Gas generator or zamp solar - Event Date: 10 Nov 2014

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   Hello. Trying to gear up our new 179. Heading Alaska next summer.  For off grid camping: Honda generator (eu2000ia) or zamp solar panel ( 80/ 120W)? We're thinking both eventually. I'm familiar with gas generators solar not so much. Thanks.

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bearclaw68 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 03 Oct 2014 Location: Modesto Ca. Online Status: Offline Posts: 45	Calendar Event: Gas generator or zamp solar Posted: 10 Nov 2014 at 7:46pm
	Hello. Trying to gear up our new 179. Heading Alaska next summer. For off grid camping: Honda generator (eu2000ia) or zamp solar panel ( 80/ 120W)? We're thinking both eventually. I'm familiar with gas generators solar not so much. Thanks.

Outbound Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Online Status: Offline Posts: 767	Posted: 10 Nov 2014 at 9:23pm
	Over the years of PUPing and PODing, I've had both solar and generator... and, although like the idea of solar, for me there are too many times when its not practical: camping in a heavily treed or otherwise shaded area - which I almost always do bad weather (days of rain - or occasionally snow) latitude (solar is less efficient the further north you travel) trips involving a lot of travel/moving the trailer - the panels may not be setup for the 8+ hours needed for charging (admittedly, the TV charges the batteries well on travel days) occasionally I'll need to use the microwave (i.e. I forgot to thaw the steaks for dinner) hot/muggy weather - want to use the A/C cold weather - when running the furnace, I usually use 30+ amps per day - that's a lot to ask of a solar system So, I've gone with a genny over the last few years. I'll run it for 1-1.5 hours every other day during the summer and every day during the spring or fall. Its fairly painless and not really very noisy. And, I'm sure you're aware, if you want to run the A/C or the Convection/Microwave, you'll need a 3000 watt generator (or the 2400 Yamaha) at a minimum (or dual 2000 Hondas). If you're only interested in topping up the batteries, a 1000 watt genny would work just fine and be lighter, cheaper and take up less space.
	Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150

marwayne Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Location: Edmonton AB Can Online Status: Offline Posts: 1003	Posted: 10 Nov 2014 at 9:50pm
	Outbound, I hate to disagree with you , we always run the microwave with our 2000 Honda.
	If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd.

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062	Posted: 11 Nov 2014 at 7:51pm
	I would be worried about altitude with a 2000 watt genset. Get up to 8000 feet (2500 meters) in the Rockies and it won't run the microwave even if you spend the time to re-jet and readjust it. You lose 3% of HP each 1000 feet which means you lose almost 25% in this example. That leaves you with 1500 watts with a 2000 watt genset assuming it has been re-jetted and readjusted, probably closer to 1250 watts if it is not. If you start with 3000 watts you have 2250 watts, or w/o any adjustments maybe around 2000.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

marwayne Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Location: Edmonton AB Can Online Status: Offline Posts: 1003	Posted: 11 Nov 2014 at 9:27pm
	Home is 2250', no trouble running microwave or AC one at a time. Campsite Kananaskis is 5500' no trouble running microwave.
	If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd.

bearclaw68 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 03 Oct 2014 Location: Modesto Ca. Online Status: Offline Posts: 45	Posted: 11 Nov 2014 at 11:51pm
	Thanks guys. I think solar panels will have to wait. I think I'm going to go with the yamaha 2400i. It comes closest to what I need. Plus it's probably the biggest one that I can still pick up. Most of what I've read says it will start and run the AC. Some naysayers but what the hey, most of what I do will be up north anyway. At least for now. I'm sure I'll have more questions later. It sure is a blessing to have people take the time to answer.

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062	Posted: 12 Nov 2014 at 10:24am
	I had that Yamaha before my current Honda, and it started the A/C with no problem. I didn't use it at a very high altitude, though. Before our trip to the Rockies last summer I moved up to a 3000 watt model.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

bearclaw68 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 03 Oct 2014 Location: Modesto Ca. Online Status: Offline Posts: 45	Posted: 12 Nov 2014 at 3:22pm
	I knew I could find another question. On ebay I found new yamaha gen kit: 2 eu2000ia gen with parallel (sidewinder?) Cable $1890.00 or... yamaha EF2400iSHC new $1299.00. ?????
	John and Dolly 09 Tacoma 4x4 RP 179

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062	Posted: 13 Nov 2014 at 2:43pm
	Not sure what your question is, but I can comment. The 2-genset Honda setup is much easier to move around since each genset is about 50 pounds dry. That said, you can move the Yamaha with one person. Not far, but it is possible. Something to consider - the easier it is for you to move something, the easier it is for a thief, too. I feel much more comfortable that my 150 pound Honda won't walk away since it takes 2 people to move it more than a foot. A downside to the Hondas is they still have a smaller tank even with 2 of them linked together, but a plus is you can add an external tank since they have a fuel pump. It is difficult to add an external tank to the Yamaha since it doesn't have a fuel pump. My Yamaha 2400 lasted me 8 hours exactly running my pod with the A/C, fan set to "on", which wasn't quite enough if I wanted to sleep in.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

bearclaw68 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 03 Oct 2014 Location: Modesto Ca. Online Status: Offline Posts: 45	Posted: 13 Nov 2014 at 4:20pm
	Thanks. I Like your logic. Speaking of thievery. The dealer warned me that the storage box key fit every rv everywhere. Did you feel it necessary to change those locks?
	John and Dolly 09 Tacoma 4x4 RP 179