How to use generator to charge battery efficiently?

[Ticklebellly]

The 950 Watts is the rated capacity of the generator. If the load on the generator is sufficient to demand that output from the generator, the generator will be running at full revs and chewing through the fuel. When supplying a 20 Amp battery charger, the generator will only supply what the charger demands, you are not wasting Watts. A 20 Amp charger is probably already the most efficient use of the generator to charge batteries.

 

[Ticklebellly]

I have a 950w generator, with an a/c outlet that puts out 20 amps,

20 Amps at 110 Volts from a 950W  generator?

 

[Hircarra]

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.

If there is a single 20a a/c port, then there is no way to plug more things in. The maximum amperage is relevant because implicit is a wealth of potential voltage the entire purpose of this thread is to ask how to utilize, using a single outlet. That the generator probably can't put out 20 amps is irrelevant.

 

[Hircarra]

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.

no

 

[B and C]

More like ~8 amps actual output.

 

[Hircarra]

first off there is no way a 950w generator has a 20 amp output.  a 950w will max out about 8 amps.

irrelevant. The question is how to utilize the voltage it should be capable of if it's rated at 950w. Are you implying the generator puts out about 8 amps, at 110 volts, and that therefore, if my charger could utilize all of this, then my battery would receive close to 950 watts? Then the question remains, as it has been since the OP, how can I utilize all the extra voltage that's going to waste?

 

[Hircarra]

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.

So the maximum amperage rating is only for the single outlet? So are you saying if I plug in a power strip, each outlet having its own maximum amperage rating, I can use more than 20 amps?

 

[jimindenver]

The outlet is 20 amps.

It does not matter. A power strip will allow you to continue to plug additional items in until you exceed the generators output.

 

[Hircarra]

So the maximum amperage rating is only for the single outlet? So are you saying if I plug in a power strip, each outlet having its own maximum amperage rating, I can use more than 20 amps?

So hypothetically I could plug multiple 20a chargers into the power strip, plug that into the 20a outlet, and that's fine?

 

[B and C]

So the maximum amperage rating is only for the single outlet? So are you saying if I plug in a power strip, each outlet having its own maximum amperage rating, I can use more than 20 amps?

Simple answer, no.  The additional outlets will let you run more things at the same time up to the rated output of the generator.  Each item you plug in has a power rating that can be gleaned from the label on it, ie., 120VAC 1200 watts for a small heater.

The generator will die when you plug too much into it and try to run them at the same time.

 

[highdesertranger]

"Are you implying the generator puts out about 8 amps, at 120 volts"

yes, the total output of the generator is around 8 amps at 120v.

"then my battery is indeed receiving close to 950 watts"

no, your battery is not receiving 950 watts. you said you have a 20 amp charger. that's the output of the charger 20 amps @ 12v or more accurately somewhere between 13.8 and 14.2 volts but whatever. 20 amps @ 12v is 240 watts. 20 amps at 14.2 is 284 watts.

you can never get the full 950 watts into your battery because at every conversion you have losses, no conversion is 100%.

also I don't know the specs on your generator but more then likely the 950 is the maximum output, the generator can't put out the maximum very long, couple of minutes at most.

ohms law, volts x amps = watts

highdesertranger

 

[B and C]

Charging your battery. When your battery is depleted, it will accept more current from the charger and make your generator work harder to produce the power. As the battery gets charged, it accepts less and less of a charge lowering the draw on the generator and consuming less gas.

You may want to spend some time in the electrical forum: https://vanlivingforum.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=18

 

[Hircarra]

"Are you implying the generator puts out about 8 amps, at 120 volts"

yes,  the total output of the generator is around 8 amps at 120v.

"then my battery is indeed receiving close to 950 watts"

no,  your battery is not receiving 950 watts.  you said you have a 20 amp charger.  that's the output of the charger 20 amps @ 12v  or more accurately somewhere between 13.8 and 14.2 volts but whatever.  20 amps @ 12v is 240 watts.  20 amps at 14.2 is 284 watts.

you can never get the full 950 watts into your battery because at every conversion you have losses,  no conversion is 100%.

also I don't know the specs on your generator but more then likely the 950 is the maximum output,  the generator can't put out the maximum very long,  couple of minutes at most.

ohms law,  volts x amps = watts

highdesertranger

Then the question is, is the charger likely converting between amps and volts? If it's limited to the number of amps output by the generator a/c outlet, then 120 or 110 volts - 12 volts of power is being wasted. If it's not limited by that, then I should get a charger with a higher amperage rating.

 

[highdesertranger]

find the number your generator is rated at for continuously. I would then subtract another 10-20% to find the number I would run it at. then look for a charger. also look for a power corrected charger. highdesertranger

 

[Hircarra]

find the number your generator is rated at for continuously.  I would then subtract another 10-20% to find the number I would run it at.  then look for a charger.  also look for a power corrected charger.  highdesertranger

Can my generator's 20a a/c outlet in fact likely support a higher than 20a charger?

 

[B and C]

How many watts does your charger draw? It should be on the label.

Your generator has a 120V, 950 watt outlet, not a 20 amp outlet.

Your generator has two wattage ratings, running and peak. Is it 950 running watts or peak watts?

 

[Hircarra]

How many watts does your charger draw?  It should be on the label.

Your generator has a 120V, 950 watt outlet, not a 20 amp outlet.

Your generator has two wattage ratings, running and peak.  Is it 950 running watts or peak watts?

It just says 20 amps. * 12 volts = 240 watts. The question is does it utilize the 120 volts output to actually charge at 20 amps, or are those volts wasted? If so, it is safe to assume the outlet will support a higher than 20a charger.

 

[B and C]

Where are you getting the 950 watts from? A make and model of generator would help. We are blind on this end as to what you actually have so it is hard to help.

There are no wasted volts or amps. Your genny will put out what it needs to up to the maximum watts/amps. The more it needs to put out, the more gas it consumes.

A list of what you have would help a lot.

1, Genny make and model
2. Charger make and model
3. Batteries, voltage, how many and rated ampere hours (2-6 volt 230AH batteries or 2-12 volt batteries 105AH or 1 12v 100AH battery)

 

[Hircarra]

Where are you getting the 950 watts from?  A make and model of generator would help.  We are blind on this end as to what you actually have so it is hard to help.

There are no wasted volts or amps.  Your genny will put out what it needs to up to the maximum watts/amps.  The more it needs to put out, the more gas it consumes.

A list of what you have would help a lot.

1,  Genny make and model
2.  Charger make and model
3.  Batteries, voltage, how many and rated ampere hours  (2-6 volt 230AH batteries or 2-12 volt batteries 105AH or 1 12v 100AH battery)

You lot keep repeating that the generator only produces the load as if this is relevant. It is not. Does the outlet support higher than 20a chargers, i.e. are some of the 120 volts converted to amps? They are indeed wasted otherwise if the voltage is not variable.

 

[B and C]

Volts and amps are different things. There is not enough information to answer if it will support a bigger charger.