Generator evaluation request

[jimindenver]

Van lady

If I may, what are you planning to run and for how long? Even with the open frame 5 gal of gas seems to go for ever just charging the battery a few hours while cooking breakfast as in a few weeks. Running the roof air at altitude really runs it up and it's hours before it wants more. A inverter generator of the same size would be pretty thirsty too

 

[Van Lady]

Van lady

If I may, what are you planning to run and for how long? Even with the open frame 5 gal of gas seems to go for ever just charging the battery a few hours while cooking breakfast as in a few weeks. Running the roof air at altitude really runs it up and it's hours before it wants more. A inverter generator of the same size would be pretty thirsty too

I would be using the generator to charge my batteries only....no A/C.
I am not on the road yet.
I got the van (2000 Dodge Ram) in May, got it stripped, was working on installing the floor when it got too hot here in Phoenix to continue working on it. I will be able to start work on it mornings in about a month.
I have a Dometic CFX65 12V frig/freezer to put in it. I will have a fantastic fan put in it. I have a 15 inch TV that will go in it (unfortunately not 12V). I will be charging an iPhone, iPad and laptop. I plan to be a part timer who follows the 70's. NO MORE PHOENIX HEAT IN THE SUMMER TIME FOR ME AFTER THIS SUMMER!!!
So I still have time to figure out how to put the van together[emoji6] as I have not got to the power system purchases let.

Thanks for your help.


Van_Lady

 

[jimindenver]

A nice solar system, a modest bank and a tie in to the vans alternator and I doubt you would ever need a generator. We stopped using our except for A/C with just 235w of solar and one 95 Ah battery. That ran our 25 ft trailer, furnace, fans, LED lights and charging in the summer. Our solar will now run a small A/C but I have more room up top.

 

[rvpopeye]

I have a honda 2000 and carry 5 gallons for it , in 2 - 2 1/2 gal plastic cans , Much easier to lift and pour out of . (I don't overfill the gen as often.....just pour a little and stop to peek in , then repeat.) It holds about 1 gallon and I get 10-15 hours on a tank full........

 

[zdiver1]

Hello all my first post here! I was going to get this duel fuel unit but went with the gas only unit look on the link you would need a lot of propane.  http://www.championpowerequipment.c...204-2800w-3100w-dual-fuel-inverter-generator/ I plan on using mine with my new toy hauler to run my 1350 BTU A/C unit and a microwave and charge the batteries only. It is very heavy but has good grab handles and is on wheels with a pull out handle like a suitcase. Bob did turn me on to solar so I will be adding it at the winter RTR. Paul

 

[zdiver1]

Found this.

Champion Tech
   · 13 hours ago    
This generator can run up to a 13.5k BTU AC unit on gas or propane. If you want to run a 15k BTU AC unit, we recommend one of the 3,100 running watt inverters with a 3,400 to 3,500 peak wattage.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I ran into someone who had some Honda and Champion generators in the back of his truck. I asked him which he liked best. He said the Champions. He said they were easier to service and just as reliable as the Hondas.

The statement "just as reliable as the Hondas" is meaningless unless the guy could also tell you how long he's owned them and how many hours he has on each.

 

[cyndi]

zdiver, I enjoyed the dive, thanks for the video.

thanks, too, for the input.

We'd love to know more about you.You can introduce yourself here: https://vanlivingforum.com/Forum-Newcomer-s-Corner

 

[ccbreder]

The champions are good generators. One thing about the Honda is they have an adapter available to run from a separate gasoline container. Depending on how much charge your battery needs, a generator may need more than one fill of fuel.

 

[BradKW]

The champions are good generators. One thing about the Honda is they have an adapter available to run from a separate gasoline container. Depending on how much charge your battery needs, a generator may need more than one fill of fuel.

That reminds me of an "important note" I made mentally some time ago: Honda's have an actual fuel pump which enables them to pull gas from a secondary tank for extended run time. Many generators do not have this, meaning that extended tanks must be gravity fed, thus mounted above the unit.

 

[ZoNiE]

http://www.pinellaspowerproducts.com/ supports Champions in addition to Honda and Yamaha. Lots of good info here. They make extended run kits.
They are very supportive of the user base, Paul, the owner, even personally answers emails quickly. He helped me with a carburetor problem I had on my EV4010.

http://www.propane-generators.com/honda.php is a supplier of LPG kits for Hondas.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

That Champion looks like a great generator. But as others have stated it's a bit big for van traveling. I own a Honda EU2000 and carry 2 gallons of gas for it. I don't think anyone makes small engines in the same league as Honda does. But sounds like solar would be a better set up for you, especially with the area of the country you're living in.

