I bought a cheap Vector Power 1.5 kva inverter gennie off ebay. I've used it on two trips so far.

The first trip it ran for 4 days without any problems.

The second trip it stopped twice during the 7 days. The first time, I took the side cover off and found that it had filled up with sand. I think this was my fault for leaving it on a dune and not putting anything under it, not the gennies fault. I just knocked the sand out the air filter and it ran fine after that. The second time it stopped it was because the low oil alert was coming on. I just put more oil in and it ran fine again.

All in all I'm happy with it. It ran two engels and a 150L chest freezer for a week on 60L of petrol. I have rented a Honda EU20i before and I think that they are pretty similar for noise levels and fuel economy.

It was less than a quarter of the price of the Hondas. I only plan on using it once a year so I couldn't justify getting the Honda.

If you can afford it try and get an inverter one, they run quieter, use less petrol and produce cleaner power than the old style ones.

The Fridge freezer works like a dream as long as you can fine tune the temperature controls as they are a little bit too sensitive. One minute the firdge is freezing, make a small adjustment and its slightly too hot. Once I found the spot on the dial I just put a bit of tape over it and all is great. I think landed it was around $650.00. It only stays on the boat as the drinks and bait freezer noe but no complaints at all.

One word of warning though, the ebay seller I bought from took weeks to dispatch the order. Check the feedback closely if you go that way.

Cheers

 Ive had a kipor generator for 5 years its been great and still going

a Mate of mine just bought an ironman fridge 40l i believe it has a danfoss compressor for about $900

new he says its going well at the moment

gday mate to be quite blatent Dont touch a faco!!! its just not worth it....i have been dealing with them for a fair while now and going the genuine thing is worth it in the long run....any reason for not going engel?? apart from the obvious price difference from expierience no other fridge can touch them for amperage draw and years of service factor. the amount of stories i hear from people telling me about the 30+ year old engel is insane...for my mind it worth the extra dosh and the resale value is pretty good on em too.

cheers

Hook & sinker, I`ve already got the Waeco 49L fridge/freezer and so far its a beaut. Its the old Toyota vs Nissan arguement. Yes your right there are old engels around but i guess in time there`l be alot of old waecos around also. If I was a trucki or someone that needed one daily I`d prob run the National Luna as theyare supposed to be untouchable in all areas. All i`m looking for is a freezer to run at camp for a max of maybe 25 days a year... Sometimes people have to swallow their pride and accept that buying perhaps 3 x cheap fridges is a better idea than relying on 1 engel?

 All the cheap genset don`t have power output regulators meaning if they high rev (ie run out of fuel ) the power output sky rockets blowing the powerboards up in all appliances connected to them From memory engle power board was $480 to fix and not covered by warrenty. if you cant afford a good genset hire / borrow or go without as it will cost you in the long run.

You`ve been warned

Cheers Boomer

This one is 4.4 kva so would go through petrol quicker than one of the smaller models, but $60 for a generator? If it doesn't work you could always use it as a cheap boat anchor

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MTM-4-4kVA-Inverter-Generator-/181067951172?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item2a287dac44

This one here looks like the one I bought but with a different brand name label on the front:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-1-5kVA-SILENT-INVERTER-GENERATOR-Caravan-Camping-Fishing-Tent-Portable-Power-/230941165448?pt=AU_Generators_Pumps&hash=item35c52a8788

The inverter generators don't have the problem that BOOMER is talking about because the voltage output and frequency is not linked to the engine speed. Like running an inverter in your car it doesn't matter if you rev the engine higher, it won't affect the output voltage.

hi mate

i have both,

the 80ltr fridge/frezzer ebay special $600 del to my door, with 2 seperate controls, you can use both at the same time or

can use all as fridge or all as frezzer.

have had it for a few years now and no probs apart from what escape said about fine tuning the controls.

i also have a remote start 4.4kva genny from ebay $650 del, its great, but its big and noisy compared to a honda, but at 1/4 the price i will live with it and run a longer extension cord.

when were out camping the wife luvs the remote start thing mate and when i upgrade to a caravan(soon) it will run my aircon as well.

even if i get 3-4years out of them only being used 4-5times a year i can still replace them 3 times over than buying a honda and a engel!

That's all good if they fail at a convienient time & place Ron.

It's like buying a cheap reel, they only fail when you really need them to work.  JMO.

Dean

 Hi Ron,

your posted prompted me that I have one of these in the garage that I don't use.

i originally bought it for some field work and probably used it 3 or 4 times- no dramas at all.

it is a 3 kva model and its roughly the same size and loudness of the 20eu Honda ( I have one of these as well so no need to keep two).

the keys, remotes and manuals have disappeared over the last couple of years but you can get replacements off of the net.

otherwise, just leave the key in the on position ( which can be done with a flathead screwdriver) and then just start it with the ripcord.

I turned it over this morning and it ticks over nicely.

i can't seem to insert a photo into this thread so ill put it up in the for sale section if you are interested.

ive seen them advertised on line for $1200. I think I paid 8 or 9 hundred for it a few years ago.

$400 firm and its available to whoever wants it.

cheers

brett