Hi All,
I'm looking to buy a generator for my new trailer. I want to power a small portable AC, TV and some LED lights at the same time. How big do I need, and any suggestions on models? I also need to wire a connection from the generator to the trailer, if you have any suggestions there, also. Looking to keep it under $500, if possible. Thanks in advance,
Mick
I have two for camping. One is a Yamaha 3000 plus 500 boost to start an a/c unit. The other is a Honda 2000 suitcase unit. I used that last weekend at Budds Creek, and it ran lights, a fan, and microwave. Both are very quiet, and both cost more than I wanted to pay. But quiet is KING. I camped next to a very loud unit last weekend. It ran all Friday night. They always seem to point the muffler at another campsite! Sorry for the rant. Northern Tools sells a unit that may come close, but I don't know about their reliability. I just haven't heard either way. Hope this helps.
Mick,
If you go online to one of the larger generator companies, they have easy to use calc pages. You just have to input the items you want to have, and the site tells you the size you need. The A/C unit is going to take a lot to run.... As Rob stated, quiet is king! There is nothing worse than trying to sleep next to a load generator that has been placed as far away from the owner's rig as possilbe.
OR, you can buy a cheaper, louder unit, and then build an easy to assemble insulated box to put around it at the races. 2" foam works really well. You can build it so that the walls come apart to store in the trailer.... making it very quiet....
1976 MC 5 Original Owner
1976 Penton 175 XC
I like the idea of the "suitcase" generator, very light, quiet and easy to transport. What is the "inverter" part of the generators? Some don't state they have it.
Mick
Since I worked for Honda I can only answer what we did with the best products to make clean electricity. Our initial goal was to make clean electricity (most of the time cleaner that Electric Companies) to run computers and other electronic equipment.
Honda 's inverter technology takes the raw power produced by the generator and uses a special microprocessor to condition it through a multi-step process.
First, the generator's alternator produces high voltage multiphase AC power. The AC power is then converted to DC. Finally the DC power is converted back to AC by the inverter. The inverter also smoothes and cleans the power to make it high quality. A special microprocessor controls the entire process, as well as the speed of the engine.
Honda uses only high quality inverters in our generators, which produce stable, consistent power.
The end result? Clean enough power to run even the most sensitive electronic equipment.
Great explanation on Honda
https://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/inverter-generator-advantages
Ron Carbaugh
I have a 2k watt Honda. They are expensive but worth the extra money. Just like buying any tool, if you buy one that is high quality you only have to buy it once.
Carl Hill, I also have a 2K Honda Generator (EU2000) and it is the best Portable Generator (can be carried by one hand) and the cleanest power. With the on demand power that regulates the engine RPM you get such a longer run time per tank of gas. I am always very cautious about having good gas and actually use of left over VP Gas from bike, go kart and outboard testing. If I am filling from pump gas I always use Sea Foam product and run my generator at least once a month. Hope this helps.
Ron Carbaugh
When I worked for Smart Parts selling Corvette Parts at the Corvette shows we ran computer printers and all of our scanning tool interfaces with a Honda EU2000. They ran for a long time on a tank of fuel and were very quiet at the shows, a definite plus. Mike
Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Penton
1976 MC5 400
1978 KTM 78 GS6 250
L78-79 MX6 175-250 KTM's
1976-78 125-400 RM's
2007 CR125R Honda
1977 MC250 Maico
2017 KTM Freeride 250R