 

[DannyB1954]

The statement "just as reliable as the Hondas" is meaningless unless the guy could also tell you how long he's owned them and how many hours he has on each.

The person I talked to had 4 generators in his truck. They appeared to be well used, (wear and tear on the outsides). The Person I spoke with was  affiliated with Law Enforcement or public safety, so these were used where emergency or portable power was needed by them. 

I was at the Baker to Vegas relay race. http://pvtimes.com/sports/annual-120-mile-baker-vegas-run-begins-saturday.html  This is where LE and public safety organisations, (fire etc.) have running teams and compete against each other. The race is 120 miles long through the desert. I was there as a ham radio operator, (we supplied the communications between the various relay hand over stations). We also had a person before the station that would call the runner number that was approaching so his relief would be ready to receive the baton.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

The person I talked to had 4 generators in his truck. They appeared to be well used, (wear and tear on the outsides). The Person I spoke with was  affiliated with Law Enforcement or public safety, so these were used where emergency or portable power was needed by them. 

Danny, I don't mean to be difficult or argumentative.

If the average lifespan of Champion generators is 4,000 hours, and the average lifespan of Honda Generators is 10,000 hours, and the person who owns both has about 3,000 hours on each, he may genuinely believe that "The Champions are every bit as reliable as the Hondas"  but he simply hasn't run them enough to discover that that's not true.

 

[DannyB1954]

Danny, I don't mean to be difficult or argumentative.

If the average lifespan of Champion generators is 4,000 hours, and the average lifespan of Honda Generators is 10,000 hours, and the person who owns both has about 3,000 hours on each, he may genuinely believe that "The Champions are every bit as reliable as the Hondas"  but he simply hasn't run them enough to discover that that's not true.

OK, I guess we'll find out in 10 years which one they should have bought. Might be kinda too late by then though. Another factor is just because a manufacturer made a great product in 2012, doesn't mean they are producing the same quality in 2016. Contracts change. I assume Honda also uses foreign contractors.

 

[speedhighway46]

As a point of information pertaining to safety . . . It is very dangerous to gravity feed fuel to an internal compustion engine; all you have to control fuel flow into a hot running engine is the needle and seat in the carb. If that should fail or stick, you have free flowing gasoline onto a hot ignition source.

In fact, now days it might even be against the law for manufacturers to design a system that uses gravity flow fuel.

Although you CAN do it, it is not SAFE to do it.

 

[Van Lady]

That Champion looks like a great generator. But as others have stated it's a bit big for van traveling. I own a Honda EU2000 and carry 2 gallons of gas for it. I don't think anyone makes small engines in the same league as Honda does. But sounds like solar would be a better set up for you, especially with the area of the country you're living in.

I may be able to add solar in the future, but I am going to start with a generator for a few reasons:
1) I am not able to install the solar myself so the cost is doubled to have an RV place install it. I would even need help to get the roof rack up let alone know which one to buy that would fit my Dodge Ram 3500 (prior Church passenger van).
2) I believe a generator system will get me on the road quicker.
3) I plan to spend my summers in the trees.
4) I need to be out on the road and have some real experience camping in the van to decide what my true needs are going to be. I may end up camping very differently than I think I am. (God willing I will be at the winter RTR-I have been trying for 2years)

Being around others living the life and seeing/learning what works for them and getting some experience under my belt will help me know if I want to invest in a permanent solar system or add a suitcase system or I am happy with my generator.

Thank you for your help!



Van_Lady

 

[ccbreder]

Yes. beside the issue raised by SHW46, you cannot gravity feed into a generator gas tank. You would have to cobble together a connection to the carburetor. Or invent some kind of float valve in the tank. I can see fire balls and conflagration now.

 

[jimindenver]

Van lady

My solar has been portable so far, it has allowed me to park the trailer where I want and run the panels out on a 50 set of cables. Still a alternate form of charging is a essential part of a solar system so starting with a generator may be in your best interest.

 

[ViaVacavi]

Have you considered starting out with a battery isolator? Though not as efficient as a dedicated generator it's an inexpensive and quick way to top off your house batteries, and once you get solar makes for a great backup system to supplement on cloudy days. Of course, if you plan on running the engine a lot for extended periods of time a dedicated generator would save wear and tear.

Regarding feeding a generator from the vehicle main fuel tbk, they make low pressure pumps (2-3 psi if I remember correctly) and they're quite cheap on Amazon. They are used on Onan generators and I even replaced the cheap vaccum-driven mechanical fuel pump on my mower with one with great results