Generator question...

[lme8200]

Buying a generator for our new Roo. We have an upgraded 15,000 btu air conditioner. What generator should we get to be able to run the air conditioner and still be quiet enough for the national parks. I believe there is a 60 decibel limit at 50 feet. Would a generator with 64dBA at 23 feet be ok?

[bikendan]

NO!
You must be looking at a open frame contractor style-generator with that high of a noise rating.

You need a INVERTER generator with at least 3000w.
The best bang for the buck right now, is the Champion 3100w or the 3400w INVERTER generators.
Much quieter and lighter and more fuel efficient.
Your neighbors and you will be thankful.
I just a 3100 unit at Costco for $659.

Suggest you read up on decibel ratings and how they are logarithmic.
That way you be better to pick an appropriate generator for campgrounds.

[lme8200]

Originally Posted by bikendan

NO!
You must be looking at a open frame contractor style-generator with that high of a noise rating.

You need a INVERTER generator with at least 3000w.
The best bang for the buck right now, is the Champion 3100w or the 3400w INVERTER generators.
Much quieter and lighter and more fuel efficient.
Your neighbors and you will be thankful.
I just a 3100 unit at Costco for $659.

Suggest you read up on decibel ratings and how they are logarithmic.
That way you be better to pick an appropriate generator for campgrounds.

Will the 3100 or 3400 be enough to power a 15,000 btu air conditioner? When I looked it up they said they have starting watts of between 3300 and 3500.

[bikendan]

Many have run their 15k, with both.
Or you can get a pair of 2000w inverter generators and parallel them.
That way, if you won't need a/c, you only need to take one 50lb 2000w to power everything else.

If you buy from Costco and the 3100w doesn't run it, just take it back for a refund.

[lme8200]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Many have run their 15k, with both.
Or you can get a pair of 2000w inverter generators and parallel them.
That way, if you won't need a/c, you only need to take one 50lb 2000w to power everything else.

If you buy from Costco and the 3100w doesn't run it, just take it back for a refund.

Thanks!

[DavidBo]

I have a Champion 3100 and it runs my 13.5k A/C easily on economy mode. It will probably run your larger A/C in regular mode, especially if you add a starting capacitor like I did. This helps take away a little of the surge when your compressor kicks on.
I'd probably play it safe though and get the 3400:



It costs a bit more but you'll have a little buffer power-wise. It'll probably be more efficient too as you should be able to use economy mode more often, which is quieter, increases run time and saves fuel. There is even a dual-fuel version that can be run on propane.
Champion is the one of the best bang for the buck options; if money is no object it's hard to beat Honda, pretty much the standard bearer for inverter generators.
Also, all the +1's for the open frame generator comment. Please DON'T show up at a campground with on of those. They are loud, heavy, loud, dirty, loud, create uneven power that is hard on sensitive electronics, and worst of all...LOUD! Basically a great way to make enemies.
This forum is packed with all the generator info you could ask for, definitely the right place to start researching.

[JeepGuy]

i just got the 3400 inverter dual fuel champion, and although it was way more than I wanted to spend , its nice, not sure how to compare it on sound since ive never heard another generator.

[Hoyt]

I was just out for four days without power. I borrowed a Champion 3400 watt inverter generator from a friend. We were in the Canadian rockies so AC wasn't required in spite of the mid 20 degree C (~75-80F) daytime temps. I did run the AC for 30 minutes to see how the inverter would handle it. As someone else mentioned it ran the 13,500BTU AC in econo mode. Because I didn't anticipate using AC I didn't plug into the 30 amp outlet but used the 20 amp outlet. I should also mention that the AC will run at home when plugged into a 15 amp breaker in the garage. The people we were camping with had a Honda 3000 so it was a good opportunity to compare. Prior to going I had downloaded a decibel app for my iPhone, so I measured decibels from both units running in econo mode at ~21 feet (7 paces). The champion measured 62db and the honda measured 60db. Both of these values are higher than the respective manufactures advertise. I think Champion say 59db and Honda is less, maybe 56 or so. My conclusion after the 4 days is that both units would run AC and maybe even the microwave at the same time. Noise as measured from the phone app and from my ears were acceptable from both but the Honda was much less irritating. Hard to describe but the Honda seem like a humming sound or a purr, like a white noise while the Champion was more than that, kind of like a big base car audio system you hear in traffic sometimes. So as already stated it come down to cost, if you can afford it go with the honda. If the sound won't bother you then a Champion is a very good buy. For me, I don't think I'm gonna buy one. Around here I don't think I would use one more than 3 or 4 times a year as we'd be plugged in at most of the areas we go and if I get in a bind for 12 volt, I have a 30 year old honda 800 watt generator that charges batteries just fine.

