Generator/RV Question

[jcliff]

I apologize for what is bound to be a stupid question. I have a new RV (71' Chevy Sportscoach) and I bought it with a generator but it is old and VERY loud. I actually haven't seen the RV yet, it's being stored in NV, but I am heading out there in a couple weeks.

I wanted to buy a Champion Power Equipment 3500/4000-Watt Generator. My question is, the maunual says that there is a 110V power cord. The Champion's power outlets are 120V. Are these compatible? If so, do you think this size generator is going to be large enough for my rig? I'm not going to be sucking a lot of juice. I mainly need the generator to keep the battery charged, lights, hot water heater and such.

Thanks!

[ygmir]

I apologize for what is bound to be a stupid question. I have a new RV (71' Chevy Sportscoach) and I bought it with a generator but it is old and VERY loud. I actually haven't seen the RV yet, it's being stored in NV, but I am heading out there in a couple weeks.

I wanted to buy a Champion Power Equipment 3500/4000-Watt Generator. My question is, the maunual says that there is a 110V power cord. The Champion's power outlets are 120V. Are these compatible? If so, do you think this size generator is going to be large enough for my rig? I'm not going to be sucking a lot of juice. I mainly need the generator to keep the battery charged, lights, hot water heater and such.

Thanks!

yes, compatible most electric stuff is 110-120 V
you genny is ok, assuming all normal loads in the RV. Although it may struggle to start an A/C unit if it's an older one and very large.
Are you saying it has an electric water heater? if so, something like that is a huge power draw, you'll want to check the specs. But, I'd be surprised if it's electric, most I've seen are propane.
a good check is to see what size genny is coming out...........and use that size, or bigger.


good luck.

[jcliff]

Thanks! The generator coming out is 4000watt, so I figured I'd be ok. The manual says that the water heater is electric, but I'm not sure it's the original. If it is electric I guess I could just power it down. I don't need a hot shower on the playa (I've never had one before, why start now?)

Thanks for the input!

[ygmir]

and remember, the Champion, will not hold a 4 K load for very long.
that's "peak" power..........It should say somewhere what sustained load is.

[FIGJAM]

Is'nt sustained load about 1/2 of the 4k?

[ygmir]

Is'nt sustained load about 1/2 of the 4k?

I think the allow a sustained load probably around 3K or so........I know it's a fair amount lower than "peak", but don't think it's half.......although for sustained, I don't know I'd want to run a long way over half.

[FIGJAM]

Yup, I was thinking of inverters.

[Stickygreen]

to the best of my knowledge Champion does not make quiet inverter type generators.

if you are replacing the generator hoping to reduce your noise output, then look into an inverter type generator. Honda's eu series is where it's at.

[oneeyeddick]

Yup, those are some loud gennys, we used one at the Booby Bar.

But , they are really cheap.

With gennies you get what you pay for.

If you are just gonna keep things charged a Honda EU2000 will be plenty of power, and will use 1/10 the amount of gas.

[jcliff]

Yea, I looked at the hondas but I can't afford $1,200. I should only need to run this about 2 hours a day at most. I do have a generator compartment in the RV. Hopefully the neighbors will be ok if I run it from noon - 2 or so. I figure people will be up from last night but not yet down for a nap.

[oneeyeddick]

They are $900ish at Wise sales. free shipping.

[dragonpilot]

Run a dryer hose (about 10') from the exhaust pipe up the side of your RV. Reduces some of the noise and disperses the exhaust up high instead of at ground level.

[EspressoDude]

The generator coming out of the RV is likely an ONAN which is designed to run all day long in the confined space and has cooling to do that. The cheap ones are basically a loud lawn mower engine intended to run in open air. A lot of the noise is radiated from the cylinder fins. Runing these cheepo generators in confined space will soon lead to ....silence