Generator or solar for your camper

[3beansalad]

I have a generator and love the versatility, but I know so many people that make the investment in solar and inverter and never look back. If you have room, and don't mind the smell of gas, the generator is a perfect option at a good start up cost. Once you go solar and invest in the entire setup (golf cart batteries and such,) you can flip a switch for the inverter and run all the appliance except the AC just like you can with most small gens.

[ruthabagah]

My take: If you camp in the mountains you probably don't need to run the AC.

If you don't need electricity for anything else then go solar, You can get 1 or 2 panel, 30 to 40 watt, mono-crystalline with a regulator and flush roof mount on Amazon for less than 300$. The wattage is good, but what matter the most to recharge your battery is the AMPs. I have 2, 15 watts on my camper, they crank 1.98 amps in full light, and I recharge (not from fully depleted) my deep cycle battery and cell phones, tablets, other toys in 4-6 hours during a normal sunny day in CO or UT.

When I want / need more juice I go rent a small generator which cost me 20-30$ a week end.

A 1000 watt Honda will cost you 749$ new + tax and gas. This will not include the maintenance and the fact that a small generator will poorly perform at high altitude (don't take my word for it, google it).

My setup to date had cost me less than 250$ and 3 hours of install (piece of cake), + one or 2 generator rental a year.

One more thing: Go to Camping World and swap all your regular light bulbs for Led light bulbs: this is the best money you'll invest in your RV!

[rockhound]

Generac on board 3400 watt runs my 35 foot fifth wheel, got from northern tool, runs on propane, every bit as quiet as the onan,s hondas etc

[sniper7]

anybody have experience with the yamaha or honda or hyundai 2000 generators running their a/c at AROUND 9000'?

I'm really leading toward the yamaha and have watched youtube videos of it starting the a/c without problems.

or what about starting it on battery and/or dual batteries and the generator running it after?

[clublights]

The wattage is good, but what matter the most to recharge your battery is the AMPs.

You realize that Amps and Watts are DIRECTLY related right ???

Watts= Amps x Volts

so a 12volt 2 amp draw/Supply is 24 watts.

a 20 amp 120V draw/supply is 2400 watts .

Conversely

a 2400watt draw/supply at 12V is 200 amps!

a 24watt draw/supply at 120V is .2 amps .

No difference between AC and DC .

Ohm's law.

[RCCrawler]

I'm really leading toward the yamaha and have watched youtube videos of it starting the a/c without problems.

I've got a Yamaha 2000 ef2000i, if you'd like to see if one will start your AC and give it a little test you are welcome to come by and try it out. I'm at about 144th and York.

[sniper7]

I've got a Yamaha 2000 ef2000i, if you'd like to see if one will start your AC and give it a little test you are welcome to come by and try it out. I'm at about 144th and York.

I'd definitely like to do this. Pm sent

[RCCrawler]

I'd definitely like to do this. Pm sent

Never got anything?