Question about Generators and boon docking

dvitale300 wrote:
The more I thought about this the more I thought I should ask.

Just returned from our first boon docking trip on a generator. I know the led lights, bathroom fan, radio, etc. are all 12V and draw from the battery. When you have a generator on do they draw from the generator power, or from the inverter (I think that's the term) which is powered by the generator? If you have a lot of led's and the radio on - would that cause any kind of significant draw on the generator?

thanks

"...from the inverter (I think that's the term)..."

IMO, the first thing to do is learn the terminology!
INVERTER: Converts DC voltage (usually 12VDC to AC voltage (usually 110VAC).
CONVERTER: Converts AC voltage (usually 110VAC) to DC voltage (usually 12 VDC).

While they apparently make inverter/chargers, I have never seen one, so I have no idea how it works.

Every RV I have ever owned had a converter/charger in it. When hooked to shore power or a generator, the converter/charger supplies DC power to the RV, and charges the RV batteries (but it normally does not charge the chassis batteries in a Class A, B, or C.

I have never owned an TV that came from the factory with an inverter in it. I know they are built, I simply have never owned one.

Do they draw from the battery or inverter?

Yes.

Well they do. If you have a inverter/charger, it will draw from that if it has power going into the inverter/charger and it putting power into the battery. If not it will draw from the battery.

So your charger (and most RV's come with only a converter/charger) will put out say 40 amps while the generator is running. The battery will be accepting 35 amps, and the converter/charger will be supplying the loads at that time.

The RV will be consuming 35 amp hours a day to run the propane and CO detectors, and refrigerator.

The lights, water pump, and other small loads are not significant ones. The Furnace can be a significant load - it can draw 7.5 amps per hour.

Your battery is about 100 amp hours capacity. So you might get 4 days on a pair of batteries without recharging - if you barely use any lights (or use LEDs) and no furnace.

Recharging sure helps. I prefer to use the sun. I have a 415 rated watt solar system. It cost about $3,000 back in the 90's but can be replaced for about $800 today.

SunElec.com They sell a 140 watt panel for $229 last time I checked.

I would recommend a pair of 140 watt panels and a PWM controller rated at 20 amps.

Have fun camping!

Fred.

dvitale300 wrote:
The more I thought about this the more I thought I should ask.

Just returned from our first boon docking trip on a generator. I know the led lights, bathroom fan, radio, etc. are all 12V and draw from the battery. When you have a generator on do they draw from the generator power, or from the inverter (I think that's the term) which is powered by the generator? If you have a lot of led's and the radio on - would that cause any kind of significant draw on the generator?

thanks

Specifically to your question, the answer is no.

However, add the microwave, roof AC, and a blow-dryer to dry hair, or a vacuum cleaner? Then the answer is yes. You'll throw circuit breakers - regardless whether using either the generator, or, shore power using the 30AMP cord.

I'm sorry, should have looked at your profile. You have a pull trailer, does it have an inverter? Otherwise you have a converter...
Is your generator a stand alone? Like a portable Honda or Generac?

Sorry hit the button twice....

I'm sorry, should have looked at your profile. You have a pull trailer, does it have an inverter? Otherwise you have a converter...
Is your generator a stand alone? Like a portable Honda or Generac?

If the generator is on, everything in the motorhome should work as if you were connected to shore power (air conditioning, all lights, water heater, fridge, etc.), . Depending on how your motorhome is set-up, your inverter may only run certain items like the fridge and certain lights when on battery power only.

Your generator should be able to handle all loads pertaining to your RV.

MM.

Depends on your setup. If you're still using the factory converter that came with your trailer there's a good chance you're still using the battery more than the generator.

If you've upgraded to an aggressive charger (or inveter + charger), then your DC loads will be powered from the generator.

IMO...all 12v appliances draw from your house batteries, we have 4 and 2 coach batteries. Unless you run your gen or are hooked up to shore power or driving the house batteries are not being charged. In our coach the freedom 1500w inverter has a dual purpose - charging from shore or gen and inverting the house batteries to give us 120v, say for the TV. A seperate device charges the house batteries from the alternator driving down the road.....whew...I think I got it right. LOL
So to answer your question, when you had the generator on the 12v's still pulled from the house batteries but the generator replenished the electricity used via the inverter. And lastly, you should have a led panel inside the coach to indicate all of this.
We camped for 7 days dry last year and I ran the gen (7500w) for few hours in the morning and then again late in the day. Put the refrig on LP to save energy. Used the Microwave a few times but mostly watched tv and made coffee using the inverter during camp quiet times.