WORDS: COLLYN RIVERS | IMAGES: MARTY LEDWICH, WWW.RVEETHEREYET.COM
GENERATOR
MYTHS BUSTED
GENERATORS COME IN MANY SIZES, OUTPUTS AND PRICES.
HERE IS WHAT TO BE AWARE OF BEFORE PURCHASING ONE...
Generators used by caravan and motorhome
owners vary from excellent to dreadful. There are
three main types:
1. Cheap, very noisy and unconscionably polluting
two-stroke engine monsters. They are as
cheap as $99, and four-stroke engine versions
(that are still heavily polluting) versions cost
not that much more. There are also better
versions made primarily for tradies, and long-
term use in third-world countries. But all such
generators have similar environmental issues.
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These generators tend to be used by
unthinking travellers and, likely, resented if
used by anyone nearby, especially during
an otherwise quiet night. All generate ‘dirty’
electricity, i.e., electricity that is fine for
running motors, electric ovens and heaters,
etc., but may damage computers and TVs.
2. Inverter-generators. These vary hugely in
price, from under $500 to $1250 or so (for two
kilowatt units). Their major advantage is that
their electrical output is as clean as grid power.