What is a CarGenerator and do RVers need one
What is CarGenerator?
CarGenerator is a weatherproof portable power source that uses a vehicle's charing system to generate household electricity. It's a simple and effective solution that safely harnesses the power of your car’s alternator to produce enough household power so you could run essential appliances like refrigerators, lights, and sump pumps.
Essentially it’s a pure sine wave inverter in a user-friendly weatherproof enclosure and a way to hook that to your vehicle through heat-resistant jumper cables.
It is also useful for RVers. You could replenish the battery on an RV with the CarGenerator or even use it in an off-grid situation to power things like induction cooktops, portable coolers like the Dometic CFX3 75 DZ portable cooler that we have or even operate medical devices like CPAP machines even though there isn’t a household outlet for hundreds of miles.
Since it is simply electronics to convert your vehicle’s power into household power there is no specific maintenance on the CarGenerator. It can be stored in a convenient spot and requires no specific preparation to operate. Essentially, it’s there and ready when the power goes out.
How does CarGenerator work?
To set up the generator, you connect the CarGenerator unit to the vehicle's battery and then plug in the extension cord to the CarGenerator's outlet. Once you turn on the vehicle's engine, the CarGenerator starts to produce electricity, which can be used to power your home appliances or electronics.
It was invented after a blackout to keep the furnace running on a cold Canadian winter but it can also serve we RVers very well with the added benefit of being an emergency power source at home as well.
CarGenerator offers several benefits over traditional generators.
Firstly, it's an eco-friendly solution that doesn't require any extra fuel. It uses the vehicle's gas tank. This means that you have hours of run time rather than the short time traditional generators provide.
Secondly, CarGenerator is a versatile solution that can be used in a variety of situations. Whether you're camping, tailgating, or facing a power outage, CarGenerator provides a source of power.
CarGenerator is easy to set up and use, with no complicated installation or maintenance requirements.
Lastly, storing the CarGenerator between uses is also convenient as it’s light and has no fuel on board so it can be stored in your home, in the trunk of your car or in the baggage compartment of your RV. There are no fumes - this is simply a box of electronics.
CarGenerator versus traditional generator
So why not just bring a traditional generator?
You would have to maintain and haul a traditional generator, of course. That means maintaining a small gasoline engine including oil changes, spark plugs and all the other things required to operate a portable generator.
You also have to have the fuel to run the small generator. And you have to store that fuel somewhere.
Also, the CarGenerator we have weighs in at 11 pounds so it’s very light. Essentially it’s simply a box of electronics so you can store it in your vehicle, in a baggage compartment or wherever is convenient for you.
If you’ve ever tried to pull start a small generator after it’s been sitting for months you know that it is rarely a willing accomplice. Often they can be very fiddly if they even start. Then you get the noise and the smell as side “benefits.”
Do we still love solar and battery solutions?
Do we still love the solar and battery solution we have in our RV? Absolutely. In fact it’s our primary go-to for power when camping. But there are occasions where we may have used all the power in the battery and need to replenish it.
For example, if the weather is unfavorable and you’re not getting much sun, but you still want to power items in your RV or replenish it’s battery. Or you’ve been running the AC most of the day and now it’s night time and the sun’s gone down. That sort of thing.
How would I use it
Essentially, to me, this would serve as a back-up solution. I would use this if circumstances dictate that we need to recharge the battery in our own RV and there were insufficient sunlight to accomplish this. The CarGenerator 1000 watt, which we have, offers the same performance as our 1,000 watts of solar but it also works at night or whenever the sun’s not out.
I could also see using this if the place where you live has power outages. It was invented specifically following a winter power outage in Canada with the idea that you could use your vehicle to power your home oil or gas furnace.
I could also see this as another way to replenish a solar generator like our Jackery units.
See our review of the Jackery portable power station here
A breath of fresh air
Another advantage of this is in the realm of emissions. Small generators have no emissions systems, per se. In fact a small generator can produce as much emissions in an hour as a vehicle traveling 150 miles.
If this is a concern to you, this is another consideration. You’re using your vehicle, which is likely also relatively quiet at idle. Modern vehicles have very sophisticated emissions systems built in so a vehicle at idle produces very low emissions, especially compared with a portable generator.
California generator ban
Another advantage to the CarGenerator comes in the face of the California generator ban. Essentially using your vehicle as a generator completely circumvents the generator ban.
Further, you may be able to idle your vehicle outside of the “generator hours” at some locations. There are places that specifically limit the times you can run a generator due to the noise most portable generators make, but there may be circumstances where you can continue to use the CarGenerator outside of these hours.
As with everything, please please be considerate of those around you. We are losing some camping locations and privileges because some people are misbehaving. Don’t contribute to this situation.
Conclusion
CarGenerator is a solid solution that offers a convenient way to generate power during an emergency. With its simple setup and easy-to-use design, it's an ideal solution for homes, businesses or RVers looking for a reliable backup power source. Whether you're facing a power outage or need a dependable source of power for your outdoor activities, CarGenerator is the eco-friendly and cost-effective solution that offers peace of mind.
I think it’s a really great part of a camping plan that includes high-performance solar and battery solutions on an RV and is one of the best ways to eliminate the anxiety of using all your power reserves.
As much as our solar and battery system has changed the way we plan our camping and opened so many doors, having the CarGenerator as an additional resource further reinforces that off-grid capability and is absolutely something I would recommend if you’re thinking of boondocking and off-grid camping.
