charging a battery w/generator

[ottor]

Using a generator to recharge battery this coming weekend - never used one before.... what's the best way to recharge ? Is there a difference between connecting the generator directly to the battery, or using the A/C input to the trailer when charging?

I have a portable 160wt solar unit I've used the last couple of times, but it's supposed to be a little cloudy this weekend, so borrowing a gen.

thanks

[tnchuck100]

I would let the converter do the charging. It is probably capable of a higher charge rate than the 12V charge output from the generator. The generator is probably capable of around 8 amps and the converter could possibly do 20 amps or more.

[Mustang65]

Originally Posted by tnchuck100

I would let the converter do the charging. It is probably capable of a higher charge rate than the 12V charge output from the generator. The generator is probably capable of around 8 amps and the converter could possibly do 20 amps or more.

2x

Don

[clutch]

I would just plug the trailer into the generator. We have had campers since the 70's and that is all I have ever had to do.

[Jmooney]

Originally Posted by tnchuck100

I would let the converter do the charging. It is probably capable of a higher charge rate than the 12V charge output from the generator. The generator is probably capable of around 8 amps and the converter could possibly do 20 amps or more.

X3

When you use the converter you also get the 2 or 3 stage smart charging. I think generators produce 12-13 volts, but don't adjust based battery condition, just raw steady output.

[Brownie]

Ottor,

I've never owned a generator before, and was wondering about the same thing! So glad you asked the question. And so glad the great folks here had the answer!

Thanks, all!

[havnfun]

X4. That's how I charge mine also.

[RoyBraddy]

The BATTERY itself determines the amount of charge current it needs to re-charge. It is up to you to provide the proper charging DC VOLTAGE along with the available amount of DC CURRENT to recharge the battery.

Consider this report from PROGRESSIVE DYNAMICS on how long it takes to re-charge a depleted battery using different DC VOLTAGES...

"Progressive Dynamics ran this test on the amount of time it took a PD9155 (55-amp) converter/charger set to three different output voltages to recharge a 125 AH (Amp Hour) battery after it was fully discharged to 10.5-volts.

14.4-VOLTS (Boost Mode) – Returned the battery to 90% of full charge in approximately 3-hours. The battery reached full charge in approximately 11 hours.

13.6-VOLTS (Normal Mode) – Required 40-hours to return the battery to 90% of full charge and 78-hours to reach full charge.

13.2-VOLTS (Storage Mode) – Required 60-hours to return the battery to 90% of full charge and 100-hours to reach full charge."

Charging your battery directly from the 2KW Generator BAT CHARGE terminals only produces 12.0VDC at around 8AMPS DC current. To reach a 90% SOC it will take many many more hours than reported in the case where 13.2VDC was used in the above statement.

Your best way to re-charge in the quickest time possible is to use 14.4VDC with a good 15-18AMPS of DC current available for each battery being charged at the same time and it should re-charge in as quick as three hours time with the 2KW Generator running your trailer's on-board smart mode 45-55AMP Converter or a portable B&D VEC1093DBD Smart Mode battery charger. This is what we do every morning around 8AM during breakfast for three hours to get our 255AH battery bank back up to it's 90% charge state so we can do this all over again for the next day/night run off of the battery bank. You can get almost full performance from your battery bank with it at the 90% state of charge but can only do around 12-14 50% to 90% charge cycles where you have to do a full 100% charge state. Of course with the smart ode charger systems this will take over 12 hours to accomplish which is sometimes not allowed at most public camp grounds to run a generator for that long of a period. Here on the east side of the USA most public camp grounds including Natl Forest areas all seem to have generator run time restrictions in place. Dispersed camping out West or private owned camping places is probably the only places where you can run your Generator anytime you want to especially for longer than 12 hours.

Roy Ken

[tawoo]

Great info Roy! Thank you!