countrykids
Minnesota
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Joined: 08/04/2004
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When leaving a campground with partially drawn down house batteries, the engines alternator will slowly recharge them.
Can I charge those batteries faster by starting the in house generator at the same time charging from two sources?
2004 Born Free class c
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Bobbo
Wherever I park
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Short answer: yes.
Long answer: yes, absolutely.
Bobbo and Lin
2017 F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab w/Max Tow Package 3.5l EcoBoost V6
2017 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB
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rk911
DuPage County
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Joined: 05/30/2004
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what he said. ^^^^
Rich
Ham Radio, Sport Pilot
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2016 Itasca Suncruiser 38Q
'46 Willys CJ2A
'03 Jeep Wrangler TJ
'10 Jeep Liberty KK
& MaggieThe Wonder Beagle
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
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Joined: 01/05/2005
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You may want to check your converter to see what kind of output it is. It may even pay to replace with a higher output.
Genset through the converter will give more charge combined with alternator.
Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow
2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Yes.
However, a dc to DC boost device added between the alternator and the house batteries may be just as fast.
I added a 2nd charging path using #8 wire--and I have manual control of the charging solenoids.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp hours of AGM in two battery banks 12 volt batteries, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.
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RJsfishin
Winston Or.
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No. depending on converter output and alternator output.
My 140 amp alternator will charge much faster than my PD 45 amp converter.
And 2 different charging sources will usually fight each other. The one w/ the highest voltage will do most all the charging
Rich
'01 31' Rexall Vision, Generac 5.5k, 1000 watt Honda, PD 9245 conv, 300 watts Solar, 150 watt inv, 2 Cos 6v batts, ammeters, led voltmeters all over the place, KD/sat, 2 Oly Cat heaters w/ ox, and towing a 2012 Liberty, Lowe bass boat, or a Kawi Mule.
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theoldwizard1
SE MI
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pianotuna wrote:However, a DC to DC boost device added between the alternator and the house batteries may be just as fast.
Concur ! Modern vehicle charging systems reduce the alternator voltage to about 13.2V shortly after the engine starts. This will never fully recharge a house battery bank. You need a DC-DC charger.
pianotuna wrote:I added a 2nd charging path using #8 wire--and I have manual control of the charging solenoids.
Re-read the above.
Yes larger gauge wires helps, but you will never be able to get a house battery bank back to 100% SOC on 13.2V !
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Bert the Welder
Van. Island
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Good question and was surprised reading you could....then read on, and you can't.....but doesn't diminish from it being an interesting question.....
"> 1998 GMC 2500, 10.5 Okanagan, My better/smarter half, George and Finnegan(APBT), all I need.
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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theoldwizard1 wrote:pianotuna wrote:However, a DC to DC boost device added between the alternator and the house batteries may be just as fast.
Concur ! Modern vehicle charging systems reduce the alternator voltage to about 13.2V shortly after the engine starts. This will never fully recharge a house battery bank. You need a DC-DC charger.
pianotuna wrote:I added a 2nd charging path using #8 wire--and I have manual control of the charging solenoids.
Re-read the above.
Yes larger gauge wires helps, but you will never be able to get a house battery bank back to 100% SOC on 13.2V !
When I put in the 2nd charging path I had identical batteries for house and starter (marine cycle). I did see over 70 amps of charging.
Also, at that time, getting a dc to DC charging device was pretty much unheard of.
Now that I have AGM telco house bank and an AGM starter, my solar sends energy to the engine--so I get almost no alternator charging.
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dougrainer
Carrolton, Texas
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It REALLY depends on how long you drive. If over 4 hours the Chassis alternator WILL fully charge the Coach batteries. Doug
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