Hooking generator up to a power converter
Submitted: Thursday, Oct 17, 2002 at 00:00
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Janset
Hi all.
As a new boy this is my first question that I hope someone will help me with.
Yesterday I bought a new Jayco
Penguin Outbacker. This unit does not come with a battery as standard.
The power to the unit is 12 volts supplied by either the towing vehicle or the onboard Power converter which reduces power to 12 volts DC.
The power converter is built by Youngyear Electronics Co.LTD (overseas built) it is Model CS 2000 power converter switching model.
The literature that came with it is next to useless as it tells me nothing.
The Jayco handbook is a very generic one that covers all their rolling stock and it does not appear all that up to date, but it does go on to say in one place that a generator should not be connected directly to the power converter.
I have a Honda EM500 that is over 15 years old but still very reliable.
When I ask the staff at Jayco where I bought the camper to be specific as to what they base their advice on and/or does it apply to this particular power converter, all I get is the old hand over the mouth mumble talk and my question is not answered.
I sent an email the Jayco
Home but their website seems more geared to answer questions about their vans rather than data. At the time of this post no response had been received
Now my question.
Has anyone any knowlege of how a generator on 240 volts plugged into the main 240 volt powerpoint on the caravan would go with the power converter, preferrable my brand of converter?
Regards
Reply By: ken d - Thursday, Oct 17, 2002 at 00:00
Thursday, Oct 17, 2002 at 00:00
Hi Janset-There may be a reason why you cannot run off a genset with the power supply as suggested.- You mention that it is a switching type converter. Trying not to be too technical, the 240V AC supply you recieve via the mains is a clean sine wave. If you can imagine it is very smooth.- The AC supply from a small generator is however more of a distorted sine wave. This can upset the conerter as it has trouble using the wave as a reference on which to trigger. A little hard to explain simply.- The same can happen with some domestic appliances running on a small genset.-This said a switch mode power supply seems a crazy choice for an outback camper, especially since it only has to charge a battery.- I suppose the only thing you can do is to risk it, and try it out.- To do this you will need a load. I suggest something like a 12v/100w spotlight connected where the battery would go. Turn of everything else in the camper. Start the generator and get it up to normal operation, then connect it to the Power Converter (if you want to look after your equipment this is how you should always use your genset, regards of what's connected to it)-
Check the output of the converter is 13.8V. If it is, all should be sweet.- Be aware the converter may also die a
smokey death. Perhaps thats what warranties are for. Just look sheepish and mutter the old "dunno it just stopped"- Cheers Ken.
AnswerID:
7550
Reply By: Janset - Friday, Oct 18, 2002 at 00:00
Friday, Oct 18, 2002 at 00:00
Hi guys.
Wow, there certainly appears to a lot of interest. I will try to answer all the questions and connents.
The camper runs all 12 volts DC lighting only.
The fridge is a 3 way fridge.
The switching power converter has a charging rate of 13.4 volts.
A try-out and see what happens in this case may not be such a good idea as I have already asked Jayco a number of questions in this regards and I think I may be shooting myself in the foot if I made a claim.
The Genset AC settings 50~60 cycles are set via throttle adjustments and the vibration of the set triggers a vibrating ocilator thingy from side to side depending on which one on the 3 vibrating thingy is vibrating. This then determins the operating Cycle, 40, 50 or 60 Htz which inturn also increases the AC voltage output, 240 volts plus or minus (about) 10 volts...I think!
The suggestion that I run the Gen set to a battery charger and then to the 12 volt system and battery on board the van....I have used this system in the past on a small sail boat when I was younger and richer and it worked very
well. The downside to that setup in this situation is that the power converter is fan cooled in a confined area venting into the isle from under the bed while the charger is not fan cooled and it does get quite warm. Secondly I would have to do a bit of 240 volt electrical plumbing to be able to use the battery charger and the 240ACV for the fridge at the same time, for example in a caravan park setup.
A
point of interest. Jayco did suggest that a surge protector be used as power in country areas trends to be erractic.
Further suggestions and work arounds are still welcome.
Regards
AnswerID:
7583