Charging batteries with generator?
What is the most efficient way to charge batteries with a generator? Is using the 12 volt DC charging cord connected directly to the batteries any more efficient than plugging the camper power cord i...
Forum Discussion
rbpru wrote:
If your generator is designed to charge batteries it should be faster than charging through the 120 volt line and the internal charger. But how much faster is hard to say.
My home generator has a twelve volt line but I am not sure if it is for battery charging or just a 12 volt line.
Your typical onboard charger is on the order of 30-60amps @ 12v
The 12V outlet on our Yamaha 2400i is 8amps unregulated.
At the low end, the onboard charger will be 4 times as fast and even the cheap ones are probably better controlled.
Another key aspect is the size and state of charge of the battery bank. Don't try and charge the battery bank to 100%. As a leadacid battery reaches 80-90% of full charge, the amps it can take in drops off rapidly, so the last 10-20% takes a very long time to charge but you get very little energy into the battery.
Better to charge more often but stop around 80-90% full. (Do plug in when you get home as it's good for the batteries to reach 100% periodically).
