GENERATORS???
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Topic: GENERATORS???
Posted By: Shane
Subject: GENERATORS???
Date Posted: 14 May 2021 at 5:36pm
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Ok, I have a question about generators... I am looking to buy a generator but every time I ask someone at a store I get different answers!! UGHHH...!!! So I figured I would ask the people who have used them, R-Pod Campers......YAH US!!! Ok I am looking to purchase a generator that is pretty quiet like a inverter generator. I am looking for one that will run my a/c on my 180 but is also quiet. I looked at the Honda's but it looks like I need to sell a kidney to afford one. Any suggestions. I am trying to stay under $1000. ------------- ENGINE 55,TRUCK 44,BATALLION 12 |
Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 14 May 2021 at 6:52pm
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Check out other brands. I purchased a dual-fuel Firman generator. Firman makes generators sold under other brands. Recently, they started selling them under their own name. Another suggestion: Check out the Harbor Freight Predator generator They get generally good reviews and I have seen them in action. They are quiet for sure. Like any engine, keeping the oil changed and full is critical. You don't want to shorten the life with dirty oil. Also, if you use gasoline, make sure you purchase only ethanol free gasoline and use stabilizer such as Sta-Bil in it. Your small engines work best without ethanol which can attract water and gum up carburators. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: campman
Date Posted: 14 May 2021 at 7:24pm
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Hello Shane, I am glad you decided to post your dilemma here as I am sure you will hear plenty of thoughts as many here boondock.
So here goes my take on your question. Honda inverter generators are wonderful, but expensive. I have a big 7000 watt inverter Honda at my off grid water access cottage to back up my solar system in the winter. It is sized properly for the load/work I require of it, when I need it. I need quality and dependability and quiet and it delivers. Now, to trailer appropriate genny's. If you want to use all your appliances,your aircon and micro/oven...you need a genny in the 3300 watt peak to handle the heavy start loads. I have a Firman 3300 watt inverter genny from Costco that I will travel with when I get my pod. Other than the junk spark plug which I replaced before putting oil in (read all the reviews available on Costco site re the Firman as there is a lot of good info to help you out), it works perfectly. It is very quiet, only about 750 Canadian dollars so less expensive in the States. As on any genny, proper break in and oil changes etc are important for long life and dependability. If you have restricted storage space (we have an F150 with a cap so have a bit of elbow room for extra stuff) you can downsize to a 2200 watt Honda, Yamaha, maybe even a Champion etc inverter generator...which if you install an easy start on your aircon, will allow you to use it as it lowers the initial heavy electrical demand. You will need to load monitor if you go in this direction to meet your needs if you want to use other heavy loads while using the aircon. Many here swear by the use of the easy start though it can be pricey. Whatever genny you decide, always use premium fuel to eliminate ethanol. Ethanol is hydroscopic among other problems that come with it and absorbs moisture from the fuel as well as from the air. The untreated fuel can start breaking down in as little as month or 2, leading to varnish etc creating problems in your carb and lines. Any fuel you use treat immediately with a good quality fuel stabilizer so it is good for at least a year...you will appreciate the lack of fuel issues after your low use or seasonal motors don't fail on you when you need them. This goes for all seasonal motors by the way. I also have had a 2000 watt Champion inverter genny and it was also an impressive little genny, just was too small for my cottage once I had the solar system put in. Again, I hope this helps! Andy ------------- Andy and Laurie '16 F150 5.0 4X4 w/factory tow pkg '21 RP192 "If the women don't find you handsome...at least let them find you handy!" Red-Green |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 14 May 2021 at 7:26pm
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Consider dual fuel inverter generators. They run on propane as well as gasoline. Then you don't have to worry about the ethanol issue. Also, consider putting an EasyStart in your AC if you plan run it on your generator. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: campman
Date Posted: 14 May 2021 at 7:27pm
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Hey Stephenh! Good post, we are on the same wavelength!
