Very small generator - am I thinking right?

[Tikvah]

I have an opportunity to get a John Deere HR-G1100 generator... One of those suit case generators.
It only is rated for 1100 watts.  Too small for any real loads.  But, while I'm running exclusively on my batteries could it also be charging to off set my battery loss?

Anybody already try this foolishness?

Ya, I know it's gas.  It has a limited time on the tank, etc.  I understand it's an occasional solution, but would it help for a poor man trying to scratch his way through bus life?

[chessie4905]

The only ones I would fool with are the little Hondas. They are whisper quiet and you'll still be able to get parts or service anywhere in 15 to 20 years. I have a 3000is but it is a little big to carry along. Their 1000 would be nice though. It's small enough and useful when you don't need much power.

[Oonrahnjay]

...  would it help for a poor man trying to scratch his way through bus life? 

        Especially if you have a "load sharing" inverter, yes.  Say you need 20 amps to run the coffee maker while other loads are on.  Your batteries are pretty low.  You could put the 1000w (about 8 amp) generator on your system.  With load sharing, the system will run the 8 amps from the generator and pull 12 amps from the batteries (all these numbers are probably better expressed and thought of in watts but you get the idea).  After the coffee is made, your batteries are pulled down some so the inverter (if it's a sharing, internal charging type) will then take the output of the generator and charge up the batteries.  It will probably take 2-3 time longer to recharge the batteries than it took to draw the current out of them, but this will work well.
       It depends on your equipment and how much total power you use (if the average power you use is more than the 1000 watts from the generator, it will never catch up).  But if you are looking for a small power source to provide a limited supply of power to "top up" your batteries and keep things from running down, it should help.
      Do you have a bigger generator for your bigger loads?

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Dave,

I like the idea but only if it is very quiet like the Honda genset.  John Deere makes some very good equipment however they cheapen certain models which they sell in discount stores like Home Depot etc.  So if it came from there I would be leery.

Yes, gas is a pain as it is one more thing to have to deal with and at about .75 gal/8 hrs or so, a 5 gallon can should get you about a week of use.

But the reason many people buy the Honda's is to have a quieter genset to run than their big bus unit, but bottom line they both cost about the same when you figure in you are buying a second genset, gas can, cable lock, filters, oil etc.  Then you have to remember to pack it away when you leave each time lest you end up dragging it down the highway which has been done before. But on the plus side, it is not advisable to run your big genset for long periods of time just to charge batteries as they should be run under more of a load as they are designed for.

Bottom Line, if you can get it for the right price, you can't go wrong but if it is loud, please don't camp near my bus.  

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

I still like solar to keep my batteries up as they are much quieter than any genset.

[Tikvah]

Do you have a bigger generator for your bigger loads?

Yes, but it's not as quiet as this little 1100
This is very quiet.

I wish I had load sharing, but I don't.

[Tikvah]

I still like solar to keep my batteries up as they are much quieter than any genset.

I picture this working almost like a solar charge, but cheaper

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Or how about one of these?  Do you have kids?  Give this to them for Christmas.  They will love it!

[Tikvah]

Related question, do I need to buy a 24v charger, or can I charge through my inverter while still drawing from it, or

The generator has A 12v charger output but I don't know the specs.  Can I run backward through the equalizer to the 24v?

[luvrbus]

The 1100 will have a Honda or Subaru engine we have 1 they are quite and 2 gals of gas will run it for 10 hrs

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Yes Cliff.  I saw your genset that you had since you were a kid. I think it is the first Honda ever built.  I think Dave was looking for something a bit smaller. 

[eagle19952]

The 1100 will have a Honda or Subaru engine we have 1 they are quite and 2 gals of gas will run it for 10 hrs

the spec says a Robin motor...from India maybe ?

doesn't matter... if you have a 1.5 kw inverter to 1 kw then yes you can make coffeee or run a 1200 watt microwave...but you will need a 24v charger...not cheap.
i do know of guys smarter than me who can re gizmo golf cart chargers to 24 or 12v for cheap...like free... probably just not for me

[Tikvah]

The 1100 will have a Honda or Subaru engine we have 1 they are quite and 2 gals of gas will run it for 10 hrs

Yup, it's a Subaru

[luvrbus]

Robyn and Subaru are the same engine Onan uses the Subaru/Robyn engines in their  gasoline and propane powered generators up to the 4000 kw  

[Lin]

We have and use a Honda 1000.  In the AM, if we are dry camping, I will run the large generator to heat the water, etc.  But running a 7.5ks generator just to charge the batteries seemed ridiculous, so we got the Honda.  It works fine through a 12v smart charger.  I once tred it through the inverter/charger and even though the charger was only doing a float charge, it tripped the Honda's breaker.  I had asked on this forum for some explanation.  There was something I do not remember about the electronics involved.  In short, it may or may not work through your inverter/charger.  Maybe you could try it with someone else's generator first to see.

The gas tank limitation is not a big deal.  There are kits available to even connect the little generator to an outboard motor tank, which means it will really run quite a long time between fill-ups.  I would note one thing though.  While the 1000 is useful, I have thought that a 2000w would be better since there is more range of what it will do, it not that much heavier, and does not use significantly more fuel. It could even possibly run one AC.

Also, 24v multistage chargers are very commonly used for electric wheelchairs.  You may be able to find good deals on them on Craigslist and Ebay.  That is what we use for our coach batteries.