Solar and Generator at the same time ?

[lomax]

I could not find anything in search so excuse me if this has been covered.

i am going to be doing a lot of off grid camping, have a 80w solar setup and a Honda EU2000I generator. Can I have them both on at the same time? Do I need to unplug the solar if I start up the generator?

I would be plugging the trailer into the generator and not using an external battery charger.

Don't want to burn anything up.

[aeblank]

Solar will be fine. Leave it all on.

[boondocking]

You can use them both at the same time, no need to unplug the solar.

[lomax]

Thank you all for the information.

[Flybob]

The one presenting the highest voltage to the battery will be interpreted as the battery voltage and both will adjust the charging based on that voltage, so you are fine.

[tinkerreknit]

I appreciate it too, and I've wondered about this. I have a 100W solar system and the same generator. My next 2 trips will not have hookups and I'll be using the solar for the first time.

[WayneLee]

Hmmmmm. The instructions that came with my solar controller said to disconnect the solar if other "charging" devices were connected concurrently. I think I will find my instructions and see if they say why.

[dahagen]

If you have a charge controller on your solar panel, it will shut off the current to the battery when the battery is on generator or 117 volt hookups.

[ScottBrownstein]

Originally Posted by dahagen

If you have a charge controller on your solar panel, it will shut off the current to the battery when the battery is on generator or 117 volt hookups.

Definite maybe. It all depends on whether the converter or the charge controller decides to drop out since the battery appears charged already. Any charging device will determine that a 13.5 volt battery is totally charged and stop trying...that is until the other source does the same.

Either way it won't hurt anything but you won't get the "sum" of all charge currents either.

[Jonol]

Either way it won't hurt anything but you won't get the "sum" of all charge currents either ???? Not thrue!

Well you could by using a Marine switch and 2 batterys.
That way you could charge one battery with the solar and the oder with the TT converter charger and generator.

[ScottBrownstein]

Originally Posted by Jonol

Either way it won't hurt anything but you won't get the "sum" of all charge currents either ???? Not thrue!

Well you could by using a Marine switch and 2 batterys.
That way you could charge one battery with the solar and the oder with the TT converter charger and generator.

Sure, you could separate the banks that way, but it isn't anywhere near stock!!!!

[lomax]

Maybe the reason I asked will shed more light. I am going to be using the tiny toy hauler for dirt bike camping. I get up in the morning and hook up the solar to make up for all the excessive voltage drama from the night before.

Then go ride all day.

When the evening comes if the batteries are not back to 100% I would want to fire the genny for a couple of hours to top everything off before the nightly Shenanigans.

OK, now I am too old to be doing what you are already thinking so clean up your minds. But at least the motorcycle part of it is true.

[WolfWhistle]

You could, if you can do it and not make your neighbors mad, run the generator for awhile in the morning to provide a nice start for the solar system to finish. If everything is set up and sized properly and you have enough sun, solar charging should finish them nicely. Have enough Amp / Hours of battery for your nightly shenanigans so that you don't ever go below 50% capacity, then add enough panels (with the necessary controllers) to bring them back as quick as you need them to. Assuming wiring is done correctly, if you don't get them back to 100% on a sunny day, throw more panels at the problem. You could reduce your shenanigans, but that should be avoided at all cost

WW

[boondocking]

Originally Posted by Jonol

Either way it won't hurt anything but you won't get the "sum" of all charge currents either ???? Not thrue!

Well you could by using a Marine switch and 2 batterys.
That way you could charge one battery with the solar and the oder with the TT converter charger and generator.

Not sure why a person would want to do that, seeing as you can run the generator or the converter while the solar is doing it's charging.

[mnoland30]

I have a 100 watt panel, and LED lights, and we never use the generator. That said, we are careful with our electric use.

[WolfWhistle]

450W solar (150W x 3 - Renogy), 30 amp CC (Trimetric), 460Ah batteries (4 GC-2s - cheapies), 2000W Magnum MS-2012, with 100A charger and built in transfer switch. I can run 3 or 4 days without charging at all before dropping to 50%, then the Magnum by itself can bring them back up in under 3 to 3-1/2 hours... or about 2; then let the SC-2030 finish in Float mode... silently... free... its magic I tell you! Well not free, but ROI is excellent, IMO. The silence is priceless; only need a sunny spot for it to work.

I was pleasantly surprised that via a transfer switch (repurposed), the little Honda 2000 is loafing running the Magnum's charger. I have ran the Honda twice and once was to test. I do have to be sure to have those appliances that can run on Propane switch over and other high amp appliances turned off when charging via the little Honda that makes about an honest 15 Amps worth of clean 120 VAC.
WW

[Jonol]

Not sure why a person would want to do that, seeing as you can run the generator or the converter while the solar is doing it's charging.


Because it will take less time to full charge one battery with a 100 watt solar system.

[boondocking]

Originally Posted by Jonol

Not sure why a person would want to do that, seeing as you can run the generator or the converter while the solar is doing it's charging.


Because it will take less time to full charge one battery with a 100 watt solar system.

I'm not sure I follow the logic here.

A 100 watt solar panel will produce maybe 5.5 amps max. A typical converter powered by a generator will produce out 45 to 90 amps depending on the converter size.

[Jonol]

No need to over charge with 50 amps, the battery will take the charge of the solar 6 amp and time will make it full charge.

[boondocking]

OK then ?