BOONDOCKING/ GENERATOR

IN 1998, BACK IN THE YELLOW RIVER DAYS, I BOUGHT A HONDA GENERATOR WHICH I STILL HAUL AROUND IN THE BACK OF THE PICK-UP. I'VE ONLY STARTED IT UP A FEW TIMES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. IT'S GONNA NEED A TUNE UP AND OIL CHANGE. I REMEMBER SOME THINGS I LEARNED.

FIRST OFF THE GENERATOR DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GENERATE THE PEAK POWER NEEDED TO START THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. OH IT WILL TRY, AND MAY GET THE THING GOING, BUT THAT LOW VOLTAGE IS GOING TO RUIN THE COMPRESSOR ON THE AIR CONDITIONER IN SHORT ORDER.

THE LESSON HERE IS THAT THEIR IS NO AIR CONDITIONING WITHOUT 30 AMP POWER SERVICE PROVIDED BY A CAMPGROUND. IN OUR ANNUAL SCHEDULE WE USE THE AIR CONDITIONER VERY LITTLE. MAYBE A FEW DAYS AT THE END OF APRIL OR THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER WHILE CAMPED IN THE MOHAVE VALLEY. POSSIBLY A FEW TIMES THE END OF MAY WHILE CAMPED IN CARSON CITY.

THE GENERATOR WILL RECHARGE THE BATTERY. THIS CAN BE DONE BY PLUGGING THE TRAILER INTO THE GENERATOR AND LETTING THE TRAILERS CONVERTER DO THE JOB, OR THERE ARE CONNECTIONS ON THE GENERATOR TO HOOK IT DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERY. WHAT I NEED TO DO IT MAKE SOME CABLES FOR CHARGING A BATTERY DIRECTLY FROM THE GENERATOR.

CHEAP,PUT THAT ON THE LIST.

ACTUALLY REAL BOONDOCKERS USE A GENERATOR AS A BACKUP SYSTEM FOR THEIR SOLAR SYSTEMS. A GOOD SOLAR SYSTEM, INCLUDING PANELS, CONTROLLER, AND BATTERIES FOR STORAGE, COSTS $3,000 TO $5,000 DOLLARS.

WOW, THAT MONEY WOULD PAY CAMPGROUND FEES FOR A YEAR OR TWO.

OTHER WISE THE GENERATOR WILL RUN THE CAMPER JUST LIKE WE ARE PLUGGED IN. JUST REMEMBER NOT TO RUN THE MICROWAVE AND THE HAIR DRYER AT THE SAME TIME.

HOW COST EFFECTIVE WOULD IT BE TO BUY GAS AND OIL FOR THE GENERATOR ALL THE TIME? MAYBE $10 - $15 A DAY? IF GAS DOESN'T GO BACK TO $4 A GALLON? AH, ISN'T THAT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE PAYING A DAY FOR A CAMPGROUND?

MORE BOONDOCKING QUESTIONS TO PONDER.......

It has been reported that approximately 1.5 million people attended the inauguration ceremony Tuesday, and only 14 missed work.