Generator v solar panels

As some of you may recall, I've been researching my needs for power supply when in the bush. I was leaning towards solar panels up til last Tuesday and then had a D & M with Pesty last Tuesday arvo. Next day I bought a Yamaha 1000 generator.

Why?

I turned away from solar because it seemed too fiddly and bulky. By fiddly, I mean that you have to be outside and adjusting the angle of the dangle every half hour or so. Rain, cloud, ambient temperature, trees etc all have an adverse effect on the panel's output/efficiency. Also, they are limited to charging batteries....can't run the Black & Decker off the panel.

Took the Yammie away for the weekend and was camping with a few other EO members. We had 5 fridges and 3 battery chargers running off it at the same time and it mostly stayed on the low rev (economy) cycle; only revvving up a bit when Pesty's bloody great 110 Waeco cut in at the same time as Brew's 80 litre. It used about 5 litres of petrol. We only ran it during the day so nobody was kept awake at night. In fact, Mrs Pesty had an afternoon nap in their tent one arvo; the gennie was about 15 feet away from their tent. We asked her later whether the gennie made it difficult to nod off................she didn't even realise it was on!!

I've found a suitable hidey-hole in the boot of the camper to store the gennie and can fit a 10 litre jerry can of petrol in the gas compartment too, so it's all working out really well.

I appreciate that solar is the right way to go for some blokes, but in my case the gennie is best.

It was my chrissy pressie from my lovely SWMBO.....thanks Annette.