Andy ------------- Andy and Laurie '16 F150 5.0 4X4 w/factory tow pkg '21 RP192 "If the women don't find you handsome...at least let them find you handy!" Red-Green |
Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 14 May 2021 at 9:03pm
Or if you have a stack of 2x4 lumber, that might be a good trade.  I am kinda partial to Champion generators...I own a couple and the only time I needed some help from customer service, something that was MY fault was covered for free OUT OF WARRANTY. I'd buy another one if either of mine got stolen or something. ------------- r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten! |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 14 May 2021 at 10:05pm
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 14 May 2021 at 10:27pm
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What normally is ethanol free is called RV gas . . . no ethanol and is 90-91 octane. I run it in all my small engines: string trimmer, chain saws, leaf blower, log splitter, snow blower. Most amazing is I never have to add Stabil or any thing similar to RV or Rec. gas. My leaf blower sits for 11 months at a time without getting used. 1 pull on full choke and it starts right up - been that way for years. Wouldn't do that with regular gas sitting in a tank for that long. Before using rec or RV gas I would add Stabil to my log splitter as it would not get used for up to 6 months at a time, bad results, as things gummed up and had to purchase a new carb, it was so gummed up I was unable to clean it out good enough to have it run properly and it was only 3 years old. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 14 May 2021 at 11:22pm
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Absolutely, positively, use ethanol-free gas in any small gas engine. Ethanol will kill a small engine if you aren't careful. Around here I don't think it's available in premium octane, but it is more expensive than gas with 10% ethanol gasoline. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 14 May 2021 at 11:35pm
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The dirty secret about ethanol is that it has less energy per gallon than gasoline. When 10% is added to gasoline, the mileage one gets from that adulterated gasoline is about 10% less than if gasoline without ethanol were used. Not to mention that something that is a food stock is then diverted into making ethanol. I'm not sure about the numbers, but it takes much more energy to produce a gallon of ethanol than it does to produce a gallon of gasoline. The link below has some numbers, but that is only one side of the picture. The second link has pros and cons of ethanol. https://www.organicconsumers.org/scientific/70-percent-more-energy-required-make-ethanol-actually-ethanol-cornell - https://www.organicconsumers.org/scientific/70-percent-more-energy-required-make-ethanol-actually-ethanol-cornell https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/questions/does-ethanol-generate-more-energy-than-the-amount-needed-to-produce-it/ - https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/questions/does-ethanol-generate-more-energy-than-the-amount-needed-to-produce-it/ ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: campman
Date Posted: 15 May 2021 at 7:32am
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Thanks Stephen, I stand corrected...not all premium fuels are ethanol free, even if we wish they were!
:-) Suffice to say,imho, what ever fuel you use in your seasonal/low use engines, put the best fuel in it you can get in your area and stabilize it. I always add good quality fuel stabilizer and enough to last 2 years. I use Stabil, Seafoam or Phaseguard to help ensure less chance of the fuel going bad. To further guard against carb issues I also turn off the petcock (where available, and every genny I have had had a fuel shutoff) and run 4 stroke motors until the carb is emptied of fuel. 2 stroke motors like chainsaws please don't run them out of fuel as they need the oil for lubrication. I used to mix my own but for years now I use the engineered premixed fuel. It is good for at least 2 years and I haven't regretted it. Once the motor has burned all the fuel available and stalls out, I then pull the start cord until firm resistance is felt...this rotates the motor until it reaches its compression stroke which means both intake and exhaust valves are closed. This seals the motor from air/moisture getting in which could lead to corrosion/damage in the motor over time. ------------- Andy and Laurie '16 F150 5.0 4X4 w/factory tow pkg '21 RP192 "If the women don't find you handsome...at least let them find you handy!" Red-Green |
Posted By: campman
Date Posted: 15 May 2021 at 8:53am
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https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=ON
Here is a link that many may be interested in for finding ethanol free fuel, at least in Canada and the USA. Seems I just lucked out in my choice of fuel stations in our little town where I fill up my gas cans. ------------- Andy and Laurie '16 F150 5.0 4X4 w/factory tow pkg '21 RP192 "If the women don't find you handsome...at least let them find you handy!" Red-Green |
Posted By: chasl
Date Posted: 15 May 2021 at 9:34am
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I purchased a Champion 3100W generator some years ago. It's working well, and runs everything (not at the same time) in my RPOD including the air conditioner. It's pretty quiet for 3000 plus watts, and the one they make now which replaced this model is dual fuel. I've not used one of those, but it's output is 3400 Watts peak, and claims to run fairly quiet. I've heard the Honda generator is the best for reliability and noise, but they do cost considerably more than other brands. ------------- cl |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 15 May 2021 at 9:48am
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I have a Honda 2200. It was "on sale" at CW for $995 including a vinyl cover. I converted it to propane and added a MicroAire Easy Start to the AC. The Honda powers the AC fine. I can't run M/W and AC at the same time, but everything else is available with the 2200. It is quieter than most generators, starts every time and has been mechanically sound. It is light enough that my wife or I can carry it. I view it as a long term purchase and happy I spent the extra money to get the quality I wanted. If it were stolen or I needed a generator, I would buy another one just like it. I have no hesitation recommending it. Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 15 May 2021 at 10:12am
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You can run your a/c from a Honda 2.2k if you install an Easystart on your a/c to reduce startup load. That would give you a small lightweight, high quality generator for about $1k. The Easystart costs about $300 but is well worth it.