[rebeltown]

Originally Posted by Hoyt

I was just out for four days without power. I borrowed a Champion 3400 watt inverter generator from a friend. We were in the Canadian rockies so AC wasn't required in spite of the mid 20 degree C (~75-80F) daytime temps. I did run the AC for 30 minutes to see how the inverter would handle it. As someone else mentioned it ran the 13,500BTU AC in econo mode. Because I didn't anticipate using AC I didn't plug into the 30 amp outlet but used the 20 amp outlet. I should also mention that the AC will run at home when plugged into a 15 amp breaker in the garage. The people we were camping with had a Honda 3000 so it was a good opportunity to compare. Prior to going I had downloaded a decibel app for my iPhone, so I measured decibels from both units running in econo mode at ~21 feet (7 paces). The champion measured 62db and the honda measured 60db. Both of these values are higher than the respective manufactures advertise. I think Champion say 59db and Honda is less, maybe 56 or so. My conclusion after the 4 days is that both units would run AC and maybe even the microwave at the same time. Noise as measured from the phone app and from my ears were acceptable from both but the Honda was much less irritating. Hard to describe but the Honda seem like a humming sound or a purr, like a white noise while the Champion was more than that, kind of like a big base car audio system you hear in traffic sometimes. So as already stated it come down to cost, if you can afford it go with the honda. If the sound won't bother you then a Champion is a very good buy. For me, I don't think I'm gonna buy one. Around here I don't think I would use one more than 3 or 4 times a year as we'd be plugged in at most of the areas we go and if I get in a bind for 12 volt, I have a 30 year old honda 800 watt generator that charges batteries just fine.

I can assure you that the discrepancy between your cell phone app decibel reading and the one from the factory is because the app reading is not a calibrated instrument like the factory one would have to be. I'm surprised that they were even that close. I've used quality sound test equipment and you can get greatly varying readings using uncalibrated equipment.

[seagrace]

I've got the dual-fuel Champion from Costco, I recently finished the break-in period. Running on Propane only, in the economy mode, it will not run my 15k A/C, but in normal mode (2800w), it will. I'm happy. You can get more juice if you run gasoline, but all we have in AZ is the blended fuel.

[Hoyt]

Originally Posted by rebeltown

I can assure you that the discrepancy between your cell phone app decibel reading and the one from the factory is because the app reading is not a calibrated instrument like the factory one would have to be. I'm surprised that they were even that close. I've used quality sound test equipment and you can get greatly varying readings using uncalibrated equipment.

My intent isn't to mislead anyone or dispute the manufactures claims in respect to decibels. By pointing out that the reading from the iPhone app were different I did intend to illustrate that the levels recorded were not necessarily accurate but the Champion was louder assuming the error was the same on each test. I should have tried to state that more obviously.

[yetavon]

Love our Champion 3100....

[Hersbird]

From my experience you won't really he able to use the generator to power the A/C at parks like Glacier, and Yellowstone. You won't hardly be at the camper during generator hours. We would often leave by 8am and not be back until 10:30 pm. Maybe that's just us. The camprounds at these places in a way stink in comparison to the other places to go and see in the parks. The camper is just for sleeping, breakfast, and maybe making a packed lunch.

[Marines0811]

Picked this baby up for Harbor freight today. $699 and it has electric start.

[aceinspp]

I use the Boliy 3600 Si works great light weigh and can add an extend a tank of 6 gals. Also electric start or pull start. Later RJD

[Maman325]

Originally Posted by Marines0811

Picked this baby up for Harbor freight today. $699 and it has electric start.


Attachment 145748Attachment 145749

Ooh - thank you for the heads up! I have a 25% off coupon at Harbor Freight. This sounds like the deal we've been looking for!!!

[banda]

How many decibels is it?

[purduepete97]

IIRC, HF 20 and 25% off coupons are not valid for Predator products. . .

[banda]

Originally Posted by purduepete97

IIRC, HF 20 and 25% off coupons are not valid for Predator products. . .

Bummer!

[rsdata]

Ooh - thank you for the heads up! I have a 25% off coupon at Harbor Freight. This sounds like the deal we've been looking for!!!

FYI the online 25% off coupon specifically exempts the Predator line...
advertised price is $699

decibels are advertised as 57, but nothing mentioned about how many feet away... a number of online reviews says sound levels are very quiet and compare to Honda