Keith99RS
Suffield, CT
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I run 2 12V batteries on the TT when we dry camp. I have a Yamaha 2400i generator. We have dry camped about 4 days in 2006, 6 days in 2007 and plan on doing 9 days this year at Acadia NP. Last year was the first year I had the generator and we had no real issues. I ran it for like 2 hours every moring when the rest of the CG campers were running theirs. I ran the generator through the campers main feed line using an adapter and allowed the onboard charger to charge the batteries. Was this the best way to make max use of my charging time? The charger came with clips to charge directly from the charger or would using my car battery charger work better?
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tvman44
Southwest Louisiana
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You did it right, the charger on the ginny is only good for about 8 amps and I have heard the voltage can get really high. Using the built in converter you probably get anywhere from 40 to 60 amps. Much better.
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Mousefart
New Jersey
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Provided you have a quality converter with a 3 stage charger built in (like Progressive Dynamics), you are doing it the correct way.
The 12v charging plug on the Yamahas and Hondas is something you only want to use in an emergency. It is unregulated (I measured over 40 volts on mine with no load), only 8 amps, and causes the generator to run at full throttle.
If you have a cheap, single stage converter, then a 3 stage automotive charger (like the Vector brand) hooked to the generator will be the fastest way. Carefull though, some cheap battery chargers can put out voltages higher than 15v and damage components in your RV. Ultimately though, the best thing is to replace the cheap converter with a quality 3 stage one.
I do nothing but dry camping. I replaced the convert in my rig with a Progressive Dynamics model and my Yamaha EF2400 will recharge the batteries to around 90% in 2 to 3 hours (the last 10% takes many more hours of light "finishing charging" so you don't do it while dry camping.)
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Keith99RS
Suffield, CT
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Mousefart wrote:Provided you have a quality converter with a 3 stage charger built in (like Progressive Dynamics), you are doing it the correct way.
The 12v charging plug on the Yamahas and Hondas is something you only want to use in an emergency. It is unregulated (I measured over 40 volts on mine with no load), only 8 amps, and causes the generator to run at full throttle.
If you have a cheap, single stage converter, then a 3 stage automotive charger (like the Vector brand) hooked to the generator will be the fastest way. Carefull though, some cheap battery chargers can put out voltages higher than 15v and damage components in your RV. Ultimately though, the best thing is to replace the cheap converter with a quality 3 stage one.
I do nothing but dry camping. I replaced the convert in my rig with a Progressive Dynamics model and my Yamaha EF2400 will recharge the batteries to around 90% in 2 to 3 hours (the last 10% takes many more hours of light "finishing charging" so you don't do it while dry camping.)
Sounds about how it worked out for me last year. 2-3hrs and I got 90% or so on the readout panel. New TT has the same converter as the Gulfbreeze. I can't place the brand off hand but think it is WiCo or something like that. I'll have to look through the paperwork. Pretty sure it is 3 stage. Fast charge to trickle to maintain and finish.
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Ahab
Oracle, Az.
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We have one Gr29 12v battery. Boondock most of the time and use a Honda 2000i to charge through the on board 3 stage WFCO convertor. Never had any problem.
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tatest
Oklahoma
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Generator through the converter/charger will get you to about 80-90% charge on the least generator time. A 3-stage charger, as part of the converter or separate, will do the best job of finishing the charge, but that will take a lot more generator time (3-6 hours), as charging rate drops exponentially with increasing charge.
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smkettner
Southern California
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Keith99RS wrote:Sounds about how it worked out for me last year. 2-3hrs and I got 90% or so on the readout panel. New TT has the same converter as the Gulfbreeze. I can't place the brand off hand but think it is WiCo or something like that. I'll have to look through the paperwork. Pretty sure it is 3 stage. Fast charge to trickle to maintain and finish.
As long as that WFCO is getting the battery voltage up to 14.4 volts during heavy charging then it is working properly and that is by far the fastest way to charge.
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plascell
Lynchburg, VA
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Sounds like solar is in your future if you prefer camping without hookups. save the genny for the air conditioner, microwave, and hair drier. Otherwise let the sun do the work.
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Keith99RS
Suffield, CT
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plascell wrote:Sounds like solar is in your future if you prefer camping without hookups. save the genny for the air conditioner, microwave, and hair drier. Otherwise let the sun do the work.
I have considered a small solar panel to keep things charging and topped off while we are away during the day. Every little bit helps. Honestly our annual trip to Blackwoods at Acadia the past 3 Octobers has been our only boondocking so far. I honestly don't think we'd boondock enough for a full solar panel set up though.
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