Recommended Inverter Generator

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markrw

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I am looking into possibly getting an inverter generator to be able to charge my inverter during extended outages.

Can any recommend a decent one. I see the Gentech ones seem to be quite popular on takealot and at least seem to have quite a few decent reviews. I see there are Ryobi ones but without reviews. Honda ones seem very expensive. The one review on the Gentech said that support and spares are a problem.

Can anyone make a recommendation on a decent inverter generator. Don't need something bigger than 1700-2000 watt
 
I assume you have the inverter and batteries already? It seems a bit silly to recharge your batteries using a generator. You might as well then connect the generator directly to your loads.

Also. I hope you know an inverter generator is a generator that produces 12v DC and then it's internal inverter converts it to 240v AC...
 
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The_Ogre said:
I assume you have the inverter and batteries already? It seems a bit silly to recharge your batteries using a generator. You might as well then connect the generator directly to your loads.

Also. I hope you know an inverter generator is a generator that produces 12v DC and then it's internal inverter converts it to 240v AC...
Click to expand...
Yes I have the inverter already. The inverter generator will be used to charge my inverter batteries and run my loads while I do so during extended outages. I fire up the generator, plug the inverter into the generator and it will run my loads and most importantly recharge my batteries.
The reason I specifically need an inverter generator is for the pure sine wave output. I know many inverters are not happy with standard generator power due to the fluctuations and I really don't want to disk damaging my inverter.
 
I use a Yamaha generator for our inverter.
I tried a Stram generator from builders warehouse but the inverter did not want to accept it.

Remeber to check the minimum input setting on your inverter. Our Axpert requires 10A minimum. This means you will need a 2.5kw generator.
 
Mordecai said:
I use a Yamaha generator for our inverter.
I tried a Stram generator from builders warehouse but the inverter did not want to accept it.

Remeber to check the minimum input setting on your inverter. Our Axpert requires 10A minimum. This means you will need a 2.5kw generator.
Click to expand...
Can you post a pic of the specs for these minimum settings?
 
Mordecai said:
I use a Yamaha generator for our inverter.
I tried a Stram generator from builders warehouse but the inverter did not want to accept it.

Remeber to check the minimum input setting on your inverter. Our Axpert requires 10A minimum. This means you will need a 2.5kw generator.
Click to expand...
I have tested with one of those wattage meters and my inverter pulls just under 700W charging at 20A and running a small 100W load. So I shouldn't need something as big as 2.5KW should I? (I also have an Axpert)
 
Mordecai said:
I use a Yamaha generator for our inverter.
I tried a Stram generator from builders warehouse but the inverter did not want to accept it.

Remeber to check the minimum input setting on your inverter. Our Axpert requires 10A minimum. This means you will need a 2.5kw generator.
Click to expand...
I do currently have a Ryobi 2.5KW generator but don't want to damage my inverter since the power is not clean. Then even if I leave my loads plugged into the inverter and plug my inverter into the generator, the inverter will move the loads onto bypass so my computer etc would run off the generator power which I prefer not to do. This is why I wanted an inverter generator, both for my inverter and my loads to get clean power
 
markrw said:
Yes I have the inverter already. The inverter generator will be used to charge my inverter batteries and run my loads while I do so during extended outages. I fire up the generator, plug the inverter into the generator and it will run my loads and most importantly recharge my batteries.
The reason I specifically need an inverter generator is for the pure sine wave output. I know many inverters are not happy with standard generator power due to the fluctuations and I really don't want to disk damaging my inverter.
Click to expand...
I was under the impression any generator would be pure sine?
 
Speedster said:
I was under the impression any generator would be pure sine?
Click to expand...
Not from what I understand. The voltage is not consistant and neither is the frequency. That is why they recommend against running sensitive equipment on a normal generator. Only an inverter generator will give pure sine wave output due to the conversion from DC to AC and the internal battery
 
markrw said:
Not from what I understand. The voltage is not consistant and neither is the frequency. That is why they recommend against running sensitive equipment on a normal generator. Only an inverter generator will give pure sine wave output due to the conversion from DC to AC and the internal battery
Click to expand...
There's a big difference between fluctuations in voltage and/or frequency and modified sine wave.

Anyway, you're looking for a generator with a regulator, not an inverter.
 
Speedster said:
There's a big difference between fluctuations in voltage and/or frequency and modified sine wave.

Anyway, you're looking for a generator with a regulator, not an inverter.
Click to expand...
Can you maybe link an example of one of these so I can see

Wouldn't a pure sine wave inverter generator like this also work:

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com
 
Speedster said:
There's a big difference between fluctuations in voltage and/or frequency and modified sine wave.

Anyway, you're looking for a generator with a regulator, not an inverter.
Click to expand...
I would can the idea completely. I would rather buy more batteries.
 
markrw said:
Can you maybe link an example of one of these so I can see

Wouldn't a pure sine wave inverter generator like this also work:

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com
Click to expand...

Ryobi5.5 kVA 4 Stroke Petrol Generator

RYOBI GENERAT 4ST AIR 5.5KVA
www.builders.co.za www.builders.co.za

Cheaper, and more than double the capacity.
 
markrw said:
I have tested with one of those wattage meters and my inverter pulls just under 700W charging at 20A and running a small 100W load. So I shouldn't need something as big as 2.5KW should I? (I also have an Axpert)
Click to expand...
I also don't understand the 10A minimum requirement.
 
TheChamp said:
I also don't understand the 10A minimum requirement.
Click to expand...
On the Axpert you can set the charge current to charge the batteries. I know my minimum is 2A but thats not going to charge the batteries much. The next step up is 10A. By setting the charge amps lower I assume Mordecai is then meaning it will draw less power from the generator in order to get away with purchasing a smaller generator. But I currently charge at 20A and with a small 100W load it still only draws 700W from the mains when charging at 20A so I don't think think I would need to drop the charge current anyway
 
markrw said:
That is very similar to what I already have but I know the voltage and frequency is not clean so would prefer not to use for my inverter and PC's. I wanted a generator with clean power.
Click to expand...
This has an AVR.
 
markrw said:
On the Axpert you can set the charge current to charge the batteries. I know my minimum is 2A but thats not going to charge the batteries much. The next step up is 10A. By setting the charge amps lower I assume Mordecai is then meaning it will draw less power from the generator in order to get away with purchasing a smaller generator. But I currently charge at 20A and with a small 100W load it still only draws 700W from the mains when charging at 20A so I don't think think I would need to drop the charge current anyway
Click to expand...
Yeah, something seems to be lost in translation because the current at the charger is on DC, suppose yours is 24V, that would be 24V x 20A = 480W+100W small load + whatever internal draw and inefficiencies, giving you the 700W.

700W at 230V is way lower than the 10A. Even if the minimum setting on the inverter is 10A it does not mean you need 10A on the AC side.
 
TheChamp said:
Yeah, something seems to be lost in translation because the current at the charger is on DC, suppose yours is 24V, that would be 24V x 20A = 480W+100W small load + whatever internal draw and inefficiencies, giving you the 700W.

700W at 230V is way lower than the 10A. Even if the minimum setting on the inverter is 10A it does not mean you need 10A on the AC side.
Click to expand...
Ah yes I see now where he got the 2.5KW from but yes that 10A is definately not on the AC side. I wouldn't need a very big generator to charge my inverter batteries.

So for me it would come down to whether a generator with an AVR (which produces modified sine wave) would be ok for charging my inverter batteries and running PC's would be ok or whether I would be better off with a pure sine wave generator to be safe
 
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