Large Model Association Forum

Is it just me?
Recently received my booking forms back for Easter at East Kirkby (thanks John) and read through the notes for on site camping. Bearing in mind the happenings last year, a good idea. What brought back some memories for me though was the mention of Generators. I, because of work and distance, didn't arrive till later on the Friday afternoon. The first camping area where LMA members were to camp was full so I was directed to the general camping area. I was parked up near the middle of the three rows of campers and caravans. Basically surrounded. It soon became apparent that generators are very popular! We, me and the Missus, were bombarded from all sides by two stroke motor noise and exhaust. The caravan immediately next to us had two! One or other was running just about all the time and the single occupant was seldom there! I was spending most of the day around the flying but my poor wife had to put up with it. I can run a whole weekend on just the leisure battery so what are these people using all the generated power on? The mind boggles. I must, in all fairness admit that they were all off by 10 pm, thank God. Perhaps a generator free zone should be considered?
Bob Hart.

Arr Bob if only we had the room to do that, the reason people have Generator running all day sometimes baffles me too, is it keeping their fridges cool or charging there battery there doesn’t seem to be a good reason unless their TV or other equipment is 240v but as in your case there wasn’t anybody there while they where running, very odd.

Bob,
I was there and surrounded by generators. However, one was mine . I put my generator on 3 times a day and often leave it running for 3 or 4 hours. I have an electric wheelchair that has to be charged off the mains and we also have electric batteries for planes that need charging. I also teamed up with the van next door to me so that we only ever ran one generator at a time and shared the output (if possible). Both generators were chained together. I think only twice did we have to put both as we exceeded the capacity.

One idea I saw at one event was to make everyone with generators bring long extention wires with them. All generators were grouped together and chained up away from the caravans.

Dave,
On an organisation note. I was wondering who to ask about maybe being able to connect a wire into a 240volt point at the tx tent (or somewhere in the pits area). This would enable me to keep the wheelchair charged up whilst on the field.

Cheers, Andy

Hi Andy, you would have to discuss that with the Flightline Safety Officer on the day, I would suspect there would be an issue with the cable, so even if you could do it you would have to set up next to the generator, something I wouldn’t like to be sat next to all day. But correct me if I am wrong (and you would know better than me) I though electric wheel chairs batteries are designed to last, my mothering laws lasts her all day and she is not a small lady!! (Sorry Dot, tried to put that as nice as I could)

Hi Dave, yes the batteries last for ages. However, it takes nearly 2 hours to charge them up, which is done using a generator next to my caravan.
Regards, Andy

Bob--several of the team have been discussing your post at the flying site today--and yes,we feel at East Kirkby at least,we can have a GENERATOR FREE area---if you or anyone else would like to be in this area,please let me know the week before,and i will put a list on the gate for the marshalls---DAVE

Hi Dave,

Yes, you could put me down for that. My alternative plan was to "linger about" before setting up and put myself at the back or end of the lines.

Cheers, Bob Hart

Charging a wheelchair is a special case but as for keeping the caravan battery charged I use a solar panel in the front window of the van. Never gone flat yet.