Cheap small generator or solar?

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Hey guys, buying a wheelhouse with a forced air furnace. So am going to need to keep battery charged.
Shouldn't really need a lot of power, lights are LED.
What's the best way to go in your experience?
Thanks,
Leo

[stripernut]

Best thing to start with is to add up all the amps/watts that you will be using, with out that, you don't have a good starting point. Then look at what you want to carry for battery/batteries. Think about how long/much you will be fishing. Its just simple  math after that...

[SnoHam13]

it depends if your leaving it out on the ice or moving it regularly
you can charge the batteries off your pull vehicle in transit
and shore power at home
our 5th wheel has that ability and we use 4 golf cart batteries
we boon dock all the time and the power last about a week

SnoHam13   

[Clear_Ice]

If you decide to go the generator route, just cry once and buy a new Honda or Yamaha. They're worth every penny, will last a very long time through hard use, and can be used for more things than you thought you'd use them for.

I have two friends that each screwed around with a sub-$500 2000w generator and they had nothing but issues. Now, both own Yamaha's and have no issues.. they should've just bit the bullet to begin with and saved themselves a headache or two.

In regards to the solar and other methods of just charging 12v and not running any 110v, I am not too knowledgeable. I like to have a TV and crockpot going in my fish house all the time 

[stripernut]

In regards to the solar and other methods of just charging 12v and not running any 110v, I am not too knowledgeable. I like to have a TV and crockpot going in my fish house all the time

To get AC from batteries you will need a Inverter, but something else you can check out is go to a BIG truck stop and they often sell many of the things that you would want already set up to run on DC... I don't know about crockpots, but they do have TVs! The funny part is that most stuff (not all) runs on DC and there is a transformer to turn it from AC to DC in most appliances and electronics...

[thewyler]

Actualy strippernut may be onto something, use your 7way round trailer lights plug, center terminal is always hot, just plug it in and let your vehicle idle... Cheaper than anything else and just as quiet as the hondas or at least almost as quiet.

[SnoHam13]

https://www.etrailer.com/question-363.html

good info here for wiring

SnoHam13

[rl_sd]

Actualy strippernut may be onto something, use your 7way round trailer lights plug, center terminal is always hot, just plug it in and let your vehicle idle... Cheaper than anything else and just as quiet as the hondas or at least almost as quiet.

Just make sure that you aren't drawing more that you alternator is putting out or you will end up with a dead vehicle battery too!

[Gatermouth]

A buddy of mine did a wind/solar system with 4 batteries and an inverter. Total cost was around $3k. He can run the furnace blower, our lights, crock pot and coffee maker all weekend and never drop below 70% charge. The charge is back to 100% not long after the sun is up even with cloud cover. Solar on the roof and wind turbine is up on the tip of the V front. The turbine is good for 120mph wind so it could be left up while driving but he takes his down. Nice setup but you could get 2 Honda 2000s and run them parallel for 4000 watts and have some money left over. It is worth it to him to not have to deal with gasoline at all.

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Thanks for all the good responses. Appreciate your experience. I like the ideas.

[WbboT]

I've got a 3.5hp Briggs-n-Piston-Slapping engine that is virtually new that I'm going frame up a belt driven 65amp GM car alternator.  The alternator is self rectified and regulated for charging batteries pretty quickly and won't overcharge.  Also good for charging up a dead car battery quickly.  Should get about 750watts continuous.

OT:  I have a new 6.5hp Predator I plan on putting a 100amp Ford alternator I have on.  It is not rectified and regulated.  I'm going to rig that myself and make a 100%duty cycle portable DC stick welder     I've recently gotten the huge rectifiers I need.  Kind of on hold now with winter but I can work on regulating and I plan to get fancy with a quick strike option.

[SKIFFLAKEJIMMY]

If you decide to go the generator route, just cry once and buy a new Honda or Yamaha. They're worth every penny, will last a very long time through hard use, and can be used for more things than you thought you'd use them for.

I have two friends that each screwed around with a sub-$500 2000w generator and they had nothing but issues. Now, both own Yamaha's and have no issues.. they should've just bit the bullet to begin with and saved themselves a headache or two.

In regards to the solar and other methods of just charging 12v and not running any 110v, I am not too knowledgeable. I like to have a TV and crockpot going in my fish house all the time 

I tried keeping my hunting trailer charged with a solar panel Not much luck. I bit the bullet and bought a 3500 watt Honda. It runs over 20 hours on 3 gallons of gas. and you can't hear it in the trailer. $2300. Worth every penny.