Hi All
With this summer being as crazy as it has been, the area where I live has had its fair share of blackouts and not just for 5mins either I'm talking about 10hours or more, My question is this what are the advantages of the older style Petrol generators over the newer Inverted style generators.?
what would be a good sized one to buy to get one through these blackouts ?

Hello Martin, I would always advise using an inverter type generator as the power that comes out of them is very clean which is important for electronic equipment (more than just compters these days). I use a Honda Eu20 which is about 2Kva and can easily run the aircon on my caravan and other camp related equipment (TV, breadmaker battery chargers etc). Recently we also have had power blackouts here at home and I have had to use the same genie to run our fridge, freezer, phone lines and computers which it did without a murmur of protest.

There are other cheaper Chinese made models on the market these days but you get what you pay for, from memory I think the Honda cost me around the 2K mark. The Eu20 runs for 10plus hours on a tank of fuel on economy mode and about 5 hours flat out running the aircon (big roof mounted blighter on my van).

JP

Hi Martin,

Yes I would definatley stick with an inverter type with all the electronic equipment we use now. Also please avoid the cheap chineese models as they will not last and also do not compare in rated output when tested alongside a Honda unit. I run a 2kw Honda for campng and the van (including air conditioning) and find it to be most satisfactory.

I have a 7.5kw Honda that I use as a back up for the house and fire pumps and from memory think I paid a sparky about $120 to do the legal wiring for the main switch board.

Unless you are having serious outage problems and or need extra emergency "fire" power as i like, i would not go above 3kw as you will start to be too restrictive for bush work, and after all that is the whole purpose

Regards, JK.

thanks JP & JK
Know what you mean you get what you pay for , I was almost thinking of getting a 2nd hand one, but I'm so past buying someones else's problem and having to fix it. I was looking at either the E20 or E30 but then again a 7kw suits the hose better as I doubt that I will take it away camping and unless your doing long trips whats the point taking it.
Will have to give the matter some more thought

Hi Martin,
I have a brand new invertor generator for sale if you still want one.
Here is a link to the info on it. With photos etc.

http://www.simpletrade.com.au/show/selling...our.731516.html

Regards
John

Hi John
I did have a look at a Yamaha unit the other day ,didn't start it as it was new as well, I have been looking around for some units and lots of other people outside of the forum that had the Honda, said when they were traveling that was the unit that everyone was using, there must be something right about this unit
thanks just the same

Gday Martin, purchased the honda E20i at xmas and used 2 wks off road in Vic and 3 wks in Tas, very compact,in transit wth breather closed never had petrol odours. ran van wth air,lights m'wave,chargers ,wifes hairdryer etc.Wouldnt run elect jug or toaster but we used gas hotplates.Purchased for $2000 but just recieved $200 cash back from Honda,as running promotion at this time, so $1800 after cash back. Also comes wth full 4 yr warranty.Starts so easy and very quiet. Phill