Advice on Generators

[MooseontheLoose]

What sort of power output is required for a caravan, the one I am considering buying gives a constant output of 650 watts and is made by a company called Wolf.

Are there any restrictive rules on using these or is it on a site by site basis?

I started looking at generators having seen the Honda advert that is permanently on the PC homepage but cant afford to buy a new Honda one.

 

[sparkes]

The wolf will not have a clean output so could damage the electronics on a modern van

I use a Kipor KGE3000Ti from http://www.peakgenerators.co.uk/products.asp?cat=KIPOR+Leisure+Generators

A KGE100Ti will provide more power than the wolf and protect the electronics as well

 

[Lol1]

Generators are not a good thing to economise on, Moose. Get the best you can afford. Like Steve says, the cheaper end of the scale have unclean outputs, are often noisy and bulky (for their output) in size. Some people may even have problems getting spares/service in certain areas. Apart from getting a stable output, your biggest concern is noise, there are a few things you can do to limit this but your better of getting a genny that is silent to begin with.

Have you considered not using a genny? Most of the functions of a caravan and its accessories can be used with gas or 12 volts, so would a second (or bigger) battery do the trick instead?

 

[MooseontheLoose]

Thanks for your comments, I am very impressed with the kipor generators site.

I was not aware of the issues around clean outputs either, quite important as I have a newish van.

All the best

Moose

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Moose????,

Before you buy a generator carefully consider what you actually need it for. Most sites these days offer mains hook ups, which will usually provide up to 3kW of power. By comparison the typical caravan generator will only provide 750W (0.75kW) of power so it is not a complete alternative to the mains hook up.

Modern caravans offer many items of equipment that are duel fuelled. Fridges tend to have 3 way power (12V dc 230V ac & gas), Water heaters and space heaters, 2 way (230V ac & Gas). There are many 12V dc/230V ac televisions & VCRs' available.

So if mains power is not available there is usually a sensible alternative to resorting to a generator. Gas is usually used for cooking, and makes a very economic alternative for water heaters and space heating. Fridges are also much more efficient on gas than on generator power.

For other appliance where gas is not an alternative, there are other low cost solutions. For example a 120W inverter (converts 12V dc to 230 Vac) will provide power for computers, radios VCR etc. So a generator is not really essential.

From a social point of view, generators are noisy. Even the "silent" ones produce some noise. They are very inefficient at converting fuel to electrical power (about 6%) and the fuel is very expensive.

Gas appliances on the other hand are very efficient. They must be at least 70% efficient before they are approved for sale, and virtually silent.

The gas will already be on board for cooking, so there is no additional weight to be accounted.

Consider using a second battery that can be charged in the back of your car whilst you are travelling, and swapping when necessary. Or use the accessory circuit in the 12S (grey) socket on the rear of your car.

Do you really need a generator?

 

[MooseontheLoose]

Hi John,

Thanks for your considered reply, I am lost by the last paragraph though.

I have heard of inverters but not of charging a battery in the boot whilst on the move, do you connect the inverter to a cig lighter socket and then attach a mains charger?

I have twin electrics on my towbar so am aware the car charges the battery in the van whilst on the move but is the accessory circuit something else.

You may have gathered I'm no electrician!!!

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hllo Moose,

No you dont need an inverter to charge the battery. One of teh pins in the 12S socket produced a chrhing current when teh engine is running. It is switched by a charging relay that shoudl be fitted to your car to charge the caravan battery when you are towing.

My suggestion (and my own practice)is that you have a plastic box and lid which will hold the spare battery, securely in the boot of your car. a breather pipe is fitted so any excess charging gas will vent away outside. the simplest way is to have a spare 12S plug with a cable connecetd to eth charging terminals in teh plug that will carry at least 10A made up with fuses in both + & - wire and terminated with shrouded battery clamps. This is plugged into your tow bar 12S socket and brought in through the rubber seal of your boot lid and clamoed to the battery.

As you tour around the battery will be charged just like the caravan battery when you tow.

The slightly more permanmnt way is to tap into the same circuit in the towbar wiring and keep the cable inside the car, to a polarised connector, and have a detachable flying lead to the battery.

Much cheaper than a generator?

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hllo Moose,

No you dont need an inverter to charge the battery. One of teh pins in the 12S socket produced a chrhing current when teh engine is running. It is switched by a charging relay that shoudl be fitted to your car to charge the caravan battery when you are towing.

My suggestion (and my own practice)is that you have a plastic box and lid which will hold the spare battery, securely in the boot of your car. a breather pipe is fitted so any excess charging gas will vent away outside. the simplest way is to have a spare 12S plug with a cable connecetd to eth charging terminals in teh plug that will carry at least 10A made up with fuses in both + & - wire and terminated with shrouded battery clamps. This is plugged into your tow bar 12S socket and brought in through the rubber seal of your boot lid and clamoed to the battery.

As you tour around the battery will be charged just like the caravan battery when you tow.

The slightly more permanmnt way is to tap into the same circuit in the towbar wiring and keep the cable inside the car, to a polarised connector, and have a detachable flying lead to the battery.

Much cheaper than a generator?

PS

Please dont think I am anti-generator, I use them myself where I need 3+Kw of power for PA systems, but even the most profesional silenced units (like the ones that the BBC use) still produce noise, and that can become anoying to close neighbours. Some caravan sites have a policy on the use of generators, so its worth checking with the site owner

I appologise for the typing errors.