Generator and 3 Stage Charger

Yes the genset works but Nat parks don't like them. even if they're 4stroke.
Have you thought about running your 4WD on idel?
Are you going to be in 1 place long?

We have done exactly what you are proposing Kwk56. And the little Honda running behind a tree at the end of a 20 metre extension cord is barelky audible in the day time, we run for about 2.5 hours and recharge everything and enjoy the silence at night. Of course we only need to do this in a fixed camp when we are not driving.

GB

I use a Yamaha 4 stroke inverter gennie, and a 25A 3 stage smart charger for the same purpose as yours. Works well as a setup in my view - have not had to use it a lot - depends on weather and our vehicle movements - quite efficient overall - can't supply records of course but my guess is that I could fully charge both the aux in the car and the deep cycle in the car with 1 hour run each day (the Waeco runs of the vehicle aux - just a light or two from the camper battery). I don't run the gennie of course if it could be a nuisance to anyone nearby....... one word about smart chargers - the first stage sees a lot of energy going through - the heat sinks on the side get quite hot and will pop the thermal overload in hot weather (when we need it most !!) - so, when its hot, even in the shade, if the ambient is up around 35C, the smart charger is really dumb. A decent solar panel is indicated there of course, but how much gear should we cart around Oz ?
BTW - re camp lighting - smartest thing we ever did is get the little LED miner's lamps - with a smal LED on the side of the camper for the kitchen, we can survive using rechargable AAA bats for the headlamps - safety re kids would change the equation, but for careful adults, I reckon camp floodlighting can be avoided..

I have a gas fridge and (mainly) dual fuel lighting so I don't have the issues of 35A per day but my Amateur Radio pulls 22A at full power so I use a $98 GMC two-stroke and a K-mart/Jaycar battery charger (about $100). I usually charge my battery every two or three days during the middle of the day and the setup works well. However I always camp in remote spots so disturbing others is not an issue.

What chemistry battery are you using; SLA/AGM etc? Only an AGM will accept a charge rate of 15A for long - assuming AGM and assuming the Ctek really does produce 15A (it probably will) then 2.5 x 15 = 37.5Ah - job done. All sounds like a lot of expense, kit and trouble for 3 weeks per year.

Mike Harding

Thats exactly what I am discovering its expensive unless you are retired or on a around australia holiday. Solar is the best option. I have currently N70 lead acid batteries, one deep cycle and the other is a starter

Do yourself a very big long term favour before you buy the gen and charger.
I concur with the portable solar panel solution. I've seen them on Ebay up to 100w with reg, connections and bag for about a grand.
We have camper now all solar and is way more enjoyable than it used to be with gen. Even though we have used gen in parks, Nat. and others, complying with their requirements, you are not popular. We always turned ours off at least an hour before time ( most rules are 2100hrs ) and I can still remember the cheers and applause from neighbours in the non generator area at Karijini Nat. Park some years back.
We still have gen but left her and the stinky petrol and noise home last trip and it was bliss. One jackman at Ningaloo about 100m away upwind of us ran his all night until he was made aware the next night at 2200hrs how inconsiderate he was being by a very polite lady to whom sleep is sacred. He complied and was ok from then on. Having to speak up is annoying.
I am not anti generators, except 2 strokes, and might reluctantly be forced to use mine if travelling longterm and weather conditions were not favourable to solar.

Having a generator myself but regularly camping with a mate who has solar panels I am none the wiser as to which is better. I have to carry petrol and the gennie is heavy and a little noisey but my experience with the solar set up has not been favourable.

One thing gennies are good at is running a breadmaker while charging the car battery and the camera battery and the laptop battery, all while it's cloudy or raining or you're parked under a big shady tree!

My only problem of real concern with gennies is coming across morons who use them at night in roadside stops and let them run until they run out of fuel (usually after midnight). AAARRGGGHHHH !!!!!