Anybody know any thing about generators help needed

[sarah23]

I am trying to get a generator sorted to use with my horse box when i'm away over night. I know nothing about them so please forgive me if I ask A stupid question.

I have looked at a 3KVA one, Is this powerful enough, say for poss TV/microwave and most 13amp things. Is it too powerful ?. Does the power of the thing also mean it will use more fuel or is it just how much stuff you have plugged in.

I have also posted in new lounge but thought more people might know in here what with being away over night competing.

 

[Polotash]

I looked into gennies for my yard before i shelled out on mains electric.. I'm not sure about small ones for running lorries but I would recommend you get a push-button start one, the pull ones I always find really hard :0(

 

[PaddyMonty]

That would certainly be powerful enough however, you need to be careful about how clean the power it supplies is. Generators using inverter technology are far better when using delicate electrical items like TV's.
Also be careful about the noise level as the cheaper ones are very loud.

 

[Rambo]

Agreed...more Kva's equates to a bigger thirstier generator. A 2Kva model should be more than adequate power for a microwave and kettle...TV's use minimal power these days so they are a given.

As Juno says though cheap = noisy.

 

[sarah23]

This is the noise level for it: LwA dB(A): 96

Is this Ok or is it bad. I have no idea

 

[Polotash]

Yep, that is very loud indeed! When I worked on motorways they said the noise from standing on the hard shoulder was 96 dB.

 

[PaddyMonty]

96db is a no go for horsebox genny.
Dont know what your budget is but this is the bottom end of what i would choose
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KM2000i-P...trial_Tools_Generators_ET&hash=item3a69f59650

Or this is better....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IG2600H-K...trial_Tools_Generators_ET&hash=item2c5fdc6377

If you really want to splash the cash the the honda version of the above are fantastic but with price to match.

Just remember that a microwave as a rough guide uses twice the power its rated at. So an 800watt will actuallly draw nearer 1600watts

 

[popsdosh]

Agreed...more Kva's equates to a bigger thirstier generator. A 2Kva model should be more than adequate power for a microwave and kettle...TV's use minimal power these days so they are a given.

As Juno says though cheap = noisy.

There is no way a 2kva generator will run a kettle 3.5 min.

 

[PaddyMonty]

There is no way a 2kva generator will run a kettle 3.5 min.

Unless it was a 1kva kettle

 

[popsdosh]

In which case you would be better off lighting a match under it.

 

[Rambo]

I can assure you it does...i have the self same setup and have used it many times.

If you want a cheaper quiter alternative though a portable gas ring with disppsable cartridges at c.£15 is better :--))

 

[sarah23]

Thanks for the replies. Would this one be any good

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180761057836?ssPageName=STRK:MEBOFFX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1427.l2649

 

[Rambo]

Thanks for the replies. Would this one be any good

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180761057836?ssPageName=STRK:MEBOFFX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1427.l2649

That's the sort of thing you want but I really would think carefully about what you want to use a gennie for. A lot of what you want can be achieved with gasand/or a leisure battery. Anything you'd usually use a generator for can be done with gas or mains hook up. Even a relatively cheap gennie is expensive if you rarely use it.

 

[sarah23]

I'm going to start going away over night quite a bit next season and most places I will be staying at does not have a hook up and I don't have a cooker in my lorry so would need one for a microwave and toaster for food I can use a little camp stove for the kettle and I don't have a leisure battery either. So considering the cost to get the other things fitted I thought getting the generator was a cheaper option plus I can always sell in when I finished with it