Community Forums

Mick9064 · 11-26-2004, 02:34 PM

Thanks for all the info. Aproximatly how long would I have to run a Honda 1000 or 2000 to charge my two batterys if they are down to 50%?
Thanks.
Mick

ATVr · 11-27-2004, 10:27 PM

That's impossible to answer without knowing how you plan to charge and the capabilities of the system you have in mind. The generators themselves have 8 amp 12 volt charging systems, but they aren't very good and quite slow. If you have a good converter in the RV that will put 30+ amps to the batts when they're down, simply plugging in the RV would be the way to go. You may choose to get an external charger to pump up the amps. The math is very simple: Most RV batts are somewhere near 100 amp/hrs capacity. Maybe a hair more. If you have two 12 volt batts, you have about 200 amp/hrs. capacity. 6 volt units are usually larger and will be about 225 amp/hrs for the pair.

So, to keep the math easy, figure that 50% down on a pair of 100 amp/hr batts is 100 amp/hrs. That means to recharge them fully, you need to put back 100 amp/hrs plus some extra for charging losses. Rough numbers... say around 120 amp/hrs.

The tricky part is that you cannot simply say, well... I have a 40 amp converter so it'll take 3 hours. It would if you got a 40 amp charge rate the whole way. But it doesn't work that way. Even if you get 40 amps at the beginning, as the batts charge up the amp rate will fall. By the time you get to 90% charged, the amp rate will be down around 4 -5 amps. That's why it never pays to charge that last 10%. It takes a long time to get very little return. I always shut down at 90%. Fully charge after you go home. It won't hurt the batts to 90% charge them for a few days.

So... the best that can be done is an educated guess. If your charging system can actually put 40 amps into the batts, figure on around 4+ hours. I have 225 amp/hrs capacity and it takes about that long with a 40 amp converter. If you have a slower rate of charge, it will take longer... of course. If you want to keep your batts for awhile, you'd be wise not to try to charge at anything much above 20 amps per batt. If you want high charge rates, buy some AGMs. They'll take just about anything.

bill h · 02-12-2005, 07:01 PM

You can charge at a pretty high rate as long as you monitor the battery temperature and do not overheat it.

Ron1247 · 05-07-2005, 09:10 PM

Try to stay away from the use of a furnace to save batteries and propane. I have six T-105's and still only use furnace if worried about freeze in basement.
Look at a Catalytic Heater (99% efficient with no drain on batteries) and I backup that with a Portable Buddy Heater w/12' hose (cheaper than 1 lb. cyls.) Battery charger set at 64 amp. max, works well when running the EU2000, great noise level and small size but other brands twice the power can be found at half the cost.

zetron · 05-08-2005, 04:34 PM

Ron: I would really be interested in how you connected up to your 'buddy heater' from your main tank?

I have a Coleman Power Cat heater and I use the 16 OZ. bottles. It was made for these. I refill these 16 OZ bottles from a 30 pound tank.

But I would like to run the Power Cat off the main tank with an extension hose I already installed. It doesn't work because the Power Cat has a regulator in it and I am coming off the main tank after the regulator there with the hose. I do not know how to bypass the regulator on the Power Cat?

David/zetron

Ron1247 · 05-10-2005, 06:00 AM

Zetron: Can't really help, sorry.

Two 30's on rig, never open both together.
One 20 and a 5 lb. for backup, use for BBQ and heater. Got attachment in Quartzsite to refill 16 oz. bottles, have not used. One bottle lasts 6 hrs. and I do notlike to run out of propane.

Warning with 12' hose to keep tanks outside.
Do you chill bottles before you refill them?

zetron · 05-10-2005, 06:25 AM

Ron: Then you are saying you put the 16 OZ bottle outside and run a hose from it to the portable heater inside?

I put the 16 OZ bottles in the freezer before filling; it works well. I also have a propane lantern that uses the 16 OZ bottles. The lantern runs many hours on 16 OZ bottles.

David/zetron

Ron1247 · 05-10-2005, 08:01 AM

No, do not use a hose with 16 oz. bottles, now only use 16 oz. bottle if tank runs out at night.
I use the 5 and 20 lb. tanks inside with hose, but warning says to leave tanks outside. I also check for leaks with every use, with hand held detector.
Only use heater when I don't have shore power, to reduce need of gen. and drain on batteries.

Fxrscotty · 05-17-2005, 04:24 PM

Could you add a second alternator dedicated to the camper? my truck was offered with two 130 amp alts. I dont know anyone who has suffered wet stacking running for an hour. Scotty.