3000W Chinese Gensets Info.

Dan86300zxt wrote:


^^Can you give me a heads up as to how many 6 volt batteries you use for your system and how long on average you have to run your generator to recharge using that charger?

This will NOT be exact but can be used as an estimate:

Two six volt golf cart batteries will give you 220 Ah at the 20 hour rate until the batteries are discharged to a low of 11.5 volts (considered dead).

This works out to a load capacity drawing 22 amps from the batteries continuously for 20 hours. Due to temperature, lack of a 100% charge to start with, a dead battery being of no use and different current loads over the period cut that in half to 10 hours.

The reverse theory is true - if both batteries are completely dead, it will take 20 hours to reach a full charge with a 22 amp battery charger. In real time it will not work out to that exact rate. You should be able to achieve a 90& charge from a Progressive Dynamics four stage 65 amp converter/charger in about 4 hours. A 100% charge will require something like an additional 8 hours. Charge current and voltage from the charger will be reduced as the battery begins to reach the 80% charge point.

You can find some useful temperature/voltage/charge level tables here.

You will receive up to twice the recharge cycles from two six volt golf cart batteries than group 24 or 27 12-volt marine/RV batteries, more vibration damage resistance and the ability to recharge at a faster rate without heat damage to the batteries.

If you have the space and can carry the added weight four GC batteries wired in series-parallel can take care of a camper's off-grid power needs nicely for 3-4 days without recharging. (weight of one GC battery is about 75#) This is based on running the refrigerator on LPG and not leaving every light in the house on all the time. Use of the furnace will reduce battery reserve power rapidly. Indoor safe "Buddy" catalytic heaters help to offset this drain during cold weather camping. So does a roaring outside campfire and a few extra blankets on the bed.

REMEMBER - DO NOT place batteries in an un-vented area, do not vent to your living areas and keep them away from ignition sources!

I have run as long as a week on a 440 Ah battery bank in warm weather by limiting use of the inverter to only Nancy's hair curling irons once a day and using a 15" LCD TV with a 12 volt power option for 1-2 hours per day.

I now have over 1,800 Ah of battery power available (added battery weight of 1,200 pounds is not an issue with my tow vehicle - I carry extra batteries in the Volvo, not the camper. I plug them into the camper when needed.)

I no longer run the GC batteries with my camper. I have sealed Absorbed Glass Mat batteries. I did not have to buy them at full retail price. If I had, a second mortgage on my house would have been needed. I will return to GC batteries when the AGM's expire - which should not be happening in the next 8-10 years.