Do you carry a portable generator?

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Do you carry a portable generator?

August 02, 2012, 01:23:14 pm

Searched the archives and found a few posts describing using a portable generator while boondocking to get full charge on the batteries.
Have a Honda eu2000 we used quite a bit when we had a truck camper with no built in generator. Clearing space in my shop so the coach can move in and haven't used the Honda in several years. Move it on Craigs list, or take it with us? Why?
(We will still have our 5500 watt gen for emergency power for the house.)
(Amazing how much "stuff" accumulates in a shop when space is not an issue.)

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #1 – August 02, 2012, 01:51:33 pm

We still carry the Honda generator with us. Cheaper to top off the batteries when dry camping then firing up the diesel generator.

Roland

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #2 – August 02, 2012, 02:02:16 pm

Instead of a honda EU generator plus a battery charger, I built a 90 amp battery charger using a 6.5hp electric start engine with a v-belt driven GM alternator. Total cost was $250, while a Honda generator with a 90 amp battery charger cost is four times higher.

I wanted to convert to propane so Gasoline would not have to be carried, however, propane conversion is $200 and battery charger would no longer be portable.

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #3 – August 02, 2012, 02:21:17 pm

A diesel generator will burn 44% less fuel than a gasoline engine doing the same load. Approx.
FWIW
Dave M

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #4 – August 02, 2012, 05:07:16 pm

Dave, I believe you are confusing gasoline with propane when comparing to diesel.

A gallon of diesel has just under 150,000 BTUs, while a gallon of gasoline has 125,000 BTUs, and a gallon of propane has only 90,000 BTUs.

Based on the differing BTUs available in fuel and assuming equally efficient engines and generating the same amount of power. If a diesel generator uses 1 gallon/hour, a gasoline generator will use 1.25 gallons/hour and a propane generator will use 1.7 gallons/hour. A diesel generator uses 80% as much fuel as a gasoline generator and only 60% as much fuel as a propane generator.

Lots of folks believe that propane generators are very inefficient and use at least twice as much fuel as a diesel generator. For generators which are manufactured to burn gasoline, then converted to burn propane, this is true because the compression ratio is too low for efficient propane use and the timing is too retarded. For generators which are manufactured to burn propane efficiently (cannot burn gasoline) this is not true.

For folks with diesel motorhomes who need 4 kilowatts for several hours each day, a diesel generator is the best choice.

For folks who want to just charge batteries once a week, a EU2000 on gasoline is the best choice because a 10 kilowatt diesel generator can not produce 1.5 kilowatts efficiently.

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #5 – August 02, 2012, 05:14:34 pm

Mike, I think it's a great idea to have a back up generator when dry camping. Just like carrying extra water, it's a good piece of mind if nothing else.

Thanks, Mitch Sayer

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #6 – August 02, 2012, 05:44:49 pm

Wyatt,
In the real world, with a set load, thesame generator on LP unit averaged 1.2 gal per hour, on Gasoline fueled averaged .75 gph, and when changed to a diesel it averaged .42 gph, so tell me how that is not true?
Dave M

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #7 – August 02, 2012, 10:02:24 pm

Quote from: Dave M – August 02, 2012, 05:44:49 pm

Wyatt,
In the real world, with a set load, thesame generator on LP unit averaged 1.2 gal per hour, on Gasoline fueled averaged .75 gph, and when changed to a diesel it averaged .42 gph Dave M

Dave, what's a set load? Percentage of full?

