Forum Discussion

jefe_4x4's avatar
jefe_4x4
Explorer
May 15, 2013

Gen. charging TC batts and using boonie AC power?

For many years I have used our Honda EU2000 generator to a 2A/10A/55A charger to charge the truck batteries, one at a time. I usually just charge the Camper battery as it goes down the fastest over 3 or 4 days of continuous boondocking. It takes about 3 hours and I usually just use the lowest amperage as newer batteries don't like a quick charge any more. This whole process seems awfully antiquated (albeit cheap) when I read about all the new gizmos available. When using AC items like hair dryer (not me, paleface, it's for the Queen), or coffee pot, or Margarita blender I just plug ea. appliance directly into the generator. What is to preclude me from plugging the TC main umbelical into the generator? It has better, filtered power than my Pacific Gas and Electric (PG@E) house current or any campground does. There are a lot of Electrical Gurus on this forum, so speak up, any of you with authority on the subject. I have the usual 3 batteries: Two under the hood and one with the TC, all the same size, group 27, 12V, starting batteries (not deep cycle) with a #6 power wire connecting front to rear. I do have he little cord supplied with my EU2K for direct-to-battery connections, but I don't like the looks of it.
So, to the querrie:
What's new in this arena? Is there anything quick and dirty that I can glom on to?
I did do a search both here and on Google, and am more confused than ever, which doesn't take much.
regards, as always, jefe
Truck Campers
  • ticki2's avatar
    ticki2
    Explorer
    May 15, 2013
    sue.t wrote:
    OP refers to "AC items like hair dryer" so I assumed "boonie AC" = boonie Alternating Current rather than A/C air conditioning.


    I agree , I was simply giving the OP my use and equipment for comparison , which may or may not be helpful . I mention air conditioning because it needs much longer term alternating current than other short term usage such as hair dryers , micro , etc.
  • sue_t's avatar
    sue_t
    Explorer
    May 15, 2013
    OP refers to "AC items like hair dryer" so I assumed "boonie AC" = boonie Alternating Current rather than A/C air conditioning.
  • ticki2's avatar
    ticki2
    Explorer
    May 15, 2013
    Not a Guru by any means but here is what I did that seems too work . I use a live feed to a lighted switch on the dash to activate the continuous duty solenoid . That allows me to open the 4 ga. line between truck and TC without the truck running so I can charge just TC batteries ( switch closed ) or both ( switch open ) when plugged into genny or shore power , same option while driving charging from the truck alternator . Much depends on the capacity of your existing converter/charger . I'm using a 50 amp Iota and it seems to do the job , but I am rarely stationary for more than 3 days and no AC .

    PS enjoy the Expo , wish I was there .
  • sue_t's avatar
    sue_t
    Explorer
    May 15, 2013
    With our EU2000, we just plug the camper (or fifth wheel's) electrical cord directly into the generator when we want to power up the camper. We have a little 30A to 15A adapter plug that attaches to the end of the electrical cord and plugs directly into the 15A outlet on the generator.

    Don't often need AC power so usually just using the DC but when we do need AC (long use of my computer (photography) draining its battery) it is handy.
  • msiminoff's avatar
    msiminoff
    Explorer II
    May 15, 2013
    Hey Jefe!
    Plugging your TC's shore power cord into your generator is a fine plan. You'll need a 20A-to-30A(RV) adaptor, but I bet you have one of those already. Depending on the make/model of your converter it may be better (or worse) than the charger you're currently using, but it will most definitely be easier.

    The Honda's 12Vdc output isn't a very good battery charger. It's really more of a 'booster' that could re-charge a dead car battery just enough (after a long run time at full throttle) to start the engine. Very useful in a pinch, but there are far better ways to get juice into your house battery.

    Also, I noticed that you wrote umbilical... you weren't talking about the TC's 7-pin connector, were you?

    Knowing that you're a boondock'er, I think that long-term you would be best served by a high-current mounted battery charger, a large deep cycle battery (in the TC) and a modest (1 panel) solar charging system.

    We'll definitely have time to talk battery charging at OX... I'll bring my folding camp chair and a live extension cord, you bring the margarita blender :W
    See you soon!
    Cheers
    -Mark
  • HMS_Beagle's avatar
    HMS_Beagle
    Explorer
    May 15, 2013
    Just plug it in. Use your shore power charger and let it charge the batteries. This is the way a built in genset works in nearly every RV. Some chargers work less efficiently on genset power (will not produce rated output) but on the Honda inverted power it should work fine. A 50 amp charger will only use about a third of the power of the genset, so the rest is available.

    One thing though, please don't assume (as many seem to do) that that Honda is "so quiet you can't hear it". There is nothing like driving well off the beaten track into the wilderness, only to listen to the constant drone of a genset.
  • narcodog's avatar
    narcodog
    Explorer II
    May 15, 2013
    Scott16 wrote:
    narcodog wrote:
    I never use that small cable thingy, they mostly junk. I just plug my into my gen with the umbilical cord,shore power. I don't charge my starting battery that way but I do use it to charge the other three battery's. If you run your genset and plug into the shore power cord you can run what ever 110 volt stuff you have, within reason.


    This is for only charging the TC battery's correct. If you have an A/C you will probably have to run it only on low setting, and cut out some 110v Equipment, or not start the A/C at all. Just want to make sure for my own information.
    Thanks,

    Scott


    The genset will charge your battery's at the same time that you run your a/c but at a lower rate. For the most part if you run the a/c that is all your going to be able to run, assuming you just have a 2KW gen. If your gen has an econo mode it will automatically go to a higher rate. The other thing is at what altitude you are at. The higher the less out put.
  • bobndot's avatar
    bobndot
    Explorer II
    May 15, 2013
    Dear confused Jeff, why do you have to charge the truck batteries ? Are the truck batts wired together with the camper batt, do they all deplete together ?
    OR... Are you rotating the batts from the truck into the camper as you need more 12v. power for the camper ?
    Are you still using the 98 Lance , if so is that why your doing it the way you are doing it , because of the older model converter ?
    It doesn't take much to confuse me.
    Confused Bob
  • Scott16's avatar
    Scott16
    Explorer
    May 15, 2013
    narcodog wrote:
    I never use that small cable thingy, they mostly junk. I just plug my into my gen with the umbilical cord,shore power. I don't charge my starting battery that way but I do use it to charge the other three battery's. If you run your genset and plug into the shore power cord you can run what ever 110 volt stuff you have, within reason.


    This is for only charging the TC battery's correct. If you have an A/C you will probably have to run it only on low setting, and cut out some 110v Equipment, or not start the A/C at all. Just want to make sure for my own information.
    Thanks,

    Scott
  • narcodog's avatar
    narcodog
    Explorer II
    May 15, 2013
    I never use that small cable thingy, they mostly junk. I just plug my into my gen with the umbilical cord,shore power. I don't charge my starting battery that way but I do use it to charge the other three battery's. If you run your genset and plug into the shore power cord you can run what ever 110 volt stuff you have, within reason.

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