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Old 06-02-2015, 01:14 PM   #1
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charging from a generator

I have an external generator 2000 watts. I have tried to charge my batteries using the 30 amp ac connection. The generator runs for a while and then overloads. I have two 6 volt batteries in series and have no problem with normal ac connections or truck connections to charge my batteries on my 5th wheel. Any suggestions?
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Old 06-02-2015, 01:28 PM   #2
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If nothing else is on in the camper,
Water heater, fridge etc etc then I'd possibly say that the generator has issues.
The average "normal" converter draws less then 10 amps at full draw.

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Old 06-02-2015, 01:51 PM   #3
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Maybe I am misunderstanding but you say you plug the 30 amp connection into the generator and that you have no problems with normal connections. What do you mean normal connections? Isn't a 30 amp service cord a normal connection? I understand the truck connection.

Do you mean you do not have a problem with attaching the 30 amp service cord to your house outlet (either a 30 amp recpticle or a 30 amp to 110 adapter)? If this is the case then the it seems the generator is the problem if every other type of connection works.

What kind and type of generator is it? How is it connected? 30 amp straight plug, 30 amp to 110 adapter?
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Old 06-02-2015, 01:55 PM   #4
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Maybe I am misunderstanding but you say you plug the 30 amp connection into the generator and that you have no problems with normal connections. What do you mean normal connections? Isn't a 30 amp service cord a normal connection? I understand the truck connection.

Do you mean you do not have a problem with attaching the 30 amp service cord to your house outlet (either a 30 amp recpticle or a 30 amp to 110 adapter)? If this is the case then the it seems the generator is the problem if every other type of connection works.

What kind and type of generator is it? How is it connected? 30 amp straight plug, 30 amp to 110 adapter?
I had to read it several times as well before I was confident enough to also assume that the 30 amp cord works on a normal connection but not while using the generator.
If there was a progressive industries unit in it we'd know by golly!

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Old 06-02-2015, 02:04 PM   #5
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I had to read it several times as well before I was confident enough to also assume that the 30 amp cord works on a normal connection but not while using the generator.
If there was a progressive industries unit in it we'd know by golly!
"
True story, I ended up making the plug! Homework accomplished!

I assumed the same but wanted to verify what was meant by normal connections.
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Old 06-03-2015, 11:31 AM   #6
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If nothing else is on in the camper,
Water heater, fridge etc etc then I'd possibly say that the generator has issues.
I think that's it. The first time I used my Yamaha with my Rockwood, I forgot to turn off all the breakers to the appliances so the genny was running the reefer and water heater when all I wanted was to charge the battery.
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Old 06-03-2015, 11:38 AM   #7
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Charging with 2000 w genny

First make sure that the 30 amp connector is wired to match the genny. I would feel a lot more comfortable if you were using a 30 to 15 amp adaptor so that you had a normal 110 volt plug.

Second, you are trying to run the entire unit off of your genny. So, if the water heater is on or something else is on, that is why the genny goes into overload as it cannot support all of those things, but only support the converter.

If the converter has a normal 110v plug, I would run from the genny to the converter and eliminate the possibility of other loads, although you can do that by turning off the other breakers in the 110 volt panel and only leaving the converter on. Unfortunately any converter that can put out more that 40 or 50 amps has a non-standard 110 v plug.

Bet you are loading the genny down with a whole bunch of other loads.
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Old 06-03-2015, 11:39 AM   #8
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Well here's the deal.
If the generator is 2000 running watts not surge watts then it only has approximately 17 amps available.
OP never said if it was running amps or surge amps.

That being said.

Converter 1 - 8 amps
Fridge 5 - 8 amps
Water heater 9 - 13 amps

You do the math!



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Old 06-03-2015, 11:41 AM   #9
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If nothing else is on in the camper,
Water heater, fridge etc etc then I'd possibly say that the generator has issues.
The average "normal" converter draws less then 10 amps at full draw.

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The max AC draw with a 60 amp converter/charger is 1000 watts. On 45 amp converter/charger it is 750 watts. Either of these is less than the continuous capacity (1600 watts) of a Honda 2000 generator.
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Old 06-03-2015, 11:45 AM   #10
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The max AC draw with a 60 amp converter/charger is 1000 watts. On 45 amp converter/charger it is 750 watts. Either of these is less than the continuous capacity (1600 watts) of a Honda 2000 generator.
Without the op responding about other devices being on, I guess we won't know .
A 60 amp converter can easily be ran with a 2000 running watt genny.

So i I'd say unless nothing else was turned on then there's an issue with the generator.


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Old 06-03-2015, 11:48 AM   #11
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Plug the converter straight into the Genny. Nothing else...keep it simple and find out! If its less than a 70 amp converter...all it takes is an extension cord.
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Old 06-03-2015, 11:49 AM   #12
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Plug the converter straight into the Genny. Nothing else...keep it simple and find out! If its less than a 70 amp converter...all it takes is an extension cord.
"Normally" the converter is hardwired straight to the distribution center.



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Old 06-03-2015, 11:53 AM   #13
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Sorry...not on my class "A". Different strokes...
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Old 06-03-2015, 11:56 AM   #14
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Sorry...not on my class "A". Different strokes...
I've seen them plugged in don't get me wrong.
But for the most part tt and 5er's are hardwired.

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Old 06-03-2015, 12:16 PM   #15
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Well, if that is what he has, the only option is to turn off all of the other AC breakers... If it seems to work for a while and then loads down, it could be the converter running up its load, but if the genny works at all I would be surprised if it couldn't handle a 40 AMP converter which should only draw 400 to 500 watts.
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Old 06-03-2015, 12:28 PM   #16
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Thanks,
I am trying to charge only the batteries and have no other loads. The generator will drive loads on the 5th wheel (that is what I meant by normal conditions). I have used this generator to work with everything except the air conditioner and the batteries. The refrig is off, the furnace is off, the lights are off, the microwave is off, etc.. I concur that the draw from the generator should be about 8 amps for my 30 amp 5th wheel. I do think the generator is working. Next maybe shut off all the breakers as suggested above to be sure? I think I will put a clamp on ammeter to see what is happening (I do not have a clamp on meter but maybe it time now)
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Old 06-03-2015, 12:32 PM   #17
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Try all breakers off except converter and see what happens.
An actual amp draw number would be great to know.
With "nothing" on in my 5er and just converter mine draws "normally" a max of 6 amps with low batteries according to my ems.

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Old 06-03-2015, 12:33 PM   #18
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Originally Posted by TURBS View Post
If nothing else is on in the camper,
Water heater, fridge etc etc then I'd possibly say that the generator has issues.
The average "normal" converter draws less then 10 amps at full draw.

TURBS
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Thanks Turbs,
I concur
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Old 06-03-2015, 12:34 PM   #19
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If you shut off all of the other breakers and the problem persists, it has to be the converter or the genny. Clamp on ammeter would help decide which is the problem. Converter isn't a monstrous load.
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Old 06-03-2015, 12:36 PM   #20
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Plug the converter straight into the Genny. Nothing else...keep it simple and find out! If its less than a 70 amp converter...all it takes is an extension cord.
I do not see a direct plug in for the converter. It is integrated into the power panel area and would have to rewire to get an extension cord to work direct with the converter.
Thanks
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