[Elecraft] OT: Inverter type generators used for FD?

[w7aqk]

Hi All,

Here in Tucson, I have often "played" Field Day many times with several 
other local hams.  We have done this at various times during the year 
besides just the official Field Day time.  Each of us has a small travel 
trailer (20 to 22 ft. types), so a generator of some sort is pretty 
important as we typically just "boondock" somewhere.  A couple of these hams 
have Honda 1000 watt models, and a couple others have the 2000 watt model. 
Now, both of those types work well, are relatively quiet as to ambient 
noise, and only generate moderate hash.  A filter, such as the type 
suggested by Jim Brown, K9YC, will typically solve that problem.

When I was making my decision about buying a generator, I initially leaned 
toward the Honda 2000 watt model.  There was one "gotcha", however, about 
the Honda.  It seemed to be just barely adequate, if not actually 
inadequate, to run my trailer's A/C unit.  Apparently the Honda 2000 will do 
"O.K." on a 13,500 btu unit, but struggles mightily with one that is 15,000 
btu's.  One member of our group had a Yamaha generator that is rated at 2.4 
KW, slightly higher than the Honda 2000.  That Yamaha will handle a 15,000 
btu A/C unit.  It is, however, a bit worse as to hash, but one of Jim 
Brown's filters will resolve that as well.

On my little trailer, I had purchased and paid for a 13,500 btu unit. 
However, when I went to pick it up after the install, I was informed that 
they had instead put in a 15,000 btu unit since they didn't have the smaller 
sized unit in stock.  No extra charge!  Well, good for me, I guess, but when 
I went to evaluating generators, it complicated the decision.  If I wanted a 
Honda, I either had to go for the 3000 watt model, or go with the Yamaha 2.4 
KW unit.  Ultimately I went with the Yamaha.  It was sufficiently more 
powerful and somewhat cheaper than the Honda 2 KW unit, has good regulation, 
is nearly as quiet as to ambient noise, and I could still lift it without 
too much effort.  It's gets good ratings from users.  I think most Honda 
aficionados might be equally happy with the Yamaha, and maybe more so if 
they push the limit of the Honda.  Of course, I can't run the A/C and a ham 
rig of any size simultaneously, but I do have considerably more flexibility. 
A 3000 watt Honda might do both, but the cost is substantially higher.

I'm simply suggesting that you consider all possible needs when buying a 
generator.  If all you want is just something for ham rigs, a smaller unit 
might suffice.  However, even just running an electric coffee often requires 
more than what a 1000 watt Honda will provide!  A travel trailer with A/C 
may seem excessive, but there are many potential uses that you might not be 
considering.  For example, if you happen to have a power outage, you might 
want a generator big enough to keep your refrigerator, and maybe a couple of 
other critical items, running.  My Yamaha will do that (and has!), but a 1 
KW Honda might not!  The moral of the story is to not scrimp on the unit 
size if at all possible.  A 1 KW unit is really pretty marginal in my view.

Dave W7AQK