Charge second battery with generator
Submitted: Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 at 19:39
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Allen
I would like to stay in one
camping spot for a few days running a fridge, I got a Honda EU20i and plan to top up the charge by connect the generator to the second battery while I am using the generator to heat up food in the microwave oven, it will be about half an hour a day, I know it will not bring the battery to full but it will make it last longer, my question is whether I need to disconnect the battery from the car battery management system before I start the charge since the generator will output more than 15V, I worry it will demage the electronics.
Reply By: Aandy(WA) - Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 at 19:50
Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 at 19:50
Oh Allen, are you serious or are you dangling a bait for someone to bite? Surely you're not taking a generator and microwave
camping!! Grab a cheap gas fridge or take your car for a drive but if you have to use the generator then remember that it's 240volts so I strongly suggest that you use a 12volt battery charger between it and your car. Better still go and stay at a motel!! Have a nice break!
AnswerID:
89477
Reply By: Member - Jimbo (VIC) - Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 at 20:13
Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 at 20:13
Allen,
Are you sure the genny puts out over 15 V? I thought a good quality genny like the Honda is regulated and if so will put in a charge similar to your alternator and should do no damage. Disclaimer: I'm no engineer or anything like it, if in doubt pop down to your local auto elec and get him to test it; won't cost much.
As for taking your microwave. Mate, anything that makes your
camping more enjoyable for YOU is your choice.
Camping does not have to mean living a Spartan existence. Enjoy yourself.
Cheers,
Jim.
AnswerID:
89482
Reply By: Chaz - Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 at 21:57
Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 at 21:57
Hi Allen,
It would be ideal to have an isolator between the two batterys, but if you don't, just take the negative leed off the second battery when you hook up the gennie. Charging at 15 volts is a bit too high, so reduce the generators speed to regulate the charge voltage to 14 volts when the battery is fully charged and you shouldn't have any problems.
Chaz
AnswerID:
89502
Reply By: gordon g - Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 at 22:53
Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 at 22:53
Allen
I own a Honda EU10I and have charged my second battery without disconnecting with no problems.B
AnswerID:
89508
Reply By: gordon g - Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 at 23:02
Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 at 23:02
Allen
my reply got sent before I finished.What I was going to say is that both the EU10I AND EU20I have a built in battery charger that are designed to put in a regulated voltage for charging your 12v battery with no damage.Disconnecting the terminals is only a safeguard against short circuit on the body but if you are carefull it is not nesessery
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89511
Follow Up By: Allen - Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 at 23:58
Sunday, Dec 19, 2004 at 23:58
Thank you for the responds, I have just measured the output voltage of the DC output while charging a battery, it reach beyond 16.5v in half a minute, I stopped the generator before I poison myself in the garage without open the door(middle of the night), I got a Welco battery manager in my car and it may demage it by the high voltage.
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348385
Reply By: Aandy(WA) - Monday, Dec 20, 2004 at 23:06
Monday, Dec 20, 2004 at 23:06
My apologies Allen because I see by the responses that your post is most likely genuine. I still urge you to reconsider taking a generator and a microwave though. Cooking over a
camp fire and/or a gas stove is by no means spartan as a previous post suggested and it causes much less discomfort and annoyance to other campers than a generator.
AnswerID:
89666
Follow Up By: Allen - Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 at 09:20
Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 at 09:20
I understand the noise the generator will make, that is why I have spend a lot more than a cheap generator than sold in Bunning and we use it away from other campers for only a short period of time. The microwave was evolved from the normal gas and electricity cooking and bring convenience to every family, I believe that is one of the appliance that we cannot live without this day. It normally takes a few hour to prepare each meal while
camping, as a city person, we enjoy actives more than cooking meal, so we are having dinner while other people still starting their
camp oven fire.
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