generator
Submitted: Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 04:52
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lau
having looked through the past posts i've come to the conclusion
most members don't like generators and i can understand this up to a point
but when i use it in a space where it doesn't invade you're space surely
there can't be a problem.
am i missing something?
lau
Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 08:45
Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 08:45
Lau,
Responsible people who use generators use them in such a way that no one else knows that they are there. If you can do this then there is no problem. When they run all night, and sound does travel a long way at night, then you are being very inconsiderate.
If you are camping with the generator running and there is some one else that you can see also camping, walk over and say G-Day. If you can hear the generator then it is too loud and should be turned off straight away.
As you might guess I don't like generators and feel there is no need for them in the bush.
Wayne
AnswerID:
150102
Follow Up By: Shaker - Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 09:07
Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 09:07
I also like the tranquility of the bush, but given a choice, I would prefer the hum of a generator to having somebody else's dubious taste in music forced on me.
FollowupID:
403510
Follow Up By: Wayne (NSW) - Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 09:25
Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 09:25
Shaker,
You should not have to choose.
The symphony of the bush every time.
Wayne
FollowupID:
403511
Follow Up By: lau - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006 at 03:05
Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006 at 03:05
wayne.
i think you agree with me on the origional question
when i use it in a space where it doesn't invade you're space surely
there can't be a problem.
i also agree 100% that it has to be a case of a mutual consent
and respect for one and all.
lau
FollowupID:
403953
Reply By: Camp Cook - Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 10:39
Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 10:39
Generators, like loud music or some argumentative drunks around a
camp fire are all in the same category....a PITA
When on the road for 5 years we ran a 1kva genset. I always made sure that there were no other campers around but should someone pull in later, as they inavariably do, I would go over, say g'day and explain that I am running a gennie until whatever time.
These day I dont carry a gennie any more. If I find a
camp where there are other campers I move on to the next place. I wish to
camp alone. If I am leading a trip with others in tow then I make the
camp rules quite clear so that everyone knows where they stand.
So often I wake up in the night and hear a vehicle coming only to find out it is the fridge running on its cycle......lol
Apart from natures sounds, I like the quiet of the bush
AnswerID:
150119
Reply By: roofscooter2 - Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 12:34
Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 12:34
i bought an inverter & it came with a genny . i too like the sounds of the Bush but also like to be reasonably comfortable, will also work in with other peoples if necessary.portable
toilets , portable rubbish
bins , robots to follow irresponsible people who cannot walk 3 meter's to put rubbish in bin gets right up my nostrils.& people (ladies ) in particular who use bush for
toilet & leave paper there were they have been. also those who have just got throw their beer,water,milk bottles & cartons & other matter out their windows i could go on & on.
AnswerID:
150133
Reply By: Alan (WA) - Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 13:24
Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 13:24
I feel the same way about noise when camping - less noise the better. We are, however, going to be 6 months on the road next year and need to do something re power top-up.
Has anyone tried creating a box that makes the generator a bit more sound proof?
A small Honda, with some basic additional insulation is of interest to me.
I have also read that placing generator in small hole provides stops a bit of the sound travel.
Main concerns with Solar:
- uncertainty that it may be not work when I need it.
- size - where to place it?
Also another nearly related question) - I have Patrol GU with ARB Dual Battery System - smart solenoid. I was working outside yesterday and running ipod through car stereo. Air cond fan may also have been on by mistake. Anyway - when I went to go out in car - flat battery.
Whilst ARB installed plugs for the Engel in the back that work off aux battery, I realise that the accessories running of the default cig lighter plugs in the car are still working from the main battery - ie standard Nissan install - this seems to defeat the object of dual batteries. Excuse the silly question - Do people get all of the accessory plugs, air cond, lights swapped over the aux battery - so that main battery is kept for what it is really needed - starting car!
Thanks
Alan
AnswerID:
150143
Follow Up By: Wayne (NSW) - Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 13:39
Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 13:39
Alan,
In regards to the dual battery set up. The car radio runs off the main battery and so does any thing that runs through a cig lighter socket. Any thing running off these will flatten the main battery.
All the extra things that you put on the vehicle should run direct from the second battery. Hard wire is the best, wires go from the + and - side of the second battery. Fridges should always be wired direct to the main battery. Going through a cig lighter can and will short out.
The vehicles air con, radio and lights that are usually on only when the motor is running are left as is.
Wayne
FollowupID:
403550
Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 14:31
Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 14:31
I think Wayne has made a mistake in his above reponse....quote:
" Fridges should always be wired direct to the main battery."
I'm sure he meant to say " Fridges should always be wired direct to the auxilliary battery"
Cheers
Roachie
FollowupID:
403569
Follow Up By: parthy - Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 14:33
Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 14:33
If you put a gennie in a hole the thing will over heat as it will be sucking the hot air that is blowing through the cooling fins .
