generators

[troypiggo]

If I could pick up a 240V 800W generator pretty cheap, would that be sufficient to charge a 75Ah battery during the day? This is assuming it's a little noisy to run all night while imaging where there isn't mains power. I'm assuming that if noise isn't an issue, that's heaps of grunt to run all my gear and more.

[erick]

I had one of these cheap gennies - bought second hand. It broke down :sadeyes:

But before it did, I had run it for several hours. At the end of 25m of extn cord, it wasn't particularly noisy unless, I guess, someone wants to just hear the crickets. Certainly didn't disrupt conversations.

The output that I looked at via a scope was pretty sloppy (no pure sine wave here!) but that might have been a symptom of the impending break down!

If you can afford it, I'd suggest spending more money (2 or 3 times more?) on a quality quiet Honda generator. Should be much quieter and much more reliable.

[TrevorW]

Heaps

[peter_4059]

Why not get a solar charger?

[troypiggo]

Hmm. It's just that it's only like $60 - almost a throw-away. How much are those Hondas? I'll have a clickety click.



Thanks for confirming that.



What if there's no sun? Can you get a solar charger that'll do the job in a day? For $60? And I can use the genny at night if noise isn't an issue, but with a solar charger I'll still only be able to use the battery.

[tlgerdes]

A $60 generator is not going to be quite. We have one of those and it ranges in at around 85db, think 2stroke lawnmover, not real good unless 50m away.

We paid $600 from ebay for a 2kva generator that outputs about 65db of noise. Now that we can run all night on the end of a 25m extension cord with no issues. So far it has clocked up around 200hrs of use without a hickup, sits there idling all night, the only time it revs up is when bark up the toaster.

[troypiggo]

Been looking at Honda generators here (http://www.ongmac.com.au/generatorshonda.htm). The EU10i looks appealing - quiet at 52dba, 1000W AC, 12V/8A DC, only 13kg, and has a pure sine wave inverter. No price there, though.

Edit: Eeek - it's up around a grand. No go there.

[bmitchell82]

I have one of those super quite 4 stroke hondas, they are quite, but not quiet enough to take down for a star party. though fine to charge though the day! :) hope that gives you a idea!

[troypiggo]

Which one have you got, how much (roughly) was it, and where'd you get it from? Sorry for the pushy questions.

[Barrykgerdes]

I use a 2kva (Quiet type) at wiruna (house). I have it under a frame work and cover it with the unused caravan annex (heavy canvas) folded about 4 times. This really makes it quiet! It is kept about 50 metres from the activity but it can't be heard past 20 metres. It is so quiet I have to go and check to see if it is still running every now and then. It runs all afternoon and night on about 5 litres of petrol.

Barry

[coldspace]

If you are after a Honda then the cheapest place in Brisbane is at Recreational refrigeration and caravan services in Underwood.
They sell them for a couple of hundred less than anywhere else.
I got my 2kva and 1KVA from there and saved alot.
They are very quite but you would still shut them down after dark so not to annoy anyone, but the 1KVA on say a 30 mtr lead and put behind a tree is almost silent unless you put a large load on and it revs up.
In eco mode and not much load on them say just a PC its hard to tell which is louder, I think the 2kva is just a tad softer than the 1kva with same load on them.
The electrician that works for me tested the output of these gennys and reckons the power coming out is alot cleaner than mains so they are good for PC's.

Matt.

[tlgerdes]

This is one Barry and I have.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SILENT-INVERTER-GENERATOR-2-6KVA-caravan-camper-fishing_W0QQitemZ280420703801QQcmdZ ViewItemQQptZAU_Business_Industrial _Farming_Agriculture_Farming_Agricu lture_Equipment?hash=item414a605e39

They go for around $600-650 on ebay. Has worked faultlessly since we bought it. Has no trouble with 3 computers, 3 lights, 2 telescopes and toaster all together.

A bit heavy (26kgs), but it has lasts about 15hrs on a tank for us, and there always plenty of power to share around.

Ands yes it is quite enough for a star party, we ran it for 3days at the SPSP and every month at ASNSWs Wiruna site without complaints.

[troypiggo]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

[loc46south]

Hi - what you have to watch with the Chinese "Chonda" generators is that they tend to be a bit optimistic with their power ratings - I've used one now for the last 4 years without any problems. Started out with a 2.2 KVa but once I built my observatory it couldn't cope with my need for comfort and I have upgraded to a 6.5 KVa - which equates to about 4.5 KVa continuous. Enough to run astro gear, computers and a HEATER.

[xstream]

It's like everything, "You only get what you pay for"!

I've had various genie's but now have had a 20i for approx 12months and there is no comparison.

The Generator Place (http://generatorplace.com.au/) is probably the most competitive place to buy in Aus. They'll beat any price in Aus. if you can find one better and they will negotiate.

[Barrykgerdes]

About 40 years ago I bought an Australian made generator set 1.5KVA with a 5 HP Briggs and Stratton motor (it still goes strong although I have needed to clean the points after it has been standing for a long time in a damp area). It had a bit of trouble starting the Fridge if the freezer was also running. I richened the idle mixture about 1/4 turn and no more trouble. Probably close to a 2KVA load.

It was noisy under full load but I made a new muffler that quietened it down a bit.

Barry