Honda Generator
What Honda generator is the best one to get for my travel trailer? I would really only be using it to charge my batteries every other day.
Forum Discussion
42 Replies
Tom N wrote:
This won't work.
If it was me I'd just idle my tow vehicle, for 15-30 minutes, while it was plugged into the trailer.
Your alternator charged at ~100 amps. 100 amps will top off a battery quickly.
-Tom, W3TLN- I would get the Honda EU2000i. The EU1000i would do the job, but down the road if you needed more power, you'd be out of luck. The 2000 unit also gives you the flexibility of adding a 2nd 2000i in order to run the AC should that become a necessity latter on.
MKDSK wrote:
What Honda generator is the best one to get for my travel trailer? I would really only be using it to charge my batteries every other day. TheBearAK wrote:
Wonder what he decided on.
Even off a 100 amp alternator, a battery that is 50% or more drained will take 3 hours to charge. Lead Acid properties. Actual charging amperage is far less than they rated amps.
I didn't decide on anything as of yet.- Wonder what he decided on.
Even off a 100 amp alternator, a battery that is 50% or more drained will take 3 hours to charge. Lead Acid properties. Actual charging amperage is far less than they rated amps. 2oldman wrote:
Tom N wrote:
Don't think so, unless the trailer connector (and the truck) has 2/0 wiring, which it doesn't.
If it was me I'd just idle my tow vehicle, for 15-30 minutes, while it was plugged into the trailer.Your alternator charged at ~100 amps. 100 amps will top off a battery quickly.
Well, use jumper cables from the truck battery to the trailer battery.
Or, if your truck has a position for a second battery put your trailer battery in that holder and it'll charge while driving the truck.
-Tom- When we had our pop-up I bought a Honda 2000. It's so much more capable than a 1000 yet still portable, and for the incrimental price increase it was worth it. With the TT it'll run everything except the AC and I've used it to power my house during power outages.
DB has a single Yamaha 2400 that'll run the AC in his 5er. Tom N wrote:
If it was me I'd just idle my tow vehicle, for 15-30 minutes, while it was plugged into the trailer.
Your alternator charged at ~100 amps. 100 amps will top off a battery quickly.
-Tom, W3TLN
You would have better luck swinging the truck around and using a heavy set of jumper cables, run the truck for the same time. You will a much better charge that way than with the skinny charge line on the 7 pin.- Yes you still need an adapter.
The advantage is that it has the controls built in for paralleling the 2nd EU2000.
I personally tell people to purchase the standard on first, as it has a 8a DC charge port built in. The companion model does not. wa8yxm wrote:
Converters up to 50 amp, 1000, over 50 amp 2000 A 2000 MIGHT run a small high effiency A/C. but 2 of them in parallel may well do a better job.. If you get a 2,000 make your first one a companion model.
A 3,000 should run one A/C.
NOTE: you can substitute MICROWAVE for A/C.
Don't you still need an adapter with the Companion? I've read it's not a straight 30a RV plug in. If so, what's the advantage to the Companion as it costs more?- Find your converter model number, the last 2 digits are more than likely the charge rate.
Tom N wrote:
If it was me I'd just idle my tow vehicle, for 15-30 minutes, while it was plugged into the trailer.
Your alternator charged at ~100 amps. 100 amps will top off a battery quickly.
-Tom, W3TLN
Not going to happen unless both the TV and TT have been modified. Most TV's have 30a fuses for trailer charging and wiring that won't support that much. Most TT's have 30a fuses built on as well.
The most I have ever seen my trucks alternator put into my camper batteries was 15a.
Even if you got 100a charge rate 30 minutes of idling would only put 50 amps max into the batteries, which isn't enough.
