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AllieRambles → Boondockers: December 5, 2020Question. While boondocking, why is it necessary to run a generator all day? I’ve seen it summer and now winter. Is it to power the refrigerator? Necessary medical devices?
My class C Minnie doesn’t need the generator on unless I need AC, microwave - big... moreQuestion. While boondocking, why is it necessary to run a generator all day? I’ve seen it summer and now winter. Is it to power the refrigerator? Necessary medical devices?
My class C Minnie doesn’t need the generator on unless I need AC, microwave - big stuff, which I don’t use while boondocking usually.
I’m a curious noob. ❤️
Happy Trails!
AllieRamblesDecember 5, 2020
What is being powered? TV? Laptop?
Paul KnappDecember 5, 2020
We do a lot of boondocking and only use the generator to fire up the coffee maker and charge our cell phones. We may occasionally watch a movie. Other than that, our batteries take care of everything else.
AllieRamblesDecember 5, 2020
Priorities - coffee. I love it!
I do the same - charge my devises and I’ll microwave something too while it’s on.
Thanks. I’m just curious about generators still.
TheJudyinPDXDecember 5, 2020
It's odd to run a generator non-stop while boondocking. The only things I can imagine are a/c, electric heaters or medical devices, unless they installed a residential fridge. I park as far from them as possible.
AllieRamblesDecember 5, 2020I try to park away as well.
I once parked in a beautiful spot in Colorado near the San Juan River. My neighbor had this huge external gen running all day. They even had a trailer with a bunch of gas tanks. They had a big fifth wheel so maybe had a ... moreI try to park away as well.
I once parked in a beautiful spot in Colorado near the San Juan River. My neighbor had this huge external gen running all day. They even had a trailer with a bunch of gas tanks. They had a big fifth wheel so maybe had a residential fridge. The problem is it drowned out the river sound 😢.
Thanks for your reply, wanted to get a feel of the norm. less
smithpvDecember 5, 2020When boondocking we fire up the gen in the morning to make coffee and get the batteries up a little. Then doesn't run during the day unless there it is cold and cloudy then may need it to charge up for the heater. At night just a little while to top off t... moreWhen boondocking we fire up the gen in the morning to make coffee and get the batteries up a little. Then doesn't run during the day unless there it is cold and cloudy then may need it to charge up for the heater. At night just a little while to top off the battery because wife uses CPAP at night. My gen is too noisy to run all day. less
Leo Flott " the other one " December 5, 2020
Unwritten rule for boondocking generator use is 0600 to 2200 hours . Quiet time is 2200 to 0600 no gennies . Unless an emergency arises .
Suzan and ArtDecember 5, 2020
We camped one year with the amateur radio operators in Q and many there ran generators to run their sets. After that we parked away from them and visited as we wished.
Jean & Paul (jpmanni) December 5, 2020
We run it in the morning for coffee (after quiet time is over). Depending where we are, we have run it in the afternoon for the ac, but only if needed
Steve & DebiDecember 5, 2020I can only assume that it has a lot to do with the amount of batteries and the condition we run our generator in the morning to bring the batteries up and in the evening before we go to bed to bring them up and we can watch TV all day run a heater no air ... moreI can only assume that it has a lot to do with the amount of batteries and the condition we run our generator in the morning to bring the batteries up and in the evening before we go to bed to bring them up and we can watch TV all day run a heater no air conditioner less
Jim & Sharon HamDecember 5, 2020Excess generator noise is one of our pet rants that causes disagreements between camping neighbors. We especially dislike the "contractor" open frame generators that can be heard for a mile....and then the operators turn up the volume on the boom box to ... moreExcess generator noise is one of our pet rants that causes disagreements between camping neighbors. We especially dislike the "contractor" open frame generators that can be heard for a mile....and then the operators turn up the volume on the boom box to overcome the gen noise! We frequently hear the argument that I need the gen to run my two air conditioners all day. Is staying inside all day really that much fun? less
AllieRamblesDecember 5, 2020
I once parked in a beautiful spot in Colorado near the San Juan River. My neighbor had this huge external gen running all day. They even had a trailer with a bunch of gas tanks. They had a big fifth wheel so maybe had a residential fridge. The prob... more
I once parked in a beautiful spot in Colorado near the San Juan River. My neighbor had this huge external gen running all day. They even had a trailer with a bunch of gas tanks. They had a big fifth wheel so maybe had a residential fridge. The problem is it drowned out the sound of the river. 😢😤 less
BKDecember 5, 2020
Like most boondockers we only run the gen for an hour or two to run A/C appliances or for a battery charge. When I get my 400W of solar hooked up we should be able to reduce even that.