Also consider a propane conversion, much cleaner and easier than carrying around gasoline. You already have propane on your trailer. As for noise, the inverter generators are quiet when at low power demand because the inverter allows them to run at low rpm. But none of them are quiet when heavily loaded, including the Hondas. There are numerous studies on the energy balance of corn ethanol, and although the majority conclude that it has a positive energy balance, its certainly not great. Ethanol's main benefit is as an oxygenating agent so it improves air quality. But it's bad for small engines for sure, especially one that sit around unused for long periods. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 16 May 2021 at 11:18am
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I had a discussion with a retired Honda generator tech. He droned on and on about how much better a Honda was than everything else. I've had 4 Honda Motorcycles, 1 Car and now a Honda powered lawn mower.
Honda generators may well be better. I don't need a Rolls-Royce to drive to work. And I sure don't want to pay for one. My Ducati has been as reliable and trouble free as the best of my Hondas. My Kawasakis have been perfect! The Honda engine on my mower is great if you can start it without WD-40 (no ethanol, always stabilizer treated fuel). The Accord was the most expensive car to maintain I've ever had and needed a new tranny at 98k miles. I'm not anti-Honda, but they are not sliced bread. OP, you sound like you want an inverter generator for the noise. I have a Powerboss 3500/4350 synchronous generator that starts my A/C with barely a change in sound. I think you should be looking at a generator with a surge capacity in the 3500 watt class, to keep weight and cost down. Look at Briggs inverters; I think they have one in the right size. ------------- John '16 R-Pod 180 |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 16 May 2021 at 12:44pm
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If you can figure out a way to get here in NJ, I'll sell you my lightly used and well maintained 2400 Watt Yamaha EF2400iSHC for less than $1000.00. I'll even thrown in the Yamaha cover. I'm getting old and it's a little too heavy for me. Just not using it much anymore. https://www.yamahagenerators.com/Yamaha-EF2400iSHC-p/ef2400ishc.htm - https://www.yamahagenerators.com/Yamaha-EF2400iSHC-p/ef2400ishc.htm fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: campman
Date Posted: 16 May 2021 at 12:58pm
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Lots of good, pertinent info has been shared as to various price points/manufacturers, sizes, AC mods (EasyStart), fuel types (propane and ethanol free/treated fuel), engine sizes/electrical output depending on the OP's needs. We all agree that an inverter generator is the way to preferred way to go for noise and providing clean power (all your electronic devices will thank you by lasting longer and not letting the smoke out...but that is a different story!)
Now I wait for any other questions or concerns to be posted or maybe even an update once all this info has been digested! It is actually a good reference to anyone just learning about generators and fuel as well. Maybe it should be marked as a reference thread? Just a thought and that could make it easier to find in the future. :-) ------------- Andy and Laurie '16 F150 5.0 4X4 w/factory tow pkg '21 RP192 "If the women don't find you handsome...at least let them find you handy!" Red-Green |
Posted By: campman
Date Posted: 23 May 2021 at 12:34pm
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Hmm, I think there is another thing to consider in regards to noise and inverter generators. This is the amount a generator has to power (rev) up to be able to provide the needed power. My 2000 watt Champion would have to go to max speed whenever a heavier load was demanded. This makes quite a bit more noise to achieve the same result as compared to when I use my 3300 (surge) watt Firman.
The Firmman is larger and heavier but barely comes over its idle speed when I load it up. They are both very quiet but the larger genny is quieter when under load as it doesn't have to work as hard... so for my uses, it is much quieter which is good for me and even better, considerate of anyone around us. My Firman is so capable I use it in power outages at our home...I plug in the sump pump (a very active device where I live, all year 'round), 10 cubic feet freezer, full size fridge and freezer simultaneously and the genny quietly purrs away with the little burps of extra noise when the loads cycle on and off. (Just make sure to replace the spark plug before using it with a good quality one! Throw away the stock plug as it is/was junk...mine was cracked from factory) Just another note keeping in mind I have a truck with a cap, so more room to store it when travelling and I don't mind having my gas cans in the back as well. Many different considerations need to be taken into account to make the right choice and everyone is different in their needs. ------------- Andy and Laurie '16 F150 5.0 4X4 w/factory tow pkg '21 RP192 "If the women don't find you handsome...at least let them find you handy!" Red-Green |
Posted By: Masternav
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2021 at 6:12pm
Your point is valid, but your math is off significantly. Ethanol produces 70% of the energy of gas, so if gasoline has 10% ethanol content, then it will produce 3% less energy than pure gasoline, not 10% less as you stated.
