Inverter/Generator

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   You don’t want gasoline inside an SUV. Stinky. Also I like running the generator on propane because I only need to carry one type of fuel which can work on both the gen and rpod appliances. Simpler that way. 

I find that I usually need several pulls when starting my Honda 2k on propane. The reason is that you still have to get the air/fuel mixture right to get a start, and if you turn on the propane and wait too long to pull you will have too much fuel, if you pull too early you won’t have enough. A couple of pulls clears it. It’s not hard to pull though, but for sure you should try before you buy to be sure you are comfortable with the force involved. 

The alternative of a big heavy generator is a non starter for anyone with back issues so an Easystart is a requirement if you want to run the a/c reliably. If you’re not running the a/c a single propane cylinder  will last a long time running the trailer and generator, if you are running the a/c you can go through a cylinder in a day so will want at least 2.

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offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Topic: Inverter/Generator Posted: 24 Mar 2021 at 2:41pm
	You don’t want gasoline inside an SUV. Stinky. Also I like running the generator on propane because I only need to carry one type of fuel which can work on both the gen and rpod appliances. Simpler that way. I find that I usually need several pulls when starting my Honda 2k on propane. The reason is that you still have to get the air/fuel mixture right to get a start, and if you turn on the propane and wait too long to pull you will have too much fuel, if you pull too early you won’t have enough. A couple of pulls clears it. It’s not hard to pull though, but for sure you should try before you buy to be sure you are comfortable with the force involved. The alternative of a big heavy generator is a non starter for anyone with back issues so an Easystart is a requirement if you want to run the a/c reliably. If you’re not running the a/c a single propane cylinder will last a long time running the trailer and generator, if you are running the a/c you can go through a cylinder in a day so will want at least 2.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

podwerkz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966	Posted: 24 Mar 2021 at 1:53pm
	lol...ok...I use gasoline because it provides the generator's rated power, more or less, and carrying several extra propane bottles and tanks is not my idea of fun... Pros and cons to each!
	r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!

EchoGale Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 Mar 2019 Location: FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 461	Posted: 24 Mar 2021 at 1:38pm
	Great...all this is why I'm going with propane. Plus I have nowhere to carry a gas can.
	Julie

podwerkz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966	Posted: 24 Mar 2021 at 1:22pm
	Yes, I should have mentioned that the primary reason that gasoline these days gums up is because of the way that ethanol (gasohol, E-10, etc) attracts water into the gasoline when it sits in a vented (open to the atmosphere) tank, gas can, or, carburetor. A sealed gas can with NO pressure venting is a 'must have' for fueling your genset, especially if you can't find pure gas locally wherever you are. And if you can find it, buy PURE gasoline, usually stated as 'NO ETHANOL' or 'ETHANOL FREE' on the pump. It will generally cost a bit more. Put this gasoline in a sealed gas can...use it for small engines like lawnmowers and generators, and you should also keep a can of Seafoam or Startron for those times when you can't find the pure gas. There is at least one website that helps you find pure gasoline: www.pure-gas.org
	r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6288	Posted: 24 Mar 2021 at 12:34pm
	Also, if you are using gasoline, always get ethanol-free gasoline. It costs a bit more, but it is worth the extra price. Also, always add fuel stabilizer to the gasoline (Sta-Bil brand or equivalent) when you buy the gasoline. It will really help if there are extended times between starts. The reason for not using gasoline with ethanol is that ethanol attracts water. When combined, it can seriously gum up the carburetor jets. I have had to replace the carburetor on more than one small engine where ethanol gasoline had been used. Since switching to ethanol-free gasoline and using stabilizer, I have not had any problems.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

EchoGale Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 Mar 2019 Location: FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 461	Posted: 24 Mar 2021 at 11:12am
	Tuition free schooling. :) Thank you.
	Julie

podwerkz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966	Posted: 24 Mar 2021 at 10:39am
	Starting fluid is only for gasoline (or diesel) fueled generators, not propane fueled generators. That's the short, simple answer...but if you want more info...here ya go: Operating a genset on propane you should not need to ever use starting fluid (ether) since the very reason for using starting fluid is often due to a gasoline fueled genset which has been sitting and the gasoline in the carburetor bowl is a bit thick (sludge may have formed), OR the needle jets (main or pilot or both) in the carburetor are plugged, or the carb float is stuck, or the fuel line or the filter screen in the petcock is blocked. In other words, fueling issues. (sometimes air intake or compression issues but that is another topic) (BTW: Starting fluid is a 'tool' used to diagnose and or help with starting a small gasoline or diesel engine by squirting it into the aircleaner box or air intake during (or right before) pulling the cord or pushing a start button) On propane you should not have 'fueling' issues...if you have propane hooked up and the valves turned on, you will have fuel...now, you could have ignition failures, it's possible, but, starting fluid wont help with that (other than you will know you have an ignition failure!) And there is no liquid propane that will be 'going bad' while 'sitting' in the carburetor anyway....it can't! It is 'injected' under pressure thru a separate orifice after passing thru the regulator, it does not enter the carb float bowl, and does not enter the intake airstream the same way that gasoline is taken in. Think of a propane-fueled genset as if it was running on 'starting fluid' all the time!
	r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!

EchoGale Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 Mar 2019 Location: FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 461	Posted: 24 Mar 2021 at 9:00am
	Ah...I now understand why there was this cut-off in size below which there were no electric start options. The small ones are definitely marketed on their weight so I see why they'd cut that since most people won't care--though that bluetooth Honda is pretty neat. Same way laptops lost their cd drives. I'd like to now more about how to use staring fluid to start it. Can you do that when you are operating on propane? Colonel Podder: thanks for the tip about in-stock options at Camping World. The closest one is a ways for me but I'm going to try to make it over there. I might do this soon but I might not do it until the end of summer so If you buy it I'd be interested to know what you find. Thanks again, folks.
	Julie

podwerkz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966	Posted: 24 Mar 2021 at 8:28am
	It's a bit of a trade-off. For a given wattage, the pull-start units will usually weigh a bit less, since they wont have a battery and a starter motor. As far as pull starting effort, it's not a LOT of work, unless you find that you need to keep at it to get the genset started. In that case I will use starting fluid. The new units normally start easily, but if you let one sit un-used for a few months it can be difficult to get it started, and sometimes starting fluid (ether) can help. But in most cases, you can start a generator with 1-3 'sharp' pulls of the cord.
	r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!

Colonel Podder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 25 Sep 2020 Location: Lexington, SC Online Status: Offline Posts: 68	Posted: 24 Mar 2021 at 7:47am
	The Camping World location here locally has them in stock. They had one out of the box and it is easy to handle compared to the 100lb models. Even if they don't have the dual fuel model, the 2500 gas model will be the same in weight and starting, so you can get an idea how it would work for you. But I bet you would not have any trouble starting the 2500 series. I'm planning the same as you, Champion 2500 dual fuel, and add the easy start if needed. Which I expect it will probably be needed. But I'm not purchasing it through Camping World, much better prices at other retailers.
	2021 R-pod 196