Caravan & Camping Generator Buyer's Guide

For some folks, a generator is an essential part of their caravan and camping trip. For others, a generator can provide peace of mind in knowing that back up is close at hand if their other power sources are unavailable. Generators come in a variety of types and sizes that are suitable for a number of applications. Doing your own research can sometimes feel overwhelming. This buyers guide will help you make the right choice for your needs and budget.

 

‘Watt’ Are The Power Ratings?

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, ‘Continuous Output’ and ‘Peak Output’. The continuous is the main rating you should be concerned with; this is the power output the total draw of your appliances should remain below. The Peak Output is the power that the generator can produce for a very short burst of time. The Peak Output is useful for appliances with electrical motors and compressors (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.

 

Types Of Generators:

When it comes to caravans and camping, only look for “Inverter” generators. Inverter generators are compact, quiet, economical and produce clean power for running sensitive electronics. They really are the perfect solution for caravanning and camping. These Generators are all powered with 4 stroke motors with standard unleaded petrol.

Of course, every rule has an exception and specific applications do call for a diesel-powered generator. We have a range of vehicle - mounted generators for larger motorhomes and bus conversions. We explore these further in the vehicle mounted section below.

 

Size Of Generator:

This is the big question. “What size Generator do I need?” Well, it all comes down to what you need to power. Each appliance will draw a certain amount of power. We call this Load. So, Power Draw = Load.

• Battery Charger = 350W (20A Battery Charger), 1050W (60A Battery Charger)

• Washing Machine = 1200W – 1600W

• Microwave = 900W - 2200W. Tip: try and choose a low wattage caravan model!

• Laptop = 50W

• Phone Charger = 5W

• TV = 200W

 

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. You can run all these appliances individually, but may not be able to power them at the same time. Most of the time you are using it to recharge your batteries quickly so you can switch back to running everything direct from DC power.

 

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 cover almost every air conditioner past and present. Most companies will tell you that you need to call your air conditioner manufacturer to find out the exact start up current of the air conditioner so you can match the generator. It is a lot easier to call us on 1800 787 278. Have the make and model of your air conditioner on hand. We will be able to match the right generator with your air conditioner in 95% of cases.

 

Noise Levels:

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 inverter generators are by far the quietest. The Yamaha 2000W Silent Inverter Generator, EF2000iS is one of the quietest generators on the market: Noise Level 51.5 dBA (1/4 load) / 61 dBA (full load).

 

Vehicle Mounted:

• Diesel

The Kubota lowboy and Fischer Panda are diesel powered, vehicle mounted and water-cooled options for serious motorhome and bus conversions. The Kubota Lowboy is fitted with Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) and whilst not an inverter still produces very clean power. The other diesel options are the German built Fischer Panda range. These are the only Diesel Pure Sine Wave Inverter generators on the market. They produce clean power 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

The Dometic Tec 29 Petrol Vehicle Mounted Generator runs a fuel efficient Honda engine with a pure sine wave inverter output. This unit is purchased with its own vehicle mounted fuel tank for ease of fuel storage and refill. The Generator has an electric start wall mounted control panel for ease of generator start/stop from inside the van. This generator produces plenty of power (2600W continuous) for its small size.

 

Good, Better, Best:

We highly recommend three tried and tested inverter generators for caravanning and camping.  The following models are the best option for each budget:

• Good - Cromtech Outback Inverter Generator 2.4kW – A powerful, lightweight inverter generator for under $1,100. YES PLEASE!

• Better - Briggs & Stratton P2400, 2400W Inverter Generator Pack – This Briggs and Stratton 2400W generator comes with a 3-year warranty and is under $1500. 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.

• Another option under $1500 is the Engel R2500IS Inverter Generator - This generator comes with a four year warranty and a 7 hour run time (50% capacity). It is an efficient and reliable power option with service agents nationwide. 

• 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 “boost” feature. The boost feature is ideal for starting caravan air conditioners and we are yet to find a caravan aircon that it will not run. The generator has a simple fuel drain design that allows you to store the generator dry while not in use. Storing a generator without fuel is very important to protect the components of the carburettor.

 

Still need help choosing a caravan and camping generator? Give one of our product experts a call on 1800 787 278!

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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.

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