When trying to conserve fuel when running

a

Baz.

Yes I will go with a) - fridge doesnt run all the time but generator will. If you run off the battery, power consumption stops when fridge stops. The fridge will run better off the generator though, as full power all the time as required.
Cheers
Greg

I run the fridge off the Gennie and charge the battery through a charger, best of both in my view.

My idea on this is, which is the way we do it in a long stay camp, is to run the gen. for say a tank of fuel a day, and while the gen is on, charge your battery either direct from gen, 8amps, or if you have a 20 amp 240v charger plug that in as it will charge even more, and switch the fridge to 240v, that way all the 12v charge is going into reserve in the battery and the fridge is running for free, and change back to 12v when gen goes off. A lot of people do it in the late afternoon and run a light or 2 while they are preparing tea and eating etc.and get this added bonus while the gen is going, and less likely to disturb other people in the day time.
Hope I havent confused you give me a call if I have.
Do you have a 2kva honda gen or are you buying one it is excessivly big if you are buying it for this job ?
Did you do anything about your swags?

If you are planning to camp within 5 kms of anyone else the best option is always to leave your generator at home. (Please)

8-)

For my own use, I have top notch overlander batteries in a dual setup with the engel running on 2. I do not need to start the car for 4 days.

If I intend on camping for a lengthy period of time, the shower I have at night using the twine works for two puposes:

1. Heats the water and;
2. Charges both batteries evenly for the 30 or so minutes that the car is running while all people shower.

If 2. is done everyday, you have no need for the genny, and your batteries stay up around 12 volts. Saves on carrying the genny and fuel.

Just my own two bobs worth that works for my fam!

Yes Nudie I am saying run the 2 together when gen. is running, but if you only have 10amp charger you will be better off using the 8 amp dc straight off the gen as the charger will rarely put out more than 7-8 amps.

As you can't use a generator in a national park, and other campers are generally annoyed by the generators un-natural noise in the quiet and serenity of the bush....

best method is to use Solar Power to recharge your battery system, tis free and creates no noise, and your friends in the bush will think you are a realy nice person for not using an annoying generator and reminding them that they are there generally to get away from the noises of the city, not to be reminded of it.

I have seen the drastic results an unhappy camper used on a xxxx generator user, it was an expencive mistake he made by starting his generator, when he had been 'advised' it would be nicer if did not start it in the general area of the people already parked near the river.
Unfortunately his vehicle was damaged, .............. beyond repair.

In West Australia it is illegal to use a generator in any National Park, so if you come here and use a generator and get caught by the Ranger you will get into trouble.
As to damage to the 4x4, he was informed on numerous times by campers to give them some peace and quiet and during the nite his gen & 4x4 burnt out, and yes it my have been an accident :(

As you stated: "3 Wont disturb any one else except us..."
then you won't have a hassle with other campers, only the Ranger.

Not strickly true re WA national parks. I was just in two, Karijini and Cape Range both have sections that specifically allow Gens.

The anti Gen group seem to me to have the same logic as the anti 4WD group. Both seem to think that their specific use of technology is justified and others is not. Bottom line is if it is used appropriately and in consideration of others then where is the problem? I ran my gen (at certain appropriate times)with a long ext cord, down wind away from others and I could not hear it so they cerainly could not. The funny thing was, talking to others the next day they said I am glad you didn't have a gen. But if they initialy saw that I had a gen I'm sure they would have said it kept them up all night even if I wasn't running.

Having said that I will also look into solar as an adjunct so that I won't need to run the gen as long, especially for recharging of the batteries whilst at a stationary (more that a day) camp site.

Don't try and grab the moral high ground, there is always someone that thinks they are above you.