Spaceman Spiff
Great White North
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Hi, I am not sure where to post this. Mods feel free to move as required.
It looks like we will be doing some boondocking in the future. I have no idea which is better when it comes to boondock power generators or solar power? We would need power to run the microwave, water pump and possibly the furnace. We have A/C but probably wont need to run it while boondocking. Any suggestions or advice will be greatly appreciated.
Spiff
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alpenliter
Olympia WA
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Jon, for the boondocking you've described, I think you could get by very nicely with a Honda EU2000 generator. For about $900. you would get all the power you need as long as you don't use the A/C.
While the overall cost of a good solar systen would be between 2 and 3K, you can't depend on sunny days, and even at the ridiculous price of gas, I think the genny would be the way to go. Also, use some of the money you saved on not getting a solar set up to purchase a Olympian catalytic heater. It uses very little propane and no battery draw. Have fun and good luck!
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AZCampinfool
Gilbert, AZ
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I agree with Alpenliter....the Honda is a great generator and much cheaper and more versatile for the type of power needs you are describing.
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PopBeavers
San Jose, CA
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The only problem with a generator is that for very long term boondocking it is cost prohibitive to use a generator to fully charge the batteries.
So, for long term boondocking you might want to consider using the generator to recharge the batteries but only while the charger is in bulk mode. Once the battery is charged up enough that the charger drops out of bulk mode you are burning a lot of gas for a little charge.
This is where a small solar panel helps. Use the genny in the morning to bulk charge the batteries and then let the solar float it to the top.
This was the conclusion reached recently in a different thread where the discussion was the most fuel efficient/economical way to charge batteries from a charger.
Batteries need to be fully charged periodically. This might take 10 hours with a generator, but the bulk charge mode will only require running the generator for an hour or two.
I do not do extended boon docking. So I just use the Honda 2000 for about an hour per day, rain or shine, and then fully charge the batteries when I get home at the end of the weekend.
The recommendation for just topping off the batteries with solar after the genny has completed bulk charge mode was 120 watts, as I recall.
Solar only works when the sun is shining directly on the panels. Apparently even partial shade will drop the solar charge to very low. I almost always camp in a dense forest.
A generator is more versatile. It works rain or shine, as long as you have either gas or propane.
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stageline
Tulsa Ok
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I do a lot of boondocking and very seldom use my gen. With my 4 6 volt batteries I am able to watch satliate tv 4 hours at night and have enough power to make coffee in the morning. After sun up the batteries charge up pretty fast and the sun is cheap fuel.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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If you're doing MUCH boondocking you'll probably need both. One just doesn't necessarily replace the other as they serve pretty much different purposes. You won't run the microwave or AC on the solar power but it will charge your batteries silently given enough time. It'll charge them much more economically than the generator will. the generator will do both functions but at a lot more OPERATING cost. It all depends on just how MUCH you'll be using them.
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Spaceman Spiff
Great White North
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Thanks for the quick replies. I don't think we would be boondocking for anything longer than 3 or 4 days at time. My family only roughs it so much  .
A couple of dumb questions in regards to the gen. Do you just plug in the RV plug into as you would shore power? PopBeavers, what do you mean by bulk mode? is that a seperate switch?
Thanks
Spiff
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hwybnb
Southern California
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I agree with the others that have suggested a Honda EU2000. Unless you do a LOT of long-term boondocking it is hard to justify the higher cost of solar.
When we use our Honda we simply plug the RV's shore power cord into it using a dog-bone adapter.
The reference to bulk mode applies to charging batteries with an automatic 3-stage charger. Those begin the charging cycle in a high-output (bulk) mode that applies 14+ volts to the batteries.
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Spaceman Spiff
Great White North
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So to charge the batteries you just let RV circuitry do it or do you hook the generator to a battery charger and charge the battery using the charger?
Spiff
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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I have a gen or two but considering the cost of fuel for them, solar is looking very attractive. solar is spendy at first but it's getting cheaper by the day, if you watch the fuel go up each day.
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