand along side it & hold a normal conversation.

Eaglemax · Guru

Seeing as cars are going electric it seems logical that companies like Tesla would go the same way selling generators that run on electricity- noise problem solved You heard it here first. Ill be in my shed Tony

Aussie1 · Guru

Eaglemax wrote:
Seeing as cars are going electric it seems logical that companies like Tesla would go the same way selling generators that run on electricity- noise problem solved You heard it here first. Ill be in my shed Tony

Good one Tony,

Just what we need, a bit of humour to lighten it all up. Especially for the anti generator folks, who really do need to lighten up biggrin