Generators

Is that just like the radio system that the SA Brigade use, absolute total crap at a taxpayer expense of millions $.

Trying not to be negative, but I think just cos fire brigade use them means not much, maybe some fatcat behind a desk got a good backhander for buying them!

Krakka

Krakka, if the radio system used by SA Brigade is crap (in your opinion) perhaps you wouldn't mind sharing your thoughts with the rest of us and providing some substantive evidence to back your claim. It had better be good !

This post has been read by the moderation team and has been moderated due to a breach of The Personal Attacks Rule .

Forum Moderation Team

This post has been read by the moderation team and has been moderated due to a breach of The Personal Attacks Rule .

Forum Moderation Team

Steady up guys I didn't think a simple question would start world war 3. The word crap was only used because after reading heaps of feedback from exploroz months ago ther wasn't too many positives said about the yellow gennie. All i want to know, is the new Kipor reliable as the yamaha and where do you get them serviced if it needs it..

Its ok king, very over moderated in my opinion, but thats what probably got me in trouble in the first place. I can't answer your question, but I was just trying to say that just because a Govt. dept. [ in particular ] uses them doesn't really mean that they are any good at all. There are many many examples of Govt "white elephants" everywhere. But at least the Kipor gennies seem to be of the price that they could be ok, as opposed to the $200.00 jobs on the market.
Regards
Krakka

Hmm,

Yamaha or Honda? Both have building fine motorbikes for 40 years.

Both make a top quality outboard motor.

One of them makes top quality electronic/sound equipment, Yamaha.

My choice is Yamaha over Honda, but they are both very, very good.

The Honda is rated 1.6kva, but is 2kva surge, and will take transient start up currents (surge) better than most.

which basically means you dont need some 'huge ark' of a gennie just cos your ac pulls a bit when it starts the compressor, and thereafter never gets near its rated capacity.... which equates to light load running.

Yamaha is good, but I actually got the Honda cheaper, the comparable yamaha was 10kg heavier, and noisier.

Horses for courses, but I'm on generator no3 now, which is the Honda EU20i, and its the quietest, most portable, and fuel efficient yet.

Chineese are good work horses, and granted you can buy 3 for price of a honda, but I got fed up with havin a Harley sittin outside my van running.

just my 10c

choose wisely

Rgds

Ron

Solar, and I use it, will not run a breadmaker or hairdryer in the bush.

And it won't warm your bed via an electic blanket in the winter.

Anyone can be uncomfortable in the bush. We choose not to be.

Jim.

Jim,
Agreed, yes as you've suggested a cheap, low rated or an inefficient Solar system is just about next to useless, as is also an under powered gennie, or even using a small or low capacity storage battery when running high drain 240v appliances.

However, as you say your a Solar user, I'm sure your equally aware how a decent Solar system will re power a suitable house battery system, which can run a bread-maker via an inverter.
The Solar benefits are totally silent with zero noise and no extra fuel to buy and carry.

The GF runs her hair-drier from an inverter with no hassles and because we travel to warmer climates in winter, to escape the cold, we have no use of an electric blanket anyway.

Mainey . . .

Mainey,

I agree a well set up solar system will do what you have said.

But what it can't do is run a caravan airconditioner, and that's what we bought it for in the first place.

Jim.

Jim,
Sorry, I was not aware you also use an air-conditioner when you go away, assumed it was only the 'electric blanket' - 'bread-maker' and 'hair drier' as you had only nominated them.

Mainey . . .

Haven't got the van any more (wasn't getting enough use to justify 20 grand sitting in the backyard so just using a camper), but may get another in a year or two.

Hence, I'm hanging onto the gennie rather than going full solar.

Forgot to add; laptop, bamix (got to have something to whip the cream for the scones), electric knife to cut the bread and sometimes a toaster oven.

Cheers,

Jim.

AWWWWWWWWWWWWW come on Jimbo, what about the plasma and blue ray? LOL

Cheers
Krakka

Gary, I'm also not a lover of generators but I have a van with 3 120 watt solar panels on it and a 240 litre 12v fridge that won't survive if it is cloudy for more than 4-5 days. Most of our camping is bush very rarely power and as we plan to do some long trips outback the generator is more a necessity than a luxury. As for the feedback from everyone so far thanks but I'm still un deciced which way to go , decisions decisions