3000W Chinese Gensets Info.

Professor 95: I have a question about RV charging. When hooked up to external power or to the internal generator of my Vogue Class A, I get 13 to 14 volts through my converter (at the battery) depending on battery charge (8D). When hooked up to my Champion 3500 generator (early model) I never get more than 12.3 volts no matter what the battery charge. Needless to say, this is killing my battery. Is this a sine wave problem (dirty or square) or could it be related to the outlet plug issue discussed here so well? By the way, I've enquired at my local Kragen's and they are to receive the new Champion generators with the 30 amp RV plug shortly. Thanks

That is a good question, and one that requires a little more information to diagnose.

Since the converter output drops when connected to the Champion 3500, I would immediately suspect that you have an older model linear converter. These converters will show a reduced output voltage based on a lowered input voltage.

But, if you happen to have a newer "switching" converter that is fully regulated, an input voltage anywhere between 90 and 140 should produce the same DC output.

As far as "dirty" sine waves making the voltage drop at the converter, is is possible but not likely. Switching converters normally rectify the incoming AC immediately before applying any voltage to the primary switching stage. Therefore, they could care less what the line frequency is. An example of switching type converters are those commonly found in desktop computers. This same technology is now widly used in RV converters.

I would like to know more about your converter. Make, model, amperage, etc. If you have any literature on it, maybe you could scan it (unless the literature already is online, as many are). I strongly suspect we will find the answer in the converter design.

One other question though...... how (with what) are you measuring the battery voltage?