Generators

Barnesey · Member

Generators

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I suggest that everyone has the choice and that the cost of setting up solar is no more than the cost of a generator.
There is another important aspect.
It is not only other people that get pissed off with unnecessary noise. We will often camp in some remote spot in the bush for several days at a time. When you initially arrive in these places, most of the critters understandably bugger off, but a couple of days later they start to slowly return and we then get the great pleasure of seeing them.
Those with generators never will see that wild life and they miss out on one of the main reasons to go to the bush, and they stuff it for everyone else too and don't even know.
That is a real shame and very selfish of some.
Cheers,
Peter

leajoy · Veteran Member

We use our generator very occasionally and usually only if we get days of cloud and or rain. Only ever use for topping the batteries up under these conditions. Before you ask, we have as much lithium and solar as we can have in the space available and the what the charger can handle but as we have a compressor fridge, very occasionally we need to resort to the generator. We never use it for cooking, heating/cooling etc. We always speak to our neighbours first, always run it as far away from anyone else as we can and only run it for the time it takes to top the batteries up and at a good time during the day. We will always be the ones sitting in the sun and avoid going for the shade. Having said that I think we have only used the generator a couple of times since we switched to Lithium batteries last year. We have never had anyone complain yet as we try and be as polite and considerate of others

Aussie1 · Guru

Hi Barnsey, Bottom line is that unless there is an authorised sign prohibiting the use of generators or authorised sign stipulating hours allowed to be used, Just go ahead as you wish. There are those that are so called authorised commentators on forums, but they are only expressig their personal point of view. Just like me.hey, it's good we all have opinions eh. Take care and stay healthy.

Whenarewethere · Guru

I can't fit one in the car, but I can tuck in a battery here & there!

Whenarewethere · Guru

A nice long extension lead to keep the generator out of earshot!

https://eectech.com.au/Australian_Industrial_Extension_Leads/Industrial_Extension_Lead/3_Pin_10_Amp_Construction_Industrial_Extension_Leads/10Amp_75m_3_Pin_Construction_240V_Industrial_Extension_Lead

Aussie1 · Guru

Shorter the lead the better when running air conditioner.

Whenarewethere · Guru

This one is 4mm2

Eaglemax · Guru

To the OP It isnt that involved/complicated to install enough solar to charge your batteries. Minimum is 300-400W, battery 130amps if you have the basics like fridge, tv and in my case a cpap. That way rarely will you need a genny and many set ups only need a 1200w one. Noise pollution is a concern in the Bush where people go there to get away from it among other things. Tony

Whenarewethere · Guru

Battery technology is a lot older than generator technology.

If you don't have high loads a good old fashioned lead acid battery is as simple as it gets. We just run 12volts. Last trip we didn't use the solar panels once, but we were on the move in general. 3 days in one spot was the longest, but we have an efficient setup.

Eaglemax · Guru

Whenarewethere Do you run lead acid off your car alternator? My cousin does that, two 600 cca lead acid batteries off his alternator. 26ft van, Tony

bgt · Guru

There are generators and there are generators. Just like there considerate campers and inconsiderate campers. If you come in after someone and set up too close then their generator then who's to complain?

Whenarewethere · Guru

No, the Land Rover has a smart alternator. But the car does have very stable voltage powering each of the three 20amp fused power sockets. Plus the caravan supply which we don't use. If really desperate I could switch the 2 hi-fi circuits fused at 40amps each!

I use 2 Victron DC-DC 9amp chargers, started with 1 but it was not enough. The 2 typically in total put out about 7 to 12 amps depending on the state of charge. When fully charged, about 3amps in total. Which to date has been enough for our stile of travelling.

You can put as many of these DC-DC chargers as you like in parallel.

I have thought of getting a 12 to 24 volt charger & feeding it into the MPPT as this has a good profile for charging batteries.

The DC-DC chargers I'm using are a fixed voltage once set at the voltage output you want.

It all has to fit in the Freelander & in general sleep in the back, so we have to efficiently use the space we have. We hand grind coffee beans & use metho for cooking. Can't get much more compact than that! One evening we embarrassed ourselves, red & white wine & 7 cheeses in the middle of nowhere! Can't say we go without!

One really needs to look at one's whole situation of camping, probably most can people can get away a battery setup. If you are running a compressor fridge, tv, laptop, phones etc I can't see why batteries are not adequate.

JayDee · Guru

Proud to be a bush camper.

WE have had Gennies for many many years. Our latest is a Honda and it is so quite that people do not complain.

However we only run the gennie when bush camping to do our washing and some times for Dee to use the hair dryer.

We like to let our neighbours know that we will be starting the gennie for at least 1 hour. Yes I know you can us the Laundromats, but we have the gennie so we use it.

Never have we run the gennie at night.

We have 2 x 120 watt batteries and 180 watt Solar.

Give me a home among the gum trees, away from the crowds.

Jay&Dee

Eaglemax · Guru

Yes, whenarewethere, I get you. We resisted buying a washing machine and bought a hand spinner type manual one- does the job. I even researched wind power but not effective enough.

Phillipn · Guru

Some of the people making comments on this thread remind me of a couple at the Mitchell weir years ago.

I was still in the drivers seat when the couple rode up on bikes, [ no G`day or how are you] He asked "are you using a generator?" My reply was "yes, and all bloody night".

That shut him up as he was not expecting that sort of an answer, Oh what sort of gennie have you got. I answered a Honda. Oh he said they are quite.

We used our gennie for about half an hour to do what we needed to do and turned it off.

