Honda 1000 ?

monkey44 wrote:
Okay - here's my plan.

Fire up the generator, plug a standard ten foot 12gg extension into the 20a outlet on the generator. Plug the other end of the cord to my 30 amp pedestal cord, with a 20a adapter - same as I do when we plug into my garage plug.

Why does it have to be more complex than that? It's how we charge when we plug into a CG pedestal? Right?? And the generator charges the battery using the TC charger, just as if we were plugged in.

We don't use MW, AC, or TV - we use only lights and whatever electronics our fridge, and gauges use ... ALL we want is to charge batteries - that's IT.

NO TV, no video games - we do that in parks with FHU, but not when boonies.

Am I missing something?

And, just for a test - I was at a 12.04 reading on my hand voltmeter this AM on my TC battery after three days of use.

The reader inside the TV showed - Yellow, on the charge gauge - it has "Green, Yellow, Red". I charged on my truck for one hour. The hand meter then read - 12.24 on the gauge (I shut off the disconnect, so was only reading the TC battery, nothing else) and then I engaged the disconnect and the internal meter read - Green, as in charged.

So, explain this to a non-tech person, because if you get complex, you will lose me.

What does all that tell me??

See, I'm debating about a generator at this point - and if my truck can charge my TC battery in one hour - like it did today, after three days of use in dry-camping. Then, I do not need a generator ... I'll charge every three days, or will be driving after three days, and it won't matter.

We're trying to keep as simple as possible -- I know, solar - I'll consider that separately - I want to know only about the charging and generator now, THEN will look at the solar option ... THEN will decide.

At 12.04 v your are at less than 50% state of charge...close to damaging your batteries (are they wet cell or AGM?).
The other question is what do you have for a charger/converter in your TC?
Fully charged after 1 hr is not likely...this would be a "surface charge". You C/C converter at full load likley draws more than a 1k genny will out put...this is why 1k gennys are not very effective.
A 1k will charge your house batteries using the C/C...but there are many variables...and this will not be very efficient.
Look at it this way, even with a high quality C/C converter a 1k genny may need to run 7-8 hrs to charge batteries to 90%. A 2k could do the same in 2-3 hrs.

Charging from your alternator, even if you upgrade the hot wire...will take a LONG time.

Having said all that, we only carry a genny in winter when skiing and need heat.
But I have upgraded our C/C and batteries to AGM.
If you want to spend some $ on your electrical system...this is where to start.