Cheap Generators
Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 16:47
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Bomber_WA
Hi all,
I have read all the posts on cheap generators, but I have a question..
Are they okay to use just to charge 12v batteries?
Thanks,
Bomber.
Reply By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 16:51
Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 16:51
if you use a proper charger it should work just fine....just put your ear plugs in first
AnswerID:
402466
Reply By: racinrob - Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 18:06
Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 18:06
NO !!! I have an early model Honda generator and attempted to charge a battery thru a 3 stage smart charger, result a lot of smoke. I sent the charger back to the manufacturer (Durst), and was told it was beyond repair, an expensive lesson.
Was also told by them that to charge directly from the generator is risky.
Rob.
AnswerID:
402475
Reply By: Member - Barry (NT) - Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 18:22
Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 18:22
Bomber
are you referring to 12V direct charging OR through a 240V charger converting to 12V
Baz
AnswerID:
402477
Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 18:26
Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 18:26
There has been numerous threads on this subject and the consensus is that
you power a battery charger from the generator to charge the battery and
NEVER, even from a Honda, connect the gennie direct to the battery.
AnswerID:
402479
Reply By: Best Off Road - Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 18:28
Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 18:28
Bomber (love that name),
The 12 volt outlet from even Honda/Yamaha/Robin/Kipor etc is unregulated and can knacker a battery. Even with these you should use a quality battery charger from the 240.
As for the cheapies,
well I've heard too many stories of them blowing a battery charger, to even consider it.
Hope this helps,
Jim.
AnswerID:
402480
Reply By: nowimnumberone - Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 19:26
Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 19:26
ive used cheap gennys for years
charged heaps of times direct from the 12 volt outlet never had a problem
ive ran laptops tv stereo never a problem
cheers
AnswerID:
402486
Follow Up By: dbish - Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 19:52
Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 19:52
Next time conect a Voltmeter & see what you get when the battery is charged????? Daryl
FollowupID:
671973
Reply By: OREJAP - Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 20:05
Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 20:05
I've used a Honda "Copy" Chinese generator 4 stroke to charge battery direct using supplied 12Volt battery charging lead which put in 8 amps. Battery only got up to 11.3volts. Used the same generator via a ctek 15 amp charger and put 13.8 volts into battery. Also running van at 240 volt running two fridges too.
AnswerID:
402493
Follow Up By: keviny6 - Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 20:51
Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 20:51
what make is the generator copy
FollowupID:
671979
Follow Up By: dbish - Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 22:10
Wednesday, Feb 03, 2010 at 22:10
Kevin My Kipor generator cetainly looks like a Honda, In Europe there was a copy right chalenge by Honda !!!!!!!! Daryl
FollowupID:
672001
Follow Up By: OREJAP - Thursday, Feb 04, 2010 at 15:25
Thursday, Feb 04, 2010 at 15:25
Keviny6, It's a Maxtra 3000.
FollowupID:
672117
Reply By: olcoolone - Thursday, Feb 04, 2010 at 09:15
Thursday, Feb 04, 2010 at 09:15
It's a hit and miss thing, most cheap generators run anything from 30Hz to 100Hz frequency.
Even that the voltage may be within an acceptable limit the frequency is not, this causes problems with battery chargers and other electrical gear.
The main cause of this is being a single cylinder engine, poor design and cheap generator components.
Most people only think the voltage output has to be around 240v and everything is good but the other important thing is frequency.
Same as car alternators, everyone checks voltage and never the ac ripple, you can have a voltage output of 14.5v that should charge a battery but if the ac ripple is too high you will always have a flat battery.
Have a look here
http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=IAU14108
AnswerID:
402583
Reply By: Isuzumu - Thursday, Feb 04, 2010 at 09:37
Thursday, Feb 04, 2010 at 09:37
I have a Chinese built 2 KVA inverter generator and run a cheap 8amp charger (non auto) in the van and a Calibre 10amp and a Projecta 16amp for the car batteries from this genny. I have had not one problem in over 12 months, I do not use the 12 volt charger as I do not need it.
AnswerID:
402589
Reply By: Bomber_WA - Thursday, Feb 04, 2010 at 09:53
Thursday, Feb 04, 2010 at 09:53
Sorry guys, should have specified ...
I have a 240v charger I intend on using - sorry, can't rememeber what make/model it is but I think it is about 20amp??
AnswerID:
402594
Reply By: hl - Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 08:45
Monday, Feb 08, 2010 at 08:45
Most generators that have an output for charging supply unregulated and unfiltered DC to the battery. The voltage without a connected battery can be as high as 20V.... however, this will NOT damage any battery unless it is already fully charged and left on for hours. The maximum current is usually about 8 amps, however, once the battery is charged this comes down do just a couple of amps.
If you use common sense it is fine to charge that way, however, a much faster method is to use one of the new multi-stage chargers, say a 15 amp one, off the 240V output.
Again, the claim that the generator may damage on of these is a furphy.
Switch mode chargers first rectify the 240V AC and then drive a switching regulator circuit. These chargers do not care what frequency the AC fed to them is and they can also cope with wide variations in input voltage. The only problem I have seen when using a high current switch mode charger on a cheap chinese gennie was that it started to "hunt" as the battery got full. This is caused by the rapidly changing load as the battery gets full and the charger starts to "pulse". This can be controlled by connecting a 100W light bulb at the same time.
AnswerID:
403218