Silent generators
Hi all, has anyone got any experience of the so called silent generators and if so how silent are they? In a nutshell after owning a caravan for the last 25 years we have only ever been off grid for one week end in June this year and tbh I didn't really enjoy the experience not being connected via the umbilical cord. We have just had our electric pitch cancelled this week end but have been offered a non electric pitch instead, I have tried to find an alternative site in the same area but there is nothing available. A work colleague suggested hiring a silent generator but I don't know anything about generators. I certainly don't want to annoy the immediate neighbours unless of course they could hook up as well.
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You might find >>> this <<< link helpful. It also highlights the fact that, between the hours of 6.00 pm and 9.00 am, generators should not be used on club sites.
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We have the small Honda so about as quiet as you could get, however its noise is going to be evident to all those with decent hearing out to about 75 metres as an estimate. If like me, they will find other people's generators irritating, the more so the generally quieter the background noise.
You can mitigate things if there is a large trunk tree to "hide" it behind as the noise is largely direction, so out of sight behind some high mass feature leads to some reduction.
Whilst that might sound all negative it is worth exploring how much you would require it to be running, and if not profligate that could be minimal just to keep the battery in a decent state of charge.
Such a small generator, ours is 650 Watt, really can't replicate in any way a 16 Amp EHU, so if it is hair dryers or similar high powered devices forget it. It is way large enough to keep the lights working and battery topped up if used for a couple of hours, so better replicates a good solar system.
Therefore, if you think in terms of your lighting for as long as needed and 2 to 3 hours of TV in the evening, work the heating systems electronics, and can find the time to run it with minimal hassle to others for a couple of hours, it is viable. You will need to run the fridge and power the heating by gas, budget this time of the year 6 plus Kgs a week unless it turns bitter.
Ask much more and you are going to be a pain in the butt to any of the more sensitive souls on site, which IMO is unfair. Load your Kindles up and look into having a different sort of break and it is workable , as qualified above.
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with just a weekend on a pitch, what specifically are your 'power' concerns?
lights and a couple of hours TV over 2 days wont seriously tax a fully charged battery....but what about other things?
heat and hot water is easily covered by your gas bottle (youll be pleasantly surprised at how well it performs), also your fridge will work just as well on gas....and over one weekend, even if chilly, you wont use that much gas.
electrical devices can easily be charged ising usb sockets (or adapter).
hair can be dried in the washrooms...im assuming that there is power and hot water available for showers as you mentioned an electric pitch being cancelled...
so, over just two days, i dont think you'll be needing a generator.
you could even take a 2nd battery to ease your fears...
good luck, relax and enjoy your break
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I have a silent Honda generator that was used for another purpose than caravanning and I would not have the nerve to use it on site as it is far from silent, especially when an extra demand is called for such as extra lighting or the kettle, when the revs increased along with the noise.
Our last trip with the van was a couple of months ago now, but the VW campervan pitched next to us felt the need to keep a diesel generator on all night. It woke me up on several occasions, perhaps when called upon to provide a bit more power. The chap was not to concerned and explained that as it was on the van it was acceptable to use all night to keep the van warm. Perhaps they forgot their duvets. Not sure how loud it was in their van, but fortunately we were moving on the next morning.
I would definitely explore the solar panel and, or extra battery option, unless you are wild camping away from others perhaps.
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I had a so-called ‘silent’ Honda generator on one of my boats and whilst it was OK if moored up in the middle of nowhere, there’s no way I would have used it with others around. They’re fine on tickover but as soon as the load comes on they’re anything but silent. In this day and age, solar is definitely the way to go.
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Hi guys, thank you for all your replies. As mentioned our electric pitch had been cancelled well now the non electric pitch has been cancelled as well. (Weather related). The main reason we don't go off grid is because I have a phobia of gas. We use the electric for heating, water heater, fridge, coffee machine, electric grill and the electric hob. ( We don't even have gas connected to the house).
As for the silent generators well it seems they are not silent so not interested in one of those.
Once again thank you for your advice.
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I was just going to ask which bits of off grid do you not get on with, but you have let us know what the main issue is, and it makes a lot of alternatives more difficult.
We had to endure a weekend’s camping next to a small generator, and the owner was not popular. What was worse, all he was running it for was to keep alcohol cool in a hot Summer.
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I'm locking this thread now as Jazzybaby has given us an update.
Thanks to all who have contributed.
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