battery charging w/ a Honda eu1000i

[96Tony]

Using a Honda eu1000i, can I charge two 12 volt deep cycle batteries at the same time?

For one battery I'd use a 25 amp smart charger plugged into the AC outlet, for the other battery I'd hook up a standard DC charging cord plugged into the DC outlet. Can this be done, or am I clueless?

I'm only expecting to get the batteries from 50% to 90$. They will get a full bulk charge when I return home. If it's possible...about how long might it take?

[NinerBikes]

I use one of these: 30 amp adjustable voltage power supply unit for battery charging.

I set it at 15.0V at the battery terminal and I'd parallel connect those two batteries, for charging purposes only, and separate them once fully charged. You'll need a timer of sorts for this unit, or measure the specific gravity of the batteries to get a feel for state of charge, these are not set it and forget it systems, but they can and do recharge to a top charge at or almost 100% state of charge.

Also, make sure your Honda Eu1000i is fully warmed up before turning this baby on, because it's going to work that little honda pretty hard from the get go, so always warm the motor up fully before working it hard. Put your hand by the vents near the exhaust and feel the air temps coming off the cylinder head, if it's hair dryer temp hot, the motor is fully warmed up.

You will need to run your motor in regular mode for probably 10 or 15 minutes before you can return it to "eco" mode for recharging. Always start this power supply unit up in "regular" mode on the Honda.

Another option is to buy an Iota 30 amp unit, with the smart switch, or the little wire loop that charges at 14.8V rate.

[larry_barnhart]

I use our Honda 1000i to power a 15 amp battery charger that I plug into the same plug that plugs into our truck. I removed the alligator clips on the charger and installed the new plug and then made an adapter to connect to the alligator clips for normal battery charging. This has worked very good for the few times we boondocked. This is the only way because of our power protector that doesn't allow low power to enter the alpenlite. We have a 2000 watt inverter. I also do not use ethanol gas in the Honda because it really is for an emergency and refresh it before each winter.
chevman

[BFL13]

The H1000 will not run a 55a converter, that is why the OP is using the 25a portable. Yes he can parallel the 24 and 29 and charge both together with the 25amper. (They will both reach 90% at the same time the way that works)

[96Tony]

bigcitypopo wrote:
96Tony, what is the amp rating on the charger in your rig?

It's a WFCO, and in another thread it was recommended that I do not plug directly into the TT power cord.
Apparently, it is famous for never getting into bulk mode.

Panel Input.........120Vac 60Hz, 30A
Converter Input.....105-130Vac 60Hz, 12A, 950W
Converter Output....13.6VDC, 55A

Absorbtion Mode: 13.6Vdc Bulk Mode: 14.4Vdc Float Mode: 13.2Vdc

[96Tony]

I'll have two different-sized batteries, a 24 and a 29. The 29 will run the TT, and the 24 will power my nightly CPAP machine.

Understanding that the DC is unregulated, could I monitor that battery (the 24) to prevent overcharging?

Can I put them in parallel if one is a group 24 and the other is a 29?

[bigcitypopo]

96Tony, what is the amp rating on the charger in your rig?

[RoyB]

It may take a little longer than the three to fours charging your two 12VDC batteries to get back up to the 90% charge state from a 50% charge state but that is the way to do by plugging the charger into the 120VAC receptacle of the generator. AS stated above the BAT CRG plug on those small generators is unregulated 12VDC at around 8AMPS of capacity.

The problem is getting past the initial high current demand of the two batteries when they first get hit with 14.4VDC BOOST MODE charging. Each battery will want to demand around 18-20AMPs EACH for around 15-20 minutes then start dropping back.

I did this idea once using a 20AMP portable smart mode charger and charged each battery in boost mode for about an hour and after that I was able to parallel the two batteries and continue charging for another couple of hours and finally got both 12VDC BATTERIES to float mode. This totaled out to just over fours to get both 12VDC batteries charged back up to their 90% charge state.

I was using my 2KW Honda generator running the 20AMP smart mode portable charger (forget the brand name probably a VEC mdl). Most of the time we run into camp ground generator run time restrictions here on the East side of the US with not many dispersed camping around so getting the batteries re-charged in the quickest time frame is very important to us. I have to start out each evening with at least a 90% charge state otherwise it gets dark on us around 10-11PM at night. The game plan is to make it to the 8AM the next morning when we are allowed to run our generator again.

I eventually picked up a VEC1093DBD 40AMP smart mode battery charger and this has become my plan B backup charger in case I lose my 60AMp converter/charger setup I am presently using in my OFF-ROAD POPUP camper battery setup.

Its all about PLAN Bs with us hehe...

Roy Ken

[cmarq]

I believe honda dc is not regulated and can overcharge

[BFL13]

Parallel the two 12s. Put the 25amp charger on them, pos clamp on one battery's pos and the neg clamp on the other battery's neg post.

Expect about four hours to do the 50-90 if 29s or three hours if 24s

[2oldman]

There's a lot wrong with that.. where do I start..?

I thought I'd read the DC charger and the AC cannot be used at the same time, but now I can't find it in the manual. Anywhoo...

The DC output is unregulated 8 amps (on the 2kw) AND...

You have to run it with Eco off..AND....

it's a bad idea to charge one battery (assuming they're in parallel) way more than the other.

Sorry bout that, glad you asked.