/ CHARGING RATE

Of course generators take less fuel when powering smaller chargers, which raises a question:

For any given generator - what is the ideal load to place on it (i.e. what size RV battery charger) for maximum fuel usage efficiency?

This is exactly the situation with an autombile (not considering air friction) having a sweet spot speed to cruise at so as to optimize fuel mileage.

As an example, our little Honda is only partially loaded by our RV's Parallax converter when charging our batteries. However the Honda is slightly quieter, and it runs a lot longer, from the partial loading that the converter places on it. Maybe the maximum charger for the shortest generator run time is not quite the proper setup for ultimate charging efficiency with respect to the amount of fuel used for the given task.

Oasisbob wrote:
I truly apreciate all the advice given. Problem is some of you contradict each other so it leaves me a tad confused.

I recall one pretty old King Solomon's quote from the Holy Book, where it says about one person asking a question that 100 other people couldn't answer ...

No offense. Answers contradict because the question is unclear. 2*6V bank or 2*12V? You didn't tell. If it's 2*12, then you're getting 3A per battery. If it's 2*6, then it's 6A. Whatever it is, you need a bigger charger. Because even at 6A it will take forever to charge a half-empty bank. Running generator all day long with 6A current ain't smart, considering that your Honda can deliver several times more.

I truly apreciate all the advice given. Problem is some of you contradict each other so it leaves me a tad confused. One thing that does stand out is a larger charger is in order. My converter has never charged the batteries verified by volt meter. I could charge 8 amps direct from the HONDA EU 1000 Though sounds like more amps is faster.

Almot wrote:
Higher current will shorten their life.

Not by enough that it matters.

smkettner wrote:
I recommend Black & Decker 40 amp charger. 40 amp is about max the H1000 will drive.

http://www.boatandrvaccessories.com/black--decker-vec1093dbd-12-volt-40-amp-battery-charger.html

X2

2*12V batteries in parallel are getting 3A each. Which is enough for proper charging, but slow.

Also, before you start pumping some huge amps through them, read the battery manual. Flooded batteries normally have recommended max charging current around 25%C. For 100 AH battery, for example, this means 25A. So if they are in parallel, you can run 50A through 2*100 AH bank. Higher current will shorten their life.

A PD 9260 may be too much for the EU 1000. 60 A at 14.4v is 864 watts and that doesn't include any losses due to the inefficiency of the converter.

It's purely voltage related...

Limit voltage to a maximum of 14.7 or 14.8 and let the battery decide how much it wants to take. Maximum Charge Acceptance. MCA implies charging is controlled by voltage, and hundreds of millions of car batteries have enjoyed this form of charging for many decades.

TEN amps at 15.4 volts is too much. Too much even for equalization (2X excess) and way far gone out of range for top charging a single battery.

Voltage controlled Charge Acceptance maximum is the most economical way to recharge batteries using a generator.

I ran a test long ago with a Honda 1500 belt driven generator. A single group 24 battery. MCA charging saved more than 20% in fuel over recharging at a C10 rate. Money is money is money.

With a six amp charger you are charging 3 amps each.

What would I recommend,, Progressive Dynamics 9260 Converter that is SIXTY amps 3-stage, automatic recharge,, Faster than that and you may seriously damage the batteries. Use battery cable (4ga) at least to connect it, if not larger.

The 9200 comes in both hard wired and plug in models.. You need a plug in.

Maximum charge acceptance of a group 24 RV battery is between 35-40 amperes EACH

Times that number by a factor of 2.

The key is to find whatever charger or chargers that 1000 can power without overloading the generator.

You could almost double your charging amps by using no charger at all, charging directly from the Honda's charging port. By time that 6 amp charger tapers to 4.5 for hours on end, the direct charging will be out doing it a bunch.