Best way to install extra propane

jimh425 wrote:

work2much wrote:
Running a propane generator to charge the batteries is slow and consumes a lot of propane.

Sounds like a converter/charger issue. I can usually take my two batteries from a low battery to full charge in 30 minutes to 1 hr. Not exactly scientific, but my leds are fully lit.

How are you determining full? LED's work? Are these led acid/AGM?

If you have 2 batteries whether they are 2 12v or 2 6v in series you should have about 200-230 Ah or 100 or so usable if you drain the batteries down to 50% (low) You would need a 200ah charger for 1/2 hour or 100ah charger for 1 hour. But that math isn't even close to what any multi stage charger will do no matter what its price/quality. To start most converter chargers are 60AH or less, but the real issue is that as the progress through their stages charging current is diminished. At the final float stage the battery is receiving just a trick charge. To get to 100% will take a while. For led acid battery health it's important to fully charge the battery with some regularity and even overcharge the battery in "equalize" mode to desulphate plates.

Lithium batteries are far better in this regard as they can take a high rate of charge to their top but the nature of chargers will diminish charging current as voltage max gets close. They definitely will charge much faster though especially with a programmable charging source.

Bottom line is that 1/2 hour -1 hour is not fulling charging the batteries. Your half hour charge may be enough to make the led lights work but for optimal battery health make sure to have a charging source that will take the battery through all the charging phases and fully fill the battery such as plugged into shore, running the generator for several hours or a decent solar array which in good weather will keep the battery from becoming low and in need of a long charging effort to 100% full.