Karebear. Just for a for instance. We just spent 9 days up in the Mtns dry camping. We ran the generator about 1/2 hour each morning to make coffee (Electric percolator) which probably put a trickle charge back into the battery. We were careful about turning the lights on at night. If we wanted to read we used flash lights. Anyways the battery still showed about a 2/3rds charged when we left. So if you're careful the battery will last. Years ago we used to start the motor up and let it idle for a half hour or so and that would keep the batteries up.