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YJason Offline
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Post: #21
RE: Tailgating Power Question
Little advice from someone who owns a small engine shop in reguards to inverter generators. Look to see if a local shop that can service those engines. If so, you are good to go with saving some money on an alternative brand. Make sure the shop has experience in generators and can adjust engine speed to put out the correct Hz.

Honda and Yamaha will be the best quality, with Honda being the King. Generac should also be easy to find and service (should be cheaper as well, but not as good quality as the previous two). Ryobi might be a little harder to find a service center, but they are out there.

Run you engine off of non-ethanol fuel if at all possible. Ethanol actually attracts the humidity out of the air and will play havoc with carborated engines. You will not notice most problems until the engine sits for a while...then it almost looks like corrosion will set-in inside the carborator. The way a generator is used makes them even more subsutable to this issue. When storing your generator for the off season either store the carborator dry or wet with a product like Tru-Fuel for four stroke engines (expensive but worth it IMO, ususally has a 2 year shelf life).

You should expect 1500-2000 hours out of a good-quality properly-maintained 4-stroke engine. The service life will go down with poor quality engine or lack of maintaince. With these type generators, when nearing the service life expectancy I would not rebuild the engine...not economical in the long run.
07-22-2014 12:27 PM
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eaglewraith Online
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Post: #22
RE: Tailgating Power Question
(07-22-2014 11:26 AM)The4thOption Wrote:  Thanks for the comments so far: Still looking for anyone that has gone with a big inverter.

I sort of figure that with the quite inverter/generator set ups (either Honda/Yamaha or Champion etc )- it is sort of the same thing - except that the engine running the inverter part becomes the truck. - and that makes even less noise than the Honda (which by the way is out of our price range).

The loud ones are not even an option at this point. Have those/but wont use them again.

I'm going to have a guy actually measure our total wattage/amps etc this week (instead of pulling everything out and adding up the wattage on the labels)to see exactly what we are using - but I wouldn't doubt it might exceed 2000Watts.

Items needing power:
2 Plaz. forty something (43 maybe?) inch flat screens (Cant afford to replace them with LCD right now - Project for another season).
Small fridge.
Yamaha home surround sound & tuner.
PS3
D-TV box.
CD player/Mp3, VCR/DVD = whatever you have it one - we can put it on a screen.
Fans
Sometimes a blender/ and continuous blow bouncy house for the kids.

The champions can also be combined so that if we start with one and need two we are good to get to 4000watts.
Pricing out at around 600 each plus about $100 for the unit that ties them together.

Still - it'd be nice to not have to worry about gas in a jug/hauling any generator if I can just mount a big inverter under the hood for 1/4 of the price and everything works fine.

Get rid of the fridge and the blender and you could possibly run that off a big inverter and several batteries. Setup a recharger that runs when you crank your vehicle so you could start your truck and recharge the batteries during the day to keep them topped off.

That fridge and blender are big time power drains. Possibly the bouncy house, not sure about the fan inflating that.
07-22-2014 01:15 PM
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Klak Offline
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Post: #23
RE: Tailgating Power Question
(07-22-2014 11:26 AM)The4thOption Wrote:  Items needing power:
2 Plaz. forty something (43 maybe?) inch flat screens (Cant afford to replace them with LCD right now - Project for another season). - 240W x 2 = 480 W
Small fridge.- 500W-750W - smart alternative: coolers with ice
Yamaha home surround sound & tuner. - 500W
PS3 - < 100W
D-TV box. - 20W-30W
CD player/Mp3, VCR/DVD = whatever you have it one - we can put it on a screen. - < 100W - question: wtf why? add a laptop instead of all that other mess
Fans - 60W x 2 = 120W
Sometimes a blender - up to 1000W - this is a peak-use item
continuous blow bouncy house for the kids. - approx. 100W - question: where are you tailgating where you have a bouncy house?

