Aldi Generator

cmcc

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Aldi Generator

· Posted: 28.06.2013 · #1

I see there is an 800W Generator on sale in Aldi (ROI) next week priced at €74.99.

Worth a punt for the motorhome?

https://www.aldi.ie/en/special…-4th-july/

ntg

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 28.06.2013 · #2

The best thing you could do is let that generator stay in ALDI,the price speaks for its self,

the fat controller

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 29.06.2013 · #3

You run the risk of destroying your electrics and electronics unless it is a sine wave version, but at that price you have more chance of finding rocking horse poo. It is also probably a two stroke so will be very noisy.

jacktherev

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 29.06.2013 · #4

I agree NTG its very good advice.

Daire

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 07.07.2013 · #5

A friend bought one, not for camping. It was very noisy and packed up in a little over a year.

Alan W

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 24.07.2013 · #6

Re aldi Genarators

The Kids would get more pleasure out of the box it came in need i say any more

disco duck

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Aldi generater

· Posted: 18.07.2015 · #7

I picked one of these up for next to nothing a couple of years ago .
Seen one on car boot today £100

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 19.07.2015 · #8

Well as someone who has actually used one - I was given it brand new and free by someone who was relocating abroad and didn't have room for it - I can confirm they are somewhat basic.

BUT they work and they are not excessively noisy. I have used one with a small angle grinder to cut up a steel frame where there was no main elec available - it worked. I have used it to boil a small travel kettle where there was no main elec available - it worked.

And last but not least I have used it to charge the leisure battery on a motorhome both via the 240v EHU point and direct using the 12v "jump" leads - it worked and so still do the van's electrics.

If you want a cheap genny for emergencies - they work.

But do NOT leave them with 2t mixture in the carb for any length of time.
If you do - they DON'T work.

The petrol evaporates, the oil doesn't and the jets block up.

disco duck

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Aldi generater

· Posted: 19.07.2015 · #9

Not an Aldi but a wolf genie i had would start but no power output .Googled it and found a simple repair.
Consisting of plugging a reversible drill into socket start genie and put drill in reverse pull trigger and spin drill chuck in reverse direction couple of turns and hey presto all working again ,something to do with capacitor discharged over time.

IT DOES WORK BUT WILL NEED TO REPEAT IF GENIE NOT USED AGAIN FOR SOME TIME.

WARNING

MIND YOUR FINGERS CLOTHING ETC AS IT WILL SPIN UP TO FULL POWER STRAIGHT AWAY.
rgds.dd

mad max

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 20.07.2015 · #10

I personally wouldn't plug an Aldi genny into a modern MH as the EBL (in built Motorhome charger) box may get damaged as its not a stable supply of 230,

As stated above its of for charging via the leads directly onto the batteries but just be careful as an EBL is expensive,

baguette

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 20.07.2015 · #11

Quote by mad max

I would second mad max.

The power output of these cheapo 2 stroke gennys is not stable enough for the sensitive electronics found in modern MH's and I would not connect one to mine.
The PCB in a fridge can be more than €250 alone and then there's the one on the on-board charger and the Truma which is over €350.

A Honda or Honda clone which uses digital inverter technology is yer only man.

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 20.07.2015 · #12

That's why I would now use it as a charger using the jump leads from the 12v socket straight to the battery.

eirebus

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 24.06.2019 · #13

https://www.aldi.ie/ferrex-inv…1270718600

The latest one from Aldi says it's OK for sensitive electronics any thoughts

TommyS

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 24.06.2019 · #14

That reminds me I must check the oil in my generator. I do it every 5 or 6 years to be sure

witzend

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 24.06.2019 · #15

Why anyone would want a generator for a motorhome always puzzles me

Ally

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 24.06.2019 · #16

Quote by witzend

Why anyone would want a generator for a motorhome always puzzles me I bought a honda 10 yrs ago took it on first 4 mth trip and never found the need for it been at home in its box ever since we spend 8 mths a year in europe have a 100 wat solar panel 2 x 95 ah batterys watch tv most nites

