battery charging w/honda 2k

[dhe9]

anyone use the honda 2k to charge their house batteries? seems like a slow process. do you run the charging cable directly to the batteries or charg through the converter/charger?

thanks,
david h

[dmac]

The concensus is to charge usint 120V feeding the trailer converter/charger. The 12V output of the Eu2000i is only 8 amps (96W).

[MikeL]

I think you'l find the converter /charger has even less output than the Eu2000i. Have found the quickest was for me is to use an automobile charger pluged into my generator. Picked up a 2/15 amp charger at Walmart for $49.00. The charger only draws about 3 amps ac current while producing 15 DC. With the generator set on econo. is runs just above idle and charges at a higher rate than the generator or the converter.------ Pieman

[rseagle]

dhe9,

I think it depends on the converter/charger that you have in your Bambi. I have a 55 DC Amp/Hr charger in my 22' CCD, which is considerably higher than a 15 DC Amp/Hr Automobile charger. You probably have something similar. That's the most efficient way for me to charge my battery from 50% to 80% State of Charge. Plus the Automobile charger is an extra piece of equipment I wouldn't want to carry on a trip. Your call!

Bob

[alan]

I run the generator through the univolt for an hour every one or two days. This keeps me ahead of lighting and heating requirements.

I am very sensitive to the noise, so I try to do this in mid to late afternoon when most folks are out of the C.G.

[dhe9]

so mike, if i use the charger from walmart i would charge up the house batteries at the 15 amp level? also will the charger stop charging once my batteries get up to 80 %?

thanks,
david

QUOTE=Mike l.]I think you'l find the converter /charger has even less output than the Eu2000i. Have found the quickest was for me is to use an automobile charger pluged into my generator. Picked up a 2/15 amp charger at Walmart for $49.00. The charger only draws about 3 amps ac current while producing 15 DC. With the generator set on econo. is runs just above idle and charges at a higher rate than the generator or the converter.------ Pieman[/QUOTE]

[MikeL]

Dave --I think you may be confused about the 55 amp rating of your converter. If I'm wrong some one out there please correct me but here's my understanding. The 55amp DC rating is not the converters battery charger rating but rather max DC output at 12volts that is available for the house use--lights-fridge-heater fan , etc. Included in this is some 12v current available to charge the batterys but not the entire 55amps. Have put an amp meter inline with mine and never had anything near what you speak of even with a discharged battery. Normally it's in the range of 2-4 amps max. The charger I use has a selector that alows you to charge at 2 or 15 amp rate. Which ever you select is the max rate it will charge at until the battery comes to full or near full charge . Then it begins to cut back and finally quits. It also has a 12v 110 amp boost for jump starting autos, obviously you would never use this on an RV. The brand if your interested is a "Schumacher", model SE-2150MA. -----Pieman

[MikeL]

Sorry Dave I ment to address this to Bob --rseagle--------------Pieman

[markdoane]

Here's a good write up on the differences between battery chargers and converters. http://www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12v...t.htm#batchart
Best to get a 3-stage charger, and charge rate should be less than C/10 (one tenth the battery capacity).

[rseagle]

Hi pieman,

I base my suggestions on the following book by Harold Barre. It's called "Managing 12 Volts: How to Upgrade, operate and Troubleshoot 12 Volt Electrical Sysytems". I highly recommend it.

charginghttp://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0964738627/qid=1098390180/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-6885273-9864721?v=glance&s=books

I have a new Magnatek 7300 automatic switch mode (3 phase) converter/charger in my 2004 CCD. I assume that a 2003 Bambi may have a similar system.

http://www.parallaxpower.com

It works great and charges my 212 AH Deep Cycle Scrubber battery in about 2 hours from 50% to 80% State of Charge while we're "Boondocking". I sized this battery based on the recommendations in the book. I minimize DC usage (lights, fans, TV, water pump, etc.) while charging with the generator to allow the battery to accept all/most of the 55 Amp DC charging current.

http://www.airstreamphotos.com/photo...cat/all/page/2

I use a Honda EU-3000is to charge. This gives me about 23.3 available AC Amps of which my converter/charger only needs about 10-13 Amps to convert to the 55 DC Amps. I have extra AC to use for TV or some other small AC appliance.

Bob