[UK-CONTEST] Small generators for portable stations

[Ian Pritchard]

Hello All.
For what it's worth our group has for many years used a small Honda EU 1.0.  It has a continous rating of 900W and is highly reliable, It is quite light, weighing around 13kg.  A  24hour FD contest uses around 15 ltrs of petrol.  It can easily power a 100W radio a few computers, auto atu and lighting.    The genny  is used infrequently but always starts pretty much on the first attempt.
We havent detected any electrical noise.  The only point to watch is that if the oil level drops slightly the safety cut-out will stop the engine.  One just has to remember to check the oil before the contest starts.!

Hondas are quite expensive but on the other hand  it seems a false economy to spend a load of money on radio equipment but then cut corners on the power source!   Having said that,..I'm sure the copycat models are very good too....its just that I have no direct experience of them.

73 Ian G3WVG
obo G0AAA Three As Contest Group.