Diana & Michael December 5, 2020I have a modest solar system and rarely need my generator. Neighbors running generators non stop is my biggest problem with boondocking. Goodness knows why they need to do that, but it’s always somebody or several somebodies. I’ve packed up and left numer... moreI have a modest solar system and rarely need my generator. Neighbors running generators non stop is my biggest problem with boondocking. Goodness knows why they need to do that, but it’s always somebody or several somebodies. I’ve packed up and left numerous times to hide from them. less
Chatham AdventurersDecember 5, 2020We have 2 Agm batteries for this years trip. Last year we had one battery and we ran the quiet portable generator for an hour in the morning and for an hour before bed. Hopefully, this year we can run it for 30 minutes twice a day. Oh, we bought a portab... moreWe have 2 Agm batteries for this years trip. Last year we had one battery and we ran the quiet portable generator for an hour in the morning and for an hour before bed. Hopefully, this year we can run it for 30 minutes twice a day. Oh, we bought a portable solar 200 watt panel to use during the day. Stay tuned. less
Jim and Jan Hollis December 5, 2020OK - good points above. We had our Norcold (never cold) huge four-door refrigerator go out and put an ammonia cloud in our entire coach one night about 11:30 p.m.. Thanks to God we were out with friends and came back to find this! We could have been DEA... moreOK - good points above. We had our Norcold (never cold) huge four-door refrigerator go out and put an ammonia cloud in our entire coach one night about 11:30 p.m.. Thanks to God we were out with friends and came back to find this! We could have been DEAD. Or burned up. SO we immediately went to a Samsung 18 residential refrigerator which fit the space perfectly. ALLIANCE in the Villages, FL put it in and got us full credit for the old one! (SORRY - but they were bought out by Lazy Days in Tampa, so NOT the same service or integrity...) We put in 3 new AGM batteries (27 series) for the house side and they do really well. Our Inverter is 1000 watts and Samsung has it's own small inverter. An experienced mentor of ours who did full time for 14 years said the Residential Fridge would NOT require the GEN set all day. About 4 to 5 hours a day with NO solar will charge up the batteries so you can be fine through the quiet hours - IF you don't act like you're plugged to 50 AMPS!!! We run our 5500 Onan built-in with quiet running in our 38 ft Winnebago Itasca. The longer you run them under load the BETTER it is for your Genset. The "contractor" type of Gensets are far noisier. less
Matt & MaryDecember 5, 2020If someone thinks he has to run a generator all day, he should start with a spread sheet and figure out what the real demands are. If things don't line up, he needs to get a real battery monitor and make changes to his systems so things work the way that... moreIf someone thinks he has to run a generator all day, he should start with a spread sheet and figure out what the real demands are. If things don't line up, he needs to get a real battery monitor and make changes to his systems so things work the way that they should. At one time I had to run the generator more than just a few hours a day, then I searched out the real problem. It was not that we have a residential reefer or the computers or other things, it was a combination of a house bank that has gone bad and the converter charger was not up to the task. By replacing both with the correct parts and proper wiring, the need was gone. We now run the APU only 6 hours out of 48. less
Fred & SandraDecember 5, 2020
They may have have batteries in very poor condition and the generator was the only way around it.... just another possibility 😁
Cinn December 7, 2020Without a battery monitor (which no RVs come with) they probably don't even know if their batteries need charging or not, so they just run the generator all the time. Or maybe they have poor "hybrid" batteries (Interstate brand, which comes with all RVs a... moreWithout a battery monitor (which no RVs come with) they probably don't even know if their batteries need charging or not, so they just run the generator all the time. Or maybe they have poor "hybrid" batteries (Interstate brand, which comes with all RVs are hybrid) instead of true deep cycle batteries.
With 2 to 4 true deep-cycle batteries and a large enough INverter to draw power directly off the batteries (neither of which come pre-installed in RVs) one wouldn't need the generator to make coffee, watch TV or charge devices. (You can also boil water on the propane stove and pour it through the coffee maker to make coffee, too.)
Energy management in an RV is not common knowledge, it has to be learned, and takes time to even realize what you don't know about these things. You really don't need to spend a fortune on solar to avoid using noisy, smelly, gas-guzzling generators. less
Dallas & Tammy December 8, 2020We have an all electric coach that has a factory battery management system. We set it to start when batteries are low and shut off when charged. 8 AGM’s with a 3000 inverter/charger. We make coffee etc in the morning when charging etc. e we set for quiet ... moreWe have an all electric coach that has a factory battery management system. We set it to start when batteries are low and shut off when charged. 8 AGM’s with a 3000 inverter/charger. We make coffee etc in the morning when charging etc. e we set for quiet time 10pm-8am. (Would be upset if someone thought quiet time was 6am as stated above). Our generator runs a couple hours in the morning and starts around 8 at night for a couple hours. This should supply all the power you need. If not, get your RV checked for a problem or get it set up to boondock. less
Cinn December 8, 2020
@Dallas & Tammy: Sounds like a nice system, but 8AGMs? That's a lot of weight! May have been less expensive to go Lithium for that much AH, certainly lighter weight.
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