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Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 02 Jul 2021 at 7:29pm
The math may be wrong on the chalkboard or the computer screen but in the real world the math is correct. Since typical gasoline engines and even typical flex-fuel engines are not optimized for burning a 90-10 blend (or any other blend) then yes...we get about 10 percent less range per tank, or 10% less mpg. I have verified this many times. ------------- r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten! |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 03 Jul 2021 at 5:52am
The science is not wrong. Since practically all (over 98%) of the gasoline sold in the US is E10 and has been for many years now, of course any modern vehicles are optimized to run on it. So unless you are driving around in something from the 80's or earlier (and probably not even then), you can expect around the 3-4% difference in fuel economy. That's what the USDOE reports, and what the manufacturer's engineering staff reports as well. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: campman
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2021 at 6:12am
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So, ethanol reduces engine power on top of all the other damage to engines it can do if left untreated. In the case of any engine that is used sporadically it can kill them before you know it due to its hydroscopic nature...it draws water out of the fuel as well as from the ambient air around it(unless you take appropriate preventive steps). The more water in the air around it, the more it absorbs. High humidity means more water being absorbed into your fuel, sitting on the bottom of your tank.
For generators and other intermittent use motors you need to get as little of it in your small engines and tanks as possible, always treat your fuel to prevent the ethanol from separating from your gasoline and absorbing water with a good quality fuel stabilizer. Empty your carb (turn off your petcock/fuel shut off or run it out of fuel) when the generator is finished being used to further prevent gum/varnish deposits, keep your tank either completely full or empty for extended periods of time to further safeguard your fuel system and extend the life of your motor as less moist air comes in contact with your fuel. These are the best ways to get the most bang for your hard earned buck over the long term. Sta-bil, Seafoam, Phaseguard...all very good stabilizers and did I mention do the same for your boats, mowers, chainsaws, whipper-snippers, blowers, wood chippers and infrequently used cars trucks? Further examples of where to do the same thing and save yourself money, time and frustration. Fuel can go bad/skunky in only a couple of months and heat can make it break down even more quickly then that as well. Bad ethanol, bad. Now go back to your cornfield until you make something better of yourself! :-) Andy ------------- Andy and Laurie '16 F150 5.0 4X4 w/factory tow pkg '21 RP192 "If the women don't find you handsome...at least let them find you handy!" Red-Green |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2021 at 7:15am
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Ethanol increases octane rating so it does not reduce engine power. It increases it. Without the ethanol your 87 octane E10 would be about 85 octane. But you have to burn it faster so it reduces mpg.
It is an oxygenating agent (like MBTE before it) so it reduces carbon monoxide production in engines. It is a whole lot more environmentally safe than MBTE was. So it's a good additive in modern auto engines which get used all the time. In small occasional use engines and older fuel systems where the ethanol can attack the materials it's bad. In high humidity environments it's bad because ethanol is hydrophilic. Keep your fuel containers and gas tanks full and replace the fuel every month or two. You can use the old stuff in you car. Want to change your E10 fuel to non-ethanol gas? Just add water and shake well. Then decant the gasoline off the top of the water/ethanol mix. Your problem will be what to do with the 100 proof of so mess you have left over. Don't drink it  ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: chasl
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2021 at 7:44am
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Thanks for all the information in this post. I've learned a lot about gas and ethanol. In some places you can buy non-ethanol gas, but we don't have that option. I've heard that ethanol in gas can degrade/decompose rubber, etc gaskets in small engines if left to sit. I haven't had this issue with my generator, but I run the carburetor dry before storing, and I use Sta-bil in the gas. I may try to remove the ethanol with the just add water, shake, and siphon technique. I would rather not put ethanol gasoline in the generator. I bought a Champion 3400 about 5 years ago, and used it a few times around the house (power outage) and for camping in our R-Pod. I have 2 Pb-acid flooded batteries, so I installed a 190W solar panel on top, and also purchased a Renology 200W solar to beef up so we won't need to use the generator for recharging batteries too often here in the sunny west. We use the generator to run our convection/microwave, and so my wife can use a blowdryer on her hair after showers. It will run the AC but we usually camp in high altitude and don't need to use it. One question about 85 octane. Is that ok to use in the small engine of the generator. I assume so but better ask. ------------- cl |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2021 at 8:25am
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One of the reasons I purchased the dual-fuel Firman generator was so that I could run it on propane and not worry about ethanol or about carrying gasoline. I've only run it on propane and intend to do so. Propane does not generator quite as much power, but it burns much cleaner. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2021 at 8:26am
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If you're worried about damage to the generator's engine components getting hurt by the ethanol, why not buy a dual fuel inverter generator (or convert it to dual fuel)? Our little used generator has never had a drop of gasoline in it. It is used very, very rarely, but I never have to worry about ethanol damage to the motor. Yes, there is a slight reduction in output, but that's a reasonable tradeoff for an engine that doesn't have stinky exhaust and the mess of adding gasoline to the engine fuel tank. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2021 at 5:13pm
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I wasn't serious about making your own non ethanol gas. Don't, it's dangerous, creates hazardous waste, reduces the fuel octane. The polymers in your fuel system can handle the ethanol, the stories you hear about ethanol eating rubber apply to old natural rubber fuel systems. I had an airplane that I couldn't run ethanol gas in because it would eat the (very expensive) fuel bladders.
