Generator
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Topic: Generator
Posted By: mjlrpod
Subject: Generator
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2016 at 4:25pm
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The question might be a little late, but.... I have a new champion generator with 4000 peak, and 3500 constant amps of power being delivered tomorrow. I estimated that i would be able to run the whole rp172 with this set up. The a/c and fridge run at about 2150amps constant. I figure the microwave puts me close @ 1000 to run it, but even that leaves me 350 amps theoretically. I suppose if i call for hot water i might pop the circuit, but i doubt all this happens together very often. comments?? Am i good with this unit? what do you use. Do you use these louder type generators? rated for 68 dbls at 23 feet? I would want to use this in state parks that don't always have hookups. Is it a keeper? or send it back. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Replies:
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2016 at 4:32pm
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I hope your not next to me in the CG. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2016 at 4:56pm
| I use a Generac IX 2000, reasonably quiet and meets most my needs, can't run the convection microwave and AC at same time, but only use when power is not available, just a good back-up generator. Not familiar with the champion, personally think it is more than you need for running a Pod in a campground but may make sense when boon docking. |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2016 at 5:08pm
I am with you MarWayne ! Have had people move in next door with noisy generators, usually I go to the ranger and ask if they have any rules about noise levels . . some do others not so. In the former case, have had ranger/person in charge politely ask owner to turn it off. In the latter case, if it is allowed I will ask if I can move somewhere else if there are any spots available. Worse case scenario, my wife and I will take an extended hike and stay away from the campsite for a while and hope when we get back, it will be quiet once again. Since we boon dock most of the time this problem crops up, fortunately we have seen a good number of campers go with the Honda or equivalent that are extremely quiet. For that we are very thankful.------------- 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: 27 Dec 2016 at 6:57pm
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I have a Yamaha 2400iSHC. I got it because it has one of the lowest noise levels around for an inverter/generator its size. It runs my air con, and everything else, just not at the same time. If the air con, or an electric heater, or the microwave is on, that's it, at least in terms of larger appliances. I have been caught going over the limit, which shuts off the generator, but it's been my forgetfulness, rather than any need for simultaneous use. It's rated 53 dBA / 60 dBA at 1/4 load / Full Load. The scale isn't linear, so this is quite a bit quieter than your Champion. People still complain, which is understandable. I was a tent-camping snob who really resented generator noise until I got the Pod a few years ago. It's important to understand that generators aren't allowed everywhere and they aren't allowed during certain hours in other places. I've seen people break all kinds of campground rules, but this is the one that seems to get more enforcement, hands down, than any other. People don't like the noise. You probably won't either for that matter. 4000 watts is overkill for the pod, unless you're going to insist on running the air con and the microwave at the same time. Even then, I think 3000 watts will do. And as you've seen from other replies, the noise level can't be overstated. I really recommend the Yamaha or a Honda at something at or a little under 3000 watts. Hondas, and I think now some Yamahas, will let you run two 2000 watt generators together, for a total of 4000 watts. You can run one by itself or two together. Any time you are hauling around 3000 watts or more of generators you are hauling a lot of weight. A 3000 or 4000 watt generator takes a pretty good man to move by himself. I guess that's the big argument for 2 x 2000 watt generators. I can handle my Yamaha 2400 as long as I keep telling myself to lift with my legs not with my back.... Yamahas and Hondas are more expensive than Champions, per watt. You're paying for the low noise level, the (at least alleged) quality, and the name. I don't regret my purchase at all. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2016 at 6:58pm
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Oh yeah. The only reason to ever want to run the water heater on electricity is because you have hook ups or you ran out of propane. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2016 at 7:08pm
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Champion 68 dba, Honda eu2000i 53 dba to 59 dba, that is about 1/2 as loud than the Champion.
------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2016 at 7:30pm
Remember the most quiet expensive gen set has to shut off at quiet time. I have the same Champion generator and it works fine. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2016 at 7:42pm
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You are right Keith, I have camped in Provincial parks where gen are only aloud mornings and evenings except for the camp host he ran his gen all day long.
