Battery Charging with a Generator (1 Viewer)

lunarman

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I have a Kawasaki 700w suitcase generator that has both 240 and 12 v outputs I can use it to charge the batteries via the 240v ehu and on board charger but would it charge quicker using the 12v output and if so would I need to connect it via some form of charge controller?
 

Geo

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It will charge more efficiantly going direct to the battery,
check the genny spec for its charging rates it proberbly has a built in reg, given the time it will spend charging i wouldn't worry
Geo
 
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lunarman

lunarman

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Thanks Geo,

Its rated at 12v 8.5A (suitable for battery charging) with an Automatic Voltage Regulator.

Do I just connect the Gennie to the battery without isolating the batteries or any internal wiring.

Lunarman

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Braunston

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May 21, 2008
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Hi,

I have a similar output generator and used it with a Link Removed from argos on the 240 volt output, and I felt sure it charged at a higher rate than the generator could.
 

Frankia

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I have a Honda with a similar 12v out. In the 'van we also have 3 leisure batteries which are wired together with the quick release battery terminals. The inbuilt charger gives about 16Ah so:

If I want a quicker charge up I disconnect the last battery in the run and charge that from the 12v out of the Honda whilst the 230v out is on hook up to the 'van therefore charging the other 2. This gives me a charging rate of 24Ah instead of 16.

I don't often use this method as we have 2 X 120w solar panels on the roof that for most of the time keep us adequately supplied.
 

Tony Lee

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Most generator 12V outputs are really intended to supply around 12V (sometimes up to 17V open circuit) to things like refrigerators and the like, rather than actually charge a flat battery.
Just because it is marked 12V, say, 8A doesn't mean it will actually deliver that current to anything other than a dead-flat battery, so it is quite possible that even a small 3-stage mains charger could do a better job than a direct connection. Optimum might be to run any large 12V load direct from the 12V output while using the mains charger to charge the battery.

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teensvan

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Hi.

We have a 2kva kipor geni. The 12 volt output charge is 8.5 Amp. If i connect it to the EHU the batteries are charged at up to 25 amp. Much better charge going through the EHU and onboard charger unit.

steve & ann. ------- teensvan.
 
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lunarman

lunarman

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Hi Teensvan,

I do not understand your posting how are you connecting the gennie to get 25 amp charge? It seems to say that you are connecting the 12v to the EHU.

Lunarman
 

pappajohn

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Hi Teensvan,

I do not understand your posting how are you connecting the gennie to get 25 amp charge? It seems to say that you are connecting the 12v to the EHU.

Lunarman

he means connect the 230v genny to the 230v hookup socket on the van and use the onboard charger instead of the 12v facility on the genny.

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Last edited:
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lunarman

lunarman

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Papajohn


I still dont understand he says "much better than using the ehu and on board charger"!!

Lunarman
 

sandyketton

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Papajohn


I still dont understand he says "much better than using the ehu and on board charger"!!

Lunarman


Lunarman
He actually said

"Much better charge going through the EHU and onboard charger unit."

Sandy:Smile:

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pappajohn

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Hi.

We have a 2kva kipor geni. The 12 volt output charge is 8.5 Amp. If i connect it to the EHU the batteries are charged at up to 25 amp. (its a) Much better charge going through the EHU and onboard charger unit.

steve & ann. ------- teensvan.

Papajohn


I still dont understand he says "much better than using the ehu and on board charger"!!

Lunarman

think you are miss-reading the post....hes saying its much better to use the gennies 230v supply plugged into the hookup socket and use the onboard charger than the gennies 12v charger direct to the battery.

genny power output @12v = 8.5amps onboard charger output @ 230v = 25amps
 

sandyketton

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According to the handbook for my 2005 Lunar 620 the output from the regulator is
12 volt and 12amp.
Hope this helps

Sandy
 

pappajohn

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According to the handbook for my 2005 Lunar 620 the output from the regulator is
12 volt and 12amp.
Hope this helps

Sandy

still better than 8.5amp though and you can run other 230v appliances at the same time.

my onboard was rated at 12amp as well 'til i bought a 25amp three stage charger and fitted that in its place:thumb:

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