On the high side, you're up to 3180 W, but 55% of that is a refrigerator and blender. The blender is fine because there's no real alternative and it's not a continuous use item. The fridge though? I'd ditch that quick. Ice cools things better anyway.

EDIT: Here's a quick and dirty guide. You'll need to check your actual items to find their wattage. http://www.donrowe.com/usage-chart-a/259.htm
(This post was last modified: 07-22-2014 01:33 PM by Klak.)
07-22-2014 01:30 PM
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bullitt_60 Offline
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Post: #24
RE: Tailgating Power Question
(07-22-2014 11:26 AM)The4thOption Wrote:  I sort of figure that with the quite inverter/generator set ups (either Honda/Yamaha or Champion etc )- it is sort of the same thing - except that the engine running the inverter part becomes the truck. - and that makes even less noise than the Honda (which by the way is out of our price range).

An inverter absolutely wails on your alternator. I don't recommend it.

(07-22-2014 11:26 AM)The4thOption Wrote:  The champions can also be combined so that if we start with one and need two we are good to get to 4000watts.
Pricing out at around 600 each plus about $100 for the unit that ties them together.

I don't know the rules here, so I will not post a link but Blain's Farm & Fleet sells them for $500. Doesn't look like the most legit website, but they were great.
07-22-2014 01:46 PM
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YJason Offline
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Post: #25
RE: Tailgating Power Question
(07-22-2014 01:30 PM)Klak Wrote:  
(07-22-2014 11:26 AM)The4thOption Wrote:  Items needing power:
2 Plaz. forty something (43 maybe?) inch flat screens (Cant afford to replace them with LCD right now - Project for another season). - 240W x 2 = 480 W
Small fridge.- 500W-750W - smart alternative: coolers with ice
Yamaha home surround sound & tuner. - 500W
PS3 - < 100W
D-TV box. - 20W-30W
CD player/Mp3, VCR/DVD = whatever you have it one - we can put it on a screen. - < 100W - question: wtf why? add a laptop instead of all that other mess
Fans - 60W x 2 = 120W
Sometimes a blender - up to 1000W - this is a peak-use item
continuous blow bouncy house for the kids. - approx. 100W - question: where are you tailgating where you have a bouncy house?

On the high side, you're up to 3180 W, but 55% of that is a refrigerator and blender. The blender is fine because there's no real alternative and it's not a continuous use item. The fridge though? I'd ditch that quick. Ice cools things better anyway.

EDIT: Here's a quick and dirty guide. You'll need to check your actual items to find their wattage. http://www.donrowe.com/usage-chart-a/259.htm

There are gas powers blenders as well. Tailgater comes to mind.
07-22-2014 03:25 PM
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The4thOption Offline
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Post: #26
RE: Tailgating Power Question
(07-22-2014 01:30 PM)Klak Wrote:  
(07-22-2014 11:26 AM)The4thOption Wrote:  Items needing power:
2 Plaz. forty something (43 maybe?) inch flat screens (Cant afford to replace them with LCD right now - Project for another season). - 240W x 2 = 480 W
Small fridge.- 500W-750W - smart alternative: coolers with ice - This we usually run to coldest setting plugged in over night and have not had it running during tailgating. It holds a very big can of beverage 04-cheers - but we don't use it at every game anyway. But I just want to get something that can run it if we want to.
Yamaha home surround sound & tuner. - 500W
PS3 - < 100W
D-TV box. - 20W-30W
CD player/Mp3, VCR/DVD = whatever you have it one - we can put it on a screen. - < 100W - question: wtf why? add a laptop instead of all that other mess
Well - it is what I have and everything hooks up easily to the stuff. Also gives me the ability to press buttons and select a different audio than the TV is showing to the surround sound. Like listening to music while watch the game. Plus you cant play VCR tapes (like old high school highlights, old back yard games etc) from a lap top. It has it's pros and cons - but I like having the options.
Fans - 60W x 2 = 120W
Sometimes a blender - [b]up to 1000W - this is a peak-use item
Again - this is hardly used - I could use a battery operated blender - I used to do that. But it is only used for frozen mixed drinks and not to many people ask for that.[/b]