------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: Mojave1
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2016 at 8:11pm
Each 3db is a doubling of sound - 10db is about 10 times louder. However, perceived sound, 10db sounds about twice as loud. The Honda is much quieter. ------------- 2017 179 R-pod |
Posted By: Mojave1
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2016 at 8:19pm
Like a century ago, I used to use a Champion generator when out in the Mojave desert camping alone. I had a long extension cord and put the generator in a wash (so I didn't have to hear it). We only used it for a short period of time in the mornings to charge batteries. Personally, I think you need an inverter generator such as the Honda EU2000. It takes two of these together to make 4000 watts. Champion, less expensive, does make inverter generators. I think your not your talking about these (53 dba - which is okay): https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Power-Equipment-73536i-Stackable/dp/B0041K09D8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1482887743&sr=8-2&keywords=champion+inverter+generator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC6A1SMldcc I think the loud construction (direct drive high RPM) generators are prohibited in many parks. If you start it you might get attacked (heard of this happening). Sorry for the bad news...
------------- 2017 179 R-pod |
Posted By: rda54
Date Posted: 27 Dec 2016 at 8:25pm
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Northern tool has one that is 2000 and it is quite but it is half the price of the Honda so you could get two and run them together. I look at them and the sales man really help me I may be getting one of them. ------------- Ronald & Lonna 2014 178 2016 Chevy 1500 |
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2016 at 11:20am
| Remember -- you have to lift it to move it or transport it. Those tiny wheels work well only on a hard surface. |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2016 at 12:25pm
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well, it came in. I'll have to strat it up and see how loud it is. I wouldnt ever run it at night, I am thinking daytime only. I also thought making a box to go over it, with some type of breathable filter, it might quiet it down. I have a few months to try to come up with something. This unit was on sale for 399.00 with a remote start, it was worth a shot. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2016 at 12:58pm
------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2016 at 3:57pm
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well. i put it together (wheels,hift handle, battery for elec/remote start) started her up and......... its pretty freakin quiet. I was pretty happy with it. It might sound loud after hearing it for an hour, but it was fairly quiet. At 25 feet it was no worse than if someone was talking to you in a calm voice. i think if i left it in the bed of the truck, with the cover closed, it might be almost make no noise. A small noise reduction mod if that doesnt work. i'll try to give people a heads up where i'm going so they can avoid the noisy camper guy. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2016 at 5:45pm
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Mine gets loaded into the bed of my truck and stays there. If running the air it is impossible to hear the gen set. And if campers attack one another in Texas and it is permitted that is no place to camp. These Champion gen sets are no where near as loud as some of the Honda fanciers are making them out to be. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2016 at 7:27pm
Using Champion's and Yamaha's own numbers, the Champion is almost twice as loud as the Yamaha. (Now, I'm comparing a 2000/2400w Yamaha to a 3500/4000w Champion, so this isn't exactly apples to apples -- but if we're talking about generators that are adequate to run a Pod, the Yamaha is usually sufficient, whereas the Champion is more than necessary, so louder than necessary.) I've never heard of campers being attacked for using a generator, but I have been told by campground hosts that other campers complained about my generator use, even though it was allowed at the campground and I was within generator hours. And I've been asked to cut my generator off 15 minutes after generator hours when I missed the cutoff. (Totally appropriately. My bad.) There is one campground I go to fairly regularly that has sections that allow generators from October to April but not May to September. I learned that the hard way when the ranger told me to cut off the generator or move. All this points to the fact that whether your generator bothers you, with or without your air conditioner running, it most likely bothers others around you. Camping among annoying campers, whether they are breaking the rules or not, is not fun. I'll use my generator when allowed, but I try to limit the noise as much as I can. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2016 at 8:16pm
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Here is my take on generator owners,( and I'm one of them
) most generator owners like to place the unit as far as possible from there trailer, so they don't have the noise and don't care about there neighbours
having to put up with the noise. Therefor my Honda is build in and the exhaust is diverted to the ground. Results: The noise of my Honda decreased by over 50%. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 28 Dec 2016 at 8:40pm
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I'm not thinking i'll be using it alot to camp, there are a few places without hook ups i might use it. I'm not out to ruin anyones camping fun. I think keeping it in the bed of the truck might be just the amount of baffle needed to make it work. Plus with the remote start, i can call for it when i need and shut it off quickly. good topic though, thanks everyone. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |