Inverter versus Generator?

We used to run on a 750watt inverter with the truck running all day. That was fine, never had any issues - Truck runs so quite that you cant tell it is on.

But now we have too much stuff running for that. Two Flat screens, surround sound etc.

We ran the last two seasons off of a loud generator - That has to go.

I'm not sure what wattage we are actually pulling, I'll know for sure this week. But I think we are likely pulling around 2500 Watts.

What I'm considering is going with a 5000Watt modified sine inverter.

The question is: Have any of you gone this route instead of quite generators? I'm looking at 3 to 4 hundred for the inverter, OR daisy chaining two 2000Watt quite champion generators at total cost of around 1200.

Thoughts?

Wtf are you using that requires 2500 watts? You using an AC in an RV? No way you're close to that. Just those 3 things you listed won't put you over 1000 watts.

Also, are you at 2500 continuous watts or is that just peak? Lots of generators can handle the surge as long as you're not running at that power load the whole time.

I'd go with Yamaha or Honda. It's gonna be more expensive but you'll enjoy the noise savings. Your neighbors will as well.

I like pie.

(07-21-2014 08:31 PM)The4thOption Wrote:  Inverter versus Generator?

We used to run on a 750watt inverter with the truck running all day. That was fine, never had any issues - Truck runs so quite that you cant tell it is on.

But now we have too much stuff running for that. Two Flat screens, surround sound etc.

We ran the last two seasons off of a loud generator - That has to go.

I'm not sure what wattage we are actually pulling, I'll know for sure this week. But I think we are likely pulling around 2500 Watts.

What I'm considering is going with a 5000Watt modified sine inverter.

The question is: Have any of you gone this route instead of quite generators? I'm looking at 3 to 4 hundred for the inverter, OR daisy chaining two 2000Watt quite champion generators at total cost of around 1200.

Thoughts?

I have a Champion inverter generator 2k watt and I love it. It has handled everything I have thrown at it included air conditioners and refrigerators. I suggest you start with one.

I have a Honda 2000 generator. You will pay more for a Honda, but is worth it, can barley hear it running. We have ran 3 crock pots, flat screen, lights, radio, fans, etc and never had an issue. Easy on gas and I always get complements when people walk over to our tailgate as to how quiet it runs Just be sure to lock it up before you head in to the game.

Get some solar panels.

Quiet, don't have to worry about running out of power (unless it gets dark), and you can roll it out on top of your truck (maybe even keep the batteries in the bed).

Have no idea if there's enough power there, but on paper, it sounds like a genius plan.

What about amps? Thought that was more of a limiting factor than watts. I'm also thinking of adding a generator to my tailgating.

(07-21-2014 11:17 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  Get some solar panels.

Have no idea if there's enough power there, but on paper, it sounds like a genius plan.

That about sums up everything there is to know about solar power right there.

As to the OP, that's quite a tailgate setup you have there. I run an entire office out of my car everyday off an inverter plugged into the car and power strip plugged into the inverter. I cannot imagine needing more power than that at a tailgate.

Solar power won't work. First of all it is very expensive and although you won't be using a bunch of power, you will need several panels and bank of deep cycle batteries. It is not a viable option.

You need to invest in an invertor generator. They look and operate much like a portable gasoline generator, but they are much better. They are very quiet (about as loud as a box fan on medium). They provide "clean" electricity to your devices (no surges like you might get with a typical gasoline generator). Ryobi sells an 1100 watt and a 2200 watt version that are very nice and reliable and not too expensive.

Also one of the great things about the Ryobi is that they are parallel-kit capable so you can hook two of them up together and provide twice the power (without having to go buy big generator).

Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-2200-Wa...9nZ1z0z72o

(07-22-2014 08:59 AM)tx.state Wrote:  Solar power won't work. First of all it is very expensive and although you won't be using a bunch of power, you will need several panels and bank of deep cycle batteries. It is not a viable option.

You need to invest in an invertor generator. They look and operate much like a portable gasoline generator, but they are much better. They are very quiet (about as loud as a box fan on medium). They provide "clean" electricity to your devices (no surges like you might get with a typical gasoline generator). Ryobi sells an 1100 watt and a 2200 watt version that are very nice and reliable and not too expensive.

Also one of the great things about the Ryobi is that they are parallel-kit capable so you can hook two of them up together and provide twice the power (without having to go buy big generator).

Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-2200-Wa...9nZ1z0z72o

This is the one that eaglewraith and I have. Highly recommend it.

(07-22-2014 09:02 AM)Klak Wrote:  

(07-22-2014 08:59 AM)tx.state Wrote:  Solar power won't work. First of all it is very expensive and although you won't be using a bunch of power, you will need several panels and bank of deep cycle batteries. It is not a viable option.

You need to invest in an invertor generator. They look and operate much like a portable gasoline generator, but they are much better. They are very quiet (about as loud as a box fan on medium). They provide "clean" electricity to your devices (no surges like you might get with a typical gasoline generator). Ryobi sells an 1100 watt and a 2200 watt version that are very nice and reliable and not too expensive.

Also one of the great things about the Ryobi is that they are parallel-kit capable so you can hook two of them up together and provide twice the power (without having to go buy big generator).

Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-2200-Wa...9nZ1z0z72o

This is the one that eaglewraith and I have. Highly recommend it.

