swimmer_spe
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 08/14/2013
View Profile
 Offline
|
I have been given a 1000w generator for free. If I am boondocking on 1 or 2 12v batteries how long should I run the generator? The trailer has n electric only fridge.
|
Boon Docker
Mountain Foothills of Southern Alberta
Senior Member
Joined: 10/30/2015
View Profile
|
Until the batteries are fully charged. ![[emoticon]](https://forums.goodsamclub.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
With that small genny and electric fridge plus other power usage, I would say the genny needs to run most of the day.
|
enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/05/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Need to determine the charge rate of your converter. Many have converters rated around 35 ampere output. This in many cases is not sufficient. Adding a separate battery charger isn't going to help much as the normal safe charge is around 10 amperes.
While boondocking refer should be set on auto. When genset is running, the refer would run off 120-volts AC.
1000-watt generator maybe a little small.
My thinking changing the converter to say a 50-ampere output would help.
Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow
2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker
|
time2roll
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
I would not count on more than 30 to 35 amps into the battery from a 1000w generator.
Minimum three hour run time. Possibly twice a day.
Post the existing charging system for best answers.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
675w Solar pictures back up
|
theoldwizard1
SE MI
Senior Member
Joined: 09/07/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
Boon Docker wrote:Until the batteries are fully charged.
With that small genny and electric fridge plus other power usage, I would say the genny needs to run most of the day.
Some small generators have a 12V DC output. DO NOT USE IT !! Use a standard AC powered charger.
The original question is too vague. Too many variables.
|
|
|
pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 12/18/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
1 or 2 batteries is minimal for boondocking. I started with 7.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.
|
ScottG
Bothell Wa.
Senior Member
Joined: 02/25/2005
View Profile
|
You will be very close on capacity with that gen.
|
valhalla360
No paticular place.
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Boon Docker wrote:Until the batteries are fully charged.
With that small genny and electric fridge plus other power usage, I would say the genny needs to run most of the day.
If you want the battery truly at 100%, yeah you will need to run it all day but really a waste of time and gas. As lead acid batteries near full, they will accept fewer and fewer amps, so the last 10-15% takes many hours. Pretty much no one boondocking will use a generator to get to 100%. Just get it up to 80-90% and call it good.
Getting up to 80-90% should only take 2-3hours if putting in 30-40amps in the bulk charge phase.
If you really want to try for 100%, get something like a 100w solar panel. Run the generator for 2-3 hours in the morning and then let the solar slowly top up the batteries over the rest of the day.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
|
valhalla360
No paticular place.
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
pianotuna wrote:1 or 2 batteries is minimal for boondocking. I started with 7.
If only boondocking for a night or two at a time, silly to spend the money and drag around a huge battery bank.
We have two and for an overnight, we run the fridge and a big of furnace and the next morning we are typically at 12.5-12.6v.
|
swimmer_spe
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 08/14/2013
View Profile
Offline
|
OP here.
If while the generator is running, I turn off the fridge (pulling the fuse if need be) would that give me a better charge?
|
|
|