+2 on running propane though. You will get a little less power depending on how the conversion kit is set up, and propane has about 12% less btu per gallon so you will burn more fuel accordingly but its worth it. You don't have to carry around gasoline, your engine stays much cleaner, you don't have to worry about fuel stabilization. All good. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2021 at 11:54am
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From the Engineering Toolbox:
LHV of ethanol is 11,479 BTU/lb LHV of gasoline is 18,659 BTU/lb Ethanol has 61.5% of the energy of gasoline. Ethanol does have oxygen in its molecule, but only one Oxygen atom, and requires 6 O atoms to burn. While that's less than the 15 or so required for gasoline, it is still isn't a good source of Oxygen for combustion. Its primary function is to displace gasoline molecules and raise Octane rating allowing cheaper gasoline to be used as a base. Displacing gasoline molecules probably causes the exhaust gas to appear lean, causing in the vehicle's ECU to command more fuel to reach the 14.7 A/F ratio it is designed to hold, further increasing fuel consumption. I am always puzzled as to why more fuel consumption is eco-friendly. Fuel injection systems using E10 (with evaporative controls on the tank) are well sealed and mostly prevent oxygenation of the ethanol and water absorption. By now, all fuel systems are built with materials impervious to ethanol damage, so there is no worry there. However, carburetted systems in small engines are not sealed and cannot prevent oxidation of the ethanol, nor water absorption. That can easily corrode ferrous parts of the fuel system (tank, float bowl, ....) I learned the hard way not to use E10 in a carburetted 4-cyl motorcycle after I let it sit for 6 weeks over the winter. That bike ran well on E10, as long as you burned it out quickly. Bottom line, avoid E10 in any carb'ed engine and especially one that doesn't run several days a week. I am still disturbed by using a food source for fuel. Alas, the farm lobby likes the extra demand for corn and will not let the politicians stop it. ------------- John '16 R-Pod 180 |
Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2021 at 1:17pm
I did not say the science is wrong. But you are. Again. The EPA uses what is called 'certification gasoline' in mileage tests to arrive at the published and certified MPG numbers for each vehicles that they rate. Certification gasoline is E0. No ethanol. E0 burns more efficiently and effectively in an engine which the manufactures design to run on E0. Duh. Typical vehicle engines today are capable of operating (at reduced efficiency) on E10...but that is NOT the same as being optimized for it.
------------- r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten! |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2021 at 10:40pm
This is the post I was referring to, weeks ago btw. Every credible source (including the EPA BTW) states that fuel economy with E10 is 3-4 percent less than with non ethanol gasoline, yet you say you have personally verified a 10% reduction many times. Please then share your scientific data demonstrating that. How did you control for all the other variables that effect fuel economy and what were the statistical techniques you used? Or perhaps this is just an personal anechdote you are putting forward? Again. With reference to Colt's post, if we bought fuel by the pound your units would be valid but we don't so we need to stick with units of energy/volume. So ethanol is 76330 btu/gal and gasoline is 116090 ⁶and the ratio is 65.8%. I do fully agree about avoiding using E10 in carbureted engines, especially small ones. If you have to, and in many places you do, then it's best to have a fuel cutoff valve and run the engine till it shuts off from lack of fuel before storage, which will (mostly) clear the carb. I'm not a big fan of E10 personally, especially because it screwed me up in the past for mogas aircraft use. 100LL avgas is extremely expensive and has lead in it which causes lots of other issues. E10 is harmful to expensive aircraft fuel system components. But E10 is better environmentally than the MBTE it replaced. As for it otherwise being food, that in itself doesn't bother me. Only a small fraction of corn produced in the US is consumed by humans, and that is mostly in the form of high fructose corn syrup, not really the best stuff for you. The fact that corn ethanol's energy balance (output energy/input energy) is so bad does bother me. There are much better biofuel feedstocks. Brazil, for example, which uses mostly sugarcane based ethanol, is much more efficient at ethanol production. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2021 at 12:26am
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LOL! Makes no difference how you buy a fuel, it burns based on weight/mass/mole.
