suitable generator for tire warmers?

[RandyO]

iirc, I was once told that generators run most efficiently at 50% load

[loudbeard]

iirc, I was once told that generators run most efficiently at 50% load

Really dependent on engine design. How much more power you get from additional fuel input. May or may not be true for residential gas engines, our CAT large diesel engines are most efficient at around 70% load.

[Jim]

i use a 3500 for the track. i have the CapIt warmers that go up to 220 F. the 3500 also runs my 13.5k BTU AC/heat in the trailer, a mini fridge, ice maker, helmet fan, bigger fan, and two radios. i've never had issues overloading it. that being said, i would have bought the 5000 predator if it was available when i was in the market for a track genny.

few things i recommend:
- use ethanol free fuel. i usually tacke empty VP pales from the track and fill them with E0 fuel at gas stations.
- magnetic drain plug & dipstick
- battery tender pigtails to charge the battery when you're not using the generator.

[OneCheekRider]

I bought two 2300 watt A-iPower generators that are made to run in parallel with each other with just one quick-connect cable. 4600 starting watts / 3600 running when combined or 2300/1800 solo. Since I travel with my mini toy hauler, I plug the trailer into the geny and warmers into the exterior outlet of trailer. If I'm running AC + tire warmers I'll run both genys, if I don't need want AC I just bring the one. I also just bring 1 generator if I'm camping. I much prefer transporting 2 smaller generators vs 1 larger one and the peace of mind that if one stopped working for some reason, I'd have a backup.

I did buy an auxiliary marine fuel tank and custom caps to be able to run 1 or both generators for extended runtimes. I think I can get at least 48 hours before refueling if running AC nonstop, have yet to test this though.

[Kurlon]

iirc, I was once told that generators run most efficiently at 50% load

For old school traditional generators, yeah. They've got to maintain 3600RPM no matter what, so up to a certain loading point they're on the throttle either way, might as well use the energy that otherwise is going away as waste heat. With inverter generators, they don't have to hold much if any RPM to produce a stable output, so the window for where adding load on doesn't actually result in the throttle needing to increase is MUCH smaller, reducing your electrical draw will result in reduced gas usage.

[zxme]

Predator 3500 on eco is stupid quiet.
I changed to an NGK spark plug and synthetic oil and has been flawless