I am trying to assist someone else.They are getting a Honda 2000 watt generator.What is the biggest converter that it will be able to handle when charging 3 pair of depleted GC 6v batteries, lets assume 1500 feet above sea level?Thanks

I think Fisherguy runs his PD9280 (non-PF corrected) with his. Probably can run the PF corrected PowerMax 100amper or WFCO 68100.For near max load with a cold gen I recommend leaving Eco off at first, then turn Eco on a few minutes later.

BFL13 wrote:I think Fisherguy runs his PD9280 (non-PF corrected) with his. Probably can run the PF corrected PowerMax 100amper or WFCO 68100.For near max load with a cold gen I recommend leaving Eco off at first, then turn Eco on a few minutes later.I know the PD60A runs fine and gives the honda some margin, that's what I have. When I looked, the powermax PF corrected 100A should also work fine, maybe even better than a PD60A. I considered the PD80A, and couldn't convince myself I'd be able to run it at a full 80A. Problem is/was that PD doesn't spec VA draw, only watts, so it's a guessing game. I guessed it would be near the honda 1600VA max. but couldn't determine if it would be "above" or "below", so I went the the 60A.However if Fisherguy runs his, sounds like it's an option and you've got a definitive answer. However, anything more than 80A Non PF corrected probably is going to be a problem.

Fisherguy's PD9280 drops to 75a at start and settles between 75-70 for a time before tapering off. (like a typical PD) that might help with the generator. ISTR the gen has some sort of surge allowance above that 1600 continuous for a certain time, which might be enough time for the PD to taper. However I don't know if it wouldn't run a straight 80 anyway. The PD9280 needs a 20a circuit not a 15a circuit.

3 pair of GC-2 batteries can suck about 180-200 amps of power if you can find a converter that big.. I do not think you will.A 1,000 watt GENRAC portable generator (True 1,kw) can power a PDI 9180 with a single pair of dead GC-2's. I know. I killed them and restored them to charge.I would say 150 amps is possible with a Honda 2000, (Not a true 2kw generator)But I do not think you will find a converter that big.

60 amp converter is the max, an 80 draws too much power.

Biggest converter for Honda 2000 | Good Sam Community

ktmrfs
Explorer II
Dec 07, 2013
ktmrfs wrote:
RoyB wrote:
The front panel of the Honda EU20001 says 13.3AMPs at 120VAC... That is around 1600WATTS...

I use my 2KW Honda to re-charge my three 85AH batteries in parallel using a PD9260C COnverter. I read 52-53AMPS DC Current being drawn by my battery bank for about 10 minutes then it start dropping back.

I can recharge my three batteries back up to the 90% charge state with-in a three hour run time on my 2KW Generator.

I think the PD9280 Converter input watts is around 1300WATTS at 120VAC so the 2KW Honda Generator should run that ok. IT does however state you should plug the PD9280 converter into a 20AMP receptacle, I think the 2KW Honda Generator only has a 15AMP 120VAC receptacle on it....

I suspect you do not have enough WATTAGE capability from the 2KW Honda Generator to re-charge your battery banks back up to 90% charge state in a three hour generator run time period. The rule of thumb is somewhere around 20AMPs of DC current for each battery in your bank to obtain a 90% charge state in a short three hour generator run time.

Maybe the experts will dime in here on what you need to make it work...

Roy Ken

Roy,

I get on my soapbox about generators, appliances, watts and volt amps to often, but here it goes again, since it often results in folks either getting something that doesn't work, or trying to figure out what is going on.

I do agree, the honda 2000 and a PD60A converter make a reliable great running combo. That is what I use and the generator has enough reserve to run the PD60A and 100-200VA to spare if needed.

the issue is that the honda is NOT a 1600watt generator unless connected to a resistive load. It is spec'd as a 1600VA (volt amps) generator.

True, the PD80 may draw about 1300 watts, but closer to 1600-1700 VA, so it's marginal on a honda 2000, right at it's continous rating. Like so many RV appliances, actual current draw is more than the "watts" rating indicates.

The PD60A draws on the order of 1400VA IIRC my measurements on one supplying 55A.

Chargers like the powermax are "power factor corrected" So the watts and VoltAmps are very close to the same. Kudos to them for addressing an RV issue.

Unforetunetly, IMHO generator mfg and RV parts mfg are doing folks a disservice by stating only watts. They should have a watts and VA spec. That way folks would have a better idea of what will work.

There are generators that have seperate specs for watts and VA.
ktmrfs
Explorer II
Dec 07, 2013
RoyB wrote:
The front panel of the Honda EU20001 says 13.3AMPs at 120VAC... That is around 1600WATTS...

I use my 2KW Honda to re-charge my three 85AH batteries in parallel using a PD9260C COnverter. I read 52-53AMPS DC Current being drawn by my battery bank for about 10 minutes then it start dropping back.

I can recharge my three batteries back up to the 90% charge state with-in a three hour run time on my 2KW Generator.

I think the PD9280 Converter input watts is around 1300WATTS at 120VAC so the 2KW Honda Generator should run that ok. IT does however state you should plug the PD9280 converter into a 20AMP receptacle, I think the 2KW Honda Generator only has a 15AMP 120VAC receptacle on it....

