Gensets W/ Self Containrd DC power ?

[RJsfishin]

How many larger OEM mounted generators have their own DC power output ?
A long distance friend lost his converter power, (converter failure) and has been charging just running his diesel generator. He says a panel monitor shows 10 amps charging on discharged batteries.
This is on an '04 Class A WB Journey. Does this sound right ?
I didn't know that any OEM generators had DC power output.

[Matt_Colie]

Rich,

It is my experience that many portables have at least a small (10~15) amp DC charging capability. I know that every electric start package I have ever seen has at least 15 and maybe 20 amp charge capability. But I think I would still like my 45 and 60 amp PDs for house battery charging.

Matt

[BFL13]

A MH where we camp in summer has a built- in gen that charges his batteries at 20 amps. I don't have the model /yr of the MH or of the gen in it, but it is less than 20 yrs old AFAIK.

I have a picture of that MH but have been having trouble lately with tinypic. If I get a picture up, maybe some MH guys can identify it


Sorry, still no good with tinypic

[MrWizard]

Old Onan genset from the 70s had their own battery charge circuit, the converters of that time had very small charge circuits mainly supplied the house side acting as a battery substitute
I'm not aware of any of the late model gas Onan genset having a battery charge circuit
I think it's a good idea, seems that a fair amount of people have converter charge problems
It's really intended to supply enough power that the genset does not drain the start battery and not have to have an external charge source for the battery

[theoldwizard1]

Most portable generators that have DC output have very limited power.