You cannot also, honestly, expect a government agency with a vested interest in enforcing its edicts to publish accurate data. I spent most of my life in environmental engineering, reading the slanted, or "spun" research. It is done by selectively omitting data points so the conclusion reached is the conclusion desired. It was thus for over 30 years. So, yes, I also, typically get 10% worse mileage on E10. Now, one tank might calculate 8%, but the pumps all say "up to 10% ethanol". I'm told the ethanol is dropped into the tanker just before it leaves the terminal, a bit like an afterthought. Not an accuracy laden process. ------------- John '16 R-Pod 180 |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2021 at 11:47am
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I found that most of my carb issues stopped when i started using Sta-Bil in my E10 gasoline. ------------- Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2021 at 12:33pm
10% worse by weight or by volume? 
Any engineer or scientist knows you have to get your units right to start with. Either mass or volume can work but you cannot switch back and forth in the middle of a calculation. If you want to do it in energy content per unit mass then stick with that for both fuels and for the mixture, then convert back to volume at the end because we don't buy fuel by the pound. As for "spun" research, there seems to be a need these days to believe in all sorts of conspiracies. All the government agencies, auto manufacturer tech staff, university automotive engineering departments are all wrong and something I read from some guy on Facebook is right. That includes many other countries where ethanol is added to fuel as well. Sure, and there are children captive in the basement of Comet Pizza too. There is no way a casual user can resolve the difference between 10% and 3-4% (about 6%-7% delta) in fuel consumption in their day to day driving. Way too many uncontrolled variables to resolve a small difference like that. I know, I've had to try to evaluate small efficiency differences like before and it's not easy. So when someone can present statistically controlled peer reviewed data demonstrating that then I'll listen otherwise it's just anechdotal statements. And yes I do expect my government and science and engineering community to publish accurate data and I do not expect some random guy on Facebook or YouTube to. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Shane
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2021 at 2:51pm
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I found a 4650 watt inverter generator by Champion with remote start and it works perfectly. It will run everything I need, including the a/c. I have a hard time finding ethanol free gas in my area ( Northern Illinois ) so add seafoam to all my fuels, and i do use the premium blend in my unit. Thank you all for all the iformation! ------------- ENGINE 55,TRUCK 44,BATALLION 12 |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2021 at 7:33pm
| I know this has probably been beat to death but I am looking at a Firman 2900/3200 generator invertor. It seems like this would run the AC on my 189. It is listed at $699 seems pretty reasonable. A little heavy at 94 lbs but if it runs my AC I'd be happy |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2021 at 8:41pm
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It will probably start the a/c without an Easystart. Might be close though if it's overload protection circuit is fussy. If it won't start it then you can return it or put in an Easystart.
