dry camping with generator?

chopshop · 02-06-2012, 09:07 PM

Hi all,

I plan on dry camping for the majority of the summer. My TT (exp 29a) has a queen bed that slides out the back end of it. I'm planning on purchasing a Honda EU1000i genny for our dry camping needs (no A/C needed).

I am wondering if the 1000 watt genny will have enough power to extend our slide

If anyone here has any comments about this set-up or if anyone has used a 1000w to extend their slides, please advise me if it has worked or not.

Thanks in advance!

clutch · 02-06-2012, 11:04 PM

A Honda 1000 will keep your batteries up with no problem. It is your batteries that power the slide. The Honda 1000 is a good choice if you don't need ac or microwave. It will charge your batteries, run the refrigerator, all your lights and a tv and disc player. In fact it will run two trailers.

3'senough · 02-07-2012, 07:11 AM

I agree. 1000W will keep the batteries up, sip gas and have some leftover for lite electronic use. Might get your micro going but only if the only draw at that time.

I would reccommend to add another battery if you havent already so you can go longer periods of time without constantly having to run the genny. It would open up the inverter option for night time TV or laptop usage.

Just seach batteries on this forum and you will have pages to dig through for reccomendations.

chopshop · 02-07-2012, 08:16 AM

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.

I always thought that once I plug into shore power that the battery no longer powered most things. Why is that when I remove my battery and plug into shore power I can still operate my slides?

So, with a 1000w genny I should be fine?

Quahog · 02-07-2012, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chopshop

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.

I always thought that once I plug into shore power that the battery no longer powered most things. Why is that when I remove my battery and plug into shore power I can still operate my slides?

So, with a 1000w genny I should be fine?

Yes, when you plug into shore power, the converter takes over. If your battery is in and cabled up, it also gets charged while on shore power.

3'senough · 02-07-2012, 10:23 AM

1000W Honda is a good choice because if you ever want to double your power you can tie 2 in parrallel together with the Honda tie. Then you would have 2K. They are light weight and easily stowed. If you want to go to a 2K Honda the same is true of going to 4K with another unit in the future.

I run a 3K Yahmaha Genny/Inverter with the Boost option. 3.3K for limited period. It runs my 15K AC and converter should I opt while boondocking. AC's need between 1.3-2K to work. Downside is it's a heavy unit, but it mounts on my bike rack nicely.

As mentioned above your converter is powering all 12V systems while plugged in regardless of battery connection. Be careful though if it's on while the battery is out as those leads are live and could short your entire converter out if you hit the frame or worse each other.

Before hooking up your battery again you should unplug or throw the main first.

Seann45 · 02-07-2012, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chopshop

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.

I always thought that once I plug into shore power that the battery no longer powered most things. Why is that when I remove my battery and plug into shore power I can still operate my slides?

So, with a 1000w genny I should be fine?

Ahhh it is really not a good idea to remove the battery.... leave it in and just make sure to check the water once a month and top off with distilled water only...

chopshop · 02-07-2012, 09:24 PM

Thanks everyone!
To tell you the truth about the battery not being hooked up, I've only done that once and after I did some research on this site, I realized that it's not a good idea. So, thanks to this site, I no longer remove the battery while having shore power plugged in.

clutch · 02-08-2012, 10:03 PM

Your slide motor is a 12 volt.

mcfarmall · 02-11-2012, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chopshop

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.

I always thought that once I plug into shore power that the battery no longer powered most things. Why is that when I remove my battery and plug into shore power I can still operate my slides?

So, with a 1000w genny I should be fine?

I use my 23B in the shop all winter long for sleeping on weekends when I work midnights. The battery is removed and stored in the heated portion of the shop and I plug the TT into the wall to provide lights, radio, slide, etc. inside. As long as the battery cables aren't touching each other or the frame of the trailer you're good. The converter will run all the 12V stuff when the battery is removed and you're plugged into shore power.

Chakara · 02-11-2012, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcfarmall

I use my 23B in the shop all winter long for sleeping on weekends when I work midnights. The battery is removed and stored in the heated portion of the shop and I plug the TT into the wall to provide lights, radio, slide, etc. inside. As long as the battery cables aren't touching each other or the frame of the trailer you're good. The converter will run all the 12V stuff when the battery is removed and you're plugged into shore power.

This raises an interesting question for me. Has anyone seen where a battery bank that is severely discharged could out draw a 1000W generator just in charging? If so, how big was the battery bank?

I have 220 a/h of battery, but don't yet know how much they can pull when in deep need of power. Adding the high draw of the slide during this early charging "might" overrun a little 1000W generator.

Of course if that happened, a battery disconnect "jump starting" the trailer from the tow vehicle would get you out of trouble..

Just thinking out loud here...

-Chak

Seann45 · 02-12-2012, 09:30 AM

Battery charging cannot overdraw a 1000 watt genny... besides anything capable of doing that would boil the batteries dry in no time flat... most converters are rated at 45 amp max...

Chakara · 02-12-2012, 08:30 PM

Don't know why I didn't think of doing the math.

12V @ 45A (max) = 540 Watts

Even with some AC to DC conversion loss there is plenty of headroom....

-Chak

Westerncanuck · 02-25-2012, 11:08 PM

1000 watt Genny will give you about 750 - 800 watts continuous. 1000 watts peak Get yourself at least 2000 watts. 3500 if you want to run the AC

chopshop · 02-26-2012, 10:17 AM

Westerncabuck, I already have a 3650 Genny for the A/C, I was just looking for something smaller and quieter for daytime use in the high elevations of AZ.

Thanks for everyones input, I found a used honda 1000w genny for $200

, a great deal to say the least. I will let you all know how it worked out for us.

clutch · 02-26-2012, 10:25 PM

That is a good buy ChopShop.

Crackshot · 03-17-2012, 04:18 PM

I use a 3500 watt Champion generator we bought for 299 bux.
It is 200cc engine, 4 gallon gas tank.
We originally bought it when we lived on a farm because the power would go out a lot.
When we bought out camper, we take it dry camping.
It is enough power to get the A/C going, coffee maker and everything else. (Not all at once of course!)

RoyBraddy · 03-25-2012, 04:09 AM

On my trailer setup I use a Progressive Dynamics PD9260C Converter/charger 60AMP and I dont think the 1KW Honda generator would be enough to operate this converter to re-charge my battery bank. I think my converter/charger is rated at 1000W or something close to that. I use the 2KW Honda generator to run my 30AMP Shore Power cable trailer connection when camping off the power grid to re-charge my battery bank in as little as 2-3hours of generator run time.

The 1KW generator should be enough to run a 45AMP converter/charger unit. You might check your converter/charger unit and see how many amps it is rated at. This is one thing you will want to do when camping off the power grid is to re-charge your batteries. Your converter/charger however will be required to be a smart-mode charger to be able to re-charge the batteries in a short 2-3 hour generator run time period.

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