greenrvgreen
open road
Senior Member
Joined: 09/05/2007
View Profile
|
Pop B--
Thank you, your response is dead on. I am spending gas to run the gene even when I'm getting very little charge out of it.
How do I know when the battery is absorbing less?
Is it DIRECTLY equivalent to the amp charge rate?
At the end of bulk mode, how much charge has gone in?
|
smkettner
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
 Online
|
If you really want to get the max charge power out of running the generator, run the batteries down 70% and program the 2.0 to bulk charge at 14.8 volts.
2001 F150 SuperCrew 5.4 Lariat Offroad 4x4 Tow Package 4.10 Truetrac
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
12K SuperGlide, KGE3000Ti 2.3kw rated 2.6kw max
Frank's voltage booster, Prosine 1800 powered by 4 GC2 batteries
|
greenrvgreen
open road
Senior Member
Joined: 09/05/2007
View Profile
|
Hurricaneer--
Thank you, although I'm going to have to study your answer and work through it slowly.
If I understand it correctly, I can config the ProSine to do a custom charge protocol. Currently it is on "Generic Flooded". Bulk mode under generic is "30", and voltage is 14.4. Are you suggesting I program this to 14.8 volts and "80"?
|
Hurricaner
Hurricane Utah
Senior Member
Joined: 02/17/2007
View Profile
|
I would have to look at the manual but unless you are in extremely hot weather, I would go with 14.8 volts to get the max charge amps possible for the greatest amount of time. You also need to invest a couple hundred bucks in a battery monitor if you don't have one. If you want to maximize gen run time and keep your batteries alive a battery monitor is a must for frequent boondockers.
Sam
Sam & Kari
Hurricane, Utah
2004 34' Damon Challenger 315
|
Dixonmatco
Santa Rosa, California
Senior Member
Joined: 04/29/2006
View Profile
 Offline
|
Get rid of the non inverter generator and purchase an inverter generator instead.. They are much more fuel efficient. It will pay for itself in reduced fuel expense if you use it often. (daily)
Yellow vs EU2000I = 1 gal per hr less.. At $4.50 per gal, you do the math..
Greengreen,, I know.. It would kill you to buy a Honda..
2000 Chevy Silverado 1500
2005 Komfort Trailblazer T23S
Honda EU2000I
|
|
|
greenrvgreen
open road
Senior Member
Joined: 09/05/2007
View Profile
|
Ha! You got me there, D!
Look, I'd love to buy a new expensive gennie, especially after springing for the new Prosine and a set of 4 batteries. But it isn't going to be a gallon less per hour savings. I know this because my 3500 uses less than a gallon an hour. Or does Mr. Honda show up at your campsite with a gas can full of savings?
I know a more efficient gennie's in my future, and working my way into 2 linked Hondas one at a time has a nice ring to it. But maybe what I really need is thirty amps of solar? And how many more holes in my head?
|
Ductape
On the Road
Senior Member
Joined: 11/15/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
I can run all night long on one gallon with the EU2000i.
But if you're not gonna buy a gen, then just stay in bulk mode for your purpose.
Surveyor SV-234 >Equalizer> H3
Previously a fiver crew.
|
jauguston
Bellingham, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/03/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
The trick is to keep the generator putting out a a lot of amps when it is running. I charge four 6v batteries with a Honda EU1000i. I use three converters, a PD 9160,a WFCO 9855 and a WFCO 9845. I start with either the 9845 or the 9160 with the Wizard on slow flash. I monitor and control all three converters through a Kill-A-Watt in a small panel in the coach. When the first converter starts to taper AC draw down I turn on another converter. I eventually end up with all three on and the 1000 is still within its capacity.
With the generator you have a Xantrex XADC 80 paralleled with your existing converter would really help your charge time.
Jim
Jim, Sharon and Buddy the Yorkie
1999 Gulfstream Sun Voyager 31' ISB Cummins 210 uprated to 275
275 RV injectors
Trippe-Lite 1800w inverter 4-6v GC batteries
3- Kyocera 130w solar panels
1987 Suzuki Samurai tintop Toad w/VW 1.6 turbo diesel power
|
bananadanna
Cambridge, MA
Senior Member
Joined: 11/30/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
greenrvgreen wrote:
I will run a computer and related devices all day on battery power--this is my "portable office". Twice a day I fire up the generator and it gets to be expensive. My thinking is that using less gas more than makes up for decreased battery life.
Gosh, that's a lot of gen time for a computer. Our older laptop takes less than 50w and the new penryn-based ones use much less. What's your "base load"power requirements for the "portable office"? What's the gas budget for this use?
I assume that for any heavy discretionary power use you could run the gen and let the Prosine have a longer, slower charge cycle by taking a portion of the gen output. It'd be more efficient power use to feed a heavy user like a microwave direct from the gen.
I'd hate to override the Prosine's battery temp sensor. Just find the sweet spot of SOC above 50% where the charger will mostly bulk charge for 50-100 ah and repeat as needed. Top up the batteries once a week with a complete charge cycle to do due diligence.
Dan
02 Freightliner Sprinter 2500 long tall home brew conversion
|
Matthew_B
The boonies near Dallas, Oregon
Senior Member
Joined: 08/18/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
greenrvgreen wrote:Let's start with "float charging". Do I gain any charge by this? Because I'm turning around and IMMEDIATELY discharging the battery.
Yes, but only once every week or two.
If you don't take the battery to 100%, the sulphate left by not going to 100% hardens and becomes a permanent reduction in capacity. The rest of the charges for the week or two only need to go to the end of bulk, and don't hurt the battery.
This is why solar helps a whole lot. The final float takes only a little power and a lot of time. If you run the generator in the morning and get the battery bulk charged, you only need solar power a little in excess of you daytime load to float the battery.
|
|
|