If you try to insulate it make sure the cooling intake and exuast are clear
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Wayne (NSW) - Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 14:34
Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 14:34
Roachie,
That is the second mistake today. I need to get out again.
Wayne
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Follow Up By: Alan (WA) - Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 16:40
Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 16:40
Thanks for the advice.
The Engel is hard-wired to the auxillary battery - via one of two plugs in rear. I will get the other things also swapped over so that they too are running off the auxillary. That should fix the issue.
Alan
FollowupID:
403587
Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 21:39
Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 21:39
With a proper DB setup you get to choose which battery EVERY power source comes from. So you can alternate which battery runs all the equpment while camping. There is no actual main and auxiliry
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Follow Up By: Darian (SA) - Monday, Jan 23, 2006 at 09:42
Monday, Jan 23, 2006 at 09:42
Someone here recently commented in a related gennie post that he had made a soundproofing box for his gennie and it had been a real winner - can't recall who - I'm in line to get a Yam EF1000iS - making a "collapsible" soundroofing box is in the thought processes too. Space is a bit tight for the longer trips -a box that "pops" together could be useful - maybe something open at the top for breathing, with foam insulated sides all round - maybe something closed, with a 12V fan to maintain airflow - maybe nothing at all - they are very quiet - as others have said, while motor noise in the bush, at times, is nothing new, these littlies are very quiet.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Steve & Paula - Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 19:11
Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 19:11
I think the key to this whole argument is tolerance! Different strokes for different folks. The group we travel away with uses both solar and generators. Even when travelling in the north west as we often do, my friend who relies only on solar to charge his battery invariably ends up hooking in to the generator for a day or two due to cloud cover.
We all have batteries and use the generators during the day to charge them. We switch them off in the evening and run solely on DC power. We have never had a complaint from nearby campers yet.
In my view, camping near others is no different from living in the metro area. You need to be both tolerant and considerate.
P.S. We have had more trouble with loud and obnoxious campers that anything else and even then we usually cut them some slack!
Steve
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 19:25
Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 19:25
>P.S. We have had more trouble with loud and obnoxious
>campers that anything else and even then we usually cut
>them some slack!
And that's the nub of the issue. Obnoxious people are obnoxious whether they have a generator, motor bikes, a music system or just their own voices and behaviour. At the end of the day the only thing to do is move on and leave them to be obnoxious to themselves.
Mike Harding
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Follow Up By: lau - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006 at 03:17
Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006 at 03:17
I think you you hit the nail on the head
lau
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Follow Up By: lau - Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006 at 03:49
Tuesday, Jan 24, 2006 at 03:49
well said steve and paula
lao
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member- Rox (WA) - Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 20:36
Sunday, Jan 22, 2006 at 20:36
I have traveled round OZ for 1 Year & carried a gen set(Honda eu10i).
I used it to top up batteries &
cook in the bread maker a loaf a day. (Desert crossings) Only for 3 hours/ day. (I only had 1 Bloke complain) It depends on the type of trip you are undertaking as to what gear you use. If for example you travel in a group & fish in 1 spot, 1 small genny will power 5+ fridges & top up all batteries via a charger. Vrs all 5 people having
solar power. If you move every day or second then your batteries will charge as you drive. I have been in a group were 1 bloke wanted my fridge off(freezing our catch) to keep the food fridge cold. to me you need all fridges running. In this situation only 1 4WD went for a drive during the day to fish & the rest left @
camp, so their batteries drained down.
I use then responsibly. As for those cheep ones($99 2 stroke) I have never herd them. An outboard makes just as much noise so does a moving 4wd.
AnswerID:
150193
Follow Up By: cookymonster - Monday, Jan 23, 2006 at 14:55
Monday, Jan 23, 2006 at 14:55
We have a regular beach camping spot and the last couple of times 2 couples we go camping with took those cheap 2 stroke gennies - one on about a 30-50 metre extension cable and the other about 10 (but running just down
the beach. Couldn't really hear them unless you tried and everything was quiet (no talking, not near the fire, no one moving, etc). One was left on at night to power who knows what and wasn't annoying at all.
I've just got a 4stroke 950w and plan to take. I don't have to use for much becuase have never had one, so have gas lights, chescold, etc. But with 2 small kids now having fans (for day time sleeps) and battery chargers (toys, camera) and charging the car battery (haven't got dual battery).
In fact last camping trip when kids were getting restless at night I ran a kids movie on my laptop with a small set of speakers 5 metres from the adults. I realise this isn't exactly teaching the kids to enjoy nature, but with 5 kids all under 5 going camping with us (cousins, etc) - sometimes you just want to enjoy a cold beer. :)
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