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Author: Subject: Portable Generators for Truck Campers
Hook
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[*] posted on 8-15-2006 at 12:05 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by comitan
http://www.kickstartoem.com/


That link is not working for me, unless their site is just down right now. Are you sure of the URL?

Nevermind.....it is now, for some reason.

[Edited on 8-15-2006 by Hook]
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comitan
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[*] posted on 8-15-2006 at 12:37 PM


Just tried it, OK.



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Roberto
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[*] posted on 8-16-2006 at 09:31 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
So, the capacitor continues to hold a charge even after the AC is shut off? Does it rely on the house battery to maintain this or is the capacitor charged when house current is initially applied before the A/C unit is turned on?


1. The capacitor is initially, and almost instantly, charged once current (alternating) is available. So, if it's been unplugged for a long time, run the fan only for 30 seconds.

2. The capacitor retains the current as long as current remains available, and for SOME amount of time afterwards (ONE of the reasons for those high voltage present warning signs on some appliances).

3. They are sized appropriately in order to store sufficent current for a compressor start up for your unit.
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JZ
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[*] posted on 8-16-2006 at 09:57 AM


Can these things be used safely on a boat.

[Edited on 8-16-2006 by JZ]
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Roberto
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[*] posted on 8-16-2006 at 05:52 PM


JZ - if you are asking about the hard-start kit, I don't see why not. They don't add anything more inherently dangerous than what's already in an A/C unit.
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puravida
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[*] posted on 8-17-2006 at 04:56 PM


I read on another forum about a 3500 watt generator made by champion. It's a little louder then the honda, but only half the price ($350-$400).

There's no inverter, so I'm guessing it won't be as friendly to electronics as a honda--but it's a lower cost option if it fits your need.
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Bob and Susan
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[*] posted on 8-17-2006 at 05:38 PM


it's chineese...you won't be happy

they're junk and no place to fix them later....

[Edited on 8-18-2006 by Bob and Susan]




our website is:
http://www.mulege.org
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[*] posted on 8-17-2006 at 07:40 PM


A "little" louder? :lol::lol::lol:

The Champion is rated at 68 dB at 7 meters.
The Honda EU2000 is rated at 53-59 dB at 7 meters.
The Honda EU3000 is rated at 49-53 dB at 7 meters.

The Hondas vary their speed depending on load, and that's the reason for the variable rating.

Just for the record, each 3 dB increase equals a DOUBLING of the sound pressure level. At 68 db you would be:

1. run out of your campsite by your neighbors.
2. have to take cover in the RV to have a conversation.

And I'm NOT kidding.
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Hook
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[*] posted on 8-20-2006 at 08:06 PM
Solution for now.......


......a friend agreed to swap straight across my Honda EU-2000i for his Yammy YG-2800i. The Yammy is 18 lbs heavier at dry weight but has a much larger fuel capacity/run time, so it will also serve as my back-up generator at home; something the Honda 2000 couldnt really do. Not enough amps to run the refer and freezer, the HDTV, (still love CRTs!)the DVR and the computer.

The 2800i is a hybrid of the typical contractor setup with a baffled muffler, so not quite as portable but still doable. Noise level is 60-67 db, so it is louder than the Honda but as the perception of loudness doesnt really follow the empirical measurement, it certainly doesn't "sound" 2-3 times as loud. We ran them side by side on eco-throttle and they seemed close but the Honda was definitely quieter. The "contractor" configuration of the Yammy does leave open some further overall baffling options.

So, I now have 20.8 continuous amps to play with at sea level and 23.3 surge amps.

BTW, the Honda literature stated that the rule of thumb for loss of horsepower at altitude is ~3.5% per 1000 feet of elevation gain. Not sure if that directly correlates to the % loss of amps.
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[*] posted on 8-20-2006 at 09:06 PM


My wife made me buy a generator before Y2K (of course we didn't need it).
We got a Coleman 3500 with a Honda 5.5 HP at Costco for about $500.
When I finally opened the box a few years later, I found that it is rated for 26 amps continuous. It will run all my jobsite tools or the camper with the AC and all the toys running. It will also run for almost 8 hours on a single tank of gas, has a battery charger and is pretty quiet. This was made before they came out with the "E" series but there are a lot of them still out there (Y2K leftovers).
.

[Edited on 8-21-2006 by Diver]
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puravida
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[*] posted on 8-21-2006 at 08:13 AM


60db is considered the level of normal conversation. I've never heard one, but if you go to rv.net and search "champion", you will see a lot of people like them over there. They also comment that they are pretty quiet. (ie: AC is louder then the gen, or they couldn't hear their neighbors Champion until they went over to their campsite, etc). Didn't see any reports of being chased out of campsites, or anyone complaining. The honda's are definately a better unit, but they are also twice as spendy.

I don't have any experience with them--I've got a yamaha ef1000i (similar to the EU1000 but a few db quieter (47db)). Now that I've got a camper I wish I woulda got a 2000--but it's nice and small for the boat--and runs most things. My camper doesn't have AC--so that's not an issue...yet!

[Edited on 8-21-2006 by puravida]
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Hook
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[*] posted on 8-22-2006 at 10:56 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by puravida
60db is considered the level of normal conversation. I've never heard one, but if you go to rv.net and search "champion", you will see a lot of people like them over there. They also comment that they are pretty quiet. (ie: AC is louder then the gen, or they couldn't hear their neighbors Champion until they went over to their campsite, etc). Didn't see any reports of being chased out of campsites, or anyone complaining. The honda's are definately a better unit, but they are also twice as spendy.

I don't have any experience with them--I've got a yamaha ef1000i (similar to the EU1000 but a few db quieter (47db)). Now that I've got a camper I wish I woulda got a 2000--but it's nice and small for the boat--and runs most things. My camper doesn't have AC--so that's not an issue...yet!

[Edited on 8-21-2006 by puravida]


My Lance just happened to come with an AC unit; I wasnt really looking for one with it. With your popup, I'd just install that vent fan and maybe get a box or oscillating fan that your inverter can run. That works in 90% of all situations unless someone is unusually intolerant to heat. About the only time we use ours is for a 10 minute cool down just before bed on the absolute hottest and most humid nights. Other than that, it's inverted or 12v fans and gettin' nekked. :o .....which sometimes means turning up the fans a little more. :biggrin:

Really, in my experience, running cooling devices is all about creating a comfortable sleeping environment at night. We run almost nothing except the Fantastic Vent during the day, just to vent heat. We're outside, anyway.
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