Charging TT Battery with Honda 2000 Watt Generator

[JohnnyE_]

Finally breaking down and buying a Honda 2000 watt generator for my TT. Do you guys charge your batteries by using the 12 DC outlet and connecting directly to your battery with the alligator clips or do you charge by connecting your power cord to the AC outlet and letting the TT converter do the charging?

Is one way better (faster, safer, etc.) than the other?

[SidecarFlip]

Gulfcoast wrote:
SuperGen has really good prices on reconditioned Champion generators. They have some that are not listed on their website too.

So so....Generators Direct about the same.

[Gulfcoast]

SuperGen has really good prices on reconditioned Champion generators. They have some that are not listed on their website too.

[SidecarFlip]

The one thing that really drew me to the Champion was the shape. The Honda 2000 watt is an odd shaped unit (as is the HF 2000 watt unit. The Champ is a rectangular box with built in handles on top and it stores easily, I keep mine with the fuel shut off )it has both a fuel to carb shutoff and a shutoff on the gas cap), in the corner of my camper under the sink counter and it's never in the way. The overall shape and flat sides and top sold me. Because I have a Truck Camper, my inside space is at a premium so everything has to fit and not be underfoot.

Good on gasoline too. I can go 2 days plus on a tank or about 1.2 gallons. Don't tun it all the time, I run it in the evening while the wife is making dinner until bed time about 3 hours and shut it down before bed and it keeps my batteries charged just fine.... and I have the much maligned WFCO converter....lol

[RDMueller]

I also have the Champion 1700/2000 W inverter and love it. Very quiet and looks to be really well built. Starts on the first pull every time. I don't think you could go wrong with this gen.

[mbopp]

One thing about the WFCO converters found in most trailers - they make lousy battery chargers for quick charging off a generator. Best bet is to get a deck-mounted IOTA or PD converter. My IOTA-55 is mounted in the pass-through and connected to the battery with welding cable. The AC side of the factory WFCO is disconnected but it's my backup converter if the IOTA dies.

[RedRocket204]

One item you need to know about the Champion 1700/2000 W Inverter. I've got two of them along with the parallel kit. You will be down on power with those and there is no high altitude jet replacement you can buy for them. Consider that if you do any camping above 7000 feet and you need all of that 1700W.

Otherwise, it's a decent generator.

[JohnnyE_]

You fellas are awesome.

[pianotuna]

Buy the Champion instead. If you wish to run the roof air then move up to the 3400 watt with remote electric start.

[SidecarFlip]

JohnnyE! wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:


You might want to take a look at the Harbor Freight 2000 watt Honda clone inverter. It's less than 1/3rd the price of the Honda, has a longer run time and same output and economy (reduced idle) switch.... and it weighs less too.

Thanks for the recommendation. Might have to take a look at that. Taking a look at the Champion 2000/1700 watt inverter too. Do you have any experiences with that make/model?

Sure do, That is what I have actually. Mine is 2 years old and runs flawlessly and is very quiet and not heavy at all. I'm 67 and I can carry it around, no problem. Starts first or second pull, every time, usually first pull.

When I bought it, HF didn't have the 2000 watt Honda clone yet.

Had HF had their 2000 watt unit when I bought the Champ, I probably would have bought the HF. Honda was never a consideration, just way too expensive.

[JohnnyE_]

SidecarFlip wrote:


You might want to take a look at the Harbor Freight 2000 watt Honda clone inverter. It's less than 1/3rd the price of the Honda, has a longer run time and same output and economy (reduced idle) switch.... and it weighs less too.

Thanks for the recommendation. Might have to take a look at that. Taking a look at the Champion 2000/1700 watt inverter too. Do you have any experiences with that make/model?

[SidecarFlip]

JohnnyE! wrote:
Finally breaking down and buying a Honda 2000 watt generator for my TT. Do you guys charge your batteries by using the 12 DC outlet and connecting directly to your battery with the alligator clips or do you charge by connecting your power cord to the AC outlet and letting the TT converter do the charging?

Is one way better (faster, safer, etc.) than the other?

It's a converter, not an inverter first off and the best way to charge batteries is via a shore power cord plugged into your genny.

You might want to take a look at the Harbor Freight 2000 watt Honda clone inverter. It's less than 1/3rd the price of the Honda, has a longer run time and same output and economy (reduced idle) switch.... and it weighs less too.

[JohnnyE_]

Good info. Thanks fellas.

[naturist]

The 12 volt charger on the genny is probably capable of 8 amps or so, while the converter in the TT is 35, 45, or even 55 amps. Plus it's regulated to feed the right power to the battery for peak performance. Short answer, plug the TT in and let the smart circuit do its thing. It'll be much faster AND better for the battery life.

[time2roll]

Best/fastest way is by using the built in multistage converter.
Just plug the main RV cord into the generator and see if battery steadily climbs to 14.2+ volts.
If not then post the model number of the converter for best replacement options.

The 12v connector is slow and requires the eco-mode to be off.
A whole tank of gas will not hurt a low battery.