Hooking generator up to a power converter

yeah dont know much about your type of converter but as an electrician i can tell you that your old generator wont be putting out a good enough regulated ac wave type to hook to a converter due to the electronics they like good even regulated power.........the dc convertor will cook from dirty input if you hook up your old girl......however you will be able to hook it up to a honda eu type genny they have a good regulated ac wave ...ive run my laptop on it .......actually the reason i bought it was to run a satellitte box and tv cause they like good clean power in the bush when i go away and the kids want there bloody nickelodeon ......an eu20 honda will supply 8 amps at 240 volts all day thats 2000 watts for the non electrical minded my honda runs the engel frigde two fluoros and the tv/sat no probs

Janset,I am an electronics and electrical engineer (come web designer and general IT nerd). What devices are in the van that require the 12 volts. There are a few methods to get around your problem. I would like to know a little more about the requirements of the van first.
David

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.

Janset, My two bob's worth and people like David can tell me if I am wrong! Forget about the converter and run generator to battery charger to battery to appliances. Mal T.

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

Funny how all these major caravan suppliers in this country fit out what they sell with appliances bearly adequate to do the job, and in many cases to get the van to do what it should have done in the first place means that you have to throw out and start again, all when it could have been done properly for a coupla hundred dollars in the first place.
And whats more they don't even care!!!!
Regards

faaaaaaaaaark now ive heard it all 240 to charger to 12 volt......bull bleep .....the charger when down on power will draw heavy current the whole time your trying to charge it let alone trying to run your gear off it.........forget the battery charger ....these are good for 240 vac mains supply and not much bloody else due to the heavy current draw required to charge them..........hence ...good for 1 charge initially when you go away and its fully charged from the 240 at home but if your trying to be self sufficient forget the charger its 300 bucks poorly spent.........my advice for your fix up....get a 240 to 12 volt transformer with a dc rectifier on the ass end which has no fancy electronics and bleep the power converter right off alltogether....that way you can run your dirty old honda on it and run all your 12 volt stuff .....lights/fridge
no probs...cheaply available from most electrical wholesalers..
talk to an auto electrician ...the caravan salesmen wouldnt know how to get light from a bloody torch with two double d batteries let alone what you want to know

Thanks guys for all the input......... I guess I am stuck with what I've got until I am ready (financially) to make improvements. In the interim, if I find that my battery is starting to get down, I will simply remove it, hook up my 15amp battery charger to the Gen set as I have done before on my boat and replace the battery again when full......A lot of unnecessary shagging around that could have been avoided........ I agree with the statements that caravan builders should be more in touch with reality and build units for the purpose and conditions under what they are intended to be used...... As for information from sales staff, to call it a joke is being very kind. They can't even tell you who the agents are for items or components that they put into their products..........I hope the builders of Jayco caravans read this article :-)

Regards

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Janset,
Don't take a generator to the bush - please!! Run your fridge from gas and your lights from 12 volts. A good fluoro will run for days without flattening your battery. You don't need a PC, microwave, TV or any of the other toys already mentioned when you "get away from it all"

Right. Well, I think Mick has made his point here! Repeatedly.