VanTrekker
Well-known member
<p style="margin: 0px;">Hello,</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">I wrote this post for the newer readers who are contemplating purchasing a generator. For some time, I avoided buying one because I thought I would have to be somewhere for a long period of time for a battery top off... I was thinking about how long it takes to reach 100% charged when plugged in at Dad's house... </p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">Then it occurred to me.... Why charge back up to 100% every time? </p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">I normally don't go below about 80% charge because there is ususally power available somewhere. That's a usage of roughly 90 amp/hours on the battery bank. An hour and a half at the 55 Amp rate on the Iota charger gets me close to 80 amps back in. </p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">I don't even bother with letting the charger run in the absorption mode for too long. With the Honda "Ecoboost" setting, I know when the bulk charging phase is over by listening to the engine throttle back. I'll let her run a little longer at the slower charging rate (aborption rate) and then shut the generator off.</p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;">My point is this.... If you buy a generator, you don't have to be tied to it for many hours at a time unless you want to run a heater or air conditioner. I love replacing in an hour or so what was used in 24 hours. It will be even better this week when the solar panel arrives. <img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"></p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0px;"> </p>
