Portable generators

Hi Colin
While I can not comment on the BBT genny,It does appear you are new to their use
I would just like to point out a couple of points for you to remember regarding using any 240v source, portable genny or inverter.

[1]240v from any source is potentially DEADLY.

[2]your van RCD if fitted is not functional with a standard portable genny connected via the van power inlet socket

[3]The portable RCDs[plug in type}also will not function, despite some forum articles saying they will!!!

[4] Any RCD fitted to a genny MUST be permanently fixed & wired with some wiring mods required BY AUS Standards

[5]An EARTH stake is neither required or recommended by AUST Standards.
Manuals & some forums may say otherwise,THEY ARE INCORRECT!!

[6]It is generally recommended that only one devise requiring a 3pin plug [earth connection] be connected at ANY TIME,to minimize risk.

[7]Your van has a three pin plug it is the first devise, each additional devise increases the risk

[8]Multiple devise with 2pin plugs can be connected with care

Take great care,240v id potentially deadly .
Deaths HAVE occurred.

Peter

Colin

First of all I’ve never heard of a BBT, but I can imagine where it comes from.

Ask yourself one thing (which never seems to be discussed on this site) do you want something that is reliable, or cheap?

The Honda for example will last about 25 years at a cost of $76. It will also run your air conditioner provided you don’t have all sorts of other gadgets going at the same time.

There is also a lot of carry on about 10-15amp conversions. If you’re worried about that, there is a new product on the market (details of which I don’t have at hand). It’s a basic 10-15amp converter.

There’ll be other blokes coming on here talking about their bargains, but at the end of the day it doesn’t mean much. Go for a Honda or Yamaha.

Cheers

Well not exactly what you want to hear but gee whiz it's not all as straightforward as it may seem. I was in the war zone of the brisbane floods and the water got within a couple meters of my house but I lost power for 6 nights. In an effort to save my fridge I invested in an inverter as my Yamaha 1kw gennie could not start my fridge. I had the gennie running a battery charger attached to a battery connected to a 1000w inverter with a 2000w surge capacity - worked fine for a few days now I have one dead battery and the inverter overloads every time I start that system up.

My advice is the less components in the system the better, go for a good generator for piece of mind.

While everyone is here, this Forum advertised a new Generator series a week or so ago with 10% off for Members, but I can't find their advertisement anymore, does anyone recall the name of that importer?

I don't see why an RCD wouldn't work on a genset. It works by looking for a difference between outgoing current (down the active) and returning current (down the neutral). If there is a difference of usually 30mA, it will trip.

Simple answer is buy a Yammy 2.4 and the 10-15amp unit mentioned is an

Amp-fibian and costs about $245 and is the ONLY legal way to run a caravan

off 10amp feeds

See the two models here

http://www.ampfibian.com.au/products.htm.

I doubt a genny will start a microwave due to the high startup current draw

The cheap stuff ruins more appliances than it runs.

It is illegal to run a van off a 10 amp circuit either by making a short adapter.

or changing the plug on one end or filing the earth pin.

It is also illegal to make a cable loop and feed two inputs on a van as in some

Boromas and other large vans which run the aircon on a separate circuit


Others will tell you they do it and have done for years but the fact is

ITS ILLEGAL .

All these technicalities are confusing the newbies.

To summarise A Honda EU20i would probaly do for the OP
as they are really only 1600w and 2000w peak A
Yamaha 2.4 WOULD BE BETTER as its 2000w and 2400peak load.

You DO NOT NEED A AMP-FIBIAN if your genny has 15 amp sockets.

It will run your aircon but may not run the microwave due to high start up current Depends on the model of the microwave..

The basis is You get what You pay for Experienced campers use good reliable equipment

Buy cheap and wonder what it is doing to your systems as it could provide very dirty power.

Both the Honda and the Yammy will look after things like computers and TV's The cheap one may well run over voltage and fry them.
So go and buy a Yamaha 2.4 and you will be set up nicely.

