Tech Tip: Megawatt / Tiny Generator
Not theory. This works... I have successfully recharged batteries using a 300 watt generator. Back the Megawatt trim pot back. Start the generator and let it warm up a bit. Slowly turn the...
Forum Discussion
I'm roughly doing the same thing when our RV's 230 AH AGM battery bank is down around 50% and I:
1) Start up my 600 watt Honda generator with the main motorhome power cable plugged into it.
2) Then note that the ~13.8 volt built-in stock 45 amp Parallax converter is dumping 10-12 amps into the battery bank.
3) Then plug in my 10A/50A Sears charging-starting battery charger into the generator via an extension cord.
4) Then switch the Sears charger-starter unit to it's 50 amp engine-start mode to increase the total charging voltage on the battery bank.
5) Then note that the charging voltage on the battery bank is raised a little higher than 13.8 volts and that the two sources in combination are supplying 15-17 amps into the battery bank.
The Honda keeps right on running without any problems. This is a "non-adjustable and less efficient" way to use a small (and very quiet - in my case) generator to do what Mex is doing better with an infinitely variable power supply fed by a small generator that is kept loaded manually just below it's circuit-breaker trip point.
1) Start up my 600 watt Honda generator with the main motorhome power cable plugged into it.
2) Then note that the ~13.8 volt built-in stock 45 amp Parallax converter is dumping 10-12 amps into the battery bank.
3) Then plug in my 10A/50A Sears charging-starting battery charger into the generator via an extension cord.
4) Then switch the Sears charger-starter unit to it's 50 amp engine-start mode to increase the total charging voltage on the battery bank.
5) Then note that the charging voltage on the battery bank is raised a little higher than 13.8 volts and that the two sources in combination are supplying 15-17 amps into the battery bank.
The Honda keeps right on running without any problems. This is a "non-adjustable and less efficient" way to use a small (and very quiet - in my case) generator to do what Mex is doing better with an infinitely variable power supply fed by a small generator that is kept loaded manually just below it's circuit-breaker trip point.
