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13 replies

Generator choice to use with inverter

FM Former Member
I bought a really good inverter (haven't installed it yet in my trailer). RS 2000 Inverter
I'm going over the installation and owner's manual with a fine tooth comb to make sure I do it right before I do anything. I know DocT has some like it or similar. If anybody has any suggestions on installation, please post or email me. tchilton@pacbell.net

I want a fail-safe power supply. I don't think I need a sine wave generator like the Honda EU's to use in conjunction with this set-up, but I could be wrong. I'm thinking about this generator:

Coleman generator

Any comments or suggestions? I respect peoples' opinions on here.

The FE-100 is a great cooker, but it is dependent on a power supply. Nothing like cooking for a wedding of 235 people, and with two hours to go have the only outlet available start going crazy with the GFCI switch tripping every 2 minutes.

I want a self-contained power system that I can absolutely depend on (which is why I'm thinking of a Honda EU generator - even if the inverter fails, I can hook up right to the generator).
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T tomMember
I'm sure you've thought past where we are,but we run the $50 sam's marine battery,through the $35, 400 watt invertor,for 20 hrs at a time.

The FEC s seem to like that combo.

It stills shows 40% power.

We run one for each FEC.

You could run a trickle charger,while you have power at the site,and be always charged?

Tom-Fl
FM Former Member
Tom,

Spend the money on the Honda. You'll only regret it once. If you want to be more economically minded, consider one of the Kipor generators.

http://www.newscooters4less.com/index.cfm?pagetemp=defa...navid=3&deftype=cats

They look like they were a subcontractor to Honda anyway. Your wedding guests are not going to be happy with the Coleman/Briggs & Stratton pumping out 73 db at half load. The Honda will be at 49 db if you're only running the FE.

As for a definitive power set-up, I've taken note of a couple of them on pellet cooker trailers I really like. They start with the power source plugged into a trickle charger. That unit is wired to a bank of deep cycle RV batteries, the number depends on the amount of power you need. The batteries run to an inverter which has the cooker plugged into it. The beauty of this system is constant clean power through an entire cook or contest regardless of what goes on with the power on location. I may not have all of the parts or pieces quite right, but that's the basic set-up.

Just my opinion.

Rod
FM Former Member
Rodney, I have that set-up in the rig I just purchased. It's pretty sweet! Even though it can be a bit confusing as to where to plug what. (I didn't set it up)
It'll run the FEC and a Backwoods w/water and confection for 38 hrs. The lights , fan, and stereo will also run off the batteries, but I'm not sure for how long. It also supplies power to the fridge while on the road. The best part, no big ol' noisy generator. Big Grin But hey, that's just my opinion.

Rick
T tnjoeMember
Just my two cents. Listed below is what I have done and have no problems whats so ever. I plug my trailer up to a/c and then I have a 75 amp battery charger that will cut off at 14.2 amps. This keeps the batteries from being fried. I use two 6 volt golf cart batteries which feed a 2000 watt inverter. From the inverter I ran it to two receptacles which the fec's plug into. This way you can go to bed and if power does go off the batteris are charged and will cook for hourssss. It is also clean power always.
Smoky Mountain Smokers
FM Former Member
Tom,

We have 4 Interstate Optima batteries in the bank. These are AGM so they are leak proof and don't need venting. They are cheaper than gel cells and deliver more usable energy. Each is rated around 90 amp hours. The total bank size is about 360 amp hours giving about 180 amp hours of current to use. These are wired parallel through a fuse (from Xantrex) to the inverter. The inverter (which is the same you got) is wired to shore power and 2 15 amp ac circuits. The FE runs off one of these.

We love this set up. If we're not running the refer, this will supply all the power you need for the FE and lights for a weekend. We adding a Honda generator as a method of charging the batteries in the event we have no electrical power and as a backup. We did a wedding for 350 this weekend and I had similar concerns as you.

Also, get the Link 1000 controller (if you haven't already). It is worth the money.

Here's an installation picture. I'm leaving it large so you can see the details.
Inverter Installation
FM Former Member
about all i can add is this
to run my rig i use 2 honda eu3000is generators.
i am not mechanically inclined but the one that i did have to prep was done easily and maintenance is a breeze.
i got them both after hurricane #4 passed us last year (one i got located for me on ebay thanks cadillac and one was located in chatanooga tenn by ocala bill at camping world thanks bill and nina)
these gennies run in pouring down rain and heat has no affect on them.
the upside is they are clean and quite and have helpped us make sales. being in fla people have heard the loud ones but these everyone talks about. after talking and telling them how to save 200 bucks getting them they always seem to buy some q from us Big Grin
hope this helps some
jack
FM Former Member
DocT - That picture is AWESOME, it really is worth 1,000 words. Do you have a disconnect switch between the battery and the inverter, if so, what kind?

Which Honda generator are you getting, 1000, 2000, or 3,000?

By the way, the thing with the wedding and the GFCI switch was not just something I was worried about - it happened to me. Quite an adrenaline rush.

Prisonchef, how do you save $200 on the Honda generator?
FM Former Member
Tom,

Call me if you have any questions. Our number is on the website (or email me for my cell #).

The only disconnect is the fuse. I didn't see the need for a separate disconnect switch (just one more thing to break). The hardest part was finding the appropriate 12v cabling. I finally was able to find some at a solar power supply store out of Atlanta.

Probably the 2000. I think that will be all I'll need for what I'm running.

Luckily we didn't have problems at the wedding. So adrenaline rush is the desert term for changing your shorts? ;-)

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