continuous blow bouncy house for the kids. - approx. 100W - question: where are you tailgating where you have a bouncy house?
LTR. It's a small one. We have lots of kids running around sometimes and it is nice as a baby sitter. We also sometimes set up a tent for them to play in. Kids love "forts" of all kinds. I like having them corralled up as much as possible, people really need to slow down driving through the tailgating lot behind Paulson.

On the high side, you're up to 3180 W, but 55% of that is a refrigerator and blender. The blender is fine because there's no real alternative and it's not a continuous use item. The fridge though? I'd ditch that quick. Ice cools things better anyway.

EDIT: Here's a quick and dirty guide. You'll need to check your actual items to find their wattage. http://www.donrowe.com/usage-chart-a/259.htm

Thanks for the help Klak - That guide will be good to go by - Plus I have a friend who services huge commercial stand by generators who is going to actually measure everything for me with everything running.

To answer your questions:
See reference above in the other quote in blue.
07-23-2014 10:11 AM
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The4thOption Offline
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Post: #27
RE: Tailgating Power Question
(07-22-2014 12:27 PM)YJason Wrote:  Little advice from someone who owns a small engine shop in reguards to inverter generators. Look to see if a local shop that can service those engines. If so, you are good to go with saving some money on an alternative brand. Make sure the shop has experience in generators and can adjust engine speed to put out the correct Hz.

Honda and Yamaha will be the best quality, with Honda being the King. Generac should also be easy to find and service (should be cheaper as well, but not as good quality as the previous two). Ryobi might be a little harder to find a service center, but they are out there.

Run you engine off of non-ethanol fuel if at all possible. Ethanol actually attracts the humidity out of the air and will play havoc with carborated engines. You will not notice most problems until the engine sits for a while...then it almost looks like corrosion will set-in inside the carborator. The way a generator is used makes them even more subsutable to this issue. When storing your generator for the off season either store the carborator dry or wet with a product like Tru-Fuel for four stroke engines (expensive but worth it IMO, ususally has a 2 year shelf life).

You should expect 1500-2000 hours out of a good-quality properly-maintained 4-stroke engine. The service life will go down with poor quality engine or lack of maintaince. With these type generators, when nearing the service life expectancy I would not rebuild the engine...not economical in the long run.

Any experience or opinion on the brand Champion?
I'm leaning hard towards this brand at the moment.

I wish I could afford the Yamaha or Honda. From what I've seen, I'd actually rather have the Yamaha. - But those are going to be out of my price range for this season - especially if we need more than 2000watts.
07-23-2014 10:16 AM
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The4thOption Offline
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Post: #28
RE: Tailgating Power Question
(07-22-2014 12:20 PM)tx.state Wrote:  Although I've never done it, and wouldn't recommend it, I guess you can run the truck all day and use a battery inverter. It will use a lot more gas than a standalone generator or inverter. It will also put a lot of unnecessary wear and tear on your truck and you run the risk of overheating engine or a dead battery.

The downsides you list here are what I'm worried about - except for the fuel consumption.

We used a 750watt inverter for over a decade with no issues, but obviously that isn't close to what we are planning on going to so the game is going to be changed a lot with a 5000watt inverter.

It is so clean and easy to top the truck gas tank off just before getting to the stadium - nothing to have to refill and spill - no gas jug, no heavy generator to have to move or worry about cranking. And it really doesn't burn much fuel. Besides, there is going to be some point where somebody needs to sit in the car and run the AC during the day at most games so it is likely to be running a part of the day anyway.

What I'm worried about is the drain on the Alternator.
I'm thinking of adding a second battery under the hood and hooking it up in parallel - Think that might help?
07-23-2014 10:22 AM
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