With the wild weather smashing pretty much the whole of Australia at the moment, it’s the right time to think about what would happen should you lose power for an extended period of time. Just about the whole of Victoria is on fire, New South Wales and North Queensland are nearly ready to float off the mainland, and WA keeps dancing with one of the angriest cyclones on record.
The first thing to go in any natural disaster, is the power. Imagine this, you’ve just gone and done the weekly shop, and put $500 worth of groceries in the fridge, power goes out, and you save what you can by throwing it in the 50L fridge you’ve got in the 4X4, but what about the rest?
Two lots of spoiled shopping, and you’ve just about paid for the generator that would have saved the day. Plus you’ve not got to worry about trying to get new food out of a shop that’s closed until the power is restored. Yamaha have some of the best little (and big) portable inverter generators on the market and for the cost of two lots of spoiled food, you’ll be making an investment that will save that happening again.
The first thing you’ll need to look at, is which generator. They range from 1kVA models all the way up to a whopping 6.3kW model. Choosing the right genie takes a bit of maths; you’ll need to work out what you want to run off it, then add up what the equipment requires to run.
For example, if you want to run two fridges, the bar fridge, the TV, kids Xbox and the dishwasher, chances are a 1kVA model just isn’t going to cut it. That said – if you can fit a bit of beer in the food fridge and run just the one fridge and still be able to take it camping and use it for the air-con in the caravan, plus as a bit of cheap insurance against power outs, a 1kVA genie will usually do perfectly (unless you’ve got a massive air-con unit in your van that needs more than 1kVA?).
From there, it’s a matter of making sure its an “Inverter Generator” if you plan on running any sensitive equipment off it – like computers, phones, TV’s – and you’re essentially good to go.
Above all else, make sure you get yourself a quality generator; last thing you want when the power dies, is the genie deciding it’s given up the ghost at the same time. These things are an investment, so make sure you do your homework!
Have you already got your power covered? What size genie did you get? Tell us in the comments below!
5 comments
Hi Pat,
at the end of last year I bit the bullet and bought a brand new Yamaha EF2000. I put it in the shed waiting for the next camping trip or emergency.
Along cam Cyclone Marcus and out went the power. Out came the generator. Filled it up with fresh premium unleaded fuel and off it went. 8 hours later it was bang – no more power. I took it back to Anaconda who told me to take it to a Yamaha dealer as they didn’t deal with any maintenance or warranty issues. Thankfully the local Yamaha dealer, after a rant about those type of dealers, is having a look at it. It better be ready for the Finke desert race in June.
I spent the money on a quality product to be left in the dark the first time I used it. Disappointed.
Regards
Damo
Love my Yamaha 1kva inverter gen. Small enough to take away with the camper trailer and big enough to run the house fridge!
Hi, my first genset was a Honda it was good if someone could pull the cord. Then left it for months eventually couldnt start it at all so gave it to friend.
Next was a 1kva Yamaha. Same problem just couldnt get it going without a stronger arm to pull the cord. I swapped it for a key start one with a bit more power and its on wheels so i bought a set of ramps and no problem starting it or moving it. This genset is a non descript model dont know its name. Have used it more often than the other two just as noisy as the other two.
Taking it down south this weekend.
Thanks
Liz
Purchased a 3.5 kva Gentrax pure sinewave inverter.
Positives: It will easily run everything in the van including the rooftop aircon . Fairly quiet as a Honda. Starts first time every time. Safe for charging phones, iPads, and computers.
Negatives: It is very heavy, and doesn’t have wheels.
I picked this up on a EBay special for under $500
I’m impressed with this unit.
Great value for money
7.5 kva for house and cyclones, Honda 10i for camper trailer and Westinghouse 2.4kva for caravan, all sorted. All mobile and can be used anywhere.