Inverter Generator Help Please

[RobWNY]

Recently I booked a 4 night stay at a State campground with no electric hookups for this upcoming camping season. It will be my first experience relying on just battery power. My Travel Trailer has the one Marine/Deep cycle battery and I have decided to get 4 Trojan 6V T-105's and wire them in Series and Parallel. I also plan on buying a portable Inverter Generator so I can re-charge the batteries during my stay. I will be conserving power of course and may not need to charge them up, but better safe than sorry. Anyway, there are a ton of them on the market now, each brand having slightly different features. Most of the ones with 3000w or more have an RV plug. Is buying a generator with that plug something I should consider? All of the videos I've seen reviewing them, are all about whether the generator will power the air conditioner. Since most campgrounds limit when and how long you can use a generator (Usually during daylight hours), I'm not understanding the appeal. Being able to run an air conditioner for a couple hours during the day wouldn't be of interest to me. We won't be in the camper then. Mainly, the generator will be used for topping off the batteries and charging cell phones. Is it better to charge batteries directly from the generator to the batteries using a battery charger or through the camper by using the RV plug? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[TomG2]

We used to have Homelites there were deafening. Huh?

[Boon_Docker]

TomG2 wrote:


Comparing the Champion 3500/4000 at 68db to a 80db construction generator is comparing apples to oranges.

Please give us an example/link of a construction generator.

[TomG2]

bikendan wrote:
i own the Champion 3500/4000 generator you're recommending and it is NOT appropriate for campgrounds!:E

Where did I say that it was appropriate for campgrounds? I said it provides plenty of power to run anything in the trailer at places like Walmart parking lots.

With four gold cart batteries and some good power management, the OP can get by for a few days with NO generator. Even if he had to take along a fully charged 12 volt battery it would be quieter than ANY generator.

Apparently you have not been around actual contractor generators or you would not make your comparison. I have. :S

[bikendan]

TomG2 wrote:
Comparing the Champion 3500/4000 at 68db to a 80db construction generator is comparing apples to oranges.

the open frame Champion 3500/4000 IS a construction generator, compared to the 53-56db inverter generators.

i own the Champion 3500/4000 generator you're recommending and it is NOT appropriate for campgrounds!:E

[TomG2]

Boon Docker wrote:
^ The OP's question is about an inverter generator to charge the batteries not a noise construction generator to run the AC. Just saying.

Just saying, there is no generator that is quiet and the hours are limited. The OP can get by with the upgraded batteries for the few nights he is talking about. He could add a little solar if necessary and that is truly a quiet power source. My point is, if he cannot run a generator, why purchase one. If he wants one to use at Walmart or truck stops, the Champion will provide plenty of power. Comparing the Champion 3500/4000 at 68db to a 80db construction generator is comparing apples to oranges.

[theoldwizard1]

RobWNY wrote:
So my power requirements will be likely be Furnace fan, Refrigerator fan, the LED lights, water pump, Slide out when arriving,

If it is very cold and the furnace has to run a lot, you are going to need those 4 6V batteries to allow the furnace to run all night !

If the point of the generator is just to charge the batteries and you are going to use your existing converter/charger then a 2000W (peak) is adequate. Buying a larger generator, especially one that has an outlet compatible with your plug, is a good idea.

If your batteries get run down a long way, it will take several hours of charging with the generator running.

Do NOT use the 12V output of the generator. It is not meant for battery charging.

[Boon_Docker]

^ The OP's question is about an inverter generator to charge the batteries not a noise construction generator to run the AC. Just saying.

[TomG2]

I would upgrade your batteries as you have mentioned. With conservation you should get by in mild weather for several days. I would buy a generator big enough to run the AC when traveling or overnight along the way. The Champion 3500/4000 watt models can be had for around $300 and has the RV plug for convenience. Not for use in congested campgrounds, your batteries are for that. Big enough to run everything a normal 30 amp park service will handle. Just a thought.

[Rolling_Condo]

Smart move to upgrade to LED lighting and 4 T-105's in series / parallel will certainly carry you overnight or more like 2 nights easily. One more upgrade to consider to get the most of a battery setup like that, would be to upgrade your converter and wiring to match. This would give better charging capabilities for a shorter generator run time.
Depending on converter size a 2000 watt would be fine. No doubts a 3000 watt generator would power all your needs plus ability to use more 120 V loads.
As for generators, well I'm a fan of the Champion brand. (Best bang for the $)

[bikendan]

SoundGuy wrote:

RobWNY wrote:
My Travel Trailer has the one Marine/Deep cycle battery and I have decided to get 4 Trojan 6V T-105's and wire them in Series and Parallel. I also plan on buying a portable Inverter Generator so I can re-charge the batteries during my stay.

Why would you bother with 4 T105s if you plan to also invest in a genset for recharging the batteries? :h A pair of those 6 volt jugs would cover most common situations for at least a day or two, even power a mid size inverter if you'd like to run a small coffee maker, toaster, etc. Since you'd have a genset for recharging having four instead of two 6 volts really doesn't buy you much advantage, especially considering that most trailers will easily accept two 6 volt batteries but often require some imagination to mount four. K.I.S.S. 😉

Agree!
Kinda of overkill for first dry camping experience with what you plan to run.

I agree with starting with two 6v golf cart batteries and a Champion 3400w inverter generator.
Four 6v batteries would be normal if you had a residential fridge running on an inverter.

[MrWizard]

Champion makes excellent generators, has an excellent service department and parts availability, and stands by their warranty

Lots of champion owners on this forum

[pianotuna]

Since the OP will be camping in cold weather, the extra capacity of the 4 jars may be needed for running the furnace. Capacity is a curved line relationship with temperature. The lower the temperature the lower the capacity.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Not my microwave. It draws 1591 watts continuous and the start up surge overwhelms a 2k generator. DAMHIK

time2roll wrote:
2000 should also run the microwave if needed. .

[2oldman]

RobWNY wrote:
Is it better to charge batteries directly from the generator to the batteries using a battery charger or through the camper by using the RV plug?

through camper.

RobWNY wrote:
I will be conserving power of course and may not need to charge them up,

If your conservation is good enough you won't need a genny. But then you have to live like a tenter.

[Boon_Docker]

Oasisbob wrote:
We can go three nights on our twin g 27 recharging on fourth day using our quiet reliable HONDA EU 1000. I would stay away from cheap copy cat generators. Not as quiet or reliable though they are working on db levels I suspect their measurements are deceitful

And now we know that all generator manufacturers are liars accept Honda. Good to know! 😉