If the difference in price is an issue it may well be nowhere near as much as replacing stuff the cheap one fried.

OK guys, some of you seem to know what you are talking about so could you please explain (genuine question, not trying to be a stirrer) what the small connection point marked on several gennies as an earth or ground is for??

ob

Good God, it is no wonder that Collyn Rivers quit this forum a while back. Here are a couple of extracts of his final contribution:

"Sites such as this are sought by people confused (particular in the electrical area) by the mass of misinformation, campfire mythology, and often seriously misleading advice from sales people. They seek simple solutions that work - not ongoing wrangling."

"It has also not infrequently caused others to state my advice is flawed or wrong and this is a serious issue for a professional engineer and professional writer/publisher offering advice in the same field. People are thus left wondering about my competence in the very area in which I publish - but with no way of judging it."

"I have therefore and reluctantly decided to cease, as from now, to respond to all questions on this site......"

And thus we lost the valuable contributions of a competent professional member.
Collyn's full expression can be found here in thread 31345. His point is totally relevant and particularly so to this current thread. If this initiates argument about his assertion it only serves to validate it.

Thank goodness that at least a couple of respondents answered the original question as to choice of generator without getting on a soapbox on a side issue. I would suggest that those who wish to "bang a drum" as an aside to the topic become a member of ExplorOz and so permit argument by means of Member Messages rather than air their passionately-held opinions on a thread opened by someone with a simple non-technical question. Either that or write and submit an authoritative Article on the subject as have some others and leave it at that.

Hi Colin,

Like most electrical threads, this one is out of control by the usual suspects. Hopefully these comments will aid and not confuse you further.

Your original questions...
1. Go the Honda IMHO, you will not regret it. You may get away with the BBT but the thought will always be at the back of your mind... should I have bought the Honda?

2. The Honda is a proven unit and has a good reputation. The BBT is cheap and has a tech sheet that looks good, but is not proven nor has any reputation...

Arising RCD questions...
Simplistically (and this is in layman terms so not 100% techncally correct), an RCD works by measuring what goes in and out and trips if there is a difference. In a failure mode for normal power, think of the power coming thru one of the wires, thru the appliance and then thru YOU. Now because you are standing on the earth the current also goes thru to the earth and back to the power supply. But it didn't pass thru the RCD so it measures the difference and saves your life by tripping! All good :)

Now, on generator power, there is no connection to earth so even though you are standing on the ground in a failure mode, all the power goes thru you and back to the generator. The RCD doesn't see any difference (none "leaked" to earth) so it doesn't trip. End result is you fry!!!

While the above sounds like generator power is dangerous, the circumstances required for that to happen are very, very, very hard to reproduce and unlikley (but not impossible) to happen. As others have said, just take extra care and you will be fine. 1,000's do it all the time and have no issues, there is FAR more chance statistically that you wil have a vehicle accident on your caravan trip than have a electrocution issue if you use a quality generator and take the normal sensible precautions.

Hopefully I have not added to your confusion.

Cheers

Captain

Hi Colin, Even still the technical expressions re 230 volts continue. I only hope that you can comprehend it but fear that you may not.

As an Electrical Engineer, in respect to electrical safety, I would say to you as follows:

1. Purchase only quality appliances including generators. One measure of quality is the manufacturer's reputation and multiple recommendations.

2. Wherever possible use only Double Insulated appliances. These are so marked on the appliance and usually on the packaging and generally indicated by the absence of an Earth Pin on the connecting cable.

3. Maintain your appliances in good electrical condition. No broken parts, frayed cords, or wet connections.

4. If your chosen generator does not have a 15 Amp socket (with larger earth-pin) for electrical connection to your van use a device such as an Amp-Fibian which allows you to connect the 10 Amp generator to the 15 Amp inlet socket of the van. Connect to the van only with a 15A rated cable. Note though that 15A will not be available at the van, only the generator rating.

5. If in any doubt or to carry out any 230V electrical wiring consult a licensed electrician.