Shouldn't it be possible to boondock indefinitely by just running a generator 3 hours a day (this time of year. I'm not talking winter)? By that I mean keep the batteries sufficiently charged. I use minimal 12 volt. Lights, fantastic fan, the furnace in the morning for a bit. But the highest voltage I get once the generator is stopped, and after waiting for 2 hours, is 12.09 volts. Should I expect this. When charging the voltage reads over 13. I'm using a 6500 watt honda generator. I'm plugging the RV shore power into the generator.Thanks in advance.

I use my trailer for work as I travel a ten state area. Most of the time I do not have access to electric so I use a generator. I start it in the morning to make coffee and in the evening for a couple of hours to watch tv and it keeps my batterie sufficiently charged. I don't think you will have any problem.

dpgerson wrote:But the highest voltage I get once the generator is stopped, and after waiting for 2 hours, is 12.09 volts. Should I expect this. No. Sounds like your batteries are shot. You're wasting gasoline charging them.Yes it's possible, but an inverter makes life easier and quieter, especially for watching TV. It surprises me how many boondockers run a generator to watch TV.

Have you checked the water level in your batteries recently? How old are the batteries?

What are you using for a charger? Some less intelligent chargers operate very, very slowly and a few hours might not make much difference especially if you continue using power at the same time.

Something is not right! At 12.09 you are only half charged. Even a float charge on a charged battery will show 13.2-13.6, so your not charging at a high enough rate to fully recharge batteries in just 3 hours. Voltage while charging low batteries should be 14+.Jerry

boondocking with just a generator to recharge the batteries

15 Replies

MFL
Nomad II
May 12, 2017
Something is not right! At 12.09 you are only half charged. Even a float charge on a charged battery will show 13.2-13.6, so your not charging at a high enough rate to fully recharge batteries in just 3 hours. Voltage while charging low batteries should be 14+.

Jerry
GordonThree
Explorer
May 12, 2017
What are you using for a charger? Some less intelligent chargers operate very, very slowly and a few hours might not make much difference especially if you continue using power at the same time.
golf_bears
Explorer
May 12, 2017
Have you checked the water level in your batteries recently? How old are the batteries?
2oldman
Explorer II
May 12, 2017
dpgerson wrote:
But the highest voltage I get once the generator is stopped, and after waiting for 2 hours, is 12.09 volts. Should I expect this.
No. Sounds like your batteries are shot. You're wasting gasoline charging them.

Yes it's possible, but an inverter makes life easier and quieter, especially for watching TV. It surprises me how many boondockers run a generator to watch TV.
Stranger1050
Explorer
May 12, 2017
I use my trailer for work as I travel a ten state area. Most of the time I do not have access to electric so I use a generator. I start it in the morning to make coffee and in the evening for a couple of hours to watch tv and it keeps my batterie sufficiently charged. I don't think you will have any problem.

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boondocking with just a generator to recharge the batteries

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