Well if you need a new home for it

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 24.06.2019 · #17

we spend 8 mths a year in europe have a 100 wat solar panel 2 x 95 ah batterys watch tv most nites

The sunny 8 months I assume, I find I need battery power more in the winter, a wind generator would be great but too expensive

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 24.06.2019 · #18

Quote by eirebus

The sunny 8 months I assume,

witzend

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 24.06.2019 · #19

Quote by Ally

Well if you need a new home for it

You,d not get a chance

Daffysparks

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 24.06.2019 · #20

I have debated and debated this idea, and must agree. I just can’t see anytime when I would have used it, and we use our van all year. Again I have 200 watts of solar, but only two 75 Ah leisure batteries. Very seldom see it drop more than one light on the indicator

killiand

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 28.06.2019 · #21

Maybe our leisure battery was just sh*t (in fact I'm certain of it) we're soon to have a genny in our mh, and we're delighted.. Sometimes in the winter we'll find somewhere and stay for a few nights and have always felt the need to be Conservative, it'll be nice to be able to turn all the lights on and not worry

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 28.06.2019 · #22

I like the thought of having a genny, but I have never needed one, so whats the point? although, this one time in September 2016 at Ardmore, i could of done with one!!

JJF

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 28.06.2019 · #23

I had a Honda i20, carried it around for a year and never used it. Solar all the way.
Advertised it locally and sold it. I have a little 1kw inverter genny that I will keep just in case I find a need for it.

killiand

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 28.06.2019 · #24

@JJF what makes it an inverter generator?

Daffysparks

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 28.06.2019 · #25

You turn it upside down

🤪

eirebus

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 28.06.2019 · #26

Quote by killiand

@JJF what makes it an inverter generator?

I was thinking that too

JJF

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 28.06.2019 · #27

Inverter generators differ with the type of circuitry to provide stable frequency and waveform.
They use the same technology as a VFD (Variable frequency drive). The alternator makes AC internally. A SMPS (switched-mode power supply) circuit makes the 50Hz AC waveform by high frequency switching and feed mosfets which store the created energy in capacitors where it is delivered in PSW format using a digital crystal controlled, sine wave generator. It is also passed thru various filters to remove resonance etc. Bit geeky, but that’s my limited understanding of it.

killiand

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 28.06.2019 · #28

..... So what's a inverter generator

I actually get it, I think. Interesting - I'll have more questions in a couple of weeks

eirebus

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 28.06.2019 · #29

Quote by JJF

Show off

I take from that, the output is clean and suitable for electronics such as van charging systems etc

Thorn123

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 29.06.2019 · #30

I think, Jjf is saying most gennies produce electric from 180 volts to 250 volts. When you increase the load, the voltage drop.
His inverter type produces the proper voltage all of the time no matter if it has a load or is spinning with no load, so long as you don't exceed 990 watts of power used.
I stand to be corrected on this train of thought

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 29.06.2019 · #31

Correct Malcolm, the output voltage/frequency remains constant across the rev range, the wattage may differ. Quite clever electronics there really, but some Chinese ones have crude and basic electronics which produce a ‘dirty’ waveform and not really true sine wave.

eirebus

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 29.06.2019 · #32

Quote by jjf

, but some Chinese ones have crude and basic electronics which produce a ‘dirty’ waveform and not really true sine wave.

And I assume that's where you can't trust them with your sensitive electronics

Daffysparks

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 29.06.2019 · #33

Also if one of the components breaks down, on the cheapo generators, they will still supply power, just not clean power. So what once used to work your laptop etc. could blow it next time, this is common if the generator is overloaded. Quite a lot of appliances have a high starting current. Much higher than its full load current, this can lead to a lot of failures of the electronics in the generator, by the uninformed user.
Pay cheap, pay twice, sometimes!!

eirebus

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 29.06.2019 · #34

I was thinking to use it just for charging the batteries nothing else, so that should be OK power use wise

Daffysparks

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Re: Aldi Generator

· Posted: 29.06.2019 · #35

Should be fine I’d say

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