On Tue, 21 Jan 2014 13:53:21 -0500, Hank wrote:

On 1/21/2014 1:44 PM, Poco Loco wrote:
On Tue, 21 Jan 2014 12:18:41 -0500, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:

On 1/21/2014 11:43 AM, wrote:
On Tue, 21 Jan 2014 03:51:13 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

You can't make electricity cheaper than you can buy it.

By a factor of at least 5x. It can be way more for an old technology
generator.

A 5kw generator you might find at the home store with a Briggs engine
and a regular alternator will burn at least a gallon and a half an
hour. That ends up being about a buck a KWH.



That's what I discovered quickly with the 12kw generator I used in
Florida following Wilma.

The first day I ran it for about 6 hours (or less) and went through
about 8 gallons of gas. That's when I started recalculating things and
just used the little Honda.

The problem with them is that they have to run at 3600 RPM regardless of
load in order to generate 60 cycles. The inverter types like the Honda
can run at idle and still generate up to 6 amps of 120 volts (EU-2000).
If the load increases like when the refrigerator compressor kicked on,
the Honda would temporarily increase speed but then drop back to idle.


These two go on my Christmas list.

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...ompliant/34961

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...ompliant/43844


You have to buy those guys in pairs? How come?

You don't have to buy two. The first one, by itself, is great for light loads, but with the second
I'd have a 30amp capability, which would totally power the 5th wheel.

I'd be very happy to get the first this Christmas, and the second for my birthday. Spread that
around. Since my birthday is income tax day, many folks will have lots of money to get rid of.