First Time Boondocking Plan - Tech Question

RLGetman wrote:
I will then run the generator and see how long it takes to charge back up to 13.7v.
Is this a good plan? What am I missing?
Thanks

You are missing what converter you have. A low battery needs to be charged at 14.4/14.8 volts for fast charging. Some converters do this. Other converters should but don't. And many just plug away at 13.7 and will just be slow charging after the first 20 minutes.

If no shore power available when I camp I run the genny for breakfast (coffee and skillet) and charge, then I run for a couple of hours near suppertime or mid day. that was always enough to get me by but I never did 15 days yet. Honda's are quiet so unless neighbours are close run every mid day for a few hours.

1. Recharge when morning voltage is 12.1 (6v 50%) not 12.0 (but no worries if you go to 12.0 a few times)

2. On recharge, you can't tell from the voltage what is going on, because the battery voltage will jump to be near the charger's voltage.

3. Which is the big thing--what is your charger? For fast charging you need it to go to 14.x volts, but some converters (single stage) are fixed at 13.8, which is only good for charging with shore power where time does not matter like it does with gen time.

4. So how do you know how long to recharge? You do what is called a 50-90 and stop. With no ammeter you can't tell when you get to 90 (approx. 5a per battery so when amps get down to 10a at 14.5v on a pair of 6s. So no ammeter, now what?

5. If you do have a charger that goes to the mid14s, at say 55a starting off, then you should run the gen/charger for 2.5 hrs and stop Close enough. If you have a 70a charger, make that 2.0hrs and if a 35a charger, then make it 3.0 hrs

If you only have a single stage converter at 13.8v, then you need a VEC1093DBD charger to take along to run from your gen. (approx. $115)

You are allowed to watch TV :) Just take along a small inverter and live a little--charge your phone too, whatever.

Have fun!

Rob for a guy from Ms I think you hsve your xxxx in order. Happy RVing

Sounds fine to me.

Why not simply run the generator for two to three hours every day? At a theoretical 50 percent discharge your generator will need approx 6-8 hours connected through your converter to bring the battery back up.