Suitcase generator ? What's the hot/go-to choice ?

[weeksy]

With trackdays how they're going, i was looking into a quiet generator.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-Sui ... SwkwxdlJMk



Things like these are £200 give or take, which sounds reasonable... if they work of course. Looking to run 1 set of warmers only.... 2 would be nice.

I have a mates monster genny here, but it's a massive noisy and heavy beast for sure... 

[KungFooBob]

You'll been needing at least 1200 watts for a pair of warmers.

[weeksy]

Seems so yes.

[Tarmacsurfer]

They're not particularly quiet but I've always bought a 2nd hand Honda genny in a frame for around £100.
They start first time and hold their resale value, unlike the Chinese equivalents.

[Skub]

They're not particularly quiet but I've always bought a 2nd hand Honda genny in a frame for around £100.
They start first time and hold their resale value, unlike the Chinese equivalents.

I have one similar. I bought it to power the heating,as we were getting a load of power cuts at the time. It's a noisy bastard and a 2 man lift.

[weeksy]

I've got Trickys in my garage, it weighs about the same as my Mondeo

[KungFooBob]

If you aren't too concerned where it's come from, Gumtree and Friendface market place is a good place to get a cheap genny.

I got a 800w Kipor 4-stroke for £60 off gumtree about a mile from home, it works a treat... for watching telly and charging batteries. Useless for warmers tho'

[weeksy]

Still waiting for refund from Screwfix as i bought an 800w genny before finding out i need more power...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quiet-Portab ... 1438.l2649

This one is topping the list at £249, reputable shop type dealer so 12 month warranty etc.

There's a Clarke one that's very similar from Machine Mart, but again that's still only 12 months warranty and £50 more.

[Tomcat]

I've got one of those 2-stroke 600W thingies that I used to use for powering the caravan in the paddock, now not needed if anyone wants to make me an offer.

When I was looking at possible tyre warmers Kipor seemed to be a fairly good bet, apparently Honda (unsuccessfully) sued them for copying their own product.

[KungFooBob]

If you look carefully you'll spot most suitcase gen sets are all the same, just different badges, half the time they don't even change the shape of the casings.

90% of them are made in China.

The Honda's and Hydundai', etc.. all cost four times as much.

Be careful of the ratings as well, usually 1200w means that's the max it will do if there's a spike, it probably won't do 1200 for long periods, probably nearer 1000w. It's usually in the specs somewhere.

[weeksy]

https://www.toolsave.co.uk/product-auto ... zontalTab2

Bought this one. Same warranty as the Clarke etc, but comes with oil too and £50 less... Reputable seller, so all good.

Should get it in the next few days. So the wife will have power and warmers for Silverstone on the 11th.

[KungFooBob]

Max. Output - 1.49 KVA / 1200 Watt
Rated Output - 1.25 KVA / 1000 Watt

What's the requirements of your warmers, it should be on the labels?

[weeksy]

Doesn't specify but people on Motoforum are using the same warmers and rating of Genny OK.

[weeksy]

Doesn't specify but people on Motoforum are using the same warmers and rating of Genny OK.

You have got me having doubts though now LOL. Trying to find the figures on the Ubers, but struggling.

[Yorick]

Why can't you use the leccy at the circuits?

[weeksy]

Why can't you use the leccy at the circuits?

3 bikes per side in garages only. All pre booked. Along with the fact we didn't want to go in them due to wanting social distancing, so we were out in paddock 50m from garages. We're planning on doing the same. All personal preference really in current situation

In addition, we'll be doing Pembrey which doesn't have power.

[Yorick]

Why can't you use the leccy at the circuits?

3 bikes per side in garages only. All pre booked. Along with the fact we didn't want to go in them due to wanting social distancing, so we were out in paddock 50m from garages. We're planning on doing the same. All personal preference really in current situation

In addition, we'll be doing Pembrey which doesn't have power.

I had 50m of cable, so always managed to grab some power.

[weeksy]

Well the AutoJack generator has arrived... Sadly i don't have any fuel at home to give it a test, but i'll get it done over the next day or two

2020-06-18_11-06-06 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

It's light enough to lift comfortably and small enough that it won't take up a tonne of space.

I can give Tricky his one back now

[weeksy]

Well it works and does the job... it runs both sets and doesn't show an overload on the display so can cope with both warmers,

It is borderline though based upon the noise of it, without anything plugged in, quiet as you like. 1 warmer, fairly OK, 2 warmers, oh that's a bit noisier, it's working a chunk harder to power both I have to say. I'd argue it wanted to be another 200w-300w for it to be happier running both.... but that was another £150 on top of the price...

[weeksy]

Been running for 10 mins this morning while i'm working, with the bike up on paddock stands, it's not showing any overheating or breaking/tripping the overload light etc, the warmers are hot and toasty, so apart from it being a bit noisier than i'd hoped, it's golden
It's quieter than the bike 3.5kva genny that's for sure and weighs about 4 tonnes less than it