Best type of Generator

[Dakell12]

Hello Everyone, I am looking into buying a generator to power my rooftop Carriers when the engine is not running. Currently, I run an all electric set with a 4000w inverter and a house battery rack. Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best route to pursue? Thanks!

[H3Jim]

Depends partly on your needs and expected usage.  I have a 12 k diesel generator that I now rarely use because of my solar panels.  That generator will last as long as I do I think.  pretty quiet due to the quiet box I built around it.  Since its diesel, I only have to carry one fuel, and its tapped off the 235 gal bus tank, and will not run the main tank out of fuel.  Very nice.  Having said that, it weighs a lot ( not that much of a concern, but still in the 500 to 600 lb range), it is a lot more generator than I need.  I have three rooftop airs and am all electric too, with 600 amp hours of 24 volt battery.  Super eifficient 24 volt refer, currently heating water via eletric but diesel is planned and half implemented.  Bootm line is biggerm heavier and more expensive than I really needed to go, but I will never run out of juice and can probably power my house or several friends along the way.  The 12k gen was not that much bigger or more $ than the smaller diesel ones.  Going larger than that increased the footprint by a lot

Some of the new Hondas are extremly quiet, reliable, and probalby more fuel efficient - gas is cheaper than diesel these days.  Much smaller too, and light enough they could even be portable.  I would need a forklift to  make mine "portable".  But then is two fuels issue.

If you go the diesel route, Dick Wright on the west coast is the guy to go to.

Lots of variables, no "one" right answer.

[TomC]

I run my 3 roof top A/C's with my generator since I don't have over the road A/C-they cool very well.  The round figure is, if you have one roof top A/C, use a 4kw.  If you have two roof airs, use 7.5kw.  If you have three use 10kw.  If you want 100amp service, then the 12kw is the way to go.  Highly recommend either Powertech in Florida if you're on the east coast, or Wrico International in Eugene, Or if you're on the west coast.  Wrico will make a gen with simple solenoids and sensors if you want-rather than the electronic panels everyone is going to.  So what if you have to hold the glow plug switch for 10-20seconds?  At least it runs every time.  Good Luck, TomC

[Marcus]

I like my 14kw that I got from Central Maine diesel. It has a quiet Izuzu engine. Living in Florida ,I always need a/c and this one runs 24/7 with very little fuel. I have nearly 2000 hours on it with a bad oil sensor my only problem. It is 120/240 v . I  paid $ 5600.00 at my door 3 years ago. I'm pleased so far. Marc

[luvrbus]

Sound Marine has a large selection of generators a friend of mine bought a 15KW with a turbo Isuzu engine and it is super quite. 
www.soundmarinediesel.com

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Dakell,

My Onan may not be the best gen but, I think they are the Quietest!

Ever since I solved the belt problem, it's been running like a champ! "3100 hrs and still purring..."

Knock on Wood!
Nick-

[gus]

I use a Honda gas powered, water cooled, 6KW Model EV6010 to power my two 13.5K BTU air conditioners plus the refrigerator and lights.

It is very quiet and half the cost of diesel gen. Weighs 240lb without the containment box which you have to make yourself. Mine is lined plywood.

Since the 4104 comes with a 24 gal gas tank it is a very nice setup.

[Lin]

I currently have a 7.5 kw Kohler gas generator which is adequate for my needs.  I consider the space lost to the tank more of an issue than having two fuel types.  I recently increased my propane capacity from about 20 gallons to about 60.  This has me thinking of seeing if that Kohler could run on propane.  Since the propane system has stationary as well as portable tanks, I think it would work.  What I am getting at is it may depend on several different aspects of your setup.  If you plan to carry propane, a propane generator may be a consideration.  If you plan to be all-electric, or to run the generator most of the time, it would seem that diesel would be the most convenient.

[DrivingMissLazy]

I currently have a 7.5 kw Kohler gas generator which is adequate for my needs.  I consider the space lost to the tank more of an issue than having two fuel types.  I recently increased my propane capacity from about 20 gallons to about 60.  This has me thinking of seeing if that Kohler could run on propane.  Since the propane system has stationary as well as portable tanks, I think it would work.  What I am getting at is it may depend on several different aspects of your setup.  If you plan to carry propane, a propane generator may be a consideration.  If you plan to be all-electric, or to run the generator most of the time, it would seem that diesel would be the most convenient.

Most units can easily be converted to operate on propane. It does require a rather inexpensive adapter from the manufacturer.

Changing to propane will reduce the genset capacity by about 10% if I recall properly. However the gasoline units have a bad habit of getting all gummed up inside unless they are operated quite frequently. Sitting for six months could cause you problems with the genset as well as with the gasoline storage tank.

Therefore, my recommendation is to change it over to propane.

Richard

[HB of CJ]

The neat thing about your 4000 watt invertor is that you can run maybe two (2) roof AC units thru it, pulling right from the batts.  This also may mean that you can run a smaller gen set because the batteries act as a ....duh...battery bank and provides the extra juice that may be needed.

Anyway, to keep your system sorta compatable, perhaps all you would need up to around 8000 feet elevation and 90F is a 6000 watt gen set?  Might be cheaper than a 7.5 to 10 Kw set.  Of course, you would have to learn to manual "load shed" or load defer to keep the system KISS.