I'm a generator idiot...

[dcg9381]

I've made two big mistakes with generators, so I thought I'd share.

We had an on-the-road failure of a generac that was in an RV and ended up buying a Briggs and Straton 5000 / 5500 watt unit while on a road trip. My mistake was that the 240V outlet in this generator had a 17A breaker on the 240 side. So it would only do 120V @ 20A or 240v @ 17A - really, only enough to barely power a single AC unit - and nothing else. It would frequently trip the breaker on the road and didn't begin to replace the on-board generator (5000 watts) that had malfunctioned, but would fire 2 AC units.

I eventually got wiser about 120V power - and bought a Champion 4000/4500, which didn't have 240V, but did have a 120V @ 30A connector - and it was great for the RV. Not quite as loud as the 5000/5500 - but this was my "go-to" for years with the RV and cheap at about $300.

After a carb rebuild (even with non-ethanol fuel, 100LL fuel) - I decided to switch to a dual-fuel champion. And I wanted 240V - for a welding rig that is semi-portable.
So I bought 2 of these:
https://www.championpowerequipment.com/product/100574-4000-watt-dual-fuel-open-frame-inverter/

They worked great on propane (never have filled the gas tank). They have the 30A RV connection that I'm after.. And they can "throttle down" at low load...

So I "sync'd" these today - added the kit to do that. Plugged in welder. Nothing.. .Then I notice "not for 240V use". Ugh!
Basically these are 120V only - and operate in-sync only, so no 240V. They can put down 50A, which is great for RVs (with multiple ACs) - but a total fail at firing a welder...

YMMV.

 

[lis2323]

Thanks for the info. But I would say you are no longer a “generator idiot!”

I, on the other hand am considered a “general idiot”.

 

[egdede]

I thought RV's had Onan generators. I don't know if saying that makes me an generator idiot or not.

 

[nadogail]

Thanks for sharing, there are many things we think we know but barely understand.

 

[matt_i]

The devil is in the details.

 

[dcg9381]

I thought RV's had Onan generators. I don't know if saying that makes me an generator idiot or not.

They are probably the biggest manufacturer of RV generators, yes. The RV I had, when it got really hot out (think 100+) - uninsulated fuel lines would vaporize fuel and the RV would shut down after about 15 minutes of run time on the highway.. It took me a while to sort that out, but when you're on family vacation and in a 38' RV, it's 100 degrees, and the house ACs won't run - it's a big problem.


Onans are also expensive. So if we're camped out off grid and I'm going to run a generator for days, I tend to switch to a portable genset to keep hours (and maintenance) off the Onan...

 

[NUTTSGT]

You learned and nobody got hurt except your wallet.

 

[wrenchguy]

I'm a general/genny idiot too.
I fired a lincoln 400amp motor driven welder with this genny awhile back. The genny thought a gnat had tapped on. This time all went well.

Video,

 

[Kielpo]

As long as you aren't an idiot generator, we have too many of those these days.

 

[StormcrowAz]

You learned and nobody got hurt except your wallet.

We all pay for experience, in one way or another...



A decent genny that can adequately run my MM211 is on the long list. Would be nice for everything away from the shop. I've got a pretty old champion that bogs down on anything more then 16ga sheet. Has got me by so far, but would be nice to have something with a bit more juice.

 

[Charlie51]

Maybe all you need on the road is a 110 volt buzz box welder.

 

[dcg9381]

I don't need any welder on the road, but have a front "hitch mount" rig for my UTV... Need to weld a gate, or something around the yard, that's what I use it for...