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OT: Tailgate generator help

runuts

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Jul 30, 2001
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As our tailgate group seems to keep growing I think its time to invest in a generator. Knowing very little about generators in general I thought I'd ask on the board as to what is being used out there. I'm interested in any information you can share on this. The only real reservation I have is that they are typically loud and I do not want to be PO the people to the left and right of me. Thanks in advance
 
Honda, nothing else close, for a quite tailgate generator.

A rare miss.

The Yamaha equivalent to the Honda i-series is a quality machine and can be had for $200 - $300 less. Just as quiet, same basic feature set and just as reliable. If you buy by the brand, go with the Honda. If you shop values, check out the Yamaha.
 
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I use the Honda EU 2000i. It's great and I highly recommend it.
 
As our tailgate group seems to keep growing I think its time to invest in a generator. Knowing very little about generators in general I thought I'd ask on the board as to what is being used out there. I'm interested in any information you can share on this. The only real reservation I have is that they are typically loud and I do not want to be PO the people to the left and right of me. Thanks in advance
What are you looking into powering? If you are just looking to power a television and satellite dish consider a deep cell marine battery and inverter. Will be cheaper and silent.
 
Signed in from Peru to only respond to this thread... It is that important.

Our tailgate had the EU2000i... but we realized we needed more more power, more acceleration and more leg room for the legs... so, we upgraded to the 3000. Personally, I want the honda brand and am willing to pay the extra for what I believe to be better value. My buddy has a Yahama and has had no problems with it and it is quiet.

Dont be a dick and get a loud generator... man up and spend the money.

Feel free to stop by the purple lot if you want to check ours out in person. we will be there 7AM on game day in the corner. Just look for the 20ft Rutgers fan who likes to wave at everyone.

Go Knights
 
What are you looking into powering? If you are just looking to power a television and satellite dish consider a deep cell marine battery and inverter. Will be cheaper and silent.
Interesting. Can you elaborate on the pros and cons for this set up? Costs?
 
Yamaha is better than Honda I've sold both. Everyone is making a quiet generator now. Honeywell makes one as well
 
Interesting. Can you elaborate on the pros and cons for this set up? Costs?

That's basically an all electric generator set-up, or not really a generator at all, so much as power storage/distribution. The inverter gives you the AC electricity you need for running a TV and appliances from the DC batteries. No gas engine = no noise or pollution.

It's the same type of power system used on small RVs, trailers and boats (hence marine battery). In RVs, they often hook the system into the vehicle's alternator and/or solar panels to recharge the batteries off the grid, but for something limited like a tailgate, you wouldn't necessarily need to charge - just charge them fully at home.

Price would really depend on your power needs, but deep cycle batteries seem fairly equivalent to car batteries in pricing. Unlike car batteries, they're designed to provide steady power, instead of a short burst to start the engine.
 
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Interesting. Can you elaborate on the pros and cons for this set up? Costs?

It is cheap and doesn't need refueled. You not dealing with an engine and potential fumes. It makes no noise. In addition generators are banned at many venues. The major con is that you are limited in your load. You can however add more batteries and a higher wattage inverter and build bigger.

You can build one for $150. All you need is a deep cycle battery, an inverted and battery charger. You simply connect the inverter alligator clips to the positive and negative and it ready to go. All you do when is then charge the battery for the next game. You can always connect multiple batteries for long run time or charge the batteries at the game by connecting it to the car battery and letting it run for a bit. A 100w TV would run about 6 hours on a 75 ah battery. A typical 42 in led TV will be about 45 watt and run 12 hours.
 
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It is cheap and doesn't need refueled. You not dealing with an engine and potential fumes. It makes no noise. In addition generators are banned at many venues. The major con is that you are limited in your load. You can however add more batteries and a higher wattage inverter and build bigger.

You can build one for $150. All you need is a deep cycle battery, an inverted and battery charger. You simply connect the inverter alligator clips to the positive and negative and it ready to go. All you do when is then charge the battery for the next game. You can always connect multiple batteries for long run time or charge the batteries at the game by connecting it to the car battery and letting it run for a bit. A 100w TV would run about 6 hours on a 75 ah battery. A typical 42 in led TV will be about 45 watt and run 12 hours.

Surprised more people don't do it this way. Seems superior in every way (cost, noise, smell, hassle), unless you need a ton of power or want a generator you can use at home, too.
 
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Surprised more people don't do it this way. Seems superior in every way (cost, noise, smell, hassle), unless you need a ton of power or want a generator you can use at home, too.

