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01-28-2017, 10:29 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 195
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Exercising the Generator
How do you create enough load to properly exercise your generator in winter? Other than making my microwaveable lasagna, I'm running out of options to draw enough load to make a difference. It's too cold here to run the AC's.
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01-28-2017, 10:34 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: West Michigan/Fort Myers
Posts: 3,927
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Bring a small electric heater.
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01-28-2017, 11:08 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 2,024
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electric heater
toaster oven
blender
vacuum
fan
...anything 110 v.
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01-28-2017, 11:14 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Whereever our Berkshire is Parked!
Posts: 7,082
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In addition to all the other excellent suggestions...
Charge all your electronics
Turn on all your TVs
Do you have a Residential Fridge? That will help load the system as well
__________________
Bob & Anne-Marie [BamaBob & 6 Actual]
| 2017 Berkshire XLT 43A with Ultrasteer Tag | Blue Ox Avail + KarGard II |
| SMI AF-1 Air Brake | 2016 Jeep Cherokee Overland TOAD | Pedego Bikes |
Nights Camped: 2013 - 24 • 2014 - 42 • 2015 - 56 • Jul 2016 - Fulltime •
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01-28-2017, 11:54 AM
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#5
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,149
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Heat a cup of water in the microwave.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2024 Ford F-Series SCREW•7.3L•4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA
Days Camped ☼ '19=118 ☼ '20=116 ☼ '21=123 ☼ '22=134 ☼ '23=118☼ '24=90
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01-28-2017, 12:27 PM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 45
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1500 watt electric fireplace and 1500 watt electric heater. Then I turn on all the lights and TVs. Let in warm up 5 minutes and cool down five minutes without load on each end of the run.
__________________
Bruce
2015 XLR Thunderbolt 415 AMP
2016 RAM 3500 6.7L DRW
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01-28-2017, 01:14 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: West Michigan/Fort Myers
Posts: 3,927
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Yes just bring a fireplace with you.
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01-28-2017, 01:38 PM
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#8
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Dragonship Captain
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Eastern PA, USA
Posts: 1,335
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil57
Yes just bring a fireplace with you.
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I have one permanently installed........ You know, for ambiance and all that. 
Block heater.
__________________
2020 RAM 3500 DRW Long Horn. In the hunt for a Palomino TC, formerly a 2017 Berkshire 38A: https://dragonship.blog/
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01-28-2017, 01:50 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: West Michigan/Fort Myers
Posts: 3,927
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oscarvan
I have one permanently installed........ You know, for ambiance and all that.
Block heater. |
They only put fireplaces in Moho's with bad water heaters.
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01-28-2017, 01:58 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 1,645
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Hair driers. We carry His and Hers, and they both pull 1800 watts on high.
__________________
2019 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS
2015 T12RBST Flagstaff Hardside
Disclaimer: The actual value of my "Two Cents" of advice varies just like a bitcoin.
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01-28-2017, 02:47 PM
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#11
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World Wide Wanderer
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Sprung Leak, NC
Posts: 1,732
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Heat pump if you have one...
I have run the fireplace too 
Aaron 
__________________
Aaron & Rhonda
wahoonc & Airangel60
2016 Coachmen Concord 300DS
2015 Fusion Hybrid following along
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01-28-2017, 02:53 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 195
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FYI- My wife thinks I'm a little crazy when I tell her I'm going down to the camper to exercise the generator!
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01-28-2017, 06:28 PM
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#13
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Dragonship Captain
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Eastern PA, USA
Posts: 1,335
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil57
They only put fireplaces in Moho's with bad water heaters.
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That gives me an idea.....! I could run some copper piping through the fireplace!
__________________
2020 RAM 3500 DRW Long Horn. In the hunt for a Palomino TC, formerly a 2017 Berkshire 38A: https://dragonship.blog/
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01-28-2017, 06:29 PM
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#14
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Dragonship Captain
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Eastern PA, USA
Posts: 1,335
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CT Camper
FYI- My wife thinks I'm a little crazy when I tell her I'm going down to the camper to exercise the generator!
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Ever notice someone following you? And, have you seen any charges from the ACME detective agency on your credit card statement?
__________________
2020 RAM 3500 DRW Long Horn. In the hunt for a Palomino TC, formerly a 2017 Berkshire 38A: https://dragonship.blog/
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01-28-2017, 07:56 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,520
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oscarvan
That gives me an idea.....! I could run some copper piping through the fireplace!
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You crack me up 
__________________
Joe & Debbie
2017 Dynamax DX3 37BH
Toad: 2020 Ford F-150
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01-28-2017, 07:59 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,520
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oscarvan
Ever notice someone following you? And, have you seen any charges from the ACME detective agency on your credit card statement?
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I like it
__________________
Joe & Debbie
2017 Dynamax DX3 37BH
Toad: 2020 Ford F-150
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01-29-2017, 12:06 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 157
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I exercised my generator yesterday by running all of the lights and turning on my heat pump. Let it run for 15 minutes and shut it down.
Best regards,
Fred
__________________
Fred Hardy
Phoenix, AZ
2014 Berkshire 390BH-60
2007 Explorer Sport Trac
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01-30-2017, 08:17 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Whereever our Berkshire is Parked!
Posts: 7,082
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fredhardy
I exercised my generator yesterday by running all of the lights and turning on my heat pump. Let it run for 15 minutes and shut it down.
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Fred,
Actually you should be doing it for at least 2 hours per month @ 50% Load
Here is a great presentation on generators and how to place load on them.
Hope this helps
__________________
Bob & Anne-Marie [BamaBob & 6 Actual]
| 2017 Berkshire XLT 43A with Ultrasteer Tag | Blue Ox Avail + KarGard II |
| SMI AF-1 Air Brake | 2016 Jeep Cherokee Overland TOAD | Pedego Bikes |
Nights Camped: 2013 - 24 • 2014 - 42 • 2015 - 56 • Jul 2016 - Fulltime •
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01-30-2017, 05:08 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 195
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BamaBob
Fred,
Actually you should be doing it for at least 2 hours per month @ 50% Load
Here is a great presentation on generators and how to place load on them.
Hope this helps
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Thanks for the PDF Bob, saved it on my iBooks.
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01-30-2017, 07:43 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 157
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Thanks Bamabob. I appreciate the info.
Fred
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