Your back might not survive though. Your alternative is an Easystart and a sub 50 lb 1-ish kw generator. The Easystart is well worth not having to have back surgery IMHO. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Casey179
Date Posted: 14 Sep 2021 at 9:45am
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I purchased a used honda on e-bay from a pawn shop gently used for 600.00 works great very quiet ------------- Casey179 |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 14 Sep 2021 at 11:43am
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Since I converted my two Honda EU2000i generators to propane operation, I'll probably have to use both of them in parallel to run the AC even with an EasyStart now unless I want to mess with gasoline again (which I don't). I wanted to get away from gasoline due to the mess and smell. Propane tanks are clean enough that they can ride in the passenger compartment of my SUV. ------------- Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 14 Sep 2021 at 1:38pm
| I have someone local that has a Craftsman that was 3000/3400 watt that was used. New was 899 he wanted $800 or best offer said it was only used once?......the Firman is $699 new with warranty. Seems less risky to me if it will run the AC. Several reviews indicated people were running RV ACs with it and no issues. |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 14 Sep 2021 at 11:58pm
I could start my a/c with Easystart just fine on my one Honda EU2000i with propane conversion. Where I would anticipate problems is running it after startup at high altitudes in hot conditions. You're starting to get close to maximum engine output. I never tried at over about 3500 ft elevation or so. Mixture readjustment with altitude definitely helped as well, not sure it that can be done on all conversion kits. It was easy to do on my Century Fuels one. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2021 at 5:58pm
| I am taking what i consider to be a real calculated risk. I ordered a gen set from Amazon that is returnable (calculated risk). It is 3300 starting and 2800 running watt and has a 30 amp plug. I won't say what brand or anything yet, just that it is a Chinese build but from what I have seen most of them are built in China. Weighs 52 lbs and has a 145 cc OHV engine. I am going to try it out as soon as I get it and see if it will run my AC. I know from experience a lot of these type of units are purchased by importers that put whatever name they decide on them. It could be a gigantic mistake but I can send it back if it doesn't work. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2021 at 6:10pm
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Okay. I will be looking forward to reading the results of your testing. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2021 at 8:08pm
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Here's my guess: it will run but might not reliably start the a/c. IOW, if you also get an Easystart you will be OK. I'm basing that guess on the light weight. It takes rotating mass, as in a heavy flywheel, to start a compressor motor, or it takes a soft start system. Just a guess, I could be wrong. But my point is that if it doesn't start the a/c you don't necessarily need to return it.p ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2021 at 8:25pm
| You may be right I was making my guess on the fact that it has 145 cc engine most of the 2000 watts have 80 cc. The Craftsman 3300 has 149 cc and it weighs 60 lbs and I have talked to several folks that were able to run their AC with it. I could be wrong like I said calculated risk. Also it does have a 30 amp recepticle. |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 18 Sep 2021 at 9:17pm
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The engine doesn't have a chance to throttle up during compressor startup, it happens too fast. So you are dependent on energy stored in the flywheel and on the generator inverter section being able to handle the high start currents. The Chinese inverter generators tend to use lower spec FETs and protect them by having their protection circuits cut out earlier than say Honda which uses better transistors with more headroom. So we'll see...
Either way, an Easystart will solve the problem, if it was me Id install one anyway just to keep the currents down and have everything run smoothly. They work great and are well worth the price IMHO. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 1:23pm
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There is another consideration. Years ago, we got a small 2KW generator made by Honeywell. It worked well, was quiet, and we considered it a good value relative to a similar Honda generator. Then something went wrong with it (can't remember the details), but the big problem was that Honeywell have exited the business, and you could not get parts for it. I've had similar issues with generic gas grills vs Weber gas grills. The former will work for a while, and then you throw them away. The Weber came with a replacement parts booklet, and you can still buy parts for them (although they also last longer). ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 1:32pm
| I would wager it was imported by Honeywell that they didn't actually make it. Same with a Craftsman they have someone else (China) build it). The company that actually builds the one I am getting has been around since 2010. I would suspect if I wanted to import enough of them they would put any name I wanted on it......I could call it Bill or George anything but Sue. They don't build the engines either so you get whatever manufactorer they use. |
Posted By: Colonel Podder
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 1:38pm
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Sounds promising, but I am assuming this is a gas powered unit only? Not dual fuel? Thanks.
------------- 2021 R-pod 196 |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 2:04pm
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Yes gas powered |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 4:25pm
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I'm not sure if you realize, but a generator 30 amp plug, is not the same as an R.V. 30 amp plug. So you will not be able to plug directly into it. You'll need an adaptor. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2021 at 6:08pm
| Yes I know when I get it in I will see what I need to get it to work. |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2021 at 2:51pm
| Well the gen set had the proper plug in for the 30 amp cord so no adaptor was needed. I was able to get the AC to start up 3 times with no issues. One question do you need to take a spike and connect it to the gen set ground mine has a connection that says to externally ground. Reason I ask is when I connected my surge protector I didn't get a blue light that would indicate it was grounded? I will try to post some pics when I get a chance but is seems like this is going to work. As with others it is pretty quiet on eco but louder when off and running the AC.....but 60 lbs and I got it for $460. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2021 at 3:56pm