For our purposes it's insufficient. Lights, sound system, TV, hot dog roller, miscellaneous kitchen appliances... Ya really need a gen set.
 
It is cheap and doesn't need refueled. You not dealing with an engine and potential fumes. It makes no noise. In addition generators are banned at many venues. The major con is that you are limited in your load. You can however add more batteries and a higher wattage inverter and build bigger.

You can build one for $150. All you need is a deep cycle battery, an inverted and battery charger. You simply connect the inverter alligator clips to the positive and negative and it ready to go. All you do when is then charge the battery for the next game. You can always connect multiple batteries for long run time or charge the batteries at the game by connecting it to the car battery and letting it run for a bit. A 100w TV would run about 6 hours on a 75 ah battery. A typical 42 in led TV will be about 45 watt and run 12 hours.
Interesting. What would the specs or capacity need to be for the inverter and the charger itself when coupled with the 75ah 12 volt battery? We dont have any heating elements to draw tons of power so this may be a better option.
 
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Interesting. What would the specs or capacity need to be for the inverter and the charger itself when coupled with the 75ah 12 volt battery? We dont have any heating elements to draw tons of power so this may be a better option.
Charger doesn't matter as any 12 volt battery tender/charger will work. What type of appliances do you intend to plug in? For a basic tv, receiver set up 500 watt should be plenty
 
Charger doesn't matter as any 12 volt battery tender/charger will work. What type of appliances do you intend to plug in? For a basic tv, receiver set up 500 watt should be plenty
Don`t see any appliances other than an electric knife for the flank steak. The radio I believe has a long battery so really just the TV for 6-8 hours and the knife for like 10 minutes. Thanks for all the info
 
For our purposes it's insufficient. Lights, sound system, TV, hot dog roller, miscellaneous kitchen appliances... Ya really need a gen set.

That is some set up. What, no Squishee machine?
latest
 
That is some set up. What, no Squishee machine?
latest

There's a margarita machine.

My understanding is that there is now a popcorn machine, as well. Not one of those little Hamilton Beach jobs, either.
 
There's a margarita machine.

My understanding is that there is now a popcorn machine, as well. Not one of those little Hamilton Beach jobs, either.

there's also a pizza oven this year. but I think they are going for Full Italian DOC ( 'Denominazione di Origine Controllata') status so it will be wood burning per Italian regulations. 800 degrees. Pizzas will cook in 90 seconds.
 
...pizza oven...wood burning
Awesome.
One of the local pizza guys had one of these at a street fair and when my eyes lit up, It was "Oh no you don't!" from my better half.
IMG_3855-700x400.jpg

I suppose I would need another parking pass for it.
 
there's also a pizza oven this year. but I think they are going for Full Italian DOC ( 'Denominazione di Origine Controllata') status so it will be wood burning per Italian regulations. 800 degrees. Pizzas will cook in 90 seconds.

Will that cook Hot Dogs too?
 
That hot dog toaster looks pretty slick to me. It's not like hot dogs are particularly temperamental in terms of cooking method.
 
Oh, they're really, really serious. I mean, I like hot dogs and I know a little bit about them, but these guys... sheesh...
 
That hot dog toaster looks pretty slick to me. It's not like hot dogs are particularly temperamental in terms of cooking method.
True. The Presto one look like it was inspired by Old Sparky.
 
Wait a minute. The same crew that vociferously denounces London Broil packs a hot dog machine?

That's kind of like refusing to serve or drink any Scotch younger than 12 years while at the same time serving, or drinking, Budweiser. There is a disconnect here; a disjuncture - a veritable tear in the fabric of the space-time continuum.

This is cognitively disruptive is what this is.
 
Wait a minute. The same crew that vociferously denounces London Broil packs a hot dog machine?

That's kind of like refusing to serve or drink any Scotch younger than 12 years while at the same time serving, or drinking, Budweiser. There is a disconnect here; a disjuncture - a veritable tear in the fabric of the space-time continuum.

This is cognitively disruptive is what this is.

Not at all.

The hot dogs, near as I can tell (because I've never eaten one) are for "Party Guests" who drop by but who aren't part of the core group for whom we plan our menus.

Also kids.

And most of those people don't get the good bourbon, either.
 
Not at all.

The hot dogs, near as I can tell (because I've never eaten one) are for "Party Guests" who drop by but who aren't part of the core group for whom we plan our menus.

Also kids.

And most of those people don't get the good bourbon, either.
So you're telling me you guys are downing lobster bisque and filet mignon while feeding hot dogs to your guests? Does @Southern Gentleman know about this? :)
 
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