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #8 – August 02, 2012, 10:23:36 pm

The rest of the story, using a Kohler 4 cyl, water cooled 7.5kw running my MCI conversion 24/7 on gasoline averaged .75 gal per hour, I then converted to LP Vapor, the new average went up to 1.2 gal per hour. I got real tired of that silliness, so built up a 3 cylinder Perkins diesel 1.5L with a 12kw Pancake generator end, made my own mounting suspension and controls, running the exact same load for the next 6000+ hrs always averaged .4189 gal per hour when I checked thenumbers. On LP Vapor, I used a 62 gal tank (LP Gal) would last barely 48 hours, on the diesel, the tank was 50 gal, would run 5 days.
Sure nothing fancy, just why I always love facts or the real world vs opinionated book smarts.
Been playing generator games for 40+ years, and the fact remains, customers on LP or Nat Gas, always complain about the fuel burn during a long outage, diesel customers never mention it.
Fact, a customer with a 40 kw LP, running about 18 kw average burned 100 gal a day.
A nother burnt over $4,000.00 worth of LP during the 8 day outage he had, I laughed as his house is 32K sq ft, genset is 140 kw on LP. One has to laugh sometimes.
Dave M

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #9 – August 02, 2012, 10:32:04 pm

I'm not going to clutter up my life with extra generators and stuff. I have a perfectly good diesel generator on board. It's why I bought a Foretravel in the first place. Why add another, just more maintenance. It's not like being in the middle of the Atlantic on a boat, help and parts are usually not too far away. I carry tools and some spare parts that I might need, lamps, filters, belts, etc.

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #10 – August 02, 2012, 11:11:21 pm

I agree with the last comment. Why bother. If you need all that stuff go plug in somewhere then you do not have to worry about GPH. I have solar and if the "sun dont shine ,we sleep in" or something like that!!!
Wow Dave, how many gen's do you carry around??
John H

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #11 – August 03, 2012, 12:16:19 am

I am paranoid so you will excuse me but as I own them brand new at a real deal I will take my 2 eu2000's one of which is the 30amp companion and a eu1000. I would feel stupid not to have them and need them.

More time on my 97 320 might change my opinion. I have extended run fuel caps also.

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #12 – August 03, 2012, 01:38:27 pm

Wow, I carry lots of redundant stuff but not a generator. I might carry a battery booster but the real issue is not boondocking. You can use solar for that easily enough but when you are in a campground up in the NE and they have 20 amp plugs only. I carry a battery charger and put that on the house batteries and do not plug in the coach.

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #13 – August 03, 2012, 05:06:16 pm

What I do for campgrounds with only 15 or 20 amp service is to connect campgound power to just half of the breakers in the AC panel. Run hot water heater, Iota converter, TV, computer, and entertainment center from campground power. I run the microwave and/or instant hot water from the inverter. The coach appears to be connected to 30 amp service. If lots of sunshine and solar charging, I will turn converter off during the day. I had to do some rewiring in the AC panel to do this. I never run the generator in campgrounds.

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #14 – August 03, 2012, 05:07:39 pm

Dave:
I can explain how a Kohler 4 cyl, water cooled 7.5kw running on gasoline at .75 gal per hour, then averaging 1.2 gph when converted to LP Vapor.
A gasoline engine converted to propane will not run efficiently on propane unless the compression ratio is raised and the ignition timing is advanced.

I cannot explain how a 3 cylinder Perkins diesel with a 12kw Pancake generator would average only 0.4189 gal per hour when generating the same power as the Kohler. Perhaps the Kohler engine was inefficient for some reason, or perhaps there is something here which I do not understand. If propane and gasoline engines are dramatically less efficient then diesel engines for producing kilowatts, I would like to know that. I will do some more research.

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #15 – August 03, 2012, 06:00:59 pm

Wyatt,, in the generator world, we only raise the compression ratio for a natural gas engine as the NG is such low btu ie 1000 btu/cuft vapor. LP and Gasoline engines use the same compression ratio, LP is 2500 btu/cuft vapor, gasoline is about 3300 btu/cuft vapor.
Anyway you slice it, the diesel burns less fuel.
Would not swear as the the condition of the Kohler, but it starts and runs very nicely, does not appear to be low on compression and always use the fuel ratio mix gauge and set for correct a/r.
Who knows, I am not an engineer, But I do know these engines from 2.5kw thru 900kw on gas, gas is not gasoline. gas is a vapor fuel.
Dave M

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #16 – August 03, 2012, 11:37:52 pm

I know that farm tractors that are diesel will use much less fuel than gasoline and do as much or more work. Diesel just is more efficent

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #17 – August 04, 2012, 12:00:32 am

My answer to the question is NO. I have a fine working 10K diesel generator so I don't need another one to lug around and waste storage space I need for other needless stuff.