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Most, if not all, generators of this type have what is called a "floating ground." Even if you drive a ground rod, you may have this. What you need is a Bonding Plug. You can purchase them, or if you want, you can easily make one. Parts needed: One male grounding plug such as this one from Lowe's or Home Depot: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hubbell-15-Amp-Volt-Yellow-3-Wire-Grounding-Plug/3739251 - https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hubbell-15-Amp-Volt-Yellow-3-Wire-Grounding-Plug/3739251 Short length of AWG10 or 12 wire, 10 preferred. Sealant for hole if desired Directions: Open the plug. Identify the terminals. Brass color is the hot wire, silver the neutral wire, and green is the ground wire connection. Cut a short length (as in a couple of inches) of wire. Strip enough off of the ends to connect to the terminals. Connect one end to the neutral (silver) terminal. Bend and connect the other end to the ground (green) terminal. Close the plug. Add sealant to the open hole to seal it up if desired (I did). When the sealant is cured, it is ready to use. How to use: Plug this bonding plug into one of the 15A outlets. You will no longer have a floating neutral and your surge protector will be happy. Why does this work? When you connect to a shore power connection, the neutral and ground are bonded at the breaker panel. When you plug into your generator, they are not bonded. The bonding plug does this so your power source is recognized by your surge protector to be set up properly. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2021 at 5:23pm
| And this will fix the ground on the 30amp plug as well? Does this actually accomplish anything safety wise or will it just satisfy my surge protector? |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2021 at 5:35pm
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You should still drive a ground rod for safety. This just addresses the floating ground. It will also bond for the 30A plug. Simple surge protectors will only show a fault. Some of the fancier ones will not allow power to turn on if it senses this fault. That is the reason for the bonding plug. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2021 at 6:03pm
| I will probably not use the surge suppressor when I am running the generator but mine just showed a fault in the ground. Not sure if the surge suppressor is necessary with the gen set. Good news is it seemed to start the AC without a stumble or anything that I noticed. |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2021 at 4:29pm
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Here is a pic of the generator. I am not endorsing this as I just got it and can only say it is lightweight and it was able to start my AC. This is the actual company that built the generator's site: https://www.cqdinking.com/pages/company-overview.html - Company Overview (cqdinking.com) This is their various generator invertors: https://www.cqdinking.com/products/collections/quiet-inverter-generator.html - Quiet Inverter Generator (cqdinking.com) Whoever imports it has them put the Genmax name on it. The price went up to $549. I got coupon for 50 off and it was 499 so I paid 460 total   |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2021 at 4:04pm
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You do not need to drive a ground rid for a little portable generator. The trailer chassis acts as the ground plane, and with the bonding plug your gfcis will function properly. In fact, if you did add a ground rod, you would be invoking Code requirements for that, which are pretty strict nowadays, 8 ft rod and max ground resistance requirements etc.
Glad the generator starts the a/c for you. Sounds like a keeper. The worst case scenario will be a restart on a hot day, you might need to wait till next summer now for those conditions. If it's ever an issue just install an Easystart. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Ricktoon
Date Posted: 05 Oct 2021 at 10:30pm
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In case anyone is interested Costco has the Firman 3200 watt duel fuel inverter generator on sale for $200 off. It cost me $699 delivered. Will let you know how it works out with our R-pod 196. ------------- Rick and Ellen B 2019 Chevy Colorado 2021 Rpod 196 |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 06 Oct 2021 at 8:43am
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I have that model that I purchased when it was on sale previously. I am well pleased with it. I have only run it on propane and intend to continue doing so. I think you will enjoy it. It isn't the most quiet generator, but it is quieter than some I have heard. I like that it has an hour meter built in so you can know when it is time to change the oil or do other services. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 06 Oct 2021 at 10:17am
| I had looked at the Firman and almost pulled the trigger on it but the weight was a deterrant for me. The one I got weighs 60 lbs which I can handle and keeps me within my weight specs. We will see how well it holds up but I don't plan on using it a lot with the camper just when I feel like I may need the AC. |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2021 at 5:56pm
| So far so good.....starts first pull no issues. I ran it on eco mode and was using my circular saw seemed to do fine. Do you leave these in eco mode when you are running your AC or is it better to turn off eco mode? I assume it adjusts to the demand either way? When the compressor shuts off by thermostat the load should go down significantly so eco mode may be okay then? |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2021 at 6:33pm
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I've run my parallel EU2000i generators on Eco mode with the 13.5k BTU AC on in my old 179 with no issues. I have not tried it with the 15k BTU AC in my 196. If you do experience issues, you can reduce the surge load when the AC compressor comes on by installing a Micro-Air EasyStart. ------------- Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats |
Posted By: pedwards2932
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2021 at 6:49pm
| The reason I got the 3200 watt was to avoid the Easy Start. It runs my AC with no problem so far just not sure about running on eco or not |
Posted By: leon
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2022 at 8:25pm
| I had the same problem and now I have Honda portable generator and have no issues with https://www.propaneva.com/best-portable-generator/#product_2 - it . I can use for example microwave and a fridge at the same time and everything is ok |