tomseeley
Murrysville, PA
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Joined: 07/26/2004
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I have a travel trailer with a pair of 6v golf cart batteries. They all work fine.
I don't have a generator, and probably won't buy one anytime soon, but maybe I will.
I have a general idea what you can do with one. I'm curious about using it to recharge the batteries, once they drop from the customary 12v to 11 volts. I'm especially interested in anyone's experience using a Honda model 2000 generator, which is one I've seen (and barely heard) many times, and I'm impressed with.
Our first new used truck and trailer!
2002 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax/Allison
2008 Nash 26X
Equal-i-zer and Prodigy
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hershey
Albuquerque,(fulltime) NM, USA
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Joined: 06/04/2003
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I have the Honda 2000. I've tried to use the alleged 6 amp charging capabilities of the Honda in a pinch when my Xantrex convertor died in Death Valley a few years ago. Its a lesson in futility. It barely produces 4 to 5 amps. But....if you purchase an honest fulltime 40 amp battery charger and use that with the Honda, it makes a very reliable charging system.
hershey - albuquerque, nm
Someday Finally Got Here
My wife does all the driving - I just get to hold the steering wheel.
Expedition - Suzuki Grand Viagra
NASCAR 20 - - 99
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robatthelake
Vancouver Island
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Joined: 08/24/2003
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What Hershey said is right on the money! You could also use a couple of Solar Panels to keep them topped up! Actually 1-80 Watt panel should be good enough but get 2, Dry Camping sort of grows on you.
Rob & Jean 90 Southwind John Deere/Oshkosh/Freightliner Class A Ford 460/ Toad 92 Tracker 2 wd 5sp Convert Still running Great!
" Everything in it"Still" Works"
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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Joined: 07/03/2005
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Hopefully your TT has a converter. If it is a fairly new rig it may have a three stage smart converter. If so that is the way to recharge your batteries. Plug your shore power cord into the generator and it will charge your batteries. If it is a older single stage converter it will likely not do much better that the 12v battery charge output from the generator. You will need to either replace your converter with a three stage model and right now the Xantrex XADC is probably the best on the market. Or get a portable charger you can power from your generator. For battery charging only I use a Honda EU1000i and it does a good job on my four six volt batteries.
BTW, it is not good to discharge batteries below 12v all the time. It will shorten their life.
Jim
Jim, Sharon and Buddy the Yorkie
1999 Gulfstream Sun Voyager 31' ISB Cummins 210 uprated to 275
Trippe-Lite 1800w inverter 4-6v GC batteries
3- Kyocera 130w solar panels
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Kajtek1
CA
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Joined: 12/04/2002
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There are lot of variations. The 2000 W generator is overkill for charging 2 batteries. Than the 12V generator circuits are famous for overcharging and eventually killing the batteries
In my coach I have 4-batteries bank and sophisticated inverter/charger.
The charger on high takes 2600W what is nice for fast recharging, but require bigger generator.
Than thanks to 4-stage charging in 4 years I pushed myself to add distillate water to the batteries 3 times. I think they really required only one addition.
Coming back to 2000w generator -it will power microwave oven and coffee maker or toaster. Just not at the same time
Decisions, decisions.
Pessimist sees dark tunnel, optimist sees a light at the end, realist sees lights of coming train.Engineer sees 3 idiots on the tracks.
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PopBeavers
San Jose, CA
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Joined: 03/19/2005
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I have a pair of group 24 Interstate RV/Marine batteries. I run my Honda 2000 for about an hour a day during breakfast, to recharge the batteries.
I just take the shore power cord and plug it into the generator instead of into the wall socket at home.
If all I wanted to do was charge the batteries, then a Honda 1000 would be enough. I sometimes run a microwave.
In the future I might want to run my a/c. When I do I will buy a second Honda 2000, and put them together for 4000 watts.
Wayne in San Jose
TV1:2002 Chevy 1500HD 4wd Crew Cab,Valley Odyssey brake ctlr,McKesh mirrors
TV2:2008 GMC 2500HD long bed 4wd Crew Cab,GMC brake ctlr,GMC mirrors
TT:Trailmanor 2720
Honda 2000
Yamaha WR250R,Polaris Sportsman 700 X2,Polaris Scrambler 500
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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Charging your batteries off a Honda 2000 (or 1000 in some cases) is just like charging them off shore power
You plug in, turn off the breakers, start the generator, turn on the breakers and sit back.. With the 2,000 you will have enough power left over to run a microwave while the batteries charge (or perhaps a coffee pot) With a 1,000 you don't
NOTE about the 1,000 Unless it is very very quite out... You may well not be able to hear the 1,000, the 2,000 is not much louder.
Very quite power makers.
At a rally (high ambient noise) I could not hear a Yahaha 1200 (1db off the honda 1000) I could hear the 2400 but the person with me could not.. After 25 years of listening for a voice under noise I have very well trained hearing.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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larry barnhart
wenatchee. wa usa
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Joined: 03/30/2001
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I use a honda 1000 and a 15 amp battery charger. I use the same plug on the front of the fifth that plugs into the truck when we are towing. I charge 4 batteries and also have 100 watts of solar.
chevman
chevman
2001 35 ft avalon alpenlite RK
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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A Honda EU1000 will handle a 40a smart converter just fine. It will handle a PD 9160 if you have a Wizard and reduce the charge rate for the first 30 minutes. I do it all the time.
Jim
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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Generators generally do not charge batteries, they simply power the converter or other charger that will do the actual charging. You will need to post what the make and model of the converter is to know what to expect from the Honda.
Even the very best converters will take a solid two to four+ hours depending on how low the battery is and how many batteries you have etc.
2001 F150 SuperCrew 5.4 Lariat Offroad 4x4 Tow Package 4.10 Truetrac
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
12K SuperGlide, KGE3000Ti 2.3kw rated 2.6kw max
Frank's voltage booster, Prosine 1800 powered by 4 GC2 batteries
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