Gennys

Submitted: Friday, Feb 12, 2016 at 10:39
ThreadID: 131591 Views:2897 Replies:8 FollowUps:12
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Hi all, we've put a heron 2.2 aircon in our van, the installer said I'd need a 2.8kva genny to run it in the bush. I have been looking at the Lectron 3500, it fits my needs and is reasonably priced.I think they are chinese made. Has anyone on the forum had any experience with Lectron,I would like to hear about them. Thanks in advance. Keith
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Reply By: Robin Miller - Friday, Feb 12, 2016 at 11:00

Friday, Feb 12, 2016 at 11:00
You don't necessarily need such a big generator Keith , and if you do go ahead then do a test first.

They just use a lot of current on startup and this can be significantly reduced.

There was a thread on the alternatives on exploroz last year , maybe somebody else can recall number of it.
Robin Miller

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Follow Up By: 9900Eagle - Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 08:11

Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 08:11
I think this is the thread Robin is referring to. Thread No. 130913
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Follow Up By: Member - Keith C (NSW) - Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 11:22

Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 11:22
Thanks guys, I posted on that thread,and have since been advised not to do this by an aircon mechanic.thats why I need a 2.8> genny.I would hate to stuff the aircon.Best regards Keith.
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Reply By: Mikee5 - Friday, Feb 12, 2016 at 13:19

Friday, Feb 12, 2016 at 13:19
I have a Heron 2.0 and a Honda 2Kva. to run it without problems. I suggest you try and borrow a 2.0 genny and try it before getting anything bigger (and bulkier/heavier).
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Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Friday, Feb 12, 2016 at 16:16

Friday, Feb 12, 2016 at 16:16
No idea what the current draw for the Heron is but my Honda 2.0 runs my Air Command Wren no worries, BUT, I do have to make sure all other heavy draw appliances, including the battery charger are turned off. Just a few lights OK.

Cheers
Pop
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Reply By: Member - johntoyo - Friday, Feb 12, 2016 at 16:30

Friday, Feb 12, 2016 at 16:30
Keith we have a Command Air Ibis rated a 2.8 cooling and my Handa 2kva will run it. The AC has a 'soft start' card fitted which flattens out the start up current requirements.

Again as others have said not other high draw items can be expected to be used.

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Reply By: Member - Wildmax - Friday, Feb 12, 2016 at 23:12

Friday, Feb 12, 2016 at 23:12
Remind me not to camp next to you in the bush - generator plus air con must make a hell of a racket !!
Wildmax
2018 Hilux and Black Wolf 210 tent - for the outback tracks less travelled
Formerly an AOR Eclipse and a TVan

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Follow Up By: Member - Keith C (NSW) - Friday, Feb 12, 2016 at 23:40

Friday, Feb 12, 2016 at 23:40
If you ever do, introduce yourself, we'll soon sort it out
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Follow Up By: AlanTH - Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 10:15

Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 10:15
We had one of these nice considerate types right behind us in the NT last year. No problem with them being close but then dumped his genset between the front of his vehicle and our van..... I asked him to move it and his response was "The wife doesn't like the noise disturbing her watching "Home and away"!!!!
Why do some people bother leaving home? Thankfully not everyone is like that.
AlanH.
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Follow Up By: Frank P (NSW) - Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 10:37

Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 10:37
Generators seem to cause short circuits in some people's heads.

We were camped at large commercial campground in the Kimberley in the generator area. At that stage I had bleep ty batteries and inadequate solar and had to run the generator during the day to bring up the batteries. That's why we chose the generator area.

I set up the generator in the bush at the end of the 15 metre lead, the furthest away from anyone that I could get it - further away from others than if we had left it on our site. We went for a walk and on our return the generator had been shifted back to under our van.

When we checked out I mentioned this incident to the receptionist. Another bloke who was also checking out said, "Yes, that was me. Why do you bother coming out here and bringing that sort of crap with you?" or words to that effect. "Keep your own noise on your own site".

Amazingly, he had been camped across the way from us and had brought the generator closer to himself, just to make sure that I enjoyed maximised inconvenience to myself, AND, as a despiser of generators, had booked himself into the generator area (there was plenty of room in the other areas).

