Generator 2 or 4 stroke

[nice_person1]

Thinking of buying a generator for next year for a fridge.  Is 2-stroke fuel easy enough to get hold of, or would you recommend a 4-stroke (same fuel will work in the Coleman stuff too).

Just looking for opinions on generators really !

Thanks 

[Lorry]

2 Stroke fuel is only normal petrol with oil mixed in - there is usually a measuring cup in the filler cap.  The cheap gennys are all noisy.  I tried it once and went back to gas.  There are quiet ones but they are expensive.  For a fridge, you don't need a big one.  Look at Machine Marts website for a range.  2 strokes are cheaper and you should pick one up for under £100.  The other issue is that all cars now come with siphon traps so you can't take the petrol out of the car any more

[nice_person1]

What about some of the ones on eBay for £50 plus postage ?

Like these:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-GENERATOR-CARAVANS-CARAVAN-BOAT-BOATS-CAMPER-VANS_W0QQitemZ4569405561QQcategoryZ1294QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wolf-Power-Generator-950-Camping-Caravan-Boating_W0QQitemZ5993501121QQcategoryZ57219QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Cheers

[jpchenet]

What about some of the ones on eBay for £50 plus postage ?

Like these:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-GENERATOR-CARAVANS-CARAVAN-BOAT-BOATS-CAMPER-VANS_W0QQitemZ4569405561QQcategoryZ1294QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wolf-Power-Generator-950-Camping-Caravan-Boating_W0QQitemZ5993501121QQcategoryZ57219QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Cheers

These sell in Makro for about £45+VAT these days. Watch the postage costs on the auction sites as that's how they often make their money!!

[rcutler]

I have a £50 Macro Special and I can recommend it. 2 Stoke is a bit noiser but not too bad. Just check your startup power requirements as some fridges need a BIG generator.

[Bob U]

I got a £50 Marksman 2 stroke, at 400w it is plenty big enough to run a fridge and a set of gazebow lights, and not too noisy. A full tank of fuel lasts about 6 hours on full load.This year at Le Mans we got a large polystyrene box and put it over the genny to muffle it and it was virtually silent.

I also got a Hilti 4 stroke, it is 3kw so has plenty of power but it is very noisy and drinks unleaded like your average Houx Annexe punter drinks lager. Another problem is, it is the size of a small fridge and weighs about 60 kg, something else to consider when loading cars or vans.

Next year we are gonna get a couple more cheap 2 strokes rather than take the 4 stroke.

[Lorry]

The polystyrene box sounds good, but how does it get fresh air/get rid of exhaust/heat etc, and where do you get poly boxes

[Bob U]

We punched about a dozen 1/2 inch holes in the top for ventilation, this seemed to be enough as it didn't run any hotter than normal. Given the tempreture at LM this year the box may even have kept it cooler. We have samples delivered in the boxes at work I don't know where you can get them commercially.

[Stu]

They had the 2 Stroke 650W ones in Carrefour for 70 Euros this year. Identical to the ones at home apart from the french type outlet. Had to buy one as the pull cord starter broke on my new one I took. Ran everything we needed. The standard (under bench) fridge I took this year was rated at 85 watts although they take alot more to start the compressor on them but once running there is plenty power for lights etc. Another good tip is to use one of those low wattage energy efficient bulbs which can be bought cheaply if you keep looking around. They had them in my local £1 shop once. This means you are only using 7 - 9 W instead of 100 - 150 for a bulb.

[Perdu]

Whichever sort you get also get a stonking thick chain and a bl**dy big padlock too. We had ours stolen on Friday night... Chain it to the heaviest car on your site and hang bottles around it as an alarm too. Shotgun guards too if you can run to 'em.

[jpchenet]

Thieving Pikies are always a problem Bill. Sorry to hear you were a victim!!

Team JPC employ a 24 hour cover system whereby the last of the late night drinkers do not go to bed until the first of the early morning brigade get up! 

[fidget]

I try and hire a generator and thats £75 for a week for a quiet model. Due to the heat, it became a little louder as the weekend went along.

IKEA sell cheap energy bulbs that "stu" talks about. They are £1.40 each.

[Perdu]

Thieving Pikies are always a problem Bill. Sorry to hear you were a victim!!

Team JPC employ a 24 hour cover system whereby the last of the late night drinkers do not go to bed until the first of the early morning brigade get up! 

We might have to arrange a shuttle service into MB and back so all things can be observed better next time...

Almost all of my "team" are lightweights, we all got totally knackered at the same time. Have to find a few long distance drinkers for next year.

And the stonking great thick chain too!

I have eben hearing good stuff about this health drink you have been promoting, any chance of it finding its way to Birmingham's fine hostelries I wonder? Tropicoma was it called? Seems sad to have  to wait til June '06 to test a sample or two...

 

[jpchenet]

I'm sure we can find a way to get a sample to you Bill!! There will be a large batch being made up ready for after our local beer festival. On that note, I suppose I should start a thread to promote it!