Community Forums

McGeorge · 03-04-2014, 05:00 PM

I have heard the generator will not charge the battery if run down but only maintain charge. Is this true?

What are some ideas to keep battery charge while camping without shore power?

wb7auk · 03-04-2014, 05:41 PM

The alternator is not meant to charge the battery long term. It is there to handle
the different loads the vehicle has when under way.
Trying to use it to charge up low batteries will cause it to over heat and subject it to
failure.

jesilvas · 03-04-2014, 05:45 PM

You engines alternator does like WB said.

You generator provides 120VAC power, only. You have a converter which creates 12VDC power from the 120VAC power supplied. The converter charges and maintains the battery.

georgetown350 · 03-04-2014, 05:56 PM

When we dry camp for a night or two we try not to run the batteries down to much and then use the generator to top them up. usually a couple hours in the morning and a couple more in the evening. If its cold we only use the furnace while running the generator as it runs the batteries down to quickly without. ( we bundle up over night) And the generator will definitely charge your batteries when t hey are run down ( it just takes longer if you run them down to much )

McGeorge · 03-04-2014, 05:59 PM

How long to run generator to recharge battery when boondocking?

jesilvas · 03-04-2014, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McGeorge

How long to run generator to recharge battery when boondocking?

It all depends on your battery(ies), converter size/style, how far you drain the battery.

sailsam · 03-04-2014, 06:37 PM

You CAN charge the batteries with the generator. It may take a while.

The way to know when your battery is fully charged is either with a battery monitor

(Trimetric is a good one) or with a hydrometer

. If you have solar that is a better way to go

- if you have enough and your MH is in the sun during mid day. You should never draw the battery down below a 50% charge (except in emergencies), and if you use a generator (or the drive engine alternator when not driving) to charge you probably can't economically charge above 85%

. So size your batteries such that under normal electrical usage within your MH you operate on 35% of the rated nominal capacity of the batteries. That is the way that boating cruisers take care of their batteries. I don't expect that MH battery care is much different.

caissiel · 03-07-2014, 09:01 AM

I never could keep batteries charged properly using a generator. They always ended up dead.
My 200 watt solar panels have served me best and batteries charged by noon. My generator has not been required since the solar installation.
Now on shore power and metered power the converter is switch off.

McGeorge · 03-07-2014, 01:05 PM

Can you direct me where to get solar system and how are is it to install?

YC1 · 03-07-2014, 01:15 PM

First, it helps to know the model and year of your rv.

To be clear, do you mean the on board generator?

If so, IF the charger/converter is not a very old model it should easily recharge the batteries by running it an hour or two in the am and in the evening if using a lot of lights and toys.

Some early model RV's had wimpy charging systems so trying to get the batteries up via the generator was a lost cause.

If you have 1 engine battery and 1 coach battery it will not take long to recharge the coach battery each day if you have a late model charging system.

McGeorge · 03-07-2014, 01:23 PM

I have a 2005 Winnebago Aspect 24' with Onan gen. Two AGM house battery rated at 115 amp hours or 175 reserve cap each

smarty · 03-07-2014, 01:24 PM

McGeorge,

Since you are posting here you have internet access. Have you attempted to research solar rv power on the internet? It will provide you with all you need.

vsheetz · 03-07-2014, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McGeorge

Can you direct me where to get solar system and how are is it to install?

Lots of good info available on this site via the search feature. Here is a write up of my solar installation.

camaraderie · 03-07-2014, 05:45 PM

McGeorge...Since you have a generator and 230 amp hours of capacity in your batteries...you can use 115 amp hours before it is time to recharge.
To do this you need a battery charger that is sized at about 20% of your 230 amp hours...or roughly 45amps. Plug this in while you run your generator and you'll be able to put back your used amps with about 4 hours of run time daily.
A good charger for you and your AGM's would be the Iota DLS45 with the SmartIQ option. Amazon.com: IOTA DLS-45/IQ4 12 VOLT 45 AMP 4 STAGE AUTOMATIC SMART BATTERY CHARGER / POWER SUPPLY: Automotive
Your problem solved for 160 bucks.

Just as an aside...if you are boondocking for short periods of time...suggest that you can run your generator for 2 hours at a time, and then put a full 4 hour charge on at least once a week to preserve good battery life.

On the solar front...you would need to install around 400 watts of solar panels to put back 100 amp hours per day on average...expensive and takes a lot of roof space and STILL leaves you high & dry when the sun don't shine.