profdant139
Southern California
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I've got a Honda 2000 generator. It's very quiet, but it is not silent. (When I am next to a noisy stream, or it is windy, I can't hear it, but that is not all the time.) So I want to recharge my battery as fast as I can and then turn off the generator. I could (1) plug the trailer into the generator and charge the battery using the built in converter, (2) run DC power right from the generator to the battery, or (3) plug my portable 10 amp "deep cycle" charger into the generator and hook that up to the battery.
There must be a way to figure out which of those three options will recharge my battery in the fastest time. Your advice is appreciated!!
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OnaQuest
Raleigh, NC
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Chances are, either choice 2 or 3 will out perform choice number one unless you have a fairly good converter. You need to know the current rate of charge of all the choices too make your final choice. I suspect the DC output of the generator is greater than your punny 10 amp charger.
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Dixonmatco
Santa Rosa, California
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I am quite certain that the converter has a charge rate of 30-40 or more Amps.
The direct 12V outlet on the Honda 2000I puts out about 8 Amps
Your 10A Charger, Well... 10 Amps max.
You do the math..
* This post was
edited 07/07/08 07:25am by an administrator/moderator *
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weissmand
Los Angeles, CA
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I would try a fourth avenue. Get a 3 stage charger. Depending on your total battery capacity (e.g. 2 - 85 amp or 2 - 100 amp batteries) go with either a 35 or 40 amp 3 stage charger. If you don't run your batteries down below 50% you should be able to recharge your batteries to 80% in an hour or two.
It's what I do and I'm really happy with it.
The built in charger in your TT/MH will put out a similar amount but it won't taper as the percentage of charge increases.
If you try the Honda 12 volt, it only puts out 8.3 amps and that is at full throttle. If you use your built in charger, it'll put out at least 20 amps.
There are a lot of threads that discuss the technical advantages of a three stage chrager, but a quick answer: use the built in charger and your 2000. Better is a 3 stage charger and the 2000.
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JayflightG2
Vancouver
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What converter do you have? We need that info to give you a better answer
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hershey
Albuquerque,(fulltime) NM, USA
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I couldn't get over 6 amps out of my Honda's charging system. Totally useless. If your RV doesn't have an adequate converter, buy a good 40 amp (not intermittent) battery charger and use it to charge your battery(s).
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mbopp
Henrietta, NY, USA
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If the converter is also a 3-stage charger that would be my first choice. Mine's not, I bought a 2-10-30 amp charger & run it off my Honda 2000i.
Running eco-mode "off", I get a measured 8 amps from the Honda.
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bill h
el segundo
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profdant139 wrote:I want to recharge my battery as fast as I can and then turn off the generator.
Which ever method you use, charging above 80% state of charge wastes fuel and makes unnecessary noise.
Quote:
There must be a way to figure out which of those three options will recharge my battery in the fastest time. Your advice is appreciated!!
Only an ammeter can answer your question accurately. Some things just gotta be measured.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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profdant139 wrote:I've got a Honda 2000 generator. It's very quiet, but it is not silent. (When I am next to a noisy stream, or it is windy, I can't hear it, but that is not all the time.) So I want to recharge my battery as fast as I can and then turn off the generator. I could (1) plug the trailer into the generator and charge the battery using the built in converter, (2) run DC power right from the generator to the battery, or (3) plug my portable 10 amp "deep cycle" charger into the generator and hook that up to the battery.
There must be a way to figure out which of those three options will recharge my battery in the fastest time. Your advice is appreciated!!
Of the three you'd PROBABLY be fastest using the trailers converter but impossible to say without knowing how good your charger is in the trailer. For CERTAIN plugging into the generators 12 volt system is useless and a 10 amp charger isn't MUCH better. Your BEST option (if your converter doesn't have a decent charger) is to purchase a good battery charger so you can bring it to full charge within two or three hours. To do that you would need a minimum of 25 amp charger and a computer controlled, three state model would be best for your battery. Good luck / Skip
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Dixonmatco
Santa Rosa, California
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The advise to purchase a stand alone battery charger is OK but if you really want to dry camp often, it is not that much more expensive to purchase an excellent converter.. A PD9260, which is 3 stage and has an excellent reputation along with a charge wizard pendant for manual control of the stages is not really that much more than a decent stand alone battery charger. A 60 amp PD9260C from Best Converters is less than $200 and it is very difficult to find a compact, portable battery charger that does over 40 Amps. Even then, a decent 40 amp one is over $100, and those units do not even compare to the PD9260.
Besides, that is one more thing to carry and fool around with.
ps, I personally have 4 battery chargers of all sizes, including a pro roll around unit and the PD9260 simply is much better. (unless you are jumpstarting a car)
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