I'm dry camping in Wyoming for the past 9 days been running on solar with no problems. Rain today batteries down to 78% so started up the generator.Solar is turned off to the coach solar charge controller going to batteries. Converter turned on and I notice generator surging slighly in eco mode. The battery monitor shows the charging amps starting at 30amp then drop one amp at a time till it gets to 0 then back to 30amps and over and over.If I unplug from the generator no engine surging but cant check generator load..Trying to figure is this a generator problem or a converter problem?I have to get the batteries charged so I let it run amps surging or not.Made sure not to run any appliances during this. After about an hour the it all started working as it's supposed to like nothing was ever wrong. Any thoughts?

Check the AC voltage. I'd suspect the charger with larger load due to discharged batteries, as the batteries charged then charger OK.Why did you turn off the solar?

Been storing your generator with gas left in the carburetor? guess not

CA Traveler wrote:Check the AC voltage. I'd suspect the charger with larger load due to discharged batteries, as the batteries charged then charger OK.Why did you turn off the solar?I wouldn't expect 78% charge to be an issue, or even deeply discharged. Converter puts out what it puts out and genny sees the load.

2oldman wrote:Been storing your generator with gas left in the carburetor? guess notSay wut?

Almost all cases of small engine surging is caused by dirt inside the carburetor. Typically it is a clog in the idle/primary jet.

Honda 2000i generator amps surging up and down | Good Sam Community

curt12914
Explorer
Aug 19, 2021
One of my EU2000i's surges under very light load. Try increasing your electrical load or taking it off Eco mode.
I often use a "smart" battery charger to charge faster and increase the electrical load to eliminate the surging.
BFL13
Explorer II
Aug 19, 2021
The Honda in Eco will "surge" engine according to load. You are reporting on DC amps from the converter going up and down, which is not the Honda--except with less converter load it will not be as loud.

You could eliminate the Honda confusing things as an issue by doing it with no Eco.

So the question is why are the converter's amps going up and down? Something funny with the acceptance of the batts? LFPs ISTR, so might be something with those, can't say. (balancing?) But then you would be at a higher SOC than stated. Monitor not zeroed? Then it steadied. Balancing all done and now just any loads present? Not enough info.
DrewE
Explorer II
Aug 19, 2021
If the generator output voltage is steady (within reasonable limits, at least), it's not a generator problem, and the engine surging is simply the generator responding as designed to a varying load. I suspect the generator is fine and the problem, if indeed it's a problem and not just a quirk, belongs with the converter or its associated wiring.
3_tons
Explorer III
Aug 18, 2021
Not much to go on here equipment or system wise, but I’ll venture a guess here (WAG…)…. I would consider the possibility that when the converter is under a high current load, excess heat developes and triggers a internal overload device, causing amps to gradually taper-off (as well as heat) followed be another reset - Per your note it seems this cycling may have stopped once the battery recovered a bit…Just a guess only…

3 tons
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Aug 18, 2021
Almost all cases of small engine surging is caused by dirt inside the carburetor. Typically it is a clog in the idle/primary jet.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Aug 18, 2021
2oldman wrote:
Been storing your generator with gas left in the carburetor? guess not

Say wut?
Grit_dog
Navigator
Aug 18, 2021
CA Traveler wrote:
Check the AC voltage. I'd suspect the charger with larger load due to discharged batteries, as the batteries charged then charger OK.

Why did you turn off the solar?

I wouldn't expect 78% charge to be an issue, or even deeply discharged. Converter puts out what it puts out and genny sees the load.
2oldman
Explorer II
Aug 18, 2021
Been storing your generator with gas left in the carburetor? guess not
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Aug 18, 2021
Check the AC voltage. I'd suspect the charger with larger load due to discharged batteries, as the batteries charged then charger OK.

Why did you turn off the solar?

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Honda 2000i generator amps surging up and down

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