generator

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

or noisy trucks.

Gennies are the way to go IMO.

Much prefer the sounds of the bush, but how else do we charge the abundance of batteries required these days for everyday living. And help out other campers by charging their phone batts! Do have in car charger but only two cig-lighter that are in use with other appliances.
At least the quiet drone of a generator will drown out the din of the one loud mouth smart-A that often invades an otherwise good camp site.

I think the key to using a generator is to be upfront with other campers... Let them know you intend to use it, work out a good window of time and take a six pack with you when you go to talk to them about it... Personally I don't take one away with me but a little bit of courtesy from others who want to use them goes a long way in my book. Of course the monkeys who run an old, loud 4 or 5Kva job and bring a disco with them will annoy the most tolerant neighbour.

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

There are a few good quiet units on the market it is the cheap ones that make the noise.

Be responsible and be aware that we all share the bush, beach and parks with others. Run the 'quiet' generator at reasonable times on a long extension away from others.

I would much prefer to see portable toilets in use rather than digging toilet holes on the beach.

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.

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

thanks for you're input everybody
i guess i like brew69's answer
as i also appreciate a coldy on a hot dusty day
lau

Yep- I reckon INVERTER-technology gennies are the go - they satisfy more bush camping needs than the alternatives - they can be a battery charger and a source of quality AC power for a host of applications. Solar, with a battery and an expensive inverter can do the same but to an to an extent only it seems, but you must have the sun - I'm going to opt for a 4 L jerry of unleaded fuel .... but you won't find me annoying other campers with the noise.

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

From what I can conclude from the people who have to have a generator is to charge the car batteries during the day. Therefore there would be no need to run a generator at night ?
So what is wrong with going for a drive during the day. Staying in camp all day every day has to be so boring.
Get out and leave the generator at home.

Wayne

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.

Personally not had any problem with running my genie but then I rarely camp close to others. Even on Fraser we had a piece of the beach to ourselves (no - didn't scare anyone away) and you would be hard pressed to hear the genie over the surf.