Small Diesel Generator

**Toby2** · #1 24 Sep 2004

Interested in finding a small diesel generator. Whilst I have a triple battery system on my 110, if one is parked up for a while its still possible to run them down. When I was out in Aus in Dec / Jan I saw an advert in one of the offroad magazines for a Diesel generator, intended for 4x4s, that only weighed 7kgs, looked pretty compact but which the manufacturer reckoned could charge up a dead battery to sufficient level to be able to start a large 4x4 within 5 minutes. Previously been put off by generators as they look large and cumbersome but at 7kgs and compact it becomes quite a viable options. Does anybody know of any options in the UK, Must be reasonably small and lightweight to easily go in the back of a 110 with all the other kit. Also must be diesel.

**Tonyabc** · #2 24 Sep 2004

tbruk supply a flexible/no glass fold up solar pannel 1.42M x 0.42M at 2.2 Kg that which they say will extend the useage time for an engel fridge by 2-4 days. The pannel charges at 1.9 Amps, presumably in strong sun. In their brochure the pannel is shown folded out across a front windscreen.

I am not sure of price. Their tel number is 01255 556622

If you get a generator please do not park within a mile of me

**ctc** · #3 24 Sep 2004

I'd also go with the solar panel option. Admittedly you have to wait a day for it to produce enough to turn your engine over but what the heck. No noise, nice and light weight and only a couple of hundered quid.

Fisher Panda do marine diesel generators which I have used, they also come in a fibreglass & foam case which reduces noise. thinking about it they are water cooled so hardly ideal!! They might do other types though. Very Expensive though from memory!

[This message has been edited by ctc (edited 24 September 2004).]

**Toby2** · #4 25 Sep 2004

Primarily want it simply as a fall back - ie don't have to worry about contingency in flattening the batteries rather than wishing to sit there consistantly running a generator for several hours a day.

**Roman** · #5 25 Sep 2004

As for solar panels, please bear in mind that most AGM / gel batterries need to be charged with 14.3V constant voltage. Emergency use of lower voltage unregulated charging will not damage the batteries, but you will never be able to recharge them properly with solar panels.

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Roman (UK)
www.overlandcruiser.info

**Madrid_CapeTown** · #6 25 Sep 2004

Hi all.

Id ' go for the cheaper petrol-powered generators . There appears to be a really cheap series of 220 petrol generators (small , blue , branded "Tiger" in Gambia , and Einhell in EU) which costs around 90 Euros in the continent (so in UK should be not less than 300 UKP !! -ha ha -

, and produce around 800 Watts . Sure , you need another smallish fuel container , but on the other hand you have 220 volts aboard ! (enabling to use a serious and cheap air compressor , , standard TV , lighting , a propper Battery Charger ,and only god knows what else can it power during a expedition.
On top of that , I can power a Arc/Tig inverter welder (another 100 euro) with unlimied field-uses in a LandRover

Mine is so small that the generator AND the welder both fit in the box beneath the right seat in a Landy.

Hava nice day.

**Tonyabc** · #7 25 Sep 2004

Going back to solar pannels and can they/can't they be used to charge a vehicle's battery. I have no real idea in practice whether they can, and my physics is a bit rusty, but I assume a trickle of a few amps at low voltage over a period of a few hours adds up to useable energy to charge a battery. Maybe there is a limit on the voltage achieved from a solar pannel in which case wouldn't a transformer sort this out?

Presumably there are some people using solar pannels. Are they charging vehicle batteries or using them to power things like radios and gps direct?

Generators might be more practical, but in terms of noise, they can be pretty antisocial.

[This message has been edited by Tonyabc (edited 25 September 2004).]

[This message has been edited by Tonyabc (edited 25 September 2004).]