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #18 – August 04, 2012, 08:00:17 am

Seems wastefull to me to run a 10K diesel generator instead of a 2k Honda to top off batteries when dry camping. We have been using a Honda for almost ten years now. Only maintenance, two sets of spark plugs, oil changes, and a new pull cord. Think I'll keep pulling the cord when I need to top off my batteries when we don't get enough solar charging.

Roland

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #19 – August 04, 2012, 10:56:49 am

I would say not running your generator is the issue really. If you do not exercise it under load it will not be ready to use when you need it. I run mine and I do not feel it is wasteful. I turn it on when I pull out of the garage and it shut off when I plugged in here at NAC. It was over 100 degrees most of the way down and we have not had a break yet and I am heading to places it is 100 plus again. IT will run. I change the oil and filters and exercise it. I think if you amortize the issues you will have with the 10K not being used and the cost of the honda you are spending more money.

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #20 – August 04, 2012, 12:43:20 pm

Sounds like automobiles in Cairo Egypt, when driving at night, drivers only use parking lights at most, they are saving the battery they say, but they do blow the horn a tremendous amount. Guess I will never figure their system out

Dave M

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #21 – August 04, 2012, 01:00:50 pm

Quote

Sounds like automobiles in Cairo Egypt, when driving at night, drivers only use parking lights at most, they are saving the battery they say, but they do blow the horn a tremendous amount. Guess I will never figure their system out

Or Lisbon where all cab drivers are paranoid schizophrenics and drive shouting with one arm out the window, waving their arm in a fist and changing lanes just to scare pedestrians onto the sidewalk ;o)

On the other hand, the port in the Port Institute is not to be missed......where all of today's port has a bit of port in it from hundreds of years ago. At least we were told so.....And I am very sure the port was the best I ever had.

best, paul

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #22 – August 04, 2012, 02:26:00 pm

Paul, why do you think we are going back to PORTugal again next year!! Not sure about the old port but still good as is all the wine we had. Stopped in a tiny town in the Duro area at a cafe for a coffee and decided on wine. 3 glasses each later it was so good i convinced the lady to sell me 5 lites and 2 glasses. Cost- $1.75 cnd but the caraffe to hold it was $5.00 as I could not bring it back!!
Actually (back to the posting subject) I could never understand the same headlight non use at night in England and my late sister would give me heck when I visited in a rental car as I put mine on. Amazing how many cars would honk to tell me my lights are on--go figure!!!
JohnH

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #23 – August 04, 2012, 09:24:51 pm

Quote

Paul, why do you think we are going back to PORTugal again next year!! Not sure about the old port but still good as is all the wine we had. Stopped in a tiny town in the Duro area at a cafe for a coffee and decided on wine. 3 glasses each later it was so good i convinced the lady to sell me 5 lites and 2 glasses. Cost- $1.75 cnd but the caraffe to hold it was $5.00 as I could not bring it back!! Actually (back to the posting subject) I could never understand the same headlight non use at night in England and my late sister would give me heck when I visited in a rental car as I put mine on. Amazing how many cars would honk to tell me my lights are on--go figure!!! JohnH

Sheesh! I thot it was on topic... PORTable generator ;o)

best, paul

Re: Do you carry a portable generator?

Reply #24 – August 04, 2012, 11:16:11 pm

Quote from: red tractor – August 03, 2012, 11:37:52 pm

I know that farm tractors that are diesel will use much less fuel than gasoline and do as much or more work. Diesel just is more efficent

My Cub Cadet 882 Diesel for instance. It has a 3 cylinder Kabota diesel and she will mow for days on one tank, where as the old Cub Cadet gas 782 would only mow for one day and you needed gas again. Diesel much more efficent!

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