How to use generator to charge battery efficiently?
- Thread starter Hircarra
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Not sure, I never have that problem as I have things to make that need AC power. So when the generator is on I am being productive with tools of various types that need AC to run them or charge them. Then the excess from that can go to charging the main house battery.
A 950 watt generator is closer to about 7 amps. Might be close to 10 or so on peak.
A 20 amp charger for 12v batteries is going to pull about 2-3 amps, maybe 5 amps (at 120v) at the beginning of charging a depleted battery.
These are all round numbers.
You don't have any 'voltage going to waste' ...actually your genset and your charger seem to be closely matched.
A 20 amp charger for 12v batteries is going to pull about 2-3 amps, maybe 5 amps (at 120v) at the beginning of charging a depleted battery.
These are all round numbers.
You don't have any 'voltage going to waste' ...actually your genset and your charger seem to be closely matched.
If you don't already have some solar I would suggest getting some to top off your batteries after using the generator to bulk charge first thing in the morning. I was able to really cut down my generator run times by simply using a portable 100 watt system and still keep healthy batteries. I also was able to charge a jumper pack while running the generator so that later on I could charge my small electrical appliances without starting the generator if there were clouds or rain and the solar was needed to keep the house battery at a healthy charge. This allowed me to fine tune my small dual battery bank.
Almost There
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You could probably use a higher amp battery charger but not by much.
I tried to run my 50 amp Iota charger on my Honda 1000Ei but it would overpower my generator on start up.
You didn't say what size battery bank you're charging. The battery charger should be matched to the battery bank for good charging and then the generator sized to accommodate the charger.
But no matter how closely matched, you're still going to be looking at 5 hours from 50% to full no matter how well matched. That's why a lot of us use the generator for bulk charge and then go to solar the rest of the day.
I tried to run my 50 amp Iota charger on my Honda 1000Ei but it would overpower my generator on start up.
You didn't say what size battery bank you're charging. The battery charger should be matched to the battery bank for good charging and then the generator sized to accommodate the charger.
But no matter how closely matched, you're still going to be looking at 5 hours from 50% to full no matter how well matched. That's why a lot of us use the generator for bulk charge and then go to solar the rest of the day.
jimindenver
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Is this a inverter generator with a eco mode? If so then turn on the eco mode and the generator will lower the output to match the charger and be as efficient as possible.
Hircarra said:
If the load pulls more wattage, the generator will burn more gasoline.
If the load is modest or very small, the generator will throttle back and burn less gasoline (or LP if it uses that).
The wattage doesn't 'go' anywhere, except into the load you have plugged into the generator.
My 'suggestion' is to run the generator as you are now.
If you intend to max out the load on the generator constantly, it will run hotter, burn more fuel, need more maintenance, and will make more noise. If it is running at maximum wattage, any additional load will probably either shut it down or trip the overload circuit or the breaker. Not a good plan.
Car engines might have a rating of say, 350 hp, but you don't work them at 350 hp ALL the time, only sometimes.
But, it can be done, by using a larger capacity battery charger, OR, you can use some of that 'surplus' to power another battery charger, or other loads such as fans, refrigerators, laptop chargers, etc.
If you intend to max out the load on the generator constantly, it will run hotter, burn more fuel, need more maintenance, and will make more noise. If it is running at maximum wattage, any additional load will probably either shut it down or trip the overload circuit or the breaker. Not a good plan.
Car engines might have a rating of say, 350 hp, but you don't work them at 350 hp ALL the time, only sometimes.
But, it can be done, by using a larger capacity battery charger, OR, you can use some of that 'surplus' to power another battery charger, or other loads such as fans, refrigerators, laptop chargers, etc.
Almost There
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Ahh, I may be very wrong and if so, I apologize but I suspect that you're thinking that the generator is always producing 950 watts of power.
That is it's maximum output not what it puts out all the time. As you add load to the generator you will hear it rev up to a higher output. It senses how much load is on it and accommodates that load. Hence a variable gas consumption - running full out it CAN produce up to 950 watts but at a much higher gas consumption than if it is only powering, say, half a load.
That is it's maximum output not what it puts out all the time. As you add load to the generator you will hear it rev up to a higher output. It senses how much load is on it and accommodates that load. Hence a variable gas consumption - running full out it CAN produce up to 950 watts but at a much higher gas consumption than if it is only powering, say, half a load.
Plug more things in.
Simple as that.
.
Simple as that.
.
jimindenver
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Use a power strip to plug more in.
The outlet (or circuit breaker) might have a marking that says 20A but that is the outlet rating.
Your 950 watt generator can't put out 20 amps. (maybe 10 or so during a surge).
This conversation has turned circular....good luck.
Your 950 watt generator can't put out 20 amps. (maybe 10 or so during a surge).
This conversation has turned circular....good luck.
highdesertranger
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first off there is no way a 950w generator has a 20 amp output. a 950w will max out about 8 amps.
I think you are confusing the generators 120v output with the battery chargers 12v output. two totally different animals.
highdesertranger
I think you are confusing the generators 120v output with the battery chargers 12v output. two totally different animals.
highdesertranger
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Most house outlets are 15 amp with some others that are 20 amp. Just like in a house you can have multiple outlets and variable loads on a single circuit. The power strip just adds more outlets. The more things you plug into a house the faster the meter turns, same with a generator, the more the load the harder it has to work and burns more gas. Your charger will only output as much as the battery wants to take or the maximum of the charger (whichever is less). As the battery gets near full, the charger will be pulling very little "wattage" from the generator and burning less fuel because it doesn't have to work as hard to power a small load.
It is easy to get confused as there are different types of generators and chargers. A picture of both, their specs and a basic description of what your uses are like type of battery and loads would really help clear things up, then suggestions could be made as how to use it to make it efficient.
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