Running switch mode amps (SAE) off a generator?

boots-hifi wrote: Shurley there's a more professional approach to this rather than sticking a luminare with a continuous current draw to stablise the mains? If it works then cool, not sure it's the best approach to the situation.

A heater or any other ‘continues’ static load works just as well. I often use a 500 watt heater (without thermostat), when its cold this lives in under the desk and keeps me warm!!

charlysays wrote: .... But is a 42w fan enough of a load?!

No…… 300 to 500watt minimum.

All power generation systems require some kind of static or 'base' load to regulate the supply, on a grid system this is made up by the sheer number of individual consumers (be they domestic or industrial), the more that’s connected to the grid (generators and consumers) the more stable the overall system tends to be (as a hole) as the individual dynamic loads tend to balance each other out). Problems can still arise when there is a sudden change of load, however these tend to be predictable (i.e. half time during a cup final when tens of thousands people switch the kettle on) so can be managed by the grids central controller.  

Individual power stations will still have a ‘load dump’ that automatically connects if the generator/power plant suddenly gets disconnected from the grid, the dump has to be very large as it has to be able to dump the entire output from the station until it can be shut down.