Charging batteries with a small generator

Boomerweps wrote:
First, Electric only fridge? 110vac or 12vdc?
There are a lot of 12vdc powered or controlled items in your camper. The converter makes 12vdc from the AC power (shore power or generator) for those items and to charge the battery.
Most people with 12vdc refrigerators find that having two batteries is almost a necessity to insure uninterrupted service when other power is not available in a 24 hour period.
I see there appears to be a big push to have small factory solar power systems installed to keep the batteries topped off with the 12vdc fridges. You might consider adding some solar.
Another issue is that normal lead acid batteries can only be run down 50% to prevent long term damage to the cells. IMO, it’s worth the expense to change to a LiFePO4 battery that can be run down to 0% without damage. And can be had in large power capacity. Just changing out the same capacity LA battery with a Lithium is DOUBLING your usable amps. (Bonus, they weigh 50% less, too.)

It is a 12 v fridge.
I do have plans to upgrade the batteries and add solar at some point. Currently, there is only one battery on it, which it came with when I bought it in the fall. I have an extra battery that is 1 year older. I will be putting that second battery on in the near future. In a few years, I'll be upgrading the solar system by adding more panels (that will be a different thread.) when it comes time to replace the batteries, I plan to replace them with Lithium or whatever is the best at the time I get them. I was just given this 1000w generator for free, so I figure I will use it till I can do the upgrades, including a bigger generator.