Cheapo Generators
Howdy.
First of all, I have looked through the search results and have found some answers though most are old.
I am looking to part cash and pick up a generator. My brothers both have Honda generators and have never had a problem with them (only used once or twice a year so I should expect not).
I am looking for something between 1000kva and 2500kva, as a backup to my solar panels when I go camping. Running at most, two 50l fridges.
I am very much a bang for buck kinda guy and keep getting drawn to the $600 no name ones at Bunnings and similar and are more inclined to buy two of them as opposed to one Honda/Yammy though would like some feedback on no name generators.
Who has one (other than Honda or Yammy) and what is it like?
I have a Hyundai 1200kva which has never been used in anger though it is an industrial one and I need something more compact to fit in my camper.
luke t
Posts: 163
Date Joined: 22/02/10
Steer clear of blue diamond
Steer clear of blue diamond machinery generators ( they advertise on gumtree
i bought 1 last year for a trip, and although it made 240v no problems and relatively quiet.. The 12v (8a) battery charging outlet was producing 32 odd volts!!!
they replaced it and then the next one was the same straight out of the box.
I only found out because I'm very particular when it comes to 12vdc systems and check and double check everything.
Would have killed battery's really quickly had I tried to use it !!!
Swompa
Posts: 3966
Date Joined: 14/10/12
I have seen a couple of
I have seen a couple of reports like. Good to know.
Poltergeist
Posts: 159
Date Joined: 03/12/13
Dont do it. I bought one of
Dont do it. I bought one of the $600 generators and although it still runs it is slowly falling apart. Pretty much all the switches have fallen off and the start cord snapped after only a couple of starts, they are also very heavy compared to the Hondas. I ended up picking up a second hand Honda 2000kva for a good price and use it most of the time now.
DTrain
Posts: 486
Date Joined: 10/02/12
There was a thread about this
There was a thread about this recently you can look here: http://fishwrecked.com/forum/generators-and-freezers
In my opinion 2.5 kVa would be overkill for a couple of 50L engles. 1kVa would be plenty, and would be quieter and use less fuel. You would only need the 2.5kVA if you were trying to charge up some deep cycle batteries quickly.
I got a Vector Power one off Ebay: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-VP-1-5KVA-Puresine-Inverter-Generator-Silent-Portable-Petrol-Camping-/291157802659?hash=item43ca5b7ea3#shpCntId
It's only $329 plus shipping ($35). I've used it a bit and haven't had any issues with it. You could buy 4 of these things and it would still be cheaper than a honda.
Madmerv
Posts: 672
Date Joined: 24/01/15
+1
Check out that thread it was pretty informative.
Sometimes when the water is quiet, you can hear the fish laughing at you !
Swompa
Posts: 3966
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Yep I saw that one and agree,
Yep I saw that one and agree, very informative.
I am starting to side with the 2kva unit due to a planned upgrade from camper trailer to small caravan. Always best to have more power (to run a frypan/kettle/toaster when fire bans are on) than not enough
These seem to get a good wrap.
http://www.crazysales.com.au/online-free-shipping-lectron-ec2000i-portable-sine-wave-inverter-80463.html
Must add that I would only take it on one or two trips a year, at most, and not for too long (only cloudy days).
I am the person that purchases a Navara because I couldn't justify the cost of a Hilux.
Terry
Posts: 458
Date Joined: 04/12/05
FUJI
I have just got myself a FUJI inverter 2.7, rated at 2.5kva, it is about the same size as a Honda 2kva.
Chinese made but by all accounts from the research I did the Fuji's are pretty good with no adverse critisism.
Cost be less than $600 delivered . Got it on ebay.
I will use it occassionally so if it stuffs up then go buy another one........can buy 3 for the price of 1 Honda.
Swompa
Posts: 3966
Date Joined: 14/10/12
That is the theory I am going
That is the theory I am going with. You can connect some generators together to get twice the power.
Cant justify the payoff for a $2500 generator, only using it 10 or so days a year.
CCC
Posts: 539
Date Joined: 29/03/10
I have been caught too many
I have been caught too many times buying cheaper gear. Had a Honda 1KVA for years. Run it everyday for months when traveling. Very good!!!
Spend wise spend once. There's no difference really between them really until it lets you down.
Guess its like the difference between a Great Wall 4WD and a Toyota/Nissan........
Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
Here's a good read.
http://caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/battery-charging-via-generator/"Just because you are a Character, Doesn't mean you have Character."
Mr Wolf
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
You sure about that rating?
1000Kva is 1 mva (thats 1 million watts) I think you mean 1kva/1000 va?
i mean, you'd have power to spare, but transport and keeping it fuelled might be an option.
just dhu it
Posts: 1081
Date Joined: 14/05/09
Honda
your ratings are. 1 KVA. Or 1000 va or watts , for two fridges you should be looking at 1.5 to 2 KVA. Because there will be always something else that needs power , 10 days a year. Is almost a day a month so IMO you should look at something reasonable as the others have said if it breaks down you can always buy another , my luck it would break down when I most need it , I wanted a 2 KVA Honda and yes their $ 1690 plus. New. I hunted some down on gumtree and got a 6 month old unit for $1100 with original receipt papers and it still has 3.5 years warranty left from Honda , there was several others on there for the same price but they move. Quickly
Swompa
Posts: 3966
Date Joined: 14/10/12
Yep, both of you hit the nail
Yep, both of you hit the nail on the head re the 1KVA. I know boats, not electrics. That's why I only work on 12v systems....
Funnily enough, I went to start my Hyundai generator last night and discovered that the fuel hose had split and when I turned the fuel on, I had a small dinosaur juice fountain.
4WD show is this weekend so I will go chasing a bargain.
DTrain
Posts: 486
Date Joined: 10/02/12
To make it even more
To make it even more complicated 1kVA is not exactly the same as 1kW.
You need to apply a power factor to convert from VA to W. The power factor will depend on what devices you have plugged into the generator, but typically they say it's about 0.7 to about 0.9.
So 1kVA * 0.7 = 0.7 kW
Honda usually rates their generators in W, but the chinese ones use VA because it's a bigger number.
Chinbald
Posts: 317
Date Joined: 21/02/09
Go the quality.
I have the 1kva Yamaha $500 dollars second hand off pensioner with too many toys. Have heard stories of travellers up north with cheap generators and service providers will not waste there time looking at the smallest issues with them. 2kva is spot on but the size, and economy of 1 kva is hard to top when space is at a premium. Will run chest freezer + fridge and lights no problems.