Date:         Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:03:34 -0700
Reply-To:     Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: The power we really need!
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2007073022134675@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

No two people have the same idea of what constitutes a nice camping
experience, and some will cheerfully sit within yards of a generator not
minding raising their voices to be heard over it. To me, that cuts one
off from the environment as effectively as sitting inside a screen room
or in an RV. Unlike sitting inside that screen room or RV, which affects
only the experience of those choosing to sit there, noise affects
everyone within earshot. I consider that to be as rude as requiring
neighbors to listen to your choice of music, hour after hour.

"Really quiet" is not silent. Unless there are other sources of constant
sound, like freeways or a river to cover it up, even the little Honda
1000W generator will infuse an quiet area with a constant, almost
subliminal but always audible background of noise. When it finally shuts
off, after hours of chugging away, one breathes a sigh of relief, like a
weight has been taken off one's chest.

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR



John Reddick typed:
> If I ever needed more electrical power in my Westy, the first thing I
> would do is revise my electrical needs downwards. The wiff might veto that,
> so I would probably opt for a 27 lbs Honda generator.  Really quiet, burns
> almost nothing, doesn't add drag on the roof, and I can remove it for daily
> driving. I think it beats the heck out of any multi-battery, solar powered,
> setup.  I still might do a dual battery setup, but only if I swap the
> Dometic for a Norcold, and the battery will be the absolute minimum for 16
> hours of fridge use, probably half the size of what most people use.
>     Any more than that, and I will be Dennis Haynes twin brother, towing my
> Westy behind the 40 footer, diesel generator cranking out enough amps to
> make frozen margaritas.
>
>    John
>