Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 08-30-2015, 08:02 AM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 15
Electric and a generator!

So hi everyone, I'm new here and am having some serious issues with the thought of electric. I've read some of your post on electric and have no idea what any of that means, I might just get a professional, Anyways I just have a couple questions.
What I'll be running
Water pump
Water heater
Waste tank (I don't know if that needs to run)
Mini stove oven (once a day 1-2 hours)
Mini college refrigerator (all day everyday)
Sewing machine (everyday for about 4-6 hours)
Cell phone charger (twice a day)
Lights(only at night for about 2 hours)
Ok I think that's it tell me if I'm missing something please.

The questions
1. Can I get a generator? If so what kind would be best? Does the generator run off of something like batteries?
2. What does it mean to run off your batteries? And why do I need multiple ones?
3. Is the appliances that I'm running taking to much electricity?
4. With the appliances given what is the best solution? Should I just get a electrician that knows his stuff? Is there a specific(meaning RV specific) electrician or would any do?

livelovelaugh91897 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2015, 09:02 AM   #2
Bus Geek
 
Tango's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
Welcome --- all your questions are related and can take off in a lot of directions. I would suggest reading up on some basics to give you a handle on narrowing down the different issues. Check out the link below, it's not overly technical but does a pretty good job of spelling out most of the more fundamental considerations.

RV Electrical: All the Basics You Need To Know!
Tango is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2015, 01:33 PM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 15
Thank you so much.
livelovelaugh91897 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2015, 05:34 PM   #4
New Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1
Yes! Thank you!
claudiaswanson7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2015, 06:31 AM   #5
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by claudiaswanson7 View Post
Yes! Thank you!
Haha I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't understand the electric jargon or just electric in general.!!
livelovelaugh91897 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2015, 06:52 AM   #6
Site Team
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: southwest lowsyana
Posts: 542
Year: 1988
Coachwork: ward
Chassis: international
Engine: dt360a
Rated Cap: 65
look into a honda inverter generator. very quiet and fuel miser too. yes on getting an electrician, but not for rv, you need a residential electrician. i wired my bus in simple fashion for boondocking, generator, or plugging into power source. solar will run everything but air conditioning/electric heater. multi batteries are needed for their electrical capacity in time needed. more power for longer duration equals more batteries.

if you are planning to stay in parks, just wire it like a house (with professional advice) and save money.

tell us your plans on camping/living/travelling in your bus.
claydbal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2015, 07:54 AM   #7
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Cuyahoga Falls Ohio
Posts: 592
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Startrans
Chassis: Ford e-350 single wheel
Engine: 5.4 litre
Rated Cap: 12
I bought a Hyundai 2,000 watt generator from ebay for less that half of the price for Honda or Yamaha generators. Same basic suitcase design. I've had it for two years and think its an excellent buy. It is alittle louder than the Honda/Yamaha but it really isn't too loud at all.
leadsled01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2015, 08:10 AM   #8
Bus Crazy
 
Scooternj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: EHT New Jersey
Posts: 1,134
Year: 2003
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: International 3000RE
Engine: T444E/AT545
Rated Cap: 75
If I could get my hands on one, a trailer-mounted MEP-803 10kW generator with quiet kit
__________________
Hey! That's not an RV, that's a school bus.
Well thank you for noticing, Captain Obvious

Captain Obvious on deviantArt
Scooternj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-01-2015, 08:36 PM   #9
Bus Crazy
 
opus's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Montana
Posts: 1,626
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All-American R/E
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scooternj View Post
If I could get my hands on one, a trailer-mounted MEP-803 10kW generator with quiet kit
I had a MEP 016a. The only quiet kit for that was a 50' hole....filled with sand!!
opus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2015, 04:48 AM   #10
Bus Crazy
 
Scooternj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: EHT New Jersey
Posts: 1,134
Year: 2003
Coachwork: AmTran
Chassis: International 3000RE
Engine: T444E/AT545
Rated Cap: 75
Quote:
Originally Posted by opus View Post
I had a MEP 016a. The only quiet kit for that was a 50' hole....filled with sand!!
The 800 series MEPs are already pretty quiet. The Gov't has learned noisy generators bring bad guys.
__________________
Hey! That's not an RV, that's a school bus.
Well thank you for noticing, Captain Obvious

Captain Obvious on deviantArt
Scooternj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-02-2015, 06:08 AM   #11
Bus Crazy
 
somewhereinusa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Andrews,Indiana
Posts: 2,430
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: AARE
Engine: 3116 Cat 250hp
Rated Cap: Just the two of us.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scooternj View Post
The 800 series MEPs are already pretty quiet. The Gov't has learned noisy generators bring bad guys.
I didn't think the gv'ment ever learned anything.
somewhereinusa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2015, 08:50 PM   #12
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 172
Year: 1993
Coachwork: BlueBird
Chassis: GMC
Engine: GMC
Rated Cap: 42
Gv'ment can learn new and devious ways to produce new meaningless paperwork that must be filled out by ordinary citizens so that gv'ment jobs must be retained to process all of the meaningless paperwork filled out by ordinary citizens.
JA Savage is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
beginner, electrical, electricity

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:46 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.