jje1960
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2007
- Posts
- 1,556
There is very much hair-splitting on this thread.... I just can't see how this is that big a decision frankly. Consider the basic issues that apply, price, noise, requirement and expected proficiency.... If you need this generator (or inverter) to take care of low, med or heavy load, buy appropriately. Electronics (TV, Satellite box, computer, phones, etc), keeping the on-board battery charged, furnace fan, even a small coffee maker, 1k inverter is plenty. Microwave use, move to a 2k. Aircon use your going to heavy load, better plan on the largest inverter types or noisy contractor what-ever, however cheap home center special. Any unit run 24/7 or what-ever time cycle will need maintenance, oil change, air filter, general cleaning.
Okay, real world experience (if anyone cares... not much science specifics here) we spend plenty of time off the grid in our RV, Nascar camping and travel to campgrounds. We use a 1k Mitsubishi inverter, this provides 24/7 everything except microwave and aircon, PERIOD. Oil change and air cleaner maintenance with two weeks of constant use. Fuel, well about 1gal every 10-12hrs, depending upon amp draw, yes the higher the amp draw the harder the motor will work, hence the higher the fuel consumption.
When we intend to use the aircon or microwave, we switch to our Boliy 3600, this electric start unit will run the 15k aircon and everything else, common sense here... if the aircon was to compressor start at the same time as using the coffee maker at the same time as using the microwave at the same time as running the vacuum cleaner at the same time as TV, Satellite box, Stereo, 3 laptops plugged in... and anything else that draws amps.... your going to pop the breaker... Fuel consumption... average with our 3.6k gen/inverter is like 2gal / every 5-14hrs, obviously depends on amp draw.
We actually take both with us on every trip, I enjoy not being caught without power if problems occur.
Bottom line with us, is that if you do not need air-con and microwave, 1k is plenty, uses about 2.5gal avg per/24hrs. Still need to consider the noise, maintenance and quality, but I can say that we have had 4 generators over the years for the RV and house, change the oil, keep the air cleaner clean, run the fuel out of the bowl.... and they last a long time.
Okay, real world experience (if anyone cares... not much science specifics here) we spend plenty of time off the grid in our RV, Nascar camping and travel to campgrounds. We use a 1k Mitsubishi inverter, this provides 24/7 everything except microwave and aircon, PERIOD. Oil change and air cleaner maintenance with two weeks of constant use. Fuel, well about 1gal every 10-12hrs, depending upon amp draw, yes the higher the amp draw the harder the motor will work, hence the higher the fuel consumption.
When we intend to use the aircon or microwave, we switch to our Boliy 3600, this electric start unit will run the 15k aircon and everything else, common sense here... if the aircon was to compressor start at the same time as using the coffee maker at the same time as using the microwave at the same time as running the vacuum cleaner at the same time as TV, Satellite box, Stereo, 3 laptops plugged in... and anything else that draws amps.... your going to pop the breaker... Fuel consumption... average with our 3.6k gen/inverter is like 2gal / every 5-14hrs, obviously depends on amp draw.
We actually take both with us on every trip, I enjoy not being caught without power if problems occur.
Bottom line with us, is that if you do not need air-con and microwave, 1k is plenty, uses about 2.5gal avg per/24hrs. Still need to consider the noise, maintenance and quality, but I can say that we have had 4 generators over the years for the RV and house, change the oil, keep the air cleaner clean, run the fuel out of the bowl.... and they last a long time.