120v Outlet in the Suburbs?

[Boyntonstu]

After a quick search I found one source say 180v. The explanation was that the generator is slow to respond to load changes. The RPM slows when a load is put on causing the voltage to drop also. This causes the generator to call for more gas raising the RPM and voltage only to shoot too high and then come back down. The same thing happens when a big load is removed and the engine runs free for a moment before the governor compensates. At that moment the RPMs jump as does the voltage.  Still a lot of people swear by them.

I found this:


[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=small][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"We bought one of these generators several years ago, for $99 plus $19.9 shipping on eBay. It was rated at 1200 watts . We have about 100 hours on it. I was concerned about about spikes and regulation running a $1300 radio powered by a $99 Chinese generator. We use an APC Automatic voltage regulator(www.apc.com ) between the generator and the IC-7000. We have run the generator up to 5 hours on a gallon tank of gas and there was still gas left in the tank. We have used the generator for portable operating at lighthouses and special events. It is easy to start and is very quiet. Any hash heard in the 7000 is taken out by the noise filter. It would be ideal for for a one station Field Day operation."[/font][/font][/size]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]https://www.amazon.com/APC-LE1200-A...=8-1&keywords=apc+automatic+voltage+regulator
[/font]

 

[frater secessus]

At the moment, I'm doing OK on power.  I'm sitting at about 12.8 volts after removing the surface charge.  This morning I was at about 12.5 or 12.6, so I figure I'm doing pretty good for the day.
...
For now, I'm just going to be conservative with my power usage as much as possible and monitor the batteries.  If they start hitting 12.3 (or god forbid, less), then I'll make my way over to a dreaded RV park and plug in for a while.

It's common to run deep cycles down to 12.2v or 12.1v, depending on where you think 50% SoC is.  If you are sitting at 12.3v or higher in the mornings and getting into Absorption fairly I'd say your system is working fine. 

An isolator/solenoid for alternator [charging] is relatively inexpensive to implement and might give warm fuzzy feelings.

 

[RVtrek]

It's common to run deep cycles down to 12.2v or 12.1v, depending on where you think 50% SoC is.  If you are sitting at 12.3v or higher in the mornings and getting into Absorption fairly I'd say your system is working fine. 

An isolator/solenoid for alternator [charging] is relatively inexpensive to implement and might give warm fuzzy feelings.

From what I can tell, I don't want to let my system get below 12.2v.  Since the lowest I've seen it is 12.5, I figure I'm doing pretty good.  I just paid $500 for these batteries, I'm trying to take care of them.  I don't know if I'm getting into Absorption during the day, my solar charge controller isn't that specific.  (Zamp, 30-amp controller.)

If I had a van, then yes, I'd install an isolator for charging from the alternator.  This is a truck camper though, and although I could in theory charge from the 7-pin truck hookup-cable, it doesn't seem that the right wires are actually hooked up in the camper to make that work.  I'm *pretty* sure the truck is providing power, but not 100% sure there either.  To get it working I'd have to either install another 7-pin wiring harness in the front part of the truck bed or get an extension plus figure out what's going on with the camper rand/or re-wire it, and that's just not happening.  Not looking for permanent solutions here.

I'm going to just be conservative with power requirements as much as I reasonably can, keep an eye on the voltage, and I think things will work out just fine.

 

[frater secessus]

I agree, I think you are on the right track.

Great looking rig, by the way.

 

[highdesertranger]

if your 7 pin plug is factory installed then yes you already have the charge wire incorporated into the harness. the camper side of the plug is wired to charge from the alternator. that being said the factory charge wire is woefully small. but it's still something and something is better then nothing. highdesertranger