Generator Size

Nick

I bought a kaito 1kva on ebay for about $300 and it is fine for charging and running fridges etc. The larger sets would be too big for your needs imho.

Peter

Nick we choose the 1kva Yamaha and is doing the job re battery, Sat tv, computer etc.fine. but in hindsight probably should have got the Honda 2kva, especially if free camping a lot, as it's not much heavier or dearer but it will run the microwave, air cond etc, in the van.

We bought the Honda 10i Nick to use for battery charging and keeping the EvaKool fridge going when we are totally bush. We do have a 700W microwave also but it dosen't have enough grunt to get that going, which is not an issue for us as the microwave is rarely used.
They are pure sine wave which means it's OK to use laptops and digital stuff on the power produced, it's pretty quiet and we can run the fridge, lights and digital TV at the same time. The TV gets used when it's wet or there are a few vacant hours at hand.
I have thought about the bigger 20i but the only reason we would need it at this stage is to get the microwave to kick start, so we don't really need it at all. The difference when we purchased was around $900.
Things could change, but it's unlikely.

Hi Nick,
We bought the 1kva Yamaha around 12 months ago, have never wished we got the bigger one. Does everything we need plus more. Sometimes gets used as the "community gennie", no probs charging 12 batteries via 3 25A chargers, will run a breadmaker. I would spend the difference on an inverter if more power was needed cos the 1KVA unit is lighter and much easier to carry and handle.
Krakka

Nick, personally I would steer clear off the 1KVA honda as they have an alloy bore, I have had two of them one brand new and the second completely rebuilt. I now am on my second 2KVA and it is going ok I even can run my wife's microwave, 2,400w frying pan, 2,400w electric BBQ, and the list goes on. Although the original intention for the genny was for battery charging the convenience of other appliances are a bonus as the years go by and things change. I would like to have a go at the yamaha as I have heard a lot of good things about them.

wazzaaaa

You need to be careful of 'inrush current' on certain devices such as fridges or other items containing motors or transformers, i.e. microwaves.

What can happen with these loads is the rated power is less than the output of the generator but the intial load upon start up can be 5 to 10 times its rated current at normal operation. Hence the the generator cant maintain voltage during start up, current rises and the genny trips.

So if you are near the maximum capacity of the generator you are thinking of buying go to the next size up.

This is the reason that that the Yamaha has a short time and a continous rating.

Unless you want to take the kitchen from home with you, stick to the 1.0Kva.

Our Honda 1.0 runs the bread maker which we usually put on every second day. Because the bread maker spends nearly two hours not doing much we hook up every battery charger we have at the same time.

We have been camping with some friends for many years now and between us have used quite a few gennies. After disasters and hassles with cheap crap we both decided to get a quality gennie. I bought the Honda, my mate bought the Yamaha.

So far the Yamaha seems to be the better choice. It seems to be under less load to run the bread maker where as mine appears to work harder. The Yamaha has a fuel tap so you can leave the carby empty for storage and it will run longer on a tank of fuel.

Hi Nick I have a mate that has a Yamaha2.4 (i think) never used
He lives in Gippsland and would prefer pick in that area or Melb.
He has advertised it on a caravan club website at $1300neg.If interested let me Know and I will contact him
Cheers Barry

We have the honda EU20i, looked at the yamaha, but was more exy, heavier, and noisier.

The Honda does everything we ask of it, runs a heap of stuff inc my a/c, microwave etc. pure clean power so ok for laptop, and runs on a sniff of fuel on eco throttle, I never have to take eco throttle off to run anyhing i have, and its very quiet.

before purchase i thought would need to to run air on full speed, but not so its very happy on eco.

Wife can move it if need be, and easy to start.

Yamaha are good, not knocking them, but i did a lot of shopping about / talking to people etc, and think the Honda has the edge.

4yrs warranty standard too.

If you haggle you can usually get cover n security cable thrown in.
(i did and paid 1799, local shop)

Whatever way you go, move soon as everything tipped to go UP in Jan, and judging by dollar I'm guessing it will be a bit of a hike!

some great honda deals out there now, be quick.

Ron