Invertoes Generator Capabilities
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Invertoes Generator Capabilities
At the moment I charge my camper battery with a 4000 Watt generator when I am camping. Question is this .... If I upgraded to a let's just say a Honda or General power invertors generator will I be able to charge battery as quickly?
Also wondered what would happen if a guy attempted to charge his camper battery with a jump box?
Also wondered what would happen if a guy attempted to charge his camper battery with a jump box?
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From: Media PA
Are you charging the battery with the genny via the regular 30 (or 50) amp TT power supply cord and then through the factory onboard convertor? If so, you will need to look up what the max charging output of the convertor is to determine if the 4k genny is overkill or if a smaller 2k genset will supply enough to allow the convertor to still be at max charging.
A jump pack will provide some amount of additional power to a TT battery, but you really wont know just how much more. I wouldn't expect it to top off the TT's deep cycle battery though, just provide a little more capacity for a longer cycle between genny/grid recharging. If you are looking for longer battery power cycles between recharges take a look at converting to a 2 golf cart 6 Volt deep cycle battery setup, then maybe even a few solar panels to keep you going longer yet.
A jump pack will provide some amount of additional power to a TT battery, but you really wont know just how much more. I wouldn't expect it to top off the TT's deep cycle battery though, just provide a little more capacity for a longer cycle between genny/grid recharging. If you are looking for longer battery power cycles between recharges take a look at converting to a 2 golf cart 6 Volt deep cycle battery setup, then maybe even a few solar panels to keep you going longer yet.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2017
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From: Port huron MI
Say the built in converter has a 50 amp charging circuit, its probably pulling about 900 watts depending on how efficient (or not) the charger is. So if your only charging the batteries with the generator then you should be fine with anything over say 1500 watts to give yourself some over head.
the jump box probably has a 12-26ah battery, the camper battery is probably 80-120ah depending on what class and brand. You could get some more capacity from it but that's about it.
the jump box probably has a 12-26ah battery, the camper battery is probably 80-120ah depending on what class and brand. You could get some more capacity from it but that's about it.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Northern Illinois
I am assuming you have 1 12v "deep cycle" battery. How long do you usually camp for and what all are you running off the battery? Are you monitoring how many amp hours you are pulling from the battery or looking at the voltage to know when you need to charge it back up?
In my previous camper I could go for a weekend with 2 12v batteries without charging depending on how much we ran the furnace. When we got home I would plug it in and charge.
In my previous camper I could go for a weekend with 2 12v batteries without charging depending on how much we ran the furnace. When we got home I would plug it in and charge.
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Hours...
One 12v is correct. LED lights in moderation. Furnace blower on and of ect. That is it really as well as water pump. No I am not monitoring amp hours....looking into a gauge for that perhaps. I get on night out of it and a way bigger battery also.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2017
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A 1000 watt generator would run your converter. 2000 watt, if you want to run the microwave...or probably a hair dryer. Just running it a few hours a day will keep your batteries charged under normal use.
Curious if anyone has tried a solar charger?
Curious if anyone has tried a solar charger?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 941
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From: Port huron MI
A few 100 watt panels would work as long as it's not overcast the whole time. An extra battery would be good if solar to help cover the less than sunny days. Cost could be similar depending on what generator it would be replacing/supplementing.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Northern Illinois
I have 2 160w panels with a Bogart engineering 2030rv (monitor) and sc-2030 (charge controller). I run 2 12v deep cycles as I had them in the old camper. My install needs some disconnects and fuses but I will try to get some pictures.
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From: Los Angeles, Ca.
The generator requirement will depend on your charger/converter. If the generator is too small it'll probably trip its breaker, but a generator bigger than what's needed won't speed up the charging. A 1000w gen will effectively feed most converters. Fully re-charging a discharged wet cell battery takes several hours, but you can get about 85% charged pretty quickly if the converter is fairly powerful. When I'm camping and using lots of lights & the heater I charge for a couple hours before bedtime then again in the morning. Fire the genny for the coffee maker then let it run a couple hours to put back most of what was taken out of the batteries over night. The quicker they're charged after being discharged the happier they'll be.
If you have the $ to throw at it there are some really good monitors that actually 'count' the amps used and replenished. There's also some that'll start the generator as needed. I'm old school cheap so I use a combination of gut feel and the occasional volt meter to gauge what's needed.
As for the jump box, no. They don't have enough capacity and most of them time out after a very short time so you'd have to keep turning it back on.
If you have the $ to throw at it there are some really good monitors that actually 'count' the amps used and replenished. There's also some that'll start the generator as needed. I'm old school cheap so I use a combination of gut feel and the occasional volt meter to gauge what's needed.
As for the jump box, no. They don't have enough capacity and most of them time out after a very short time so you'd have to keep turning it back on.
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