Small Generators

[fly]

I have been under the impression that the small 1000watt generators will charge a 12 volt battery. Does any one know how long it takes?

I've also been told they will power a RV (not the AC or micro) including the furnace and lights while it charges the battery. Any one know from experience and does any one have a recommendation?

[Adjam5]

OK, I have 3 generators and all serve a specific purpose.

I recommend Honda engines. I have NEVER had a problem with ANY of my Honda gen sets and they have quite a few hours on them. BTW, I use synthetic oil in all of them and store them with Sta-Bil in the gas.

I have a 5000w Honda powered Coleman Powermate, this is for when the house loses its power. I can run anything in the house but the central air with it. I also have a 2500 watt Honda Gen that is my construction site gen.

Then there is the one you refer to. The very portable 1000 watt gen set. It is a Honda EU1000 Most gens come with 12v charging ports. This small 1000 watter has this. I have used it to charge the riding mower and power small equipment like a small pump. It is called 1000watts, but that is the peak of the power. I can consistently power something that consumes like below 900 watts of power. As you know the higher the power consumption the more fuel usage. The Honda EU 1000 is very quiet, light, economical and durable. But it is a bit under sized. I used it to power my small camper, just for lighting. The EU 2000 will do a lot more and is only a bit larger and heavier. The 2000 is large enough to do the micro and A/c if need be. These EU series of Honda gens are the ones we use at work(heavy construction). These have been dropped, run over, rolled down hills ect. and they still work great stay in one piece. Hows that for a testimony?

( hope the Boss don't read this:rolleyes:)

How long it takes to charge a 12v battery will depend on the how dead the battery is.

Do not get ANY generator that uses gas/oil mix (2 stroke). They are louder, burn dirtier and no where as efficient as the Gas only (4 stroke) ones. Less maintenance with 4 stroke also.

Oh yeah... 12v charging leads do not usually come with the gen sets. They are extra.

I would go with a Honda.

Good Luck!

[fly]

Thanks for the info Adjam5,

I greatly appreciate you sharing your generator experience with me. I wonder if your AC is a 13.5 BTU ?

I'm really torn between the 1000W and 2000W now.

The price difference (new Honda) is about 300-400 dollars. My travel trailer is a 27 footer and the AC is a 13.5 BTU. Would the 2000W run an AC that size? I've heard 3000W was minimum, but that was from a salesman.

Anyone else have experience running a moderate sized (13.5) AC with a 2000W generator?

[elkoholic]

I have a 1000w that will run everything in my travel trailer except the AC and microwave. It is a Yamaha, which was less expensive than the Honda I looked at and was considerably quieter and, at 85 lbs, easy to move around. It will run approximately 12 hours on a tank of fuel even with the furnace running on those cold nights when the wife insists she will freeze to death if the furnace is off. In the five years we have had the travel trailer we have only needed the AC twice. We also have a 5500w which is not as portable, or quiet, but if we were to travel where we would need the AC it would come along. As for the ability to run the AC I would go with what the salesman said and opt for at least 3000w. With that you should be able to run everything at the same time. Running an electric powered implement at what would be "brown out" conditions can actually damage the product.

[wtnhunt]

Honda's are nice, but you might also take a look at onan generators.

[jm23494]

Just because it says that it is X number of watts does not mean that it will get an electric motor started. It takes nearly twice the amp draw to get an electric motor started than it would at normal operating conditions. Just make sure you check the starting wattage provided for each generator. Check this out: http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/genwat.asp

[Hardwood_HD]

yea i have heard a lot of good thing about the little honda generators they advertise on tv

[Adjam5]

Honda's are nice, but you might also take a look at Onan generators.

Onan are very good also. They are usually the type I see, on board trucks, boats and other extended run situations.

[LETMGROW]

There probably aren't any bad brands out there. What you really need to consider is the wattage draw you will have with all your equipment on at the same time. Add up all the amperage draw of all your equipment you expect to run and multiply times 120. This will give you your wattage requirement. In the case of generators you can NEVER go too big. Don't forget the time you might want to run an electric drill at your campsite, a hair dryer or even an electric heater the night you run out of propane miles from a filling station. Leave yourself a good reserve of power. You just never know.

Then there may be the time your home power goes out and you want the generator to run a furnace, refrigerator , tv, or a sump pump.

Sit down and really think about what would be the extreme uses you would use a generator for and buy accordingly.

You'll thank yourself afterword.

Lynn

[wtnhunt]

Onan are very good also. They are usually the type I see, on board trucks, boats and other extended run situations.

Onan's are or at least used to be probably one of the most common generators for motor homes and rv's. They are durable. Northern tool carries them, looks like they are priced in a decent price range too.