What Is An Efficient, Small & Quiet Generator?

[wickhamfish]

Hello everyone, hope you're all well.<BR><BR>I really need some help!! <BR><BR>I have just bought an apartment here on Koh Tao.. 75sqm + 35 sqm rock garden/decking. It's a beautiful, quiet, remote place overlooking the sea... (more apartments going for cheap if anyone's interested)<BR>Because we don't have access to government electricity as yet.. (will connect within 3 years)... the owner & developer is producing his own electricity via a large, noisy 10 KW diesel generator.<BR>As the month came to its end and our electricity bill popped in.. It was a surprising' 3600 Baht including generator maintence fees... I was shocked :0.. this seemed way too expensive.<BR>The 'Rascal'.. I thought???? !##@;(<BR>So it has come to me... well then.. 'I should buy myself a small, portable and hopefully quiet generator to power our apartment'.... something like that used on an RV motorhome.<BR>Now... I don't have much stuff... We really don't use a lot of electricity... TV/Music system, fridge/freezer, 2 fans, energy saving lights 4 watts, and thats it to tell the truth.<BR>What is also most annoying is that the Wife and I only really use the place in the evening as we both work late..... As in Thai fashion!!<BR>We already have 2, 12 volt batteries, charger and inverter to store the electricity and charge the batteries... for the fan at night... we tend to unplug the fridge when we switch over to the batteries... Its full off water bottles and generally keeps cool over night!<BR><BR>So my friends... here is where I need help!!!<BR><BR>1) Should I buy a small generator for our apartment??<BR>2) What is a reliable generator for home use... I am thinking portable... light weight would be best!<BR>3) I like the look of the Honda EU series... The 2000i has caught my eye... can anyone reccomend this for tropical use?? Can you buy this in Thailand??<BR>4) What other Brands are good and used in Thailand.... Again portable & quiet are a key aspect!!!<BR>5) On Koh Tao, we have access to Benzene 91 and Diesel... Can the Honda EU2000i use Benzine 91 ???? I know in England this generator uses Unleaded petrol.... Is this the same as Benzene 91... Sorry for my confusion !!!<BR>5) What fuel source is best and cheaper over the long run... Petrol, Diesel.. etc...<BR>6) Anyone know anything about Gas generators??? ... Is Propane... the same gas used in the cooking bottles... magic.. fry an egg and get electricity.. I like the sound of that!!<BR>7) Would it be cheaper to run your own small generator... maybe 4 hours a day, enough to charge the batteries and watch a movie...<BR>8) Or... Should I bite my lip and pay the expensive electricity bill??<BR><BR>Any help would be appreciated... I'm just starting out and this venture for self suffiency has really been forced upon me... but I like it!!! <BR><BR>Kind Regards<BR> <BR>Ben <BR><BR>P.s. Sorry about the spelling <BR><BR><BR>

[apetley]

Before buying a generator check your apartment purchase agreement as you may be tied into using the developers own electricity.

If you can use your own then a Honda gennie is one of the better ones. A friends is pretty quiet and will run on benzine 91 same as unleaded.

[daoyai]

Running a frig, and freezer is not good on generator as you need to run constantly. A propane or lpg refrig. is expensive but really the way to go. As to generators..... I have used a Honda eu 1000, it was great and quiet. I lived off grid for 30 years in Hawaii, with a combo of solar, deep cycle batteries, inverter and gas frig. ...... (am also on Koh Tao at the moment).

[genset]

Have a read through this post then email me with your telephone number and I'll give you a call and we can chat. I did receive your original email but have been very bust the past few days.

Regards,

Genset