Generators & Boondocking

[avocadoman1]

Originally Posted by ken0042

First off- where do you live?

Second, have you confirmed the wattage it's using? My 12" TV is spec'd for 24 watts; but I've never seen it use more than 15 watts.

I live in southern california (usa). Don't know why it doesn't show up as part of my profile.

Regarding watts used to power the Haier 22" LED...
- I took the AC adapter that comes w/ the unit to a couple of electronic stores (radio shack. & fry's)
- both told me that I needed to use a DC cord that powered at 48 watts (4 amps)
- I have no reason not to believe that info as factual
- I'lll search on internet to locate a DC plug that converts 12 volts to 48 watts and has same plug size that'll fit in rear of TV

[bikendan]

avocadoman, i can see where you live under your name but i used to live in Ventura County so i know of Channel Islands Harbor quite well.

[herk7769]

Originally Posted by avocadoman1

- I'lll search on internet to locate a DC plug that converts 12 volts to 48 watts and has same plug size that'll fit in rear of TV

You can not convert volts to watts. Watts are how power is measured.
Think of volts as water in a big tank. The bigger the tank the more pressure (voltage) is available to go down a pipe of a certain size (wire).

When you hook a water powered device up to the pipe and start it running (open the valve), water flows out of the pipe under the pressure from the tank (measured in volts). The amount of water running past a point along the pipe is the flow (measured in amps).

To find the POWER being used by the device you measure the Pressure available at the outlet of the tank (voltage) and the flow past the point on the pipe (amps) and you get the power the device is using in Watts.

IF the device is a powered pump (short circuit or big honkin hair dryer) the device will try to SUCK water through the pipe. All that water can't FIT in the pipe and the pipe will get hot trying to. Soon the pipe will fail (collapse in the example or catch fire or melt in electricity).

Did that help or hurt?

[KyDan]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I am looking at the basic inverter/sine model being about $500; or I could get a basic generator for $200.

The difference between the $200 and the $500 might be noise levels.
Try to find the db rating of any generator you're interested in.
Some are MUCH louder than others.

AND if you only plan to boon dock a couple days a year WHY do you
want a generator???
It's just another gas engine you'll have to keep winterized 99% of the time.

We just boondocked 5 nights in Shenandoah NP and didn't bother to
start our Honda. I wish I'd left it at home as it was taking up valuable
space in the back of my truck!

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by KyDan

AND if you only plan to boon dock a couple days a year WHY do you want a generator???

I'm going to blame Lou. He's a bad influence on the rest of us.

[herk7769]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I'm going to blame Lou. He's a bad influence on the rest of us.

What!