I didn't bother to enter into a discussion - you cannot have an intelligent conversation with a person who thinks like that.
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Follow Up By: Member - Wildmax - Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 11:54

Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 11:54
I have a generator as well as our solar, just in case. It's simple enough to have a polite chat with the neighbours if we need to turn it on for a couple of hours, and most people are fine if you're considerate about time and location. Frank's neighbour sounds like he just wanted an argument !!
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Formerly an AOR Eclipse and a TVan

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Follow Up By: Sigmund - Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 15:01

Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 15:01
Zaccly.

I hate the bleddy things but some folk can't live without them.
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Follow Up By: skulldug - Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 21:58

Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 21:58
Keith, stay home and don't annoy people.
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Follow Up By: Member - Blue M - Sunday, Feb 14, 2016 at 02:10

Sunday, Feb 14, 2016 at 02:10
I use a Camps 6 book to find out where not to stay as they become a whingers paradise.
I have 2 rules that I adhere to when I am on the road.
If I am there first there and I wish to use a Generator I will, if you don't like it move on or suck it up.
If you are there first and I NEED to use a Generator I will ask you, if you don't like the noise I will either move on, or not use it.

I can recall once at a roadside stop out the back of nowhere that was at least 100 metres long, I pulled up 20 meters or so in front a of an old guy in a van. He had stuff pulled out of the front of his van and was mucking about in the boot. I walked back and asked what his problem was. He told me his batteries were flat. About 17:30 he strolled down and asked if it was all right to use his Genny, I said "go for it". It was a 1 kva Honda running on Eco just to run his lights. Just after dark I went out side to have a smoke, and the old guy was wondering around with a torch, I wondered down and asked if his Generator had run out of fuel. It was then I noticed another Camper pulled up not 5 metres away from him. The old guy told me that this Turkey (my word) literally abused him, and told him to turn his generator off.

Inconsiderate people are the worst type of travellers I have come across. Generator users and those that don't both fit into this category.


Cheers

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Follow Up By: Member Andys Adventures - Sunday, Feb 14, 2016 at 09:54

Sunday, Feb 14, 2016 at 09:54
Just to follow up on Frank's post.......Probably in the same place had a fellow start his generator up in the solar section of the camp site they had a generator section a little way away......he was right on us all and a bloody noisy one at that......Not much sleep that night..........But karma comes to those that wait...... I left the next day but a friend stayed another night and would you believe it another block came in but didn't have a generator he just left his car running all night right next to the tent of the fellow who had the generator..... Now that is a payback. An old clunker I was told.... I couldn't stop laughing......

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Follow Up By: skulldug - Sunday, Feb 14, 2016 at 16:14

Sunday, Feb 14, 2016 at 16:14
Blue, you run a generator any you smoke as well?
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Reply By: Injected - Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 11:55

Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 11:55
You could try the Yamaha 2400 inverter generator?
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Reply By: 9900Eagle - Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 17:38

Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 17:38
Keith,
I have seen a post somewhere that stated a eu2 honda runs their 2.2 Heron.

You could always go down the soft starter track and here is a link to Schneider soft starters that would be sold by electrical wholesalers

Scheinder soft starters
AnswerID: 596207

Reply By: MarkHugh - Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 21:31

Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 at 21:31
I regularly run our aircon (the cooling capacity, not the load, rated at 2.4kw) with a Honda 20i (2kva), starting full on then, once the aircon has stabilised, switch to the genny's Eco setting, where it runs just a little slower, to save a little fuel. However I don't run it when others are near or at night because, no matter how quiet they seem when demonstrated by the seller, they are MUCH LOUDER in a quiet bush setting, and of course are revving pretty high coping with the aircon despite the Eco setting.
Weight is a factor and I would not want to lug a larger generator around unless there was a definite need for it.
It's up to you what you buy but I suggest you do yourself a favour and don't buy cheap if you want reliability.
Mark
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Reply By: G.T. - Wednesday, Feb 17, 2016 at 17:31

Wednesday, Feb 17, 2016 at 17:31
My Dometic A/C draws 1.3 kw. I looked at the Honda 2.0 and though it would start and run the A/C , it`s rated continuous output is 1.6kw. This is ok if you don`t want to run any other appliance that draws in excess of .3kw as you will be running the unit at over it`s rated continual output. Ok, you may get away with it in the short term, but long term who knows? This is why I decided to buy a Genquip Gi3300, rated output is 3.0kw max 3.3 kw. This way I can run my A/C plus other appliances with out worry. YMMV. Regards G.T. Ps I had mine fitted with a RCD for an extra $200.00 prior to delivery.
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