Then the dick head started his cheap noisy two stroke up.

One can`t stop wondering what some people have between their ears other than empty space.

Spook · Senior Member

No one yet has found a way to put brains in pumpkins.0

Eaglemax · Guru

About time they introduced a generator that runs on electricity...

Rob Driver · Guru

Guys,

Generators are not illegal.

If you are set up and want to use a generator and someone has the absolute need to camp right on top of you, then they have no rite to complain about its use.
We use ours on limited occasions when we Need It.

Since we have been on the road I do not recall once that someone has run a generator well into the night. They usually use it as sensibly as we do.
Solar is ideal and in some cases is cheap but if you have to pay for its installation from an outside source then it is not.
A generator can be retained from the sale of one caravan and used with the new purchase.
Pretty difficult to do that with solar.
Even people with solar have to run their tow vehicle engines in times of poor sunlight.

The thing I find Much More Annoying than a generator is when you arrive at what may be a beautiful bush campsite and our old solar mate has strung clothes lines from tree to tree like a Chinese laundry.

Did I say that generators are not illegal...

Regards

Angie and Rob

Gundog · Guru

One could provide a case for and against the use of generators. The first consideration for anyone is your lifestyle choices, I myself am a night owl rarely going to bed before 2300 plus I am an early riser generally around 0600, I am not much of a reader, preferring to watch movies etc and sport. On the other hand my partner is a reader but also loves her TV programs, add to that she is very heat and cold sensitivity thus the AC is needed regularly. Therefore if we choose to go off grid a generator is a requirement, as no amount of solar and batteries could power our appliance choices. A bigger concern is not the generator, more so the disposal of blackwater, generally the cassette needs emptying every 3 days and how long the water will last if I fill both tanks I will be 60kg over weight. So when you weigh it all up we are at a maximum of a 3 day stop, so with setting up and packing up it's a waste of bloody time this free camping lark. Each to their own.

Plain Truth · Guru

We often freecamp for up to 2 weeks,have no problems.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Some National Parks you are not allowed to use them. Eg: Purnululu NP.

Whenarewethere · Guru

We free camp mostly & each of us uses about 2.5 - 3.0 litres per day. We have got it down to a fine art not to waste a drop. It's not difficult. 2 weeks would be about our upper limit.

Whenarewethere · Guru

If you want to quieten a generator, make a box & get some engine acoustic insulation for engines from Whitworths Marine.

Plain Truth · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
Some National Parks you are not allowed to use them. Eg: Purnululu NP.

They are banned in Kurrajong campground,but at Walardi campground it has seperate generator and no generator areas.

Aussie1 · Guru

Plain Truth wrote:
Whenarewethere wrote:
Some National Parks you are not allowed to use them. Eg: Purnululu NP.
They are banned in Kurrajong campground,but at Walardi campground it has seperate generator and no generator areas.

At the end of the day it really is quite simple. As I have often said, If officially authorised signage says "no generators or "certain times to run generators" that to me is all that matters.

If no signage then campers are free to use generators. The personal choice as to wether campers use solar or generators is up to each individual. Both generators and solar are both here to stay.

yobarr · Guru

Whenarewethere wrote:
If you want to quieten a generator, make a box & get some engine acoustic insulation for engines from Whitworths Marine.

Sugar also works well!

KFT · Guru

yobarr wrote:
Whenarewethere wrote:
If you want to quieten a generator, make a box & get some engine acoustic insulation for engines from Whitworths Marine.
Sugar also works well!

Maybe but it will most definitely get you in trouble for criminal damage.

outlaw40 · Guru

Sugar also works well!

those few words speak volumes
Says a lot about you as a human-being doesn't it . Strange statement for someone who bangs on about being legal in another area and ridicules those who in your opinion MAY not be . Property damage is a crime punishable by law .

yobarr · Guru

Gundog wrote:
One could provide a case for and against the use of generators. The first consideration for anyone is your lifestyle choices, I myself am a night owl rarely going to bed before 2300 plus I am an early riser generally around 0600, I am not much of a reader, preferring to watch movies etc and sport. On the other hand my partner is a reader but also loves her TV programs, add to that she is very heat and cold sensitivity thus the AC is needed regularly. Therefore if we choose to go off grid a generator is a requirement, as no amount of solar and batteries could power our appliance choices. A bigger concern is not the generator, more so the disposal of blackwater, generally the cassette needs emptying every 3 days and how long the water will last if I fill both tanks I will be 60kg over weight. So when you weigh it all up we are at a maximum of a 3 day stop, so with setting up and packing up it's a waste of bloody time this free camping lark. Each to their own.

You say "....no amount of Solar and batteries could power our appliance choices". On the contrary,the only gas appliance in my van is a griller (never used) but I can use my microwave,Sat TV,electric frypan,toaster,slow cooker,air fryer,hot water jug etc,and still run my AC 24/7 from batteries, without ever needing a generator.I have 1710 watts Solar and 560ah Lithium in the van,wihile the beer fridge and all my power tools are powered by 190 watts Solar and 180ah Lithium in the car.(Not enough Solar on the car,really,but no more room,with rooftop poly tank,ladders etc) Having the ability to carry over 600 litres of water means that I recently was able to free camp for 32 days before needing to fill up the tanks,despite having 'normal' daily showers,washing dishes, cooking,drinking,washing clothes etc.Oh,I forgot to mention that I safely run at 6800kg GCM,legal on all axles, with no WDH,because I did a lot of research,and bought a suitable car. Cheers