How do I get Jenny to Charge up my Battery?

[Airrogant]

nOOb ALERT! Yes I'm sure that it has been covered, yes I did try to search for the answer - but alas my Google-Fu has failed me. To make matters worse I think I already know the answer, but would really appreciate any comments that you have that might help me better understand the best solution.

I have a Honda EU2000i generator, and want to figure out the best way to utilize it to keep the battery on my trailer charged up. I also have the AS's stock converter.

When you're not connected to shore power and you need to charge your battery, do you just hook up the generator:

1) to the shore power input on the trailer and let the trailer's converter do the charging; or

2) to an external battery charger that you connect to the battery; or

3) directly to the battery using the generator's DC output?

It seems to me that any one of these methods would work. Are there distinct pros and cons to any of these approaches? For instance is one method significantly faster or slower than the others?

Also how do I know when I'm done or "done enough?" if I only have a multi-meter to help guide me.

[lsbrodsky]

Seems to me the easiest thing to do is use your trailer shore power connection with an adaptor. Generators do not like a small load so you can use some other AC appliances while you are charging your battery. While the AS stock converter is cheap junk, it will control the charge to your battery.
Larry

[SteveSueMac]

Option 1 is what I've done on the one boondocking trip I've done so far and a few times in the storage yard.

I'm not sure of pros and cons to all your choices.

Multimeter should be sufficient. A 12.32v reading would be a 70% full charge. There's a chart deep in this (awesome) link here:

http://www.marxrv.com/12volt/12volt.htm

I'm sure smarter people than I could calculate the output of the Honda and tell you how to gauge it that way. Me? I'd stick with the meter :-)

[Bill M.]

I just plug the trailer into the generator and let it run an hour or two. I too still have the stock converter.

[idroba]

Plug the trailer into the generator and let the converter/charger in the AS do it's work. It will charge faster than either of the other methods and be kinder to your battery. Still faster and kinder yet would be a 3 stage charger in place of the original, but the original will do fine.