Had to emergency buy one the morning of a game last year after we couldn't get our previous generator to run. I have been very happy with it. If this one gives up the ghost I'll move onto a Honda or Yamaha I imagine. This one should last a while though.

For the record, it's way over our power needs for now, so it runs an entire day on its fuel tank. The auto-idle keeps it running low so we barely even know it's on.

I looked at those too. I like Ryobi products (got most of their Lithium powered tools) and was thinking of buying one of those generators.

1. what can they handle? TVs, fans, small fridge, ....
2. They are still gas powered, so how long does it last on a tank?
3. You said they were quiet, but if it's gas powered is it comparable to the Honda ones (or are these ultra quiet and the Ryobi is good enough)?
4. Any limitations or issues that you've had with these? Any thing that you wish it could do?

Thanks

(07-22-2014 09:54 AM)trueeagle98 Wrote:  I looked at those too. I like Ryobi products (got most of their Lithium powered tools) and was thinking of buying one of those generators.

1. what can they handle? TVs, fans, small fridge, ....
2. They are still gas powered, so how long does it last on a tank?
3. You said they were quiet, but if it's gas powered is it comparable to the Honda ones (or are these ultra quiet and the Ryobi is good enough)?
4. Any limitations or issues that you've had with these? Any thing that you wish it could do?

Thanks

1. We typically run a TV and maybe a fan off of it. It's way overkill for us, but that also means it's running on like 1/4 load, which makes it last a long time and be more quiet. Add up your wattage on all the stuff you plan to take. The fridge is probably your biggest obstacle since LCD TVs are usually in the 50W range.

2. We run nonstop from about 10 until 5 and never need more than one tank, but again, our load is low. Higher loads will burn more gas.

3. It's definitely not a construction zone generator. We put it behind the truck tire and forget it's there. It's not QUITE Honda/Yamaha quiet, but it's very close. And again, low load.

4. The only issue I've seen is the eaglewraith fails at pull cord starts. Seriously, it's a very easy pull as long as you can "feel" the choke. It's a soft pull and I can get it started in 2 or 3 pulls. The other nice thing is that it runs off of regular gas, so no mixing oil.

(07-22-2014 09:54 AM)trueeagle98 Wrote:  I looked at those too. I like Ryobi products (got most of their Lithium powered tools) and was thinking of buying one of those generators.

1. what can they handle? TVs, fans, small fridge, ....
2. They are still gas powered, so how long does it last on a tank?
3. You said they were quiet, but if it's gas powered is it comparable to the Honda ones (or are these ultra quiet and the Ryobi is good enough)?
4. Any limitations or issues that you've had with these? Any thing that you wish it could do?

Thanks

1. We normally use a tv and satellite system (pushing an autoseek satellite antenna) and fans at the most. We had a smaller generator before this that peaked at 1200 watts with a continuous 1k, so we're used to lower power surplus. This one peaks at 2200 with 1800 continuous watts, so basically, add up the wattage of the devices you want to use and see if it fits what you need. That's the first thing I did when originally wanting a generator. Good thing about this one is it is expandable by parallel chaining the generators together, so add one more and you have 3600 continous watts. Just remember that anything with a heating element will absorb a lot of your power.

2. We last all day, but it depends on usage. I think they state 4 hours at quarter load or something like that, but it only has a 1 gallon tank. Approximate fuel usage is .5 gallons per hour, but we typically go without refueling. We always keep a 2 gallon can with us though.

3. It will be louder depending on whether or not you're close to full load. The more you power the louder it'll be. It will never be quieter than a Honda though. There's a reason you pay so much for the Hondas, it's cause they're worth it. The power quality should be the same though.

5. No limits so far. RV users will need a much bigger one though, running an AC/fridge will eat up tons of power.

(07-22-2014 10:01 AM)Klak Wrote:  4. The only issue I've seen is the eaglewraith fails at pull cord starts. Seriously, it's a very easy pull as long as you can "feel" the choke. It's a soft pull and I can get it started in 2 or 3 pulls. The other nice thing is that it runs off of regular gas, so no mixing oil.

Not my fault it has a smaller pull handle and you have tiny girl hands.

(07-22-2014 10:04 AM)eaglewraith Wrote:  

(07-22-2014 10:01 AM)Klak Wrote:  4. The only issue I've seen is the eaglewraith fails at pull cord starts. Seriously, it's a very easy pull as long as you can "feel" the choke. It's a soft pull and I can get it started in 2 or 3 pulls. The other nice thing is that it runs off of regular gas, so no mixing oil.

Not my fault it has a smaller pull handle and you have tiny girl hands.

Figured you'd be use to large hands on small things by now.

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.

(07-21-2014 11:06 PM)95jag Wrote:  I have a Honda 2000 generator. You will pay more for a Honda, but is worth it, can barley hear it running. We have ran 3 crock pots, flat screen, lights, radio, fans, etc and never had an issue. Easy on gas and I always get complements when people walk over to our tailgate as to how quiet it runs Just be sure to lock it up before you head in to the game.

I have to agree with this. One of the guys in my tailgating group has one. It is super quiet and has ran a wall of sound, lights, crock pot, tv all at the same time. Highly recommend.

ah...football :D

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.