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I'd like to go to a site in the Hebrides this summer, but there are  no EHUs and I'm thinking of buying a small generator.  I've read conflicting reports about the cheaper ones and damage that can be caused.  Can anyone give me some advice and recommend a sensibly priced one?  I'm tempted to go for some of the ones advertised at around £60. (B 'n Q, Aldi, etc).

Charles

Thanks, Free, but I was thinkinking of one I could connect to my hook-up socket on the van and run 240 v off it.  Is that possible?

Charlie

You may also consider buying some ear plugs for your next door neighbours.......

Cheap generators tend to be noisier than the more expensive models - how long are you away for? If it is the weekend then you should be able to run quite happily on the battery alone, unless you are watching alot of tv. What about a solar panel? no noise at all, and no petrol tank to top up.

Sorry to sound negative about generators but having been pitched next door to a few, some of the cheaper ones sound like demented woodpeckers. I appreciate that some people need them for medical issues etc, but if it is just a case of watching telly.......

Thanks for that, Scrufts.  The site I have in mind won't have many neighbours and the sound of the surf would probably drown it out (no pun intended).

But, I appreciate they could be noisy and like all good caravanners I consider others. I would envisage using it for short spells, but not late at night - that's for candlelight, open awnings and drinks with the neighbours I've annoyed during the day, lol

Cheers.

Charlie 

You could hook it up to your van 240v input, but then it could damage the onboard charger and other electronic equipment.

Scrufts is right about the noise, even the expensive ones are noisy if they are running right next to you. Another reason not to hook it up directly to the van.

However using it as a battery charger, you could put it and the battery well away from everyone else to recharge it.

Possibly simpler to take a second battery and a perhaps a solar panel.

OK folks,

Thanks for that. 

Charlie

I would take some of the noise comments with a pinch of salt. The vast majority of 'gennies' are within a few decibels of each other. Unless you spend around 1k on a Honda, they are all 'much of a muchness'. I am not saying they are not noisy, they can be. My Dad is an electrician and with his advice I bought a 'cheap' Wolf 'gennie'. We then built a 'box' with an outlet for the exhaust and bought some cheap soundproof panels from wickes to line the inside. Halved the noise and it was really cheap to do thus shaving hundreds off a Honda etc.

Where's there a will, theres a way.

That said, I only use mine to power up a battery and use an invertor. Also, I have a static on a small sight with no electric so everyone has them.

Go to a vehicle dismantler / scrap yard and buy some car batteries. I got 5 for £30!  Get an invertor and your at the races, power most stuff they will.

 hello if you have a hire centre near you hire one see how you get on with it hire a four stroke or even a suit case one plenty of hire centres up in inverness on your way up if that fails contact me and i will hire you mine

yours sonic

Thanks, Sonic

I appreciate that.  I also appreciate the concerns of those who have replied so far, but I have to stress that no way would I run a generator if it upset anyone near me.  The site I have in mind is in the Western Isles and is pretty remote.

Thanks again for your offer, Sonic, and if I'm up Inverness way, I'll give you a call.

Regards,

Charles