-=dwh=- wrote:
curt12914 wrote:
-=dwh=- wrote:
I'm looking at that pic of the Category5 on Northern Tool's site - and I don't see any 12v apparatus. No connections, no receptacle, no breaker.
I certainly wouldn't let the lack of a 12 volt system, deter me. In fact, I have never used the 12 volt system on my Hondas and I have no plans to ever use it.
Most (if not all) inverter generators that have a 12 volt system, charge at a constant rate (about 8 amps, I believe). This rate is very slow for a discharged battery, but will still overcharge ("boil") a fully charged battery.
And pretty much all unregulated as well. Actually, I think that applies to most small generators which have a 12v system - inverter style or normal style.
Perhaps I should have been clearer...
Despite what the description on the Northern Tool site says, and despite what the professor said when he quoted that ad coppy - it appears that the Cat5 does not have a 12v system after all.
Therefore if anyone is looking to purchase a generator for its 12v capability, the Cat5 might not be the best choice.
(Something about Grandmother and suck eggs and whatnot...)
Man, that's a lot of quotes up there. :)
Nope, I do not see a 12 volt connection in the photo either. But, the specs say a 12 VDC charging cable is included so my guess is it must go somewhere.
Ad photos are not always accurate either. Some sort of fancy photo artist usually sets them up to look extra good. In short, they can be wrong, or the plug-in could be located somewhere else on the case. I guess we will just have to wait and see a real one.
As for the battery charging circuit I have found all of them to be unregulated and most certainly not a processor controlled 3 or 4 stage charger. They can be handy when nothing else is available - but I prefer to plug my own charger into the 120 AC when I use a genny to recharge my batteries.
Just a side note, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the 3,500 electric start used a LM317 type adjustable voltage regulator for the internal battery rather than just a single diode off a charging coil.
