Camping trips may require a trusted portable power source, such as a generator.
Whether you need to power fridges, air compressors, laptops, cell phones, or even an air conditioner, this guide has it all.
Types of Generators Available:
For camping or caravans, only look for inverter generators. Inverter generators are quiet, portable, and economical. They also produce ‘cleaner power’ for running sensitive electronics. Quiet inverter generators are powered with 4-stroke motors and use standard unleaded petrol.
For some campers, a diesel-powered generator will be best suited for specific needs.
Do you have a large motorhome? View our range of vehicle-mounted generators.
What Generator Size Do You Need for Camping?
This depends on what you need to power. Each appliance will draw a certain amount of power. We call this Load.
Some camping appliances have a higher power draw (load).
How Do Portable Camping Generator Watts Work?
Generators are rated in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW).
The higher the wattage rating, the more power the generator can output and the more appliances it can run.
Two ratings are provided
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Continuous Output: This is the power output the total draw of your appliances should remain below. The continuous output is the rating you should focus on the most.
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Peak Output: This is the power that the generator can produce for a very short burst of time. Peak output is useful for appliances with electrical motors and compressors, such as power tools and air conditioners.
TIP: Sometimes a generator will be rated in KVA. Always look to the specifications for the real power output that will be rated in kW or Watts.
Average Appliance Watts:
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Battery Charger = 350W (20A Battery Charger), 1050W (60A Battery Charger)
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Washing Machine = 1200W – 1600W
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Microwave = 900W - 2200W. Tip: try and choose a low wattage caravan model!
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Laptop = 50W
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Phone Charger = 5W
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TV = 200W
You can run all these appliances individually, but powering them all at the same time may be difficult.
We recommend a 2000–2400W generator for a typical caravan set-up.There are not a lot of inverter generators smaller than 2000W, so we tend to focus on this range.
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Camping Generator
Run time
When camping, the last thing you need is a power outage that causes food to go to waste, or having to get up in the middle of the night to refill the tank.
Aim for a generator that can run for eight hours. The range of camping generators below will give you a minimum of eight hours of run time, without running out of fuel often.
Noise Levels
Avoid a noisy generator at all costs to keep yourself and your fellow campers happy. Most of the time, your generator will be placed close to your campsite, so quiet is key.
Noise Disclaimer
Be wary of noise levels advertised by manufacturers, as they are often tested under differing conditions.Some generators will only be noise tested at ¼ load, which will be their quietest noise output.
The lower the kW output, the quieter the generator. Small suitcase-style portable inverter generators are by far the quietest.
The Yamaha 2000W Silent Inverter Generator, EF2000iS is one of the quietest generators available, with a noise level of 51.5 dBA (1/4 load) / 61 dBA (full load).
Small and Lightweight
The last thing you want is to have a large, heavy generator for your camping power station. There are so many items to pack and carry around when camping; make sure you go for a compact option.
Running an Air Conditioner
If you are planning to run an air conditioner while staying off the grid away from powered sites, then you will need a generator. A good quality 2400W from our website will support the majority of air conditioners available.Click on the expandable table below to see which generators can run which air conditioners.
(Click table to exapnd)
Our Top Choice Of Camping Generators
Diesel Generator
The Kubota lowboy and Fischer Panda are diesel powered, vehicle-mounted, and water-cooled options for serious motorhome and bus conversions.
Even though the Kubota Lowboy is not classified as an inverter, it is fitted with Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) so it still produces clean power.
The other diesel options are the German built Fischer Panda range. These are the only diesel-powered pure sine wave inverter generators on the market.They produce clean power, have smart engine speed functionality, and are very fuel efficient. The Fischer Panda range is extremely quiet and compact.
Both the Kubota Lowboys and Fischer Panda can be configured to auto start as part of a sophisticated power management system.
Petrol Generator
The Maxwatt 2800W Petrol Inverter Generator with Electric Start runs a fuel efficient engine with a pure sine wave inverter technology.The Maxwatt portable generator is the ideal power solution for various settings, whether you’re on a job site, at a campsite, or need reliable backup power for your home or office.This generator produces plenty of power (2500W continuous) for its small size.
Camping Generators: Good, Better, and Best
We highly recommend three tried-and-tested inverter generators for caravanning and camping.
The following models are the best options for each budget:
Good
Cromtech Outback Inverter Generator 2.4kW: A powerful, lightweight inverter generator for under $1,000. YES PLEASE!
Better
Briggs & Stratton P2400, 2400W Inverter Generator Pack: The Briggs & Stratton 2400W generator comes with a 3-year warranty and is under $1,500. Buying the Briggs 2400 is like owning a Honda Inverter 2.2 without having to shell out big dollars.Their service agent network is also excellent.
Best
Yamaha 2200W Inverter Generator Pack, EF2200IS: The Yamaha is unique, modern, lightweight, and powerful. This generator has some cool features, like tool-less entry and the “boost” feature.The boost feature is ideal for starting caravan air conditioners. The generator has a simple fuel drain design that allows you to store the generator dry while not in use.
Bonus Option Under $1500
Another option under $1,500 is the Engel R2500IS Inverter Generator: This generator comes with a four-year warranty and a seven-hour run time (50% capacity). It is an efficient and reliable power option, with service agents nationwide.
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DISCLAIMER* Please note, this advice is general in nature and we strongly recommend consulting the product manual and where relevant, a professional installer.
Comments (21)
Mycoolman 3000
Hi, thanks for the article. Will the Yamaha ef2200is run the mycoolman 3000?By: Adrian on 18 January 2025
www.caravanrvcamping.com.au Response
Hi Adrian, yes the Yamaha will certainly run the MyCoolman Air Con. You will need to mindful of what else you have running off the same power supply.
Best Gene for Caravan AC
Would a Yamaha EF2400IS run a Caravan AC Dometic Freshjet series7 FJX7457HP and say a caravan tv at the same time. Having awareness on continuous input capabilities. Or would you recommend another compatible unit. Also would the theory of turning off the AC during other short use of other electrical items and then turn back on the AC be feasible. Carvan has 2000w inverter with 2 x 240 amp batteriesBy: Malcolm Irwin on 29 December 2024
www.caravanrvcamping.com.au Response
Hi Malcolm, the Yamaha EF2400Is will run the Dometic Freshjet Series 7 Air Conditioner and a caravan TV at the same time. You will need to turn your air conditioner off if you want to use items that have a high watt draw such as anything with a heating element (kettle, toaster etc) The generator needs to be used within its capabilities to maintain a lengthy and reliable life.
Yamaha Vs Gentrax
Hi There, In your opinion whcih would be better for a caravan off grid (as a back up to solar) the Yamaha 2400W EF2400iS or the Gentrax 3.5Kw GT3500 Inverter Generator?? CheersBy: Daniel on 05 December 2024
www.caravanrvcamping.com.au Response
Hi Daniel, the Yamaha has a proven track record for reliability and power. With service agents nationwide the Yamaha brand is the ideal choice for generator solar back up.
Recommendations Inverter Generator
Hi we have a coaster bus with a Houghton Belaire HB 3400 + fridge to run what size inverter generator would you recommend Cheers PaulBy: Paul Baker on 27 November 2024
www.caravanrvcamping.com.au Response
Hi Paul thanks for reaching out. The Houghton Bellaire doesn't have a soft start so I would recommend a generator from 3Kva in size and up