I suspect you do not have enough WATTAGE capability from the 2KW Honda Generator to re-charge your battery banks back up to 90% charge state in a three hour generator run time period. The rule of thumb is somewhere around 20AMPs of DC current for each battery in your bank to obtain a 90% charge state in a short three hour generator run time.

Maybe the experts will dime in here on what you need to make it work...

Roy Ken

Roy,

I get on my soapbox about generators, appliances, watts and volt amps to often, but here it goes again, since it often results in folks either getting something that doesn't work, or trying to figure out what is going on.

the issue is that the honda is NOT a 1600watt generator unless connected to a resistive load. It is spec'd as a 1600VA (volt amps) generator.

True, the PD80 may draw about 1300 watts, but closer to 1600-1700 VA, so it's marginal on a honda 2000, right at it's continous rating. Like so many RV appliances, actual current draw is more than the "watts" rating indicates.

The PD60A draws on the order of 1400VA IIRC my measurements on one supplying 55A.

Chargers like the powermax are "power factor corrected" So the watts and VoltAmps are very close to the same. Kudos to them for addressing an RV issue.

Unforetunetly, IMHO generator mfg and RV parts mfg are doing folks a disservice by stating only watts. They should have a watts and VA spec. That way folks would have a better idea of what will work.

There are generators that have seperate specs for watts and VA.
BFL13
Explorer II
Dec 07, 2013
The off the shelf PowerMax gets the batteries to 14.6v then drops to a more gentle 13.6v for the Absorption stage. The SOC of the batteries when that happens depends on the charging rate.

My 100amnper on a 458AH bank gets them from 50 to 73% SOC at the 100a then amps taper. It is all proportional so with six batts that would be at a lower charging rate so at a higher SOC when it drops to 13.6,

So he should be happy with that 100amper, but he could be faster charging if he used more amps to start with on his six batts and had a charger that stayed at the higher voltage for Vabs. But you can't do that with a Honda 2000, so IMO your recommendation is spot on.
2oldman
Explorer II
Dec 07, 2013
landyacht318 wrote:
I've recommended the powermax 100 amp as its 1440 watts figure is still below 1600 watt maximum of the honda 2000.
Yep, but it's going to work the little guy pretty hard.
landyacht318
Explorer
Dec 07, 2013
Thanks for the input

The person is intending to boondock 29 days out of 30, and is unsure how much they are going to consume. I've informed him of the 50 to 80 or 50 to 90 philosophy, and the importance of the occasional true 100% recharge, though I am not sure he knows the converter is not going to be doing EQ cycles and that the 30th day requires grid power or running the genny long enough to max out the SG. if he hopes to achieve a good battery lifespan. I also pointed out that the cost of gas to take batteries back to 100% by generator will cost more than replacing the batteries more often but he says he will find some grid power once a month to plug in and do what he has to do to get the SG up as high as it will go

For the shortest generator runtimes to reach 80%+, I've recommended the powermax 100 amp as its 1440 watts figure is still below 1600 watt maximum of the honda 2000.
msiminoff
Explorer II
Dec 06, 2013
What is the biggest converter that it will be able to handle when charging 3 pair of depleted GC 6v batteries...

Theoretically the EU2000i should be able to power a 125A power factor corrected converter long enough to charge that ~600Ah battery bank or a 150A PFC converter for a few minutes. The issue is that most converters are not PFC.

I don't own a "converter", but my Honda has no problem charging my batteries at a true 100A via my (PFC=0.99) inverter/charger, even at 6000ft.
Cheers,
-Mark
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 06, 2013
Hi,

The power factor on the PD units is 0.7

1600 watts is only going to power a 1120 watt PD converter running flat out.

That suggests to me that the PD9260 is a "safe bet".
RoyB
Explorer II
Dec 06, 2013
The front panel of the Honda EU20001 says 13.3AMPs at 120VAC... That is around 1600WATTS...

I use my 2KW Honda to re-charge my three 85AH batteries in parallel using a PD9260C COnverter. I read 52-53AMPS DC Current being drawn by my battery bank for about 10 minutes then it start dropping back.

I can recharge my three batteries back up to the 90% charge state with-in a three hour run time on my 2KW Generator.

I think the PD9280 Converter input watts is around 1300WATTS at 120VAC so the 2KW Honda Generator should run that ok. IT does however state you should plug the PD9280 converter into a 20AMP receptacle, I think the 2KW Honda Generator only has a 15AMP 120VAC receptacle on it....

I suspect you do not have enough WATTAGE capability from the 2KW Honda Generator to re-charge your battery banks back up to 90% charge state in a three hour generator run time period. The rule of thumb is somewhere around 20AMPs of DC current for each battery in your bank to obtain a 90% charge state in a short three hour generator run time.

Maybe the experts will dime in here on what you need to make it work...

Roy Ken
ScottG
Nomad
Dec 06, 2013
60 amp converter is the max, an 80 draws too much power.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Dec 06, 2013
3 pair of GC-2 batteries can suck about 180-200 amps of power if you can find a converter that big.. I do not think you will.

A 1,000 watt GENRAC portable generator (True 1,kw) can power a PDI 9180 with a single pair of dead GC-2's. I know. I killed them and restored them to charge.

I would say 150 amps is possible with a Honda 2000, (Not a true 2kw generator)

But I do not think you will find a converter that big.

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