Regular Generator one: Many regular generators are good quality units with a clean wave form and are as safe as any other generator to use with anything
Regular generator two: Many smaller units are kind of scary when you put 'em on a scope and I'd not wish to plug delicate electronics into them
That said, the one very small generator I had (Genrac 1000) was a good one
Inverter genrerator 1: All the inverter generators I've seen were good, nice clean waveforms, I'd not fear to plug into them
Inverter gernartor 2: I have not seen and tested every inverter genrator made and thus can not say they all meet the qualiity of the ones I have seen.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
Several months ago, I bought a Magna 3000 on eBay for $670 including shipping. It's a digital inverter, 59 db at full load and has a 1.7 gallon gas tank. It runs my 13,500 btu AC just fine along with the rest of the trailer and the unit is very portable. It also has gas and vent shutoffs so there's no gas odor when storing or hauling it.
I tested it with my Fluke Scopemeter attached to it and tried a number of different loads. When it was in economode, the voltage dipped to 103vac for a couple of cycles when a large load started but it compensated very quickly. There was no voltage drop whatsoever when the economode switch was in the off position. The cycles never varied. Since the voltage drop was so quick, I run it in economode because it's much quieter and the gas lasts longer. It also runs at a slower speed when the AC is running and only throttles up when my wife's 1875 watt hair dryer is added to the load.
We love our $600 Magna!
Bill J., Lexington, KY
2006 Starcraft 2500RKS 25' Travel Trailer
2000 Excursion Ltd. 7.3 PSD
ABFord wrote: Just a quick question about regular genny's and inverter style. I already know the inverter style are the quietest and the most camper friendly.
My question is it safe to use regular style generators with todays newer trailers. Because the regular gennys aren't a clean power like the inverter style, has anyone had problems with frying any of the electronics in the newer trailers(such as the fridge). I am just curious becaus the fridges have to have some sort of electronic to be able to decide between propane and power when in auto mode.
Thanks for any input you may have. As much as I would like a 3000watt inverter genny, it is just not in the budget right now. And as for the comments on regular ones being loud, I know they are louder.
The standard RV fridge's electronics operate on the 12 volt bus, battery or converter, so basically no issue with 120 VAC input waveform/noise. The 120 VAC only supplies the ~350W heating capability if it is available.
The purity of the inverter sine wave is a function of the design, more expensive PWM designs generally will be cleaner.
At or near maximum load the inverter style gensets ARE NOT quieter than standard gensets and even at lower load levels there are questions. The standard gensets MUST run at a constant "high" RPM but their noise generation level is still partially the result of throttling, as the load increases the throttle must open wider, more fuel more noise.
If you plan to run an A/C via a genset then pay close attention to the instructions for both units in this regard. Standard gensets may themselves have problems with the restart cycling of an A/C and due to the slower reaction times of an inverter genset to the A/C restart surge current they are generally even worse.
An A/C with a running current of 10 amps will often require, INSTANTLY require, 2.5 times that for startup and even more than that for the subsequent restart cycling. That's still 3000 watts even if you disregard the power factor going into orbit at the same time.
jauguston wrote: I had the opportunity to see the numbers on a db meter that was being used by a park ranger checking a 6500w Champion a week ago. It was lightly loaded and at 21' it registered 82 db. Don't anybody try and convince me they are "just a little" noisier than the Honda or Yamaha inverter type. The owner was told to shut it off. His buddy had a Honda construction type 5000w in the back of his pickup and it was 75 db at 21'. Still way loud. You could hear it all over the park. The ranger told him he should not let it run either but he let them use it with the warning to not run it any more than absolutely necessary and don't bring it back.
Jim
When we talk about the champion we aren't talking about the 6500watt house back up/construction model. We are all talking about the 3500/4000 watt models that are rated at and have been tested by several members on here at 68 decibels. So yes they are just a little noisier whether you want to believe it or not. besides, No one needs a 5000+watt genset for camping. Talk about way over kill.
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