Forum Discussion

jonlin's avatar
jonlin
Explorer
Feb 07, 2018

battery charging

We are staying in a campground that has no hookups, therefore we are having to run on our batteries. We have an 09 40' Phaeton with a commercial frig with 6 house batteries. No problem with charging the batteries with the house generator; however, when I try and charge the batteries with a 2000 Honda the batteries will not charge. I have tried running the Honda through a ground fault and it gives me a caution when flashing indication. The ground fault was working properly last week when we had the coach plugged into a 110 outlet. I also removed the ground fault and hooked the coach straight to the Honda and the system status in the coach would still show inverting. Questions: 1) Is a Honda 2000 big enough to charge the batteries on a coach this size? 2) blown fuse somewhere? I have checked the reset on the Honda. Thank You! John
Class A
  • YC_1's avatar
    YC_1
    Nomad
    Feb 07, 2018
    It is big enough but something in your coach does not play well with the Honda.

    I have seen this issue but did not get to pursue the resolution. Something with the ground etc.
    Not much help but the 2000 is plenty to charge things. You need to turn AC's off of course and put the HWH on propane to keep the load down.

    Check this out
    neutral/ground issue
  • wolfe10's avatar
    wolfe10
    Explorer
    Feb 07, 2018
    Depending on your inverter/charger's size (how many amps of charging available), you may have to go in and reduce the amps of 120 VAC it can use. Often called "power share/power save". This can be done in a few seconds from your inverter/charger remote.

    Obviously, verify that all other 120 VAC loads are OFF. If residential refrigerator tries to start and inverter/charger is in high-amp bulk mode, you may be exceeding the Honda's capability. If this happens, might turn off the refrigerator breaker until charge amp rate tappers off a little.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Feb 07, 2018
    Simple solution. 50 foot extension cord and a decent brand battery charger.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Feb 07, 2018
    Charger may be too big for the Honda or there's something else on.
    Make sure nothing else is running (fridge, water heater, etc) and then try it again.
  • jorbill2or's avatar
    jorbill2or
    Explorer II
    Feb 07, 2018
    I would agree the honda can do the job but only if the charger is not trying to put 10-15 amps ac charge in. Not the same Charger but my inverter/ charger can be set to only use 2-3- 5 etc amps ac thats devoted to charging. Is it a ground fault or is the Generator going into "overload" and cutting itself off? The motor runs normally but wont generate. Thats what happens to mine is if you overload it. you really don't know its happened other than the inverter is still inverting, and the Gen overload light flashing, is that the light?. If your batteries are low then the charger will throw everything it can at the Charge which may be the entire 15 amps the generator can produce, leaving nothing for the refrigerator etc.
    If it is a true Ground fault I haven't seen that. My small generator 2000w works fine.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Feb 07, 2018
    jonlin wrote:
    I have tried running the Honda through a ground fault and it gives me a caution when flashing indication.
    I don't understand this part.
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Feb 07, 2018
    2oldman wrote:
    jonlin wrote:
    I have tried running the Honda through a ground fault and it gives me a caution when flashing indication.
    I don't understand this part.


    I think Jonlin means that there's an indication of an open ground (which is not really unexpected as the generator has no neutral-ground bonding). It's possible that the inverter is detecting the same thing and refusing to accept/pass through the "bad" power, I suppose.

    If that's all that is going on, a bonding plug ought to solve the dilemma quickly and easily. A little searching here will give lots of info on these; it's nothing more than a three prong plug with the neutral prong jumpered to the ground with a wire in the plug body (preferably a reasonably heavy one, such as a short bit of 12 gauge wire). It gets plugged into the other socket on the generator.
  • YC_1's avatar
    YC_1
    Nomad
    Feb 07, 2018
    Sheesh, doesn't anyone read my posts??

    There is all the information you need on the bond/ground issue.

    A simple plug should make the Honda behave itself with the RV system.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Feb 07, 2018
    How much can your inverter/charger put out when charging?
    100 amps is abut 1500 Watts, given the losses you are pushing the max for the Honda. Many inverters you can "throttle" them either by adjusting battery size down or by setting another pramater or two.

    Ground faults

    The Honda has an OPEN GROUND.. Many have made a special "Bonding plug" basically it connects the WHITE (Silver screw) and Ground (Green screw) together.

    I have not done this so can not comment.. When I have to do it I do it differntly, but .. Well. I've not had to do it.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Feb 08, 2018
    Jonlin,

    What is in the RV? An inverter/charger, or a stand alone inverter with a stand alone converter?

    Have you successfully charged the bank before this trip using the Honda? I.E. is this a "new to you" problem?

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