Selecting an generator for an RV requires you to understand the electrical requirement of your appliances, and selecting a generator require you to understand the different types of generator models available. If you choose a generator that is too small, the generator will experience frequent overloads, and if you choose a generator that is too large, the generator will consume more fuel than necessary. To select the correct generator, you must calculate the total wattage required by your RV appliances.
Every appliance in an RV has a running wattage and a startup surge wattage. The running wattage is the amount of power an appliance use while the appliance is operating steady, but the startup surge wattage is the extra amount of power an appliance requires when the appliance first turns on. For example, an air conditioner has a steady running wattage, but an air conditioner also has a high startup surge wattage that can significantly increase the total power demand.
How to Choose the Right Generator for Your RV
If you run an air conditioner and a microwave at the same time, the total power demand will increase because both appliance require power simultaneously. You should aim to operate a generator at approximately one-quarter of it’s total capacity, because operating a generator at one-quarter of its capacity increases fuel efficiency and increase the longevity of the generator engine. There is three main types of generators: portable inverter generators, conventional portable generators, and built-in generators.
Portable inverter generators produce clean power, and portable inverter generators are quiet, so portable inverter generators is safe for use with sensitive electronics like laptops. Conventional portable generators are often less expensive than portable inverter generators, but conventional portable generators produce more noise and produce less stable electricity. Built-in generators are integrated directly into larger RVs, and built-in generators can use the same fuel supply as the RV engine.
Each generator type has different levels of noise, different levels of cost, and different levels of convenience. The size of the generator you need depends on the size of the RV you own. Small vans and teardrop trailers requires generators with low wattage output, so small vans and teardrop trailers do not need large generators.
Travel trailers require more wattage then small vans because travel trailers must power lights, refrigerators, and cooling units. Large trailers and motorhomes require the highest wattage output because large trailers and motorhomes must power multiple cooling units and heavy appliance. You should ensure that the wattage of your generator is at least equal to the wattage provided by a standard shore power connection, because a shore power connection provide a consistent benchmark for electrical availability.
Safety is a primary concern when you operate a generator. You must place a generator at least twenty feet away from RV doors and vents, because a generator produce carbon monoxide, and carbon monoxide is a lethal gas that can enter the RV. You must also use thick-gauge extension cords, because thin extension cords can overheat and cause fires when a generator is under a heavy load.
Additionally, you must use carbon monoxide detector inside the RV, because carbon monoxide is an invisible gas that can cause harm to people inside the RV. To ensure the generator remains reliable, you must perform regular maintenance on the generator. You should change the generator oil every fifty hours of use, and you should replace the spark plugs and filters seasonally to prevent the generator from breaking down.
If you store a generator for the winter, you should use a fuel stabilizer, because fuel stabilizer prevent the fuel in the generator from becoming gummy during storage. Finally, you should always calculate your total wattage needs and then add a twenty percent buffer to that total, because adding a twenty percent buffer provide